MEDIA, PA. (KYW Newsradio) — State and county authorities on Monday announced an arrest in a 50-year-old Delaware County cold case.
David Zandstra, 83, of Marietta, Georgia, has confessed to and has been arrested for the abduction and murder of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington of Marple Township, in August 1975, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced on Monday.
“David Zandstra is, ladies and gentlemen, a monster. He is every parent's worst nightmare,” Stollsteimer said. “This is a man who is a remorseless child predator who acted as if he was a friend, a neighbor and a man of God and he killed this poor little girl.”
Stollsteimer held back no emotions as he announced charges against Zandstra, including criminal homicide; first-, second-, and third-degree murder; kidnapping of a minor and possession of an instrument of crime.
In the summer of 1975, Gretchen Harrington had a spotless attendance record at her bible camp in Marple — until the morning of Aug. 15.
The camp used facilities at Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reform Church, where Zandstra was pastor, and The Reformed Presbyterian Church, where Gretchen’s father was pastor. When Gretchen was not among her fellow bible camp students when they arrived at the Reformed Church the morning of Aug. 15, 1975, her father grew concerned.
What happened between that day and Oct. 14, when Gretchen’s skeletal remains were found at Ridley Creek State Park, remained a mystery until after the case was reignited in 2017 and a cooperating witness came forward with new information that pointed investigators in Zandstra’s direction, Stollsteimer said Monday.
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The witness, whose identity the district attorney has withheld, was a childhood friend of both Gretchen and Zandstra’s children. In January, she told investigators about some instances of suspicious behavior and alleged sexual misconduct, including Zandstra groping her at a sleepover when she was 10 years old.
She also told investigators that a classmate was nearly kidnapped twice. And she wrote in her diary in 1975 that she suspected Zandstra of killing Gretchen.
In July, Zandstra initially denied any involvement in Gretchen’s disappearance, according to the district attorney’s office. However, after investigators confronted him with the cooperating witness’ statement, Zandstra at long last changed his story.
According to Zandstra’s statement to Pennsylvania State Police, he saw Gretchen walking alone on the morning of her disappearance. He admitted to offering Gretchen a ride and driving her to a wooded area, where he attempted to sexually assault her and then killed her.
“This poor young girl was met in a car by David Zandstra — who she knew because he was the reverend at the bible camp she was going to — and he was the father of one of her best friends. So when he offered her a ride in his car, of course, she got in the car.”
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The district attorney said Gretchen’s abduction and murder happened in a matter of minutes. Stollsteimer said Zandstra asked her to take off her clothes. She refused. Stollsteimer said he then ejaculated in front of her, then beat her to death, covered up her body, and went back to his church — where he acted like nothing had happened.
Zandstra even contacted the Marple Township Police Department on that August day to report Gretchen’s disappearance.
“Then he acted as if he was a family friend — not only during her burial and the period after that, but for years,” Stollsteimer said.
“This man is evil.”
Zandstra was taken into custody on July 17, and he remains in jail in Cobbs County, Georgia. Stollsteimer’s office will request his extradition to Pennsylvania, where he will be prosecuted. In addition, samples of his DNA will be compared against evidence collected in other open cases to determine if he was involved in any of them.
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The Harrington family on Monday released this statement:
“With today's announcement of an arrest, we are extremely hopeful that the person who is responsible for the heinous crime that was committed against our Gretchen will be held accountable. It’s difficult to express the emotions that we are feeling as we take one step closer to justice.
“Gretchen was only 8 years old when she was suddenly taken away from us on her way to church on Friday, August 15, 1975. If you met Gretchen, you were instantly her friend. She exuded kindness to all and was sweet and gentle. Even now, when people share their memories of her, the first thing they talk about is how amazing she was and still is … at just 8 years old, she had a lifelong impact on those around her.
“The abduction and murder of Gretchen has forever altered our family and we miss her every single day. We are grateful for the continual pursuit of justice by law enforcement and we want to thank the Pennsylvania State Police for never stopping in their constant search for answers. We would not be here today if it was not for them. As a family we ask for privacy at this time as we continue to digest this information. Thank you for your understanding, love, and continued support. It means the world to us.”
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