For Years, the Girl’s Killer Deceived the Family by Posing as a ‘Friend’

In a shocking revelation, a former pastor from Pennsylvania has confessed to the murder of an eight-year-old girl who disappeared in 1975. The girl, Gretchen Harrington, went missing on her way to a summer Bible camp, which was held at two neighboring churches. The pastor of one of the churches, David Zandstra, reported her disappearance. However, investigators soon discovered inconsistencies in Zandstra’s statements and became suspicious of his involvement.

The case took a breakthrough when a woman, who had been friends with Zandstra’s daughter in the 1970s, provided valuable information. The woman revealed diary entries that described Zandstra engaging in inappropriate behavior with her when she was just 10 years old. According to the release, Zandstra’s daughter also confirmed that he had a history of such behaviors. When confronted by the police, Zandstra admitted to offering a ride to Gretchen, driving her to a wooded area, and assaulting her when she refused to undress. He confessed that he had ejaculated in front of her before physically attacking her. Gretchen’s remains were found two months later in Ridley Creek State Park, where she had suffered head injuries.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer described Zandstra as a “monster.” He expressed gratitude towards the police for their relentless efforts in solving the case. Zandstra, now 83 years old, was arrested on July 17 and is charged with murder, kidnapping, and other crimes. He is currently in custody, awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania. The Harrington family released a statement thanking the police for their continued search for justice. They emphasized that without the efforts of the authorities, they would not have reached this point today. (Read more cold cases stories.)