Police have arrested an 83-year-old former pastor on murder charges nearly 50 years after he allegedly abducted and killed 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington in Pennsylvania, officials said Monday.
has been charged with criminal homicide, first, second and third degree murder, kidnapping of a minor and the possession of an instrument of crime. He was interviewed during the initial investigation in 1975, but it wasn't until a police interview this year that investigators were able to gather enough information for an arrest, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said.
On the day of her disappearance, Harrington's father became worried when she didn't arrive at Reformed, and police were contacted by 11:23 a.m. On Jan. 2 of this year, investigators spoke with a woman who alleged Zandstra had abused her as a child. The alleged victim, who was not identified, was best friends with Zandstra's daughter and slept over at the home often, authorities said. She told police that during one sleepover when she was 10, she woke up to Zandstra groping her.
"The defendant stated that he had parked the car and asked the victim to remove her clothing," officials wrote in a news release."When she refused, he struck her in the head with a fist. The victim was bleeding, and he believed her to be dead. He attempted to cover up her body and left the area.""I don't know if he's sorry for what he did, but this is a weight off his shoulders for sure," Tray said.
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