Posted on 07/25/2023 7:16:50 AM PDT by Morgana
A retired minister in Georgia has been charged with murder in the slaying of an eight-year-old girl - who vanished while heading to Bible school in Pennsylvania nearly a half-century ago.
David Zandstra, 83, of the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, was charged Monday with criminal homicide, first, second- and third-degree murder, kidnapping of a minor and a related count in the 1975 death of Gretchen Harrington in Delaware County.
Harrington, the daughter of a Presbyterian minister and his wife, disappeared in mid-August 1975 while walking from her Marple Township home to Bible school at Trinity Church Chapel, where Zandstra was pastor.
District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer told reporters in Media, Pennsylvania, the defendant was 'a monster' and 'every parent's worst nightmare.'
'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 said.
After allegedly killing the child, he then 'acted as if he was their family friend, not only during her burial and the period after that but for years,' the district attorney said.
Harrington's body was found two months later by a jogger in Ridley Creek State Park in Media.
Harrington was usually accompanied by her sisters to Bible school but was alone on the fateful day because of a recent birth in her family.
She was offered a ride by Zandstra, who was also the father of one of her best friends, Stollsteimer alleged.
'So when he offered her a ride in his car, of course she got in the car,' he said.
Zandstra took her to a wooded location and eventually struck her in the head and, believing her to be dead, tried to cover her body, authorities said.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Incorrect headline
He confessed to the act
I’d begin looking at other cold cases. Killers like this rarely strike - or attempt to strike - just once. I’m thankful this little girl and her family will receive justice.
Very old branch of Scottish Presbyterians who came to the US in the 1600s. They opposed slavery very early, and supported education for blacks and even women if you can imagine. They opposed the US Constitution because it did not mention God, and historically refused to participate in voting, because officeholders would have to vow to support the evil godless constitution. I imagine they’ve softened on those points, but no idea really.
I don't know what that is, but its always so depressing to hear of "men of the cloth" representing Jesus Christ engaged in grievous sin.
It means the devil never sleeps.
The Screwtape Letters shows how this works.
Pennsylvania has the death penalty. But the state’s D governor has already said that he will sign no execution warrants. So I guess that’s off the table.
I think you are right. No way this creep didn’t do a lot more stuff like this. Try him and hang him before he dies of old age.
The murderer wasn’t a Reformed Presbyterian pastor; his victim was the daughter of a Reformed Presbyterian pastor. She was attending Bible school at the pervert’s church which was nearby her father’s Presbyterian Church.
I’ll bet there are many more victims of this monster.
Cue the screeches from the left that “religion” brings this behavior on. Never mind that pedophiles will work to embed themselves in ANY organization or institution which will provide them access to the objects of their sexual desires.
We need to offer rewards to bounty hunters who can solve these crimes. No payment until proven. Homicide inspectors have too many cases to look up and they still get paid when they don’t succeed. In todays woke culture I can understand if their motivation takes a hit.
It is a very small, conservative, traditional Calvinist, fundamentalist group that is from the Scottish Covenanters and was brought to America in the 1700s by Scots and Scots-Irish. I believe the theologian Francis Schaeffer was Reformed Presbyterian.
Friend of the family, known to the victim, suspicion of other possible crimes, I’m questioning the investigation at the time. The list of suspects at the time couldn’t have been very long.
another holy man. I am not surprised.
As the father of an 8 year old girl, I’d gladly volunteer to personally send this degenerate old bastard to hell. What a POS. Death to all pedos!!
At his age,it is only a matter of time before he has to explain that to God....
You can be they be mapping his church locations of PA NJ TX and CA for other missing persons. Already there is an unsolved missing child during the 1990s while at a Fairfield CA church. 14 miles away. Just sayin…
The girl’s father was a Presbyterian Reformedvminister. The killer was the Pastor of Trinity Chapel. Evidently the churches shared a Bible School.
Yes, exactly. I don’t remember any minister being that involved in Bible school. Bible school is usually run by the women of the church, the church members. I wonder how far the Bible School was from the little girl’s house.
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