Georgia Pastor Arrested, What Happened To Georgia Pastor?
by Alaguvelan M | Updated Jul 25, 2023
Georgia Pastor Arrested
In a shocking development, an 83-year-old man from Marietta, who was once a pastor, has been arrested in connection with a cold case murder dating back to 1975. The victim, 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington, had disappeared while attending a Bible summer camp in Marple Township, Pennsylvania.
The discovery of skeletal remains at a state park in Edgemont Township on October 14 led to the revelation that Gretchen had died from blunt impacts to the head, confirming it as a homicide.
During the time of the incident, the Bible camp was held in two churches, one of which was the Reformed Presbyterian Church where Gretchen's father served as a pastor. The other church, Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reform Church, was led by David Zandstra, who is now a suspect in the case.
On the day of Gretchen's disappearance, she was supposed to begin her day at Trinity Church and then proceed to the Reformed church with the rest of the campers. Zandstra, being responsible for transporting the children between the two locations, became a person of interest in the investigation.
When Gretchen failed to arrive at Trinity, her father contacted Zandstra, who claimed that she never made it to the church. Subsequently, Zandstra reported her missing to the police.
An eyewitness later recalled seeing Gretchen speaking to someone near a green station wagon or a two-tone Cadillac on the morning she went missing. Although Zandstra denied seeing her on that day, investigators noted that he described her clothing in detail.
The news of Zandstra's arrest has left neighbors in disbelief, as he had been known as a kind and caring individual in the community. The revelations of possible inappropriate behavior towards his daughter's friend and previous suspicions from others have added further complexity to the case. As investigations continue, the authorities are working diligently to uncover the truth behind this long-standing mystery and bring justice to Gretchen Harrington and her family.
What Happened To Georgia Pastor?
Pennsylvania authorities made a startling announcement, charging an 83-year-old former pastor with the horrifying kidnapping and murder of a young girl back in 1975. David Zandstra, the suspect, was apprehended in Georgia after purportedly confessing to the crime committed almost fifty years ago when he served as a pastor in Marple Township, Pennsylvania.
The breakthrough in this chilling case came after investigators presented Zandstra with compelling new evidence, including insights from a confidential informant's interview and a diary entry written by a 10-year-old girl in 1975. The charges against him include criminal homicide, murder, kidnapping of a minor, and possession of a weapon.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer expressed relief that justice was finally being served after such a long wait, acknowledging how this case had haunted both law enforcement and the small community of Marple Township since the tragic disappearance of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington. Gretchen's last known moments were on August 15th, 1975, when she was headed to a summer Bible camp.
The camp took place at two churches, the Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reform Church where Zandstra was a pastor, and the Reformed Presbyterian Church where Gretchen's father presided. Concerned by her absence, Gretchen's father sought answers and it was Zandstra who reported her disappearance to the police.
Suspicion arose when discrepancies were found in Zandstra's initial statements, and investigators were puzzled by how he knew intricate details about Gretchen's attire on the day she never made it to camp, as revealed in a recently released criminal complaint.
Zandstra vehemently denied any involvement in her disappearance at the time. Tragically, two months later, Gretchen's remains were discovered in Ridley Creek State Park, with the medical examiner determining her cause of death as a homicide, citing "two or more blunt impacts to the skull" according to court documents.
For almost five decades, the case remained unresolved until a crucial breakthrough emerged from an interview with a woman who was a close friend of the suspect's daughter during the 1970s, along with revealing diary entries from that time, reigniting hope for justice.
Former Pastor Arrested For 1975 Murder Of Girl Walking To Church
In a heart-wrenching incident on August 15, 1975, 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington was kidnapped and tragically murdered while on her way to a Bible camp in a township near Philadelphia. Recently, a significant development unfolded as authorities arrested 83-year-old David Zandstra, who had been the pastor of one of the host churches for the camp, and charged him with Harrington's murder.
The Delaware County District Attorney's Office disclosed that Zandstra's confession came after they confronted him with compelling new evidence, which included allegations from a witness who asserted that the former pastor had groped her and may have attempted to abduct another local girl. Zandstra now faces serious charges, such as criminal homicide, first, second, and third-degree murder, kidnapping, and the possession of an instrument of crime.
The revelation came to light when the new witness, whose identity has not been revealed, provided a diary containing an entry written a month after Harrington's disappearance. In that entry, she speculated that Zandstra might be responsible for attempting to abduct another girl on two occasions. The witness also disclosed that she was subjected to groping by the suspect during a sleepover at his residence, just seven days before Harrington went missing.
Officials conducted an interview with Zandstra near his residence in Georgia on July 17, during which he voluntarily spoke and was read his Miranda rights. Upon being presented with the new witness information, Zandstra reportedly confessed to the crime.
Gretchen Harrington's father, who was the pastor at the adjacent Reformed Presbyterian Church, hosted the second half of each day's summer Bible camp. On a fateful day, Gretchen's sisters stayed home as her mother had recently given birth, prompting her father to encourage her to walk alone, given her impeccable attendance record.
When she failed to arrive at Reformed Presbyterian Church by 11 a.m., her father embarked on a desperate search along Lawrence Road and eventually contacted the police when she was 23 minutes late.
This case has remained a haunting mystery for decades, and the recent breakthrough has finally provided some semblance of closure for Gretchen Harrington's family and the community impacted by this tragic event.
Georgia Pastor Arrested - FAQs
An 83-year-old former pastor named David Zandstra was arrested in Georgia.
David Zandstra was arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of an 8-year-old girl, Gretchen Harrington, that occurred in 1975 in Pennsylvania.
David Zandstra was arrested on July 17.
David Zandstra confessed to the crime after being confronted with new evidence, including allegations from a witness who claimed that he had groped her and may have attempted to abduct another local girl.
David Zandstra has been charged with criminal homicide, murder in the first, second, and third degrees, kidnapping, and the possession of an instrument of crime.