A retired minister who has been living in East Cobb has been charged with abducting and killing an eight-year-old girl who was attending Bible school at his church in Pennsylvania nearly 50 years ago.
The district attorney in Delaware County, Pa., west of Philadelphia, said Monday that David George Zandstra, 83, has been charged with murder and kidnapping of a minor and the possession of an instrument of crime.
Zandstra was taken into custody on July 17 by Cobb Police after being questioned by Delaware County investigators who had traveled to Marietta.
He remains in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center after being denied bail, charged with being a fugitive from justice, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records.
Gretchen Harrington went missing on August 15, 1975, as she was walking in Marple Township, Pa., to Bible school at Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reform Church, where Zandstra was a pastor. The girl’s father was a pastor at The Reformed Presbyterian Church nearby, which also served as a venue for the Bible school.
The DA’s office said her father became worried when she didn’t show up at the latter church that day, and reported her missing to police.
Gretchen Harrington’s skeletal remains were identified at a state park several miles away on Oct. 14, 1975.
But the case into finding her killer went cold after some early leads fizzled, according to a release on Monday from Jack Stollsteimer, the district attorney in Delaware County.
A witness at the time said the victim was seen with the driver of a Cadillac or station wagon. The driver was interviewed by police but denied seeing the girl on the date she disappeared, the DA’s office said.
After living in Pennsylvania, Zandstra resided in Plano, Texas, before moving to the Marietta area. His Cobb booking report residence is listed as being in the Lakewood Colony neighborhood, off Shallowford Road and west of Trickum Road.
Cobb property tax records indicate Zandstra and his wife have owned a home in that subdivision since 2005.
The case was revived when Delaware County investigators earlier this year talked to an individual who said she was best friends with Zandstra’s daughter, and who would stay at the minister’s home for sleepovers when she was a girl.
The witness said that when she was 10, she was awakened by Zandstra groping her, and another friend told her that he “did that sometimes,” according to the Delaware County DA.
That was right before Gretchen Harrington went missing. The same witness also told authorities a child in her class was almost kidnapped twice, and noted in her diary that she thought Zandstra might have been behind those attempts, the DA’s office said in the release.
After the DA’s office located Zandstra in the Marietta area, investigators traveled to Georgia earlier this month to talk to him.
Stollsteimer said Zandstra initially denied any involvement in Gretchen’s disappearance and killing, then was told of the witness’ allegations of his sexual misconduct.
Zandstra said he saw Gretchen Harrington walking by herself along a road as he drove in a green station wagon on the day she disappeared. He offered to drive her to the Bible school and she accepted.
Instead, he drove to a wooded area, parked the car, and asked her to remove her clothing, the DA’s office said.
Stollsteimer said Zandstra then told his investigators that after she refused to comply, he struck her in the head with his fist, causing her to bleed, and he tried to bury her body before leaving the area.
Stollsteimer said Zandstra is refusing to waive extradition to Pennsylvania, and that a request will be submitted to Gov. Josh Shapiro to forward to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
“Justice does not have an expiration date. Whether a crime happened fifty years ago or five minutes ago, the residents of the Commonwealth can have confidence that law enforcement will not rest until justice is served,” Lt. Jonathan Sunderlin of the Pennsylvania State Police said in the Delaware County DA’s release.
Stollsteimer thanked Cobb Police among various law enforcement agencies that have been working on the case for decades.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children issued a statement from the Harrington family:
“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.
“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. Thank you for your understanding, love, and continued support. It means the world to us.”
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