Mystery
Decades-Long Mystery Solved: Pastor Implicated in 8-Year-Old’s Disappearance at Bible Camp
In 1975, during the summer of August 15, Gretchen Harrington, just a child of 8, set off from her residence for Bible camp, never to be seen again. Almost half a century later, they finally believe they’ve identified the individual responsible for her tragic demise and the subsequent disposal of her remains in a nearby park.
An aged pastor named David Zandstra played a part in the camp’s activities. On Monday, Lieutenant Jonathan Sunderlin of the Pennsylvania State Police made a public statement asserting, “The search for justice does not waver, despite the years that have elapsed.” The unwavering commitment of law enforcement in Pennsylvania guarantees that justice will be served, whether a crime occurred just minutes ago or half a century ago.
As stated by Delaware County prosecutors, Harrington left her home on Lawrence Road in Marple Township, Pennsylvania, around 9:30 am. Marple Township positioned approximately 11 miles west of Philadelphia, is where this incident occurred.
Harrington journeyed to the summer Bible camp, navigating the land that two churches shared. Reformed Presbyterian Church, located at 144 Lawrence Road and led by her father, and Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reform Church at 140 Lawrence Road, where Zandstra served as pastor, stood side by side.
At Trinity, the accused began the day with activities for the children. Then, they were taken to the Reformed premises around 10 am. The defendant, transporting the children between Trinity and Reformed, used either a white/blue Volkswagen bus or a green Rambler station wagon.
At 11:23 am, Zandstra fulfilled his duty of notifying the authorities about Gretchen’s absence from the Reformed camp, prompting a growing worry in her father and a feeling of uneasiness among the camp attendees, all according to the prosecution.
The skeletal remains of Gretchen were found in Ridley Creek State Park about two months after the initial incident on October 14, 1975. Authorities were informed by a witness that Gretchen had been seen talking to the driver of a green station wagon or a two-tone Cadillac during the early stages of the investigation. Zandstra, when questioned in October 1975, denied any memory of encountering Gretchen when she went missing.
On January 2, 2023, the investigators discussed with someone who knew Zandstra’s daughter. This person used to stay over at the ex- pastor’s house for sleepovers. When she was ten, she woke up at one of these slumber parties and discovered Zandstra was touching her inappropriately. Reports state that when the girl told the defendant’s daughter about what happened, the defendant’s daughter admitted that similar misconduct by the defendant had occurred in the past.
In her diary from 1975, the witness recalled an unsettling incident involving a child in her class. She vividly remembers two attempted kidnappings that the child narrowly escaped. These alarming events were so memorable that she documented them in her written account. She also suspected that the defendant, Zandstra, was likely responsible for these distressing incidents.
On July 17, investigators traveled to Marietta, Georgia, to collaborate with the Cobb County Police Department and track down Zandstra, who had relocated there. They successfully arranged and conducted a meeting with him.
According to sources, he initially denied any part in the disappearance of the 8-year-old. Nevertheless, once evidence from the witness’s statement was brought up; he admitted to seeing Gretchen alone, walking along Lawrence Road on the morning she vanished.
Several witnesses and authorities have confirmed that the accused drove a green station wagon on the specified day. It has been revealed that he provided Gretchen with transportation to a nearby forested area, confessing to the act. Upon parking the vehicle, he asked the victim to undress, but she refused. He forcefully hit her in the head with his fist in response, causing her to bleed. Based on this, he assumed that she was lifeless. To hide her body, he tried to conceal it before leaving the scene.
Zandstra, the alleged criminal mastermind, has been captured by law enforcement for his involvement in a vicious homicide. The charges against him are extensive, ranging from first to third-degree murder. Furthermore, he has been accused of forcefully taking a minor and having a dangerous weapon. His current location is inside Cobb County Jail in Georgia, where authorities ensure he remains behind bars. In a valiant effort, the prosecution is tirelessly strategizing ways to expedite his return to Pennsylvania.
Originally published at https://www.newsbreak.com.
