Retired Pastor Found Not Guilty for 8-Year-Old’s Murder
The 50-year-old case grows cold again
A retired pastor accused of killing an 8-year-old girl whose remains were discovered in a Pennsylvania park nearly 50 years ago has been acquitted.
David Zandstra / Gretchen Harrington / Photos courtesy of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office
On January 18, following a four-day trial, a jury deliberated for an hour before finding 84-year-old David Zandstra—who now lives in Marietta, Georgia—not guilty.
In mid-2023, police arrested Zandstra on charges of kidnapping and murdering Gretchen Harrington, who disappeared in 1975 while walking alone to a Bible camp at a church where Zandstra was the pastor. A jogger found the girl’s remains two months later in a nearby park.
Prosecutors alleged that on the day Harrington vanished, Zandstra offered her a ride—an accusation supported by the (Delaware County, Penn.) district attorney when charges were filed.
Authorities also claimed the retired pastor confessed to the killing after detectives reopened the cold case upon receiving new information and then interviewed the retired minister.
Zandstra’s attorney, Mark Much, said detectives pressured and tricked Zandstra into confessing to a crime he didn’t commit.
The defense has maintained there was no physical evidence tying the Zandstra to the killing and emphasized that other suspects had drawn police attention and were more likely to be responsible.
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Before issuing the decision, the jury reviewed the arguments from both parties and examined the confession video—which the defense had unsuccessfully filed a motion to suppress.
A jury acquitted Zandstra after deliberating for an hour following a four-day trial.
Defense attorney Christopher Boggs, who served as co-counsel, released the following statement to Action News on the acquittal:
“David Zandstra maintained his innocence for 48 years and as Mr. Much said in his closing, he maintained his innocence for most of his interview, and he maintains his innocence to this day. Our firm and Mr. Zandstra’s family are very proud and grateful of Mr. Much’s efforts and we are happy to have Mr. Zandstra returned to his family. Criminal trials in this country are amazing things and we thank the jury for their hard work this week. Our hearts along with all of Delaware County still break for the Harrington family who deserve an end to the nightmare of losing a family member.”
Zandstra spent nearly 18 months in police custody until the ruling.
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