Pastor arrested in 1975 murder of 8-year-old was “emotionless” when he confessed, Cobb police say

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News is learning new information about a former pastor who is now in jail for murdering an 8-year-old girl in Pennsylvania nearly 50 years ago.

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David Zandstra has been living in Marietta for the past 18 years with his family. Last week, he was arrested in the 1975 murder of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington, who vanished while walking to Bible school. Zandstra was the pastor at one of the two churches the Bible school was held. Her father was the pastor of the 2nd church.

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Channel 2′s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell spoke to Detective Phil Stoddard with the Cobb County Police Department, who said that when Zandstra confessed, he was emotionless.

“He was seated right there when interviewed and when he confessed,” Stoddard said. “He was very calm. Placid.”

Police said Zandstra had lived in Marietta for nearly two decades.

Investigators said that before he and his family moved to Georgia, Zandstra knew the victim and her family very well. His wife even helped in the search when she vanished.

Stoddard said Cobb County Police were contacted by Pennsylvania State Troopers two months ago and they requested police reach out to Zandstra and ask him about his ties to the family.

It was inside a room at the Cobb County Police Department that he confessed.

“A lot of times, when one is in custody, there’s a lot of questions about what’s going to happen next. ‘What am I being charged with?’” Stoddard said. “We got none of those questions from Mr. Zandstra.”

A Pennsylvania State Trooper whose cracked numerous cold cases gave Harrington’s case a fresh set of eyes, re-interviewing witnesses. He found alarming information, including a diary with disturbing allegations, that led him to Zandstra.

“There are allegations that he may have sexually assaulted members of his own family,” Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said. “He used his position on a pulpit to pray on young children.”

Stollsteimer said that Zandstra was a pastor at several different churches and there are likely more victims.

“People who use their positions and power to sexually abuse children probably don’t do it just once,” he said.

Zandstra pastored at five different congregations for the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

The organization issued a statement extending their condolences to the Harrington family and saying they are grieved to hear that a CRC pastor was responsible for her murder.

“We join in prayer for the Harrington family and the Broomall, Pa., community. We are grateful that local law enforcement did not stop in their pursuit of answers, and we pray that the truth for Gretchen and any other survivors of abuse or violence will continue to come to light. We also commit to continue striving for our congregations to be places of peace, welcome, hospitality, and safety for all who attend and visit. As a denomination, we work hard to help our congregations be safe places that actively prevent abuse in all its forms. We encourage all congregations to have safe church policies and procedures in place to help prevent abuse. (To learn more about the tools available to congregations in the area of abuse prevention, visit Thrive’s website.)”

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