PLANO (WBAP/KLIF News ) – The Plano Police Department is asking the public for information after learning that a former pastor who recently admitted to the kidnap and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Pennsylvania has a North Texas tie.
The Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said 83-year-old David Zandstra lived in Plano after leaving Pennsylvania.
He’s facing charges of criminal homicide, murder of the first, second, and third degree as well as kidnapping of a minor and the possession of an instrument of crime in connection with the killing of Gretchen Harrington.
She was reported missing August 15, 1975 after she vanished on her way to a bible camp Zandstra worked at.
The camp utilized the premises of the Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reform Church. Zandstra was a pastor of Trinity and Gretchen’s father was the pastor of Reformed.
Zandstra was one of several people responsible for driving the children from Trinity to Reformed in a either a white/blue Volskwagen bus or in his green Rambler station wagon.
Witnesses placed Zandstra and Harrington together at the time.
Zandstra initially told investigators he hadn’t seen Gretchen. Her body was found on October 14, 1975 at within the Ridley Creek State Park.
Amid the investigation, a witness told police Zandstra groped her in the groin area when she was 10 during sleepovers at his house. The alleged victim was best friends with Zandstra’s daughter.
Investigators met with Zandstra in Marietta, Georgia, where he lives, on July 17, 2023.
At first, he denied the allegations again but later confessed to the killing after being confronted with evidence from the witness that claimed he groped her when she was a child.
“The defendant admitted that, as corroborated by multiple witnesses, he was driving a green station wagon on the day in question. He admitted to offering Gretchen a ride and taking her to a nearby wooded area. The defendant stated that he had parked the car and asked the victim to remove her clothing. When she refused, he struck her in the head with a fist. The victim was bleeding, and he believed her to be dead. He attempted to cover up her body and left the area,” said the Delaware County DA’s statement.
Zandstra was taken into custody in Georgia where he remains in the Cobb County Jail without bail. He’s fighting extradition and officials are working on getting a governor’s warrant to bring him to Pennsylvania.
Authorities are worried Zandstra may have other victims in Plano or Georgia.
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