Ex “Pastor” Admits To Abducting and Killing 8-Year Old Girl On Way To Bible Camp

I hesitated to cover this story….

Not because it isn’t newsworthy, but because I wasn’t sure if I could do it.

This is one of the worst things I’ve seen in a long time.

Absolutely sickening and I will just say upfront that I don’t know why this man isn’t executed on the spot.

That’s right, I said it.

He admitted it?

EXECUTE him just like he did to this girl.

I’m still shaking as I even cover this story….

Would you support an immediate, on the spot death penalty for this crime?

I guess I haven’t even fully explained it to you yet.

Here are the details…

It happened almost 50 years ago in 1975 (how old do you feel right now, by the way?)….but the admission was only recent:

Gretchen Harrington, 8, was abducted on her way to Bible camp.

Now, almost five decades after she disappeared, David Zandstra, the pastor of one of the churches that hosted the camp has confessed to her abduction and murder. https://t.co/J05eH6aGDV

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 25, 2023

From the NY Post:

A former pastor was arrested for the decades-old cold-case murder of an 8-year-old girl in Pennsylvania after he admitted to abducting and killing the young girl while she was on her way to Bible camp, officials said.

David Zandstra, 83, allegedly pulled up alongside Gretchen Harrington in his green station wagon on Aug. 15, 1975, and offered her a ride, according to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.

The wicked pastor told investigators that he took the girl to a secluded spot, where he told her to take off her clothes, then beat her to death when she refused.

The pastor, who was known to the family, said he drove back to church after the killing.

ADVERTISEMENT

“David Zandstra is a monster. He is every parent’s worst nightmare,” Delco District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said during a press conference Monday, according to NBCPhiladelphia.

“He killed this poor 8-year-old girl he knew and who trusted him. And then he acted as if he was a family friend, not only during her burial and the period after that, but for years.”

Gretchen’s skeletal remains were discovered weeks later in Ridley Creek State Park, more than seven miles from her home.

Looks like Dateline may be covering it:

Former pastor David Zandstra, 83, recently confessed to the August 1975 kidnapping and murder of 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington. Authorities have expressed concern that there may be more victims and ask anyone with information to reach out. #Dateline https://t.co/7RY7tIpNVm

— Dateline NBC (@DatelineNBC) July 25, 2023

From NBC:

On. Aug. 15, 1975, 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington was walking to Bible camp in a township outside Philadelphia when she was kidnapped and killed.

On Monday, authorities said a man who had been the pastor of one of the camp’s host churches has been arrested and charged with Harrington’s murder.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office said David Zandstra, 83, recently confessed after he was confronted with new evidence, including a witness’ allegations that the former pastor had groped her and may have tried to kidnap another local girl.

A law office representing Zandstra said it was aware of the charges but had no comment, according to NBC Philadelphia.

The allegations against him include criminal homicide; murder in the first, second and third degrees; kidnapping; and the possession of an instrument of crime. The alleged crimes happened in Marple Township, about 10 miles west of Philadelphia.

The new witness, who was not identified, provided a diary, prosecutors said. In it, she wrote an entry one month after Harrington went missing, speculating that Zandstra may have been responsible for twice trying to kidnap another girl, prosecutors said in the criminal complaint against Zandstra.

“Guess what?” the witness is quoted as writing in an entry dated Sept. 15, 1975. “A man tried to kidnap Holly twice! It’s a secret I can’t tell anyone, but I think he might be the one who kidnapped Gretchen. I think it was Mr. Z.”

She also said she was groped by the suspect during a sleepover at his home seven days before Harrington went missing, according to the complaint. The witness, 10 at the time, was best friends with one of Zandstra’s daughters.

With Vacation Bible School happening this month in many churches all across the country and THIS WEEK for many people, this story hits WAY too close to home.

I can’t even imagine.

What kind of evil must be inside you to do something like this?

Am I over-reacting or would you support an immediate death penalty for people who confess to a crime like this?