Former minister charged over Delaware County cold case murder

Driving the news: At a news conference Monday, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced charges against David Zandstra, a former minister at Trinity Chapel Christian Reformed Church in Marple Township.

• Zandstra, 83, of Marietta, Georgia, is charged with murder, kidnapping and possession of an instrument of crime. He's fighting extradition to Pennsylvania.

Context: Gretchen was last seen heading to bible study on Aug. 15, 1975. Two months later, the girl's body was discovered by a jogger in Ridley Creek State Park, miles from her home.

• Her death was attributed to blunt force trauma.
• Zandstra had reported Gretchen missing back then, but denied seeing her the day of her disappearance, per authorities.

Between the lines: The suspect confessed to the killing after authorities confronted him with new evidence, per a criminal complaint obtained by Axios.

• A woman reported to law enforcement this year allegations that she was sexually assaulted as a child by the minister around the time of Gretchen's disappearance, according to the complaint.
• She also showed detectives a diary entry she wrote around the time of Gretchen's disappearance about a man who had tried to kidnap a friend of hers: "I think he might be the one who kidnapped Gretchen. I think it was Mr. Z," she wrote.

What they're saying: The crime shattered the close-knit community, making residents no longer comfortable letting their kids out of sight, officials said.

• "We can't prevent evil all the time, but we can certainly hold it to account," Marple Township Police Chief Brandon Graeff said.