"PUBLISHER'S NOTE: This Blog is interested in false confessions because of the disturbing number of exonerations in the USA, Canada and multiple other jurisdictions throughout the world, where, in the absence of incriminating forensic evidence the conviction is based on self-incrimination – and because of the growing body of scientific research showing how vulnerable suspects are to widely used interrogation methods such as the notorious ‘Reid Technique.’ As all too many of this Blog's post have shown, I also recognize that pressure for false confessions can take many forms, up to and including physical violence, even physical and mental torture.
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog:
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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: " (Defence Attorney) Much noted that Zandstra in the first half of the interview denied seeing Gretchen at all that day. Martin agreed it was only after he began discussing DNA in earnest that Zandstra’s recollection began to vary, though Much still counted numerous instances of the defendant using phrases like “I guess,” or “it’s possible” or that he “must have” done something."
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STORY: At trial, PA trooper acknowledges ‘deceptive’ tactics in soliciting confession to child’s murder from ex-ministe," by Reporter Alex Rose, published by The Delaware County Daily Times, on January 15, 2025.
SUB-HEADING: "Much of Thursday taken up with cross examination of lead investigator."
FIST: "Testimony in the David Zandstra trial concluded Thursday after defense attorney Mark Much spent most of the day cross-examining Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Andrew Martin.
Zandstra, 84, of Marietta, Ga., is facing murder and kidnapping charges in the 1975 abduction and death of 8-year-old Marple resident Gretchen Harrington.
Gretchen disappeared on the morning of Aug. 15, 1975, while walking to a summer Bible school at Trinity Chapel Christian Reform Church at 140 Lawrence Road, where Zandstra served as minister.
Her remains were discovered by a jogger in Ridley Creek State Park on Oct. 14, 1975, along with several items of her clothing. Her skull had been fractured in two places.
Martin said current map data put the location of her remains about 10 to 13 minutes from where she was last seen.
Martin described working the cold case beginning in 2017 during direct examination with Deputy District Attorney Geoff Paine Wednesday. He said a woman had shown him a diary from 1975 accusing Zandstra of molesting her, which led Martin to interviewing Zandstra in July 2023.
Zandstra confessed to kidnapping and killing Gretchen during that recorded interview, the entire 3½ hours of which was played for the jury Wednesday evening.
During cross-examination Thursday, Much pointed to areas in the interview where Martin was less than truthful in what he told Zandstra about the case and evidence against him, including that he would send his DNA across the country to other states where he had ministered and that there were rocks with blood on them taken from the scene.
“I was being deceptive,” Martin said.
“You were lying,” Much replied.
“I was being deceptive,” Martin reiterated.
Much noted that Zandstra in the first half of the interview denied seeing Gretchen at all that day. Martin agreed it was only after he began discussing DNA in earnest that Zandstra’s recollection began to vary, though Much still counted numerous instances of the defendant using phrases like “I guess,” or “it’s possible” or that he “must have” done something.
Much also pointed to statements by two teachers at Trinity who said they saw Zandstra there for opening ceremonies, though Martin said at least one of these was suspect because it put the time for ceremonies around 10:00-10:15 a.m., when others interviewed had indicated the school began around 9:30 a.m.
Much additionally pointed to a July 2023 letter from a woman who said she was at Trinity that day and that the events of Aug. 15 had been burned into her mind due to Gretchen’s disappearance.
By her recollection, Zandstra was present at Trinity by 9:30 a.m. and only left to assist Gretchen’s father, Harold, after he came in to inquire about his daughter’s whereabouts around 11 a.m., after she should have gone with classmates to the Reformed Presbyterian Church at 144 Lawrence Road, where Harold was the reverend.
She said Zandstra did not seem to be upset or disturbed that morning prior to Harold Harrington’s arrival and there was nothing unusual in his behavior.
Martin agreed with Much that one item of Gretchen’s clothing had DNA from an unknown female on it and that Zandstra had been excluded as a contributor to DNA found on two rocks and a soda can collected from the area.
Martin also said Zandstra’s wife had not told him during a phone conversation involved in setting up the interview with the troopers that her husband had suffered a stroke and that his health was in decline. But Martin agreed that she told him she wanted to be present for her husband’s interview.
Martin said he intended to interview Zandstra’s wife as well, but preferred to question everyone on their own. He said he told Zandstra he was free to not answer questions and could stop the interview at any time. Martin and fellow Trooper Eugene Trey never did interview Zandstra’s wife following the confession.
Much additionally noted that a witness claimed to have seen Gretchen that day at Lawrence Road and Sussex Boulevard at 9:25 a.m., essentially at the end of the half-mile walk along Lawrence from her home to the church. Much estimated that walk would have taken about 7 minutes.
Though that was a busy intersection in the morning hours, Martin agreed the only witness who reported anything about a child and a car involved a younger man chasing a child into a white vehicle, not a green Rambler, as Zandstra drove at the time.
There was a report by one person of a child being approached by either a green car or a white-topped, dark-bodied Cadillac, but that witness said it happened around 8:30 a.m., an hour before Gretchen even left the house.
The case file also included a profile for another man who Martin said was a focal point of the original investigation due to his history of child abduction and sexual assault.
Though Martin conceded hair found in that man’s truck was described as having “similar characteristics” to Gretchen’s, his DNA had never been compared to items found at the scene, and he later died in prison.
Zoe Harrington, Gretchen’s older sister, had also claimed in 2021 to have been taken to a wooded area the night of her sister’s disappearance and was told by her father and other men in robes and masks to kill Gretchen with a rock, or they would kill her.
Martin said that confession of a cultish gathering had several elements that made it unbelievable, however, and that Zoe suffered from mental health issues, including delusional paranoia.
Much pointed out that Zoe’s DNA was never sent out to a crime lab and that she had said she was able to see that night by the light of the moon. Historical records Much provided indicated it was two-thirds of a full moon that night.
Martin had also processed an affidavit of probable cause for a consensual wiretap so Zoe could call her father about the story, though he said Zoe backed out before that call was ever made.
Paine and Much are expected to give their closing arguments Friday morning."
The entire story can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog.
SEE BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE ON-GOING INTERNATIONAL CASES (OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL USA) THAT I AM FOLLOWING ON THIS BLOG, AT THE LINK BELOW: HL:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/4704913685758792985
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FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
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FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions. They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!
Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;
