Decades-Old Cold Case Cracked by DNA, Leading to Killer's Capture

Summary

A 74-year-old man, John Arthur Getru, was arrested for a 1973 murder after his DNA was found at the crime scene. Investigators reopened the cold case of Leslie Marie Pearlov, a 21-year-old Stanford graduate found strangled in the Stanford Dish hiking area. DNA from under her fingernails, along with evidence from the torn crotch of another victim's underwear, Janet Taylor, led investigators to Getru. Getru had a prior conviction in 1963 for the murder of 15-year-old Margaret Williams in Germany, for which he served time. He was also accused of sexual assault in Palo Alto in 1975 but served minimal time. During questioning, Getru inadvertently revealed knowledge of two victims, one "up on the hill," which investigators later linked to Janet Taylor, who was found in a similar area. Despite his denials, the mounting DNA evidence led to his arrest. In September 2021, Getru was found guilty of first-degree murder for Janet Taylor's killing and sentenced to 7 years to life. In January 2023, he pleaded guilty to Leslie Pearlov's murder and received a consecutive life sentence. John Arthur Getru died of natural causes in September 2023 at age 79.