Serial Killer Realizes He's Been Caught 45 Years Later

Summary

The investigation into John Arthur Getru, a 74-year-old man from California, uncovers a chilling history of unsolved murders. Initially arrested for a 45-year-old cold case, Getru’s DNA links him to the 1973 murder of Leslie Pearlov and the 1974 killing of Janet Taylor. Despite his claims of innocence, the investigation reveals his past involvement in a murder accusation in Germany and other troubling allegations. Getru’s DNA finally leads to his conviction, and he is sentenced to life in prison, ultimately dying in 2023. His case serves as a reminder of the persistence of justice and the long pursuit of truth.

Takeaways

• 😀 John Arthur Getru, a 74-year-old man, is arrested under suspicion of being involved in a decades-old murder case that had remained unsolved for 45 years.
• 😀 Investigators reopened the cold case after DNA from the crime scene matched John through a public database, leading them to him as the primary suspect.
• 😀 In 1963, John was accused of murdering a 15-year-old girl named Margaret Williams in Germany, but he maintains his innocence despite being convicted.
• 😀 After being arrested in Germany for the crime, John served six years in a juvenile prison before being released and returning to the United States.
• 😀 In 1975, John was again involved in an accusation of sexual assault, though he was not convicted and claims he never saw the young girl involved.
• 😀 In 1973, another murder occurred in the Palo Alto area when Leslie Pearlov, a 21-year-old Stanford graduate, was found murdered. Her DNA would later be linked to John.
• 😀 DNA found beneath Leslie's fingernails connected John to the crime, though he denied knowing her or being involved in her death.
• 😀 Despite claiming he did not know the victims and was not involved in their deaths, John inadvertently revealed knowledge of multiple murders during questioning.
• 😀 Investigators pressed John for a confession, using mounting DNA evidence to confront him with the truth. Eventually, he reluctantly admitted guilt.
• 😀 After further investigation, John was arrested and charged for the murders of both Leslie Pearlov and Janet Taylor, a second victim found in the same area. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Q & A

Who is John Arthur Getru and what is his background?

John Arthur Getru is a 74-year-old man from Hayward, California, who is arrested after being linked to two murders through DNA evidence. He was previously arrested in Germany for the murder of a 15-year-old girl, and later faced allegations of sexual assault and other crimes in the U.S.

What triggered the police investigation into John Getru in 2019?

The investigation into John Getru was triggered by a reopened cold case in Santa Clara County, where DNA from a murder scene was matched to John. Investigators traced his family tree using a public DNA database, leading them to suspect him in two separate murders from the 1970s.

What was John's involvement in the murder case from Germany in 1963?

John was accused of murdering 15-year-old Margaret Williams in 1963 while stationed in Germany. He was arrested, tried, and sentenced to 10 years in a German juvenile prison. However, he maintained his innocence and was released after serving roughly 6 years.

How did John Getru react when questioned about his past in Germany?

When questioned about the murder in Germany, John denied any involvement. He claimed to not know Margaret Williams and stated that he did not remember the details of the event, despite being convicted and sentenced for her murder.

What additional allegations did John Getru face after moving to the U.S.?

After moving to the U.S., John faced allegations of sexual assault in the mid-1970s, particularly related to his involvement with an Explorer Post. The case did not go to trial, and John was not convicted.

What was the connection between John Getru and the murders of Leslie Pearlov and Janet Taylor?

John Getru was linked to the murders of Leslie Pearlov and Janet Taylor through DNA evidence. Leslie's body was found in 1973, and Janet's in 1974. DNA recovered from both victims was a match to John's, leading to his arrest.

What was John Getru's reaction when confronted with the DNA evidence?

When confronted with the DNA evidence linking him to the victims, John denied any involvement and claimed not to know the women. Despite this, investigators pressed him, eventually leading him to confess in the face of mounting evidence.

How did John Getru's confession unfold during the investigation?

John Getru initially denied involvement but eventually made a significant mistake by mentioning the presence of two girls, even though only one had been shown to him. This slip-up, along with other inconsistencies, eventually led him to admit that he had committed the murders.

What was the final outcome for John Getru after the investigation?

John Getru was arrested and charged with the murders of both Leslie Pearlov and Janet Taylor. In September 2021, he was found guilty of first-degree murder in Janet's case and sentenced to 7 years to life in prison. In 2023, he pled guilty to the murder of Leslie Pearlov and received an additional life sentence.

How did John Getru's case contribute to solving other unsolved murders?

John's DNA was retained in a state database, and ongoing efforts continue to compare it against evidence from other unsolved murders, potentially leading to the resolution of more cold cases.