This video documents the undercover arrest and subsequent interrogation of 74-year-old John Arthur Getru, a man identified through DNA evidence linked to a 45-year-old cold case murder. The investigation uncovers Getru's hidden past, including a prior murder conviction in Germany as a teenager and a separate sexual assault case in California for which he served time. During the interrogation, Getru repeatedly denies involvement in the current cold case, despite mounting DNA evidence, but inadvertently reveals knowledge of a second victim related to the case before investigators introduce her. This slip solidifies his connection to multiple unsolved homicides. The video concludes with Getru's eventual conviction for both cold case murders, finally bringing justice decades later, and notes his death in prison.
Bringing a Decades-Old Serial Killer to Justice
0:00 Undercover Arrest: 74-year-old John Arthur Getru is apprehended by an undercover officer using a ruse involving a fake car accident, marking the start of an investigation into a secret spanning decades.
1:16 Cold Case Reopened: Cold case investigators in Santa Clara County reopen a 45-year-old murder case, using DNA from the crime scene and public databases to identify Getru, a seemingly ordinary husband, father, and former Boy Scout leader, as the primary suspect.
2:42 Past Murder Conviction: During the interrogation, Getru reveals he was previously arrested and accused of murder in Germany as a teenager, admitting, "I killed a chaplain's daughter."
3:04 Margaret Williams Murder: Getru was found guilty of the 1963 murder of 15-year-old Margaret Williams in Germany, serving approximately six years in a juvenile prison for her sexual assault and strangulation.
5:06 Prior Sexual Assault Case: John is confronted with another past accusation from 1975 by the Palo Alto Police Department concerning a sexual assault, for which he had received a six-month sentence, serving 30 days on weekends.
7:20 Leslie Pearlov Murder: The investigation focuses on the 1973 murder of Leslie Marie Pearlov, a 21-year-old Stanford graduate whose body was found sexually assaulted and strangled in the Stanford Dish hiking area; DNA beneath her fingernails led to Getru.
9:19 DNA Evidence and Denials: Despite being confronted with DNA evidence, Getru denies involvement in Leslie's murder and claims no reason for such acts, though he acknowledges modern DNA technology's effectiveness in solving crimes.
11:34 Inadvertent Revelation of Second Victim: Getru inadvertently reveals knowledge of a second murder victim ("the two young women," "the one up on the hill" and "the second girl") before the sergeant explicitly introduces her, incriminating himself further.
12:34 Janet Taylor Murder Confirmed: The second victim is identified as 21-year-old Janet Taylor, who was also found assaulted and strangled in the same Stanford Dish hiking area in 1974, confirming Getru as a serial killer responsible for both deaths.
13:04 Interrogation Conclusion: After briefly stating "I'm guilty" and then retracting it, Getru continues to deny his involvement despite overwhelming evidence and eventually requests a lawyer, ending the interrogation.
17:09 Convictions and Sentencing: John Arthur Getru is arrested and booked on a $10 million bond. In September 2021, he is found guilty of the first-degree murder of Janet Taylor and sentenced to 7 years to life. In January 2023, he pleads guilty to Leslie Pearlov's murder, receiving a second consecutive life sentence.
18:01 Death in Prison: John Arthur Getru died of natural causes in September 2023 at the age of 79, finally having been brought to justice for his decades-old crimes.
18:10 Ongoing Impact: Getru's DNA remains in the state database for comparison against evidence from other unsolved murders, aiding in the continued effort to close cold cases.