John Getreu
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
California, United States
TIME PERIOD
1963-2023
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
John Arthur Getreu, an American serial killer, was convicted of multiple murders spanning from 1963 to 1974, with his first crime occurring on June 8, 1963, in Bad Kreuznach, West Germany, where he raped and murdered 15-year-old Margaret L. Williams. Following his initial conviction, he was sentenced to 10 years but served only 5 years before being released. Getreu committed two additional murders in California in 1973 and 1974, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 and 2023. He was identified through genetic genealogy in 2018, leading to his apprehension. Getreu died on September 22, 2023, while serving his sentence at the California Health Care Facility.
John Getreu is believed to have committed more murders than the three for which he was convicted, with speculation suggesting he may have been involved in additional unsolved cases from the 1960s and 1970s. Investigators and the public theorize that his criminal behavior escalated over time, potentially linked to his troubled upbringing and early criminal history. The use of genetic genealogy to identify him has led to discussions about the possibility of uncovering more victims and solving cold cases associated with his profile.
The Haunting Legacy of John Getreu: A Tale of Crime Spanning Decades
Early Life and the First Murder
John Arthur Getreu was born on August 26, 1944, in Newark, Ohio. As one of four children to an Army serviceman, Charles J. Getreu, John's upbringing was a whirlwind of relocations due to his father's military commitments. This nomadic lifestyle saw the Getreu family living in various locales, including Japan, Hawaii, and North Carolina, before settling in Bad Kreuznach, West Germany, in 1960. It was here that John attended Bad Kreuznach American High School, mingling with children of other American servicemen.
The course of John's life took a dark turn on June 8, 1963, during a school disco just before graduation. At 18, he met Margaret L. Williams, a 15-year-old girl and daughter of an Army chaplain. Their encounter ended tragically when John led her to a baseball field, where he assaulted, raped, and brutally beat her. Margaret succumbed to a severe head injury soon after. Witnesses had seen them together, and John became the prime suspect. Initially denying any involvement, he later confessed to having sexual intercourse with Margaret but denied the murder. His confession did little to sway the verdict, and in June 1964, he was found guilty and sentenced to the maximum penalty under West German law for a juvenile—ten years imprisonment. Remarkably, John showed apparent remorse, expressing regret to the victim's family.
Return to the United States and a New Chapter
After spending over six years in prison, John was paroled and returned to the United States, opting for life in Reno, Nevada. He married Susan, and the couple soon relocated to Palo Alto, California. Between 1971 and 1975, John took on various low-skilled jobs—from security guard to laboratory technician—due to his lack of formal education. He even joined the Boy Scouts of America, working as a counselor.
However, trouble found John again in 1975 when he was convicted of sexually abusing a 17-year-old Explorer Scout. This conviction led to a short prison sentence and an administrative fine. These events prompted Susan to divorce him. John remarried in 1978, this time to Lynda, and they moved back to Newark, Ohio, where they had two children. John appeared to lead a stable life, engaging in business activities and earning a favorable reputation among his peers.
The stability was short-lived. In the late 1980s, John relocated back to California, settling in Alameda County. After Lynda's death from cancer in 2003, he remarried for a third time in 2008. John became actively involved in the Fremont Elks Lodge, serving as Exalted Ruler.
Cold Cases Resurfaced
The veil of normalcy was shattered on November 20, 2018, when John was arrested in his Hayward home for the 1973 murder of Leslie Marie Perlov. Leslie, a Stanford University graduate, vanished on February 13, 1973, from Palo Alto. Her body was discovered three days later near the Stanford Dish hiking trail, showing signs of sexual assault and strangulation. For decades, the case remained unsolved until advancements in genetic genealogy, led by CeCe Moore and Parabon NanoLabs, identified John's DNA as a match for the seminal fluid found on Leslie's body.
The arrest opened a Pandora's box. On May 16, 2019, further DNA evidence implicated John in the 1974 murder of Janet Ann Taylor, another young woman found raped and strangled. Janet, a Cañada College student and daughter of renowned football coach Chuck Taylor, was last seen hitchhiking home from campus before her body was found in a roadside ditch near Sand Hill Road.
Other Allegations and Legal Proceedings
As investigators delved deeper, suspicions arose about John's involvement in other unsolved crimes. Sharon Lucchese accused him of attempting to kill her in 1969. In 2022, journalist Grace Kahng suggested John might be linked to the 1980 murder of 15-year-old Theresa Smith in Newark, Ohio. Despite these allegations, no additional charges were filed.
John's trial for the murder of Janet Taylor commenced in late 2021 in San Mateo County. After a three-week trial, he was found guilty on September 15, receiving a life sentence without parole. Health issues delayed his trial for Leslie Perlov's murder, but proceedings resumed in late 2022, with John attending via video link from his hospital room. On January 10, 2023, he pleaded guilty to Leslie's murder, admitting to killing her during a botched rape attempt. This confession earned him another life sentence without parole.
The End of a Dark Legacy
John Arthur Getreu's story ended on September 22, 2023, when he died in prison at the age of 79. His death closed a chapter of terror that had spanned decades across continents, leaving behind a chilling legacy of violence and mystery.
Sources
- Wikipedia Article on John Getreu: John Getreu - Wikipedia
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First Murder Committed
John Getreu assaults and kills 15-year-old Margaret L. Williams in West Germany.
Conviction for First Murder
Getreu is found guilty of the murder of Margaret L. Williams and sentenced to 10 years.
Conviction for Statutory Rape
Getreu is convicted of sexually abusing a 17-year-old female Explorer Scout.
Leslie Perlov Goes Missing
21-year-old Leslie Marie Perlov disappears from Palo Alto, leading to a cold case.
Arrest for Cold Case Murder
Getreu is arrested for the murder of Leslie Perlov after DNA evidence links him to the crime.
Charged with Second Murder
Getreu is charged with the murder of Janet Ann Taylor, another victim from the 1970s.
Convicted of Janet Taylor's Murder
Getreu is found guilty of the murder of Janet Taylor and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Guilty Plea for Perlov's Murder
Getreu pleads guilty to the murder of Leslie Perlov and receives an additional life sentence.
Death in Prison
John Getreu dies in prison while serving multiple life sentences.
John Arthur Getreu, an American serial killer, was convicted of multiple murders spanning from 1963 to 1974, with his first crime occurring on June 8, 1963, in Bad Kreuznach, West Germany, where he raped and murdered 15-year-old Margaret L. Williams. Following his initial conviction, he was sentenced to 10 years but served only 5 years before being released. Getreu committed two additional murders in California in 1973 and 1974, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 and 2023. He was identified through genetic genealogy in 2018, leading to his apprehension. Getreu died on September 22, 2023, while serving his sentence at the California Health Care Facility.
John Getreu is believed to have committed more murders than the three for which he was convicted, with speculation suggesting he may have been involved in additional unsolved cases from the 1960s and 1970s. Investigators and the public theorize that his criminal behavior escalated over time, potentially linked to his troubled upbringing and early criminal history. The use of genetic genealogy to identify him has led to discussions about the possibility of uncovering more victims and solving cold cases associated with his profile.
The Haunting Legacy of John Getreu: A Tale of Crime Spanning Decades
Early Life and the First Murder
John Arthur Getreu was born on August 26, 1944, in Newark, Ohio. As one of four children to an Army serviceman, Charles J. Getreu, John's upbringing was a whirlwind of relocations due to his father's military commitments. This nomadic lifestyle saw the Getreu family living in various locales, including Japan, Hawaii, and North Carolina, before settling in Bad Kreuznach, West Germany, in 1960. It was here that John attended Bad Kreuznach American High School, mingling with children of other American servicemen.
The course of John's life took a dark turn on June 8, 1963, during a school disco just before graduation. At 18, he met Margaret L. Williams, a 15-year-old girl and daughter of an Army chaplain. Their encounter ended tragically when John led her to a baseball field, where he assaulted, raped, and brutally beat her. Margaret succumbed to a severe head injury soon after. Witnesses had seen them together, and John became the prime suspect. Initially denying any involvement, he later confessed to having sexual intercourse with Margaret but denied the murder. His confession did little to sway the verdict, and in June 1964, he was found guilty and sentenced to the maximum penalty under West German law for a juvenile—ten years imprisonment. Remarkably, John showed apparent remorse, expressing regret to the victim's family.
Return to the United States and a New Chapter
After spending over six years in prison, John was paroled and returned to the United States, opting for life in Reno, Nevada. He married Susan, and the couple soon relocated to Palo Alto, California. Between 1971 and 1975, John took on various low-skilled jobs—from security guard to laboratory technician—due to his lack of formal education. He even joined the Boy Scouts of America, working as a counselor.
However, trouble found John again in 1975 when he was convicted of sexually abusing a 17-year-old Explorer Scout. This conviction led to a short prison sentence and an administrative fine. These events prompted Susan to divorce him. John remarried in 1978, this time to Lynda, and they moved back to Newark, Ohio, where they had two children. John appeared to lead a stable life, engaging in business activities and earning a favorable reputation among his peers.
The stability was short-lived. In the late 1980s, John relocated back to California, settling in Alameda County. After Lynda's death from cancer in 2003, he remarried for a third time in 2008. John became actively involved in the Fremont Elks Lodge, serving as Exalted Ruler.
Cold Cases Resurfaced
The veil of normalcy was shattered on November 20, 2018, when John was arrested in his Hayward home for the 1973 murder of Leslie Marie Perlov. Leslie, a Stanford University graduate, vanished on February 13, 1973, from Palo Alto. Her body was discovered three days later near the Stanford Dish hiking trail, showing signs of sexual assault and strangulation. For decades, the case remained unsolved until advancements in genetic genealogy, led by CeCe Moore and Parabon NanoLabs, identified John's DNA as a match for the seminal fluid found on Leslie's body.
The arrest opened a Pandora's box. On May 16, 2019, further DNA evidence implicated John in the 1974 murder of Janet Ann Taylor, another young woman found raped and strangled. Janet, a Cañada College student and daughter of renowned football coach Chuck Taylor, was last seen hitchhiking home from campus before her body was found in a roadside ditch near Sand Hill Road.
Other Allegations and Legal Proceedings
As investigators delved deeper, suspicions arose about John's involvement in other unsolved crimes. Sharon Lucchese accused him of attempting to kill her in 1969. In 2022, journalist Grace Kahng suggested John might be linked to the 1980 murder of 15-year-old Theresa Smith in Newark, Ohio. Despite these allegations, no additional charges were filed.
John's trial for the murder of Janet Taylor commenced in late 2021 in San Mateo County. After a three-week trial, he was found guilty on September 15, receiving a life sentence without parole. Health issues delayed his trial for Leslie Perlov's murder, but proceedings resumed in late 2022, with John attending via video link from his hospital room. On January 10, 2023, he pleaded guilty to Leslie's murder, admitting to killing her during a botched rape attempt. This confession earned him another life sentence without parole.
The End of a Dark Legacy
John Arthur Getreu's story ended on September 22, 2023, when he died in prison at the age of 79. His death closed a chapter of terror that had spanned decades across continents, leaving behind a chilling legacy of violence and mystery.
Sources
- Wikipedia Article on John Getreu: John Getreu - Wikipedia
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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First Murder Committed
John Getreu assaults and kills 15-year-old Margaret L. Williams in West Germany.
Conviction for First Murder
Getreu is found guilty of the murder of Margaret L. Williams and sentenced to 10 years.
Conviction for Statutory Rape
Getreu is convicted of sexually abusing a 17-year-old female Explorer Scout.
Leslie Perlov Goes Missing
21-year-old Leslie Marie Perlov disappears from Palo Alto, leading to a cold case.
Arrest for Cold Case Murder
Getreu is arrested for the murder of Leslie Perlov after DNA evidence links him to the crime.
Charged with Second Murder
Getreu is charged with the murder of Janet Ann Taylor, another victim from the 1970s.
Convicted of Janet Taylor's Murder
Getreu is found guilty of the murder of Janet Taylor and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Guilty Plea for Perlov's Murder
Getreu pleads guilty to the murder of Leslie Perlov and receives an additional life sentence.
Death in Prison
John Getreu dies in prison while serving multiple life sentences.