JOHN GETREU, THE STANFORD SERIAL MURDERER, DIES AT 79

By Grace Kahng | September 25, 2023 | San Jose, CA

John Arthur Getreu, a serial rapist and killer who eluded authorities for decades for the murders of two students at Stanford University, died on Friday at the California Department of Corrections in Stockton, CA. He was 79. This April he pled guilty and was sentenced for the brutal rape and murder of 21 year old Stanford graduate Leslie Perlov.

Getreu, a former Stanford employee, admitted to his son that he had killed Perlov on November 5, 2021, the day he was sentenced for the 1974 murder of 21 year old Janet Taylor, the youngest daughter of Stanford’s Athletic Director and Hall of Fame football coach, Chuck Taylor.

Despite a previous conviction for the rape strangulation murder of high school sophomore 15 year old Margaret Williams at a U.S. Army base in Germany in 1963, Getreu was released in 1969 and sent to California after only serving six years of a ten year sentence.

“My goodness. This horrible human being who was bigger than life and has been in my life since I was seven and a half is actually dead,” remarked Evan Williams the younger brother of Geteru’s first murder victim. “ My continued prayers for every family and every life that has ended or been adversely affected in any way by him.”

Despite his previous record of violence which also included being institutionalized at age 14 for assaulting young girls, John Getreu lived a life unmolested by his history and conviction for murder.

“I”m grateful he died in prison. I’m grateful for all those who pursued the truth and I’m grateful for DNA,” said Diane J. who was raped in 1974 at age 17 by Getreu in her family home. Then 30 years old, Getreu had been a trusted Boy Scout leader and chaperone. He did not serve any time for raping the high school junior. He was given community service for four weekends after successfully arguing that the sex had been consensual.

After four decades of being disbelieved, Diane J. testified in front of a jury in the Janet Taylor murder trial in September 2021. Her detailed testimony of that violent rape helped jurors convict Getreu in under 45 minutes for the 1973 murder.

Getreu was finally arrested in 2018 and indicted for the Stanford murders after Santa Clara detective Sgt Noe Cortez linked him to Perlov’s murder using DNA technology.

Perlov, who was engaged to be married and had been accepted to University of Pennsylvania Law School was brutally beaten and tortured before Getreu eventually strangled her to death. Despite being overpowered the petite law librarian fought her attacker and had DNA material under each of her ten fingernails. Four decades later with the help of DNA and because of her sister Diane Perlov’s unrelenting advocacy for justice, Getreu was finally apprehended.

“I’m glad he died in prison. That is the most justice we can expect and what we fought for over these past 50 years” Diane Perlov said in a statement she exclusively shared this afternoon when this reporter informed her Getreu had died. “My sister fought for her life and left us clues under her fingernails. I am deeply grateful to all the detectives, lawyers, jurors, scientists and DNA for piecing it all together. While there is no closure for our families, I have a certain amount of peace knowing he’s truly gone and cannot kill one more precious girl. Leslie, YOU GOT HIM!"

John Getreu, a long time Bay Area resident and and thrice married family man worked odd jobs in health care and as a cabinet maker. His first marriage ended in divorce in 1978 after his wife Susan discovered Getreu sexually assaulting their daughter, Cathi at a family gathering. Getreu had been raping his adopted daughter since she was 5 years old.

Now a mother and grandmother, Cathi, gave this comment when informed of her former stepfather’s death. “Well, he wasn’t in prison that long. I hate to imagine what he’s gotten away with all these years and I do imagine it a lot. I would be stoked to learn that someone took his life. “

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation informed Getreu’s family members of his death. No cause was given but Getreu had been in failing health since the pandemic.

This reporter suspects him in the death of at least six other kidnappings and murders of young girls and women His son, Aaron Getreu has been cooperating with this reporter’s ongoing investigation. There is evidence to suggest that Getreu is responsible for the murder and disappearance for six additional young girls and women.

Contact: Grace Kahng <grace@santokiproductions.com>