Skip to content
Artwork for Forensic Files Unsealed
Forensic Files Unsealed · August 18 · 39 min

The DNA Truth: Solving a 1973 Cold Case Murder

This episode details the capture and interrogation of John Arthur Getru, a 74-year-old serial killer linked by DNA evidence to the 1973 murder of Leslie Perlov. For decades, Getru lived an unremarkable life in California until modern forensic technology identified his genetic profile on samples preserved from the original crime scene. During a high-stakes interrogation, he maintained a calm yet evasive demeanor, frequently denying any knowledge of the victim or his own violent criminal history in Germany. Investigators successfully dismantled his defense by presenting undeniable biological matches obtained through surveillance and cold case re-examination. The confrontation eventually forced a legal resolution, leading Getru to plead guilty to the decades-old slaying. This account serves as a testament to how scientific advancement can eventually secure justice long after a case has gone cold. This episode includes AI-generated content.

0:00-39:30

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

This episode details the capture and interrogation of John Arthur Getru, a 74-year-old serial killer linked by DNA evidence to the 1973 murder of Leslie Perlov. For decades, Getru lived an unremarkable life in California until modern forensic technology identified his genetic profile on samples preserved from the original crime scene. During a high-stakes interrogation, he maintained a calm yet evasive demeanor, frequently denying any knowledge of the victim or his own violent criminal history in Germany. Investigators successfully dismantled his defense by presenting undeniable biological matches obtained through surveillance and cold case re-examination. The confrontation eventually forced a legal resolution, leading Getru to plead guilty to the decades-old slaying. This account serves as a testament to how scientific advancement can eventually secure justice long after a case has gone cold.

This episode includes AI-generated content.