42-year-old Oregon cold case cracked as boyfriend, now 72, charged in missing girlfriend’s murder
The discovery of a human skull in a field has led to a major breakthrough in a 42-year-old cold case involving the disappearance of a woman named Teresa Peroni in 1983. Her boyfriend at the time, Mark Sanfratello, now 72 years old, was arrested by police in California and charged with her murder.
Peroni and Sanfratello attended a party in Selma on July 3, 1983, where they got into a heated argument. Following the altercation, the couple ventured into a wooded area, and Peroni was never seen alive again. Their troubled relationship and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance raised suspicions among law enforcement.
Peroni’s family reported her missing, prompting an investigation that initially yielded no leads. However, in 1997, a landowner discovered a human skull near the woods where Peroni was last seen. Despite an extensive search, no additional remains were found at the time. The skull was sent to a DNA forensics lab at the University of North Texas for analysis.
Fast forward to last year, the case was reopened, and investigators revisited the evidence. DNA testing confirmed that the skull belonged to Peroni. Subsequent investigations led to the indictment of Sanfratello for murder by a Josephine County Grand Jury.
Sanfratello was arrested in Chico, Calif., and questioned about his involvement in Peroni’s disappearance and death. He is currently in custody awaiting extradition to Oregon for trial. His public defender has not issued a statement regarding the case.
The arrest of Sanfratello marks a significant development in the decades-old mystery surrounding Teresa Peroni’s fate. The use of DNA evidence and persistent investigative efforts have finally brought some closure to the long-standing case.
