Leslie Perlov, a 21-year-old white female and Stanford University alumna, was tragically murdered on February 13, 1973. Her body was discovered three days later, on February 16, in the hills overlooking the Stanford University campus. Leslie, who worked as a law librarian in Palo Alto and aspired to attend law school, was found with a floral scarf tightly knotted around her neck, which had been used as a ligature to strangle her.
Evidence suggested that her killer had attempted to sexually assault her. The case remained unsolved for decades, leaving her family and the community in anguish.
In 2018, a breakthrough in DNA technology led to a significant development in the case. Investigators submitted DNA evidence recovered from under Leslie's fingernails to a specialized lab, which used genetic genealogy to identify a suspect. This evidence pointed to John Arthur Getreu, a 74-year-old man who had lived and worked near Stanford University in the 1970s. Authorities surreptitiously obtained a sample of Getreu's DNA from discarded trash, which matched the DNA found on Leslie's body. Getreu was subsequently arrested and charged with her murder.
John Arthur Getreu, who had a history of violent crimes, was linked to multiple murders in what became known as 'The Stanford Murders.' He was previously convicted of the 1974 murder of Janet Ann Taylor, another 21-year-old white female and the daughter of Stanford's football coach. Getreu's criminal record also included a conviction for the 1963 rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in Germany and a rape in California in 1975.
In January 2023, nearly 50 years after Leslie's death, John Arthur Getreu pleaded guilty to her murder. He was sentenced in April 2023 to a term of seven years to life in prison. This sentencing marked a long-awaited moment of justice for Leslie's family and the broader community. The resolution of this cold case was a testament to the advancements in forensic science and the relentless efforts of investigators. However, the pain of Leslie's loss and the impact of her untimely death continue to resonate with those who knew and loved her.
