Oregon Man Gets 20 Years After Plea In 1983 Girlfriend Killing Cold Case
A 73-year-old Oregon man received a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in the killing of his 27-year-old girlfriend in 1983. Authorities identified the defendant as 73-year-old Mark Sanfratello and the victim as 27-year-old Teresa Peroni. Peroni was last seen walking into the woods with Sanfratello after a house party in Selma, Oregon, in July 1983. Her skull was found on nearby private property in 1997, and no other remains were recovered. Investigators reopened the cold case in 2024, reinterviewed witnesses and collected new DNA evidence before arresting Sanfratello in July 2025 in Chico, California. He was extradited to Oregon, indicted on first-degree manslaughter and pleaded guilty under a plea agreement that carried a 20-year sentence with a minimum of 10 years to serve.
Officials said modern forensic techniques and new DNA testing helped build the case after decades of uncertainty. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said the 43-year wait for answers shows the importance of pursuing cold cases and not giving up on victims' families.
Coverage shifted as new reporting added names and forensic detail that earlier accounts did not provide. ABC News reported the sentencing without those identifying details, while later reporting, notably by Fox News, named the defendant and victim and described the reopening, DNA work and the timeline leading to arrest. That shift helped explain how cold-case techniques can yield results decades later.
đ Key Facts
- The defendant is identified as 73-year-old Mark Sanfratello.
- The victim is identified as 27-year-old Teresa Peroni, who was last seen walking into the woods with Sanfratello after a house party in Selma, Oregon, in July 1983.
- Peroni's skull was recovered on nearby private property in 1997; no additional remains were found.
- Investigators reopened the case in 2024, reinterviewed witnesses, collected new DNA evidence and applied modern forensic techniques, which helped build the case and led to Sanfratello's admission.
- Sanfratello was arrested in July 2025 in Chico, California, extradited to Oregon, indicted on first-degree manslaughter, pleaded guilty under a plea agreement, and was sentenced to 20 years with a minimum of 10 years to serve.
- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield commented on the 43-year wait for answers and emphasized the importance of not giving up on cold cases.
đ° Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Identifies the defendant as 73-year-old Mark Sanfratello by full name.
- Names the victim as 27-year-old Teresa Peroni and notes she was last seen walking into the woods with Sanfratello after a house party in Selma, Oregon, in July 1983.
- Specifies that Peroni's skull was found on nearby private property in 1997, with no additional remains recovered.
- Details that investigators reopened the case in 2024, reinterviewed witnesses, collected new DNA evidence, and used modern forensic techniques to build the case.
- Reports that Sanfratello was arrested in July 2025 in Chico, California, then extradited to Oregon and indicted on first-degree manslaughter before pleading guilty.
- Clarifies that he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and received a 20-year sentence with a minimum of 10 years to serve under a plea agreement.
- Includes a quote from Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield about the 43-year wait for answers and the importance of not giving up on cold cases.