Man Indicted for Murder 42 Years After Ex-Girlfriend Vanished at July 4th Party

Over 40 years aft 27-year-old Teresa Peroni went missing — there’s yet been an apprehension successful her case. 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office successful Oregon announced connected Monday, June 30, that they arrested Peroni’s then-boyfriend Mark Sanfratello successful relationship pinch her 1983 disappearance and execution aft reopening nan investigation successful February 2024.

Police shared that Peroni was past seen connected aliases astir July 4th, 1983, stepping into a wooded area pinch Sanfratello — who had been 29 years aged astatine nan clip — while attending a statement successful nan 1000 artifact of Illinois River Road. Shortly after, her family reported her missing, and constabulary launched their investigation.

Police noted that during their first investigation, they deemed Peroni’s disappearance to beryllium suspicious successful nature. However, nan section on pinch nan Josephine County District Attorney's Office wished that “there was not capable probable origin to move guardant pinch criminal prosecution.”

The investigation into Peroni’s decease would spell quiet for complete a decade until 1997 erstwhile a quality skull was located by “individuals connected a adjacent property.” Police past conducted a hunt pinch unit and a cadaver dog, but were incapable to find immoderate different remains. 

The skull was sent for introspection and DNA testing done nan University of North Texas (UNT) — and was yet wished to person belonged to Peroni. Authorities wished this aft re-opening her lawsuit successful February 2024 and collecting further DNA samples.

During their latest investigation, constabulary said they made interaction pinch “known individuals still live that had immoderate type of engagement pinch nan acold case” and knew nan specifications of nan first investigation. This went connected for a mates of months earlier a breakthrough was made.

“On June 27th, 2025, aft locating aggregate individuals associated pinch Peroni, DNA results and nan original case/investigation, a Josephine County Grand Jury indicted Sanfratello connected nan complaint of Murder,” nan Josephine County Sheriff's Office said successful a statement.

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The pursuing time Sanfratello — who was now 72 — was “located and taken into custody without incident” pinch nan assistance of nan Chico Police Department, according to police. He was past questioned by investigators astir his “involvement pinch nan disappearance and execution of Peroni.”

Police did not opportunity whether Sanfratellom, who had been surviving successful California, admitted to nan crime. However, authorities noted that he remained successful custody and was group to beryllium extradited backmost to Josephine County.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office said Peroni’s family has been updated connected this lawsuit and that nary further specifications would beryllium released astatine this time.