Oregon Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Girlfriend’s 1983 Killing After Cold Case Breakthrough

Marcus Sanfratello, 73, received a 20-year prison sentence in Grants Pass, Oregon, for the killing of Teresa Peroni in a case that went unsolved for over four decades, state officials announced on Tuesday.

Sanfratello pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter after investigators reopened the cold case in 2024 and linked him to Peroni’s death using new DNA evidence and forensic analysis. Under the plea agreement, he must serve a minimum of 10 years before being eligible for parole.

Peroni, then 27, vanished in 1983 after attending a party near Selma, a small town in southern Oregon. Authorities at the time identified Sanfratello, her then-boyfriend, as the last person seen with her. Despite initial investigations, insufficient evidence prevented criminal charges for years.

In 1997, a human skull discovered on a nearby property was sent for forensic review, but it was not until advanced DNA testing in 2024 that experts at the University of North Texas positively identified the remains as Peroni’s. This breakthrough allowed the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office to press charges and led to Sanfratello’s arrest in Chico, California, followed by his extradition to Oregon.

Sanfratello's attorney cited his client’s urgent medical needs as a motivation to resolve the case, noting that he will receive treatment while incarcerated. Oregon Attorney General Rayfield acknowledged the prolonged ordeal for Peroni’s family, describing the resolution as long overdue and emphasizing investigators’ commitment to unresolved cases.

Sanfratello was originally indicted for second-degree murder before pleading guilty to a lesser charge. With sentencing complete, he will begin serving his term while Peroni’s family receives long-awaited closure. No additional suspects have been named, and the case is now considered resolved, authorities said.