Caceres using the M-Vac on Darlene's clothing. Credit: BSO Video.
On a June day in 1975, Barbara Schreiber and Darlene Zetterower, both 14-years-old, sat on a bench on a busy street in Hollywood, Florida. The girls were inseparable, and they were in the midst of carefree summer days as they prepared for their first year of high school. No one could have imagined that the girls would not live to see their 15th birthdays.
The next morning, the girls’ bodies were discovered by a family on a fishing outing in an area near I-75 in the Everglades known as “Andytown.” The girls had been sexually assaulted and shot to death. Over the years, dozens of Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives, deputies, crime scene investigators and crime lab sleuths dedicated time and resources to find the person or persons who took away Barbara and Darlene’s futures. But there were few answers.
Now, BSO Cold Case Homicide Detective Andrew Gianino says a combination of DNA testing and fruitful detective work have led to the emergence of a suspect in the homicides—a man named Robert Clark Keebler, who died a few years ago.
Forensic experts in the Broward County Sheriff’s Office’s Crime Scene Unit used the M-Vac device on Darlene’s clothing, which has been carefully persevered since 1975. With the device, Crime Scene Detective Roberto Caceres was able to separate DNA trapped in the garment from the clothing fibers.
From the DNA, a full suspect profile was developed—one that pointed to Keebler. Keebler’s history included armed robbery, sexual assault, aggravated assault from California to South Florida.
"Getting a full profile from a suspect with a case that's almost 50 years old is rewarding," said Caceres.
Gianino also followed up with the girls’ friends. A woman named Gail remembers seeing the two friends get into a white van. Police believe the driver took the girls to the Everglades where they were raped and shot.
"Whatever took place afterward is the big question. Why did it go from sexual assault to homicide?" said Gianino.
Armed with this new information, Gianino needs tips and information from the public to determine the connection between Keebler and the girls.
“We are trying to figure out how, if, their two universes would have crossed paths back in 1975. It’s difficult to reconstruct the past that’s 48 years old,” he said. “If anybody remembers Darlene and Barbara, anything about them, anything about what occurred in June of 1975, associations, friendships, I ask them to give us a call. It may mean nothing to them but everything to us.”
Gianino also believes another individual was also involved in the homicides. He’s seeking tips and information from the public on that element of the case, as well. The police are also seeing if there is any DNA evidence that ties Keebler to similar cases in the immediate area.
Anyone who might have information on the homicides of Barbara Schreiber and Darlene Zetterower is asked to contact Det. Andrew Gianino at 954-321-4376. If you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477), online at browardcrimestoppers.org, or dial **TIPS (8477) from any cellphone in the United States. Any information that leads to an arrest in this case is eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
Republished courtesy of BSO.