Man Sentenced to 20 Years for 1983 Cold Case Murder of Girlfriend Found in Oregon Woods

The 1983 disappearance of 27-year-old Teresa Peroni remained one of Oregon’s most haunting cold cases for over four decades. However, a significant breakthrough in June 2025 led to the arrest of her former boyfriend, Mark "Marcus" Anthony Sanfratello, now 73.

This case serves as a testament to the power of modern forensic science and the persistence of law enforcement in seeking justice, regardless of how much time has passed.

The Disappearance: July 1983

The tragedy began on or around July 4, 1983, during an outdoor gathering on Illinois River Road in Selma, Oregon. Teresa Peroni, a free-spirited woman who suffered from epilepsy, was attending the party with Sanfratello. Witnesses recalled a volatile relationship between the two, noting that they had been arguing throughout the day.

According to investigative records, the couple was last seen walking together into the forest to sleep for the night. Teresa was never seen alive again. In 1984, an unknown person turned in her purse to the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office; it contained her identification and necessary medication, further fueling suspicions of foul play.

Forensic Breakthroughs and the 1997 Discovery

For years, the investigation stalled due to a lack of physical evidence. A major turning point occurred in 1997 when a human skull was discovered on a property in Selma, near where Teresa was last seen. At the time, technology was insufficient to provide a definitive match.

The case was officially reopened in 2024 by the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, supported by the Oregon Department of Justice. Using modern forensic DNA testing and re-interviewing original witnesses, investigators successfully identified the skull as belonging to Teresa Peroni. This identification provided the "corpus delicti" necessary to move forward with a criminal prosecution.

Arrest and 2026 Sentencing

On June 27, 2025, a Josephine County Grand Jury indicted Sanfratello for Murder in the Second Degree. He was apprehended the following day by the Chico Police Department in California, where he had been living for years, often seen playing guitar at local open mic events.

The legal proceedings reached a conclusion in April 2026. Sanfratello entered a guilty plea to Manslaughter in the First Degree. Under the terms of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with a requirement to serve a minimum of 10 years.

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