Suspect Arrested in Cold Case of Woman Missing Since 1983

A human skull discovered in a rural area has helped solve a decades-old disappearance case. The victim, Teresa Peroni, vanished after walking into the woods with her boyfriend during a party in 1983. Authorities recently arrested her former boyfriend, Mark Sanfratello, now 72, charging him with her murder.

Peroni, 27 at the time, was last seen walking into the woods with Sanfratello, her 29-year-old boyfriend, during a gathering in Selma. The couple’s relationship was reportedly troubled, and after a dispute at the event, they entered the woods; Peroni was never seen alive again. Her family reported her missing, leading to an investigation that yielded few clues, and the case eventually went cold.

In 1997, a landowner found a human skull near the area of her last known whereabouts. Although cadaver dogs did not locate additional remains, the skull was sent for DNA analysis at a university in North Texas. The results confirmed the skull belonged to Peroni. The case remained inactive until last year, when authorities reopened the investigation.

Enhanced DNA testing and interviews with individuals connected to Peroni led to the indictment of Sanfratello by a grand jury in June 2025. The following day, he was detained by police in Chico, California, without incident. He awaits extradition to Oregon to face trial on murder charges. Authorities have not disclosed further details, but the case marks a significant breakthrough in a four-decade mystery.

Note: The discovery and identification of the skull played a crucial role in bringing resolution to this long-standing case.