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After nearly 50 years, the Broward Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Homicide Unit says the murders of Darlene Zetterower and Barbara Schreiber, both 14 years old at the time of their deaths, have been solved. 

Using advancements in DNA testing, new information from witnesses and solid police work, BSO Detective Andrew Gianino and a team of investigators from BSO’s Crime Lab say two men, Robert Clark Keebler and Lawrence Stein, murdered the girls on a June day in 1975, shortly after they completed eighth grade. On the day of the murders, detectives believe the girls got into a van with two men in Hollywood and vanished. Their bodies would be discovered on the edge of the Everglades the following day. 

Detectives say DNA testing identified Keebler and Stein from samples taken from the girl’s clothing. Both men are dead and won’t stand trial for the crimes. However, Detective Gianino said the case is considered exceptionally cleared. 

“The case was filed with the (Broward) State Attorney’s Office for prosecution as though the defendants were alive. However, they had died years ago. So, a case that is exceptionally cleared is because the defendants are dead, and the prosecuting attorney agreed with our assessment that if they were alive they would be criminally prosecuted for these homicides,” Detective Gianino explained. 

Detective Gianino hopes that despite the passage of time, the knowledge of who killed their loved ones will bring a measure of peace to the families of the victims. 

“(Keebler and Stein) lived full lives, very violent lives,” Gianino said. “I don’t know if it’s justice. But at least it gives the family some answers.”

In 2019, BSO created a full-time Cold Case Unit. The primary function of the unit is to investigate unsolved homicides and sex crimes. Some of the cases, like this one, date back decades. Broward Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony has made investigating these cases a priority. 

“I commend the work of the BSO Cold Case Homicide and Crime Lab units that refused to let Barbara and Darlene’s violent deaths go unanswered and their voices unheard,” Sheriff Dr. Tony said. “Sadly, these two men will not be tried in a court of law, but this outcome should reassure the community that BSO is committed to pursuing justice no matter how long it takes.”

Kimberly Schreiber, Barbara’s sister, is grateful for the work of all those dedicated to solving the murder of her sister and her sister’s best friend. She wishes her parents and brother, who died prior to learning of these developments, could have heard this news. 

“They’d be so happy that somebody didn’t give up,” Schreiber said. “That your team didn’t give up. That Detective Andrew didn’t give up.”

INVESTIGATORS:

Homicide Det. A. Gianino, BSO CID
Homicide Sgt. P. Reynolds, BSO CID

Homicide Major. J. Brown, BSO CID