Boyfriend Sentenced in Oregon Cold Case Murder More Than 40 Years After Woman Vanished

By Lucille McNamara On Apr 26, 2026

Marcus Sanfratello will grow old in a federal prison for the murder of his girlfriend in Oregon more than 40 years ago. He will be at least 83 years old when released.

The cold case was finally closed when, on Tuesday, he was sentenced to 20 years in a federal prison for the murder of 27-year-old Teresa Peroni in Josephine County woodlands, southwest of Grants Pass.

She Was Last Seen Alive Walking Into Woodlands With Her Boyfriend

Peroni was reported missing after attending a party in the Selma neighborhood in July 1983. She was last seen walking into the woods with her boyfriend, Sanfratello, who was 30 years old at the time.

Although the police viewed Peroni’s disappearance as suspicious, they lacked sufficient evidence to bring charges against any suspects.

Fourteen 14 years later, in 1997, a human skull was found on private property in the area where Peroni was last seen alive.

The case was reopened in 2024 by Josephine County law enforcement after sufficient DNA had been collected to build a case against Sanfratello. He was indicted of second-degree murder by a grand jury on June 27, 2025.

Tidings Insight

Cold cases can move forward decades later when new forensic testing, records review or witness work gives prosecutors evidence they did not have during the original investigation.

Sanfratello, now 73 years old, was arrested the following day in Chico, California, and extradited to Oregon to face the murder charge.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter under a plea agreement and will serve at least 10 years behind bars.

Tidings Insight

A plea agreement can reduce the charge but still impose a long prison term. Here, Sanfratello pleaded guilty to first degree manslaughter and must serve at least 10 years.