Cold Case Killer Sentenced to Life in Prison
A court sentenced 80-year-old Mark Stanley Personette for the 1978 murder of 15-year-old Marissa Rolf Harvey.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Sex Crimes
A San Francisco court sentenced 80-year-old Mark Stanley Personette to life in prison for the 1978 murder and sexual assault of 15-year-old Marissa Rolf Harvey. Investigators identified Personette using DNA found on the victim and confirmed his identity through discarded trash.
Why it matters
The conviction closes a decades-old cold case that remained unsolved for over 40 years after the victim's body was discovered in Sutro Heights Park. It highlights the power of modern genetic and forensic technology to bring justice in long-dormant criminal investigations.
Mark Stanley Personette was convicted in late 2025 and received a life sentence on September 30, 2026. Evidence included a male DNA profile recovered from the victim's clothing and a piece of gum found at the scene.
The players
Mark Stanley Personette
He is an 80-year-old man convicted of the 1978 murder and sexual assault of a teenage girl.
Marissa Rolf Harvey
She was a 15-year-old girl whose disappearance from San Francisco and subsequent murder remained unsolved for decades.
The details
Authorities reopened the investigation in 2020, eventually using DNA evidence matched to the suspect in Denver to link him to the 1978 crime. A separate witness also testified that the suspect had raped her in New Jersey in 1979.
Timeline
March 27, 1978: Marissa Rolf Harvey disappeared in San Francisco.
1979: Personette allegedly committed a separate sexual assault in New Jersey.
October 2020: Police reopened the cold case investigation.
Late 2025: Personette was convicted of the murder.
September 30, 2026: The court issued a life sentence to Personette.
Legal Context
This conviction follows the pattern set by the successful use of forensic genealogy in the 2018 Golden State Killer case. It underscores a growing trend of utilizing advanced genetic databases to secure convictions for violent crimes that occurred long before modern DNA profiling existed.
The resolution of this case provides closure to the local community and demonstrates the efficacy of ongoing efforts to clear long-standing cold cases. Residents can expect continued commitment from law enforcement to utilize modern forensic tools to investigate unresolved violent crimes.
The takeaway
This case highlights how modern forensic genealogy allows investigators to overcome the limitations of aging evidence. It serves as a reminder that cold cases are increasingly subject to review as technology continues to evolve.
Further reading
For more information on legal proceedings involving violent offenses, visit the Sex Crimes section.
