DNA solves double murder of South Florida teen girls in 50-year-old cold case, authorities say
Nearly five decades after the brutal killings of two 14-year-old girls, the Broward Sheriff's Office announced it has solved the 1975 double homicide.
Detective Andrew Gianino said advances in DNA testing, new witness information, and meticulous investigative work led to the identification of Robert Clark Keebler and Lawrence Stein as the men responsible for the murders of Darlene Zetterower and Barbara Schreiber.
According to detectives, the girls were last seen getting into a van with two men in Hollywood after completing eighth grade. Their bodies were found the following day on the edge of the Everglades.
Suspects identified through DNA testing and witness accounts
DNA samples recovered from the girls' clothing matched Keebler and Stein, detectives said. Both men have since died.
"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," Gianino explained.
He added that the case is considered "exceptionally cleared" because both suspects are deceased and the State Attorney agreed they would have been criminally prosecuted if still alive.
"[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."
Cold Case Unit continues to investigate decades-old crimes
The full-time Cold Case Unit, created in 2019, investigates unsolved homicides and sex crimes dating back decades. Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said the department remains deeply committed to closing cold cases like this one.
"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," 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."
Victim's sister thanks investigators who never gave up
Barbara's sister, Kimberly Schreiber, expressed gratitude for the team's relentless efforts and wished her late parents and brother had lived to hear the news.
"They'd be so happy that somebody didn't give up—that your team didn't give up, that Detective Andrew didn't give up," she said.
"It does hurt, and it does destroy, but it does give us some closure in our days to come, to smile again."
"I give my thanks to everyone on this team who never gave up, never forgot," she said. "This team has done everything to find the people who did this tremendous, horrible thing to my family."
