Cold Case Killer Sentenced to Life for 1978 Murder
Mark Stanley Personette received a life sentence yesterday for the murder of 15-year-old Marissa Rolf Harvey.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Sex Crimes
The 1978 killing of a teenager in San Francisco has reached a resolution after a court sentenced 80-year-old Mark Stanley Personette to life in prison. Investigators identified Personette using DNA found at the scene nearly five decades after the crime.
Why it matters
The case highlights the capability of investigative genealogy and DNA technology to resolve decades-old cold cases in San Francisco. Authorities successfully pursued the conviction after reopening the files in 2020 and tracking the suspect across the country.
The conviction rests on DNA profiles found on the victim's clothing and a piece of dried gum, compared against samples collected by FBI agents from trash discarded by the suspect. The case spans nearly 50 years, from the 1978 disappearance to the 2026 sentencing.
The players
Mark Stanley Personette
The 80-year-old convicted murderer sentenced to life in prison for the 1978 killing of Marissa Rolf Harvey.
Marissa Rolf Harvey
The 15-year-old victim whose 1978 disappearance and murder remained a cold case for decades.
The details
Mark Stanley Personette was convicted in late 2025 for the 1978 sexual assault and strangulation of Marissa Rolf Harvey, whose body was discovered in Sutro Heights Park. Prosecutors secured the conviction by matching DNA evidence from the crime scene to genetic samples obtained from the suspect in Denver. During trial, a victim from New Jersey testified to a separate 1979 rape, establishing a pattern that led to his final sentencing on September 30, 2026.
Timeline
March 27, 1978: Marissa Rolf Harvey disappeared in San Francisco.
1979: Personette allegedly raped a victim in New Jersey.
October 2020: Police reopened the cold case investigation.
Late 2025: Personette was convicted for the murder.
September 30, 2026: Personette received a life sentence.
Across the Bay
This conviction follows the pattern set by the 2020 reopening of the Golden State Killer case, which popularized the use of investigative genealogy to solve decades-old crimes. The successful resolution confirms a trend where long-dormant local cold cases are being reopened using advanced DNA matching.
Residents of the Sunset and those who frequent Sutro Heights Park may find closure in this judicial resolution of a 1978 tragedy. The sentencing concludes the legal process for a crime that remained an open investigation for decades.
The takeaway
This case illustrates the enduring reach of forensic technology in resolving decades-old cold cases. Residents should monitor local police department announcements regarding the reopening of other long-dormant cold cases as DNA databases expand.
Further reading
For more on how the department handles cold case investigations, visit the San Francisco Sex Crimes section.
