Crime Salad Podcast Summary

Episode: Teresa “Terry” Peroni: Missing 1983. Found 1997. Identified 2024.
Hosts: Ashley and Ricky
Date: November 8, 2025

Overview

This episode explores the heartbreaking story of Teresa (“Terry”) Peroni, who disappeared in the summer of 1983 while seeking belonging within Oregon’s counterculture community. After decades as a cold case—with rumors, failed investigations, and devastating family heartbreak—Terry’s remains were finally identified in 2024. This revelation led to the 2025 arrest of Marcus San Fratello, the primary suspect whose violence and control had long shadowed the case.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Terry’s Background and Struggles

• Childhood Instability:
  • Born to Phyllis Vincent and Lester Neal, grew up with brother Russell amidst abuse from stepfather and a fractured family.
  • Suffered from epilepsy, leading to isolation and struggle for employment.
• Seeking Belonging:
  • After a devastating divorce in 1974, she searched for community and acceptance, ultimately joining the Earth People’s Park Crowd (EPP) in rural Oregon.
• Life in Counterculture:
  • The EPP was not a structured commune but rather a nomadic group drawn by ideals of peace and freedom, but marred by drug use and instability.
    • “To some, including Terry, it probably seemed like freedom. But to others, it was chaos.” – Ashley [05:14]

2. Events Leading to Terry’s Disappearance

• Volatile Relationships:
  • Romantically involved with Marcus San Fratello (local musician) and “Rat Trap.”
  • Marcus’s control and violence escalated; physical abuse documented by Terry’s family, including hospitalization for broken ribs.
    • “He wasn’t sorry he hurt her. He was sorry that he got caught.” – Ricky [22:37]
• Compounded Vulnerability:
  • Loss of disability benefits led to deteriorating health and increased dependence on others for drugs and housing.
  • Community’s transience and suspicion of law enforcement hindered outside intervention.
• Last Sighting:
  • Last positively seen early July 1983 at the Selma “Ranch” party, where Marcus and Terry had a public altercation; multiple conflicting witness accounts, but Marcus was the last person seen with her.

3. Investigation’s Many Failures and Revival

• Initial Investigation (1983–1985):
  • Delayed missing person report and unreliable witnesses led the case to go cold quickly.
  • “A month is a lifetime when someone disappears. Especially back in the 1980s, before digital records or quick communication.” – Ricky [07:54]
• Early Evidence:
  • Terry’s purse and epilepsy medication were found without her—a major red flag, as she relied on these for survival.
• Marcus’s Pattern of Violence:
  • After leaving Oregon, Marcus stabbed and assaulted his ex-wife and stepdaughter in 1985; sentenced to prison, but never charged in Terry’s case at that time.
    • “This is the same pattern we’ve seen from the start. Deny, deflect, then pivot... He was violent and escalating.” – Ricky [29:02]
• Discovery of Remains:
  • 1997: A human skull found near the “Ranch” but was not immediately linked to Terry due to lost evidence and failed DNA extraction.
  • 2004: Detective Selig tried to revive the case, but the skull was lost in bureaucratic shuffle and the case closed again in 2005, freezing for another 15 years.
    • “That lack of accountability is such a disservice to Terry and her entire family. They deserved honesty. They deserved care. And they didn’t get that.” – Ricky [34:43]

4. Breakthroughs and Modern Forensics

• Recovery and DNA Identification:
  • 2020: Skull found in University of North Texas genetics lab, leading to successful mitochondrial DNA testing by 2024.
  • Skull confirmed as Terry Peroni using DNA from her half-sister.
• Renewed Investigation and Community Effort:
  • Detectives and advocates (notably Gwen Barringer and John Lorden) worked independently to assemble evidence, request records, podcast about the case, and push for answers.
    • “Gwen Barringer was actually the one who tracked Marcus to his current address in Chico, California, leading to his arrest.” – Ashley [49:17]
• Formal Case Reopening and Arrest:
  • 2024: Josephine County Sheriff's Office reopens the case.
  • June 27, 2025: Marcus San Fratello indicted for second-degree murder and arrested in Chico, CA.

5. Community Impact, Closure, and Ongoing Hope

• Family’s Reaction:
  • Russell Neal, Terry’s brother, expressed both relief and enduring heartbreak at the news.
    • “He told reporters that he welcomed the news and that he was grateful for the people who never gave up. But the loss still cuts as deeply as it did in 1983.” – Ashley [50:27]
• Advocacy and Persistence:
  • The role of true crime podcasts and citizen researchers in forcing cold cases back into the spotlight was emphasized throughout.
    • “She had lost a lot of hope that this case was ever going to move forward, but she didn’t give up.” – Ashley [49:38]
• Justice Delayed vs. Justice Denied:
  • The episode reflects on how systemic failures and technology gaps delayed justice, but also honors those whose perseverance finally brought answers—albeit decades late.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the counterculture community:
  • "To some, including Terry, it probably seemed like freedom. But to others, it was chaos." – Ashley [05:14]
• On Marcus’s demeanor after attacking Terry:
  • “He wasn’t sorry he hurt her. He was sorry that he got caught. The family saw him. They saw exactly what he was capable of.” – Ricky [22:37]
• On the investigation’s failures:
  • “That lack of accountability is such a disservice to Terry and her entire family. They deserved honesty. They deserved care. And they didn’t get that.” – Ricky [34:43]
• On justice and closure:
  • “He told reporters that he welcomed the news and that he was grateful for the people who never gave up. But the loss still cuts as deeply as it did in 1983.” – Ashley [50:27]
• On the power of advocacy:
  • “She had lost a lot of hope that this case was ever going to move forward, but she didn’t give up.” – Ashley [49:38]

Key Timelines

• [01:30-05:14]: Terry’s early life and reasons for joining EPP
• [16:34-23:23]: Relationship with Marcus, cycle of abuse, descent into instability
• [24:54-27:25]: The night of Terry’s disappearance; conflicting witness statements
• [28:45-29:15]: Marcus’s violent crimes in California
• [31:54-34:43]: Botched evidence handling and years of investigative stagnation
• [44:07-45:57]: Forensic identification, indictment, and arrest of Marcus
• [47:10-50:27]: Aftermath, community and family reactions

Flow & Tone

Ashley and Ricky maintain a compassionate, meticulous tone. They balance storytelling with careful analysis and empathy for Terry and her family, while expressing justified frustration at investigative mishaps. The hosts highlight the role of advocacy and modern forensics in giving voice and justice to forgotten victims.

Conclusion

This episode of Crime Salad serves as both a chilling account of a woman lost in society’s margins—and a powerful case study in the importance of persistence, advocacy, and scientific progress. Terry Peroni’s story reminds listeners that while justice may be delayed, it’s never truly out of reach as long as someone is willing to refuse to forget.

For further information or to support ongoing cases:

• Visit the Josephine County Missing Persons Project (Facebook page)

(Ad sections and non-case content have been omitted from this summary.)