In California, a notorious serial killer, known as the Golden State Killer, was finally apprehended after a lengthy reign of terror, thanks to a unique identifying trait – his unusually small genitalia. The People vs. the Golden State Killer, a recent book by Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, details the chilling investigation that led to the arrest of Joseph DeAngelo, the man responsible for a series of heinous crimes spanning over a decade.
DeAngelo, now 80 years old, confessed to 13 murders, over 50 rapes, and more than 100 burglaries that plagued California from 1974 to 1986. Formerly a police officer, he used his law enforcement background to target and assault victims, often breaking into homes under the cover of darkness and subjecting individuals to horrifying experiences.
According to Ho’s account, investigators meticulously pieced together evidence to connect the elderly suspect apprehended in 2018 to the elusive killer who had evaded capture for years. One critical piece of corroborating evidence came from the victims themselves, who had previously described their attacker’s abnormally small genitalia.
Upon DeAngelo’s arrest at his residence in Citrus Heights, detectives obtained a warrant for a comprehensive medical examination. The process involved documenting DeAngelo’s physical characteristics to compare with witness testimonies. Despite initial challenges, a police photographer eventually captured images revealing DeAngelo’s remarkably small and distinctive genitalia.
This crucial detail, though uncomfortable, aligned with victim reports from past decades, solidifying the prosecution’s case against DeAngelo. His capture marked the end of a long pursuit by law enforcement, as he had eluded authorities under various aliases such as the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker.
In 2018, a breakthrough occurred when investigators utilized crime scene DNA from historical evidence on a genealogy website, tracing it back to the DeAngelo family. Subsequently, a discarded tissue linked to the killer outside his home provided a DNA match to samples from crime scenes, conclusively identifying DeAngelo as the perpetrator.
DeAngelo, a former police officer dismissed for misconduct, ultimately pleaded guilty to multiple charges, avoiding the death penalty. His sentencing included emotional statements from survivors and victims’ families, offering closure to those impacted by his reign of terror. Presently incarcerated at California State Prison in Corcoran, DeAngelo is serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.