The who, what, where, when, and how of the Golden State Killer suspect (2024)

The who, what, where, when, and how of the Golden State Killer suspect (1)

What began as a search for the East Area Rapist or Original Night Stalker, ended up being a 40-year manhunt for a killer rapist and home invader who tortured the lives of California residents in the 1970s and 1980s. The reawakening of this cold case decades laterled to the April arrest of suspect Joseph James DeAngelo, now dubbed as the Golden State Killer.

Here is a rundown of what has been uncovered about the 72-year-old suspect until now.

Joseph James DeAngelo:Who is he?

DeAngelo was born in New York but went to Folsom High School in suburban Sacramento. He is a veteranwho served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.After the war, DeAngelo studied police science and criminal justice in college.He then took the opportunity to protect and serve as a California police officer.

MORE:Who is Joseph James DeAngelo, the accused Golden State Killer?

Throughout the 1970s, Exeter and Auburn were the two California cities he operated out of as an officer.Between that time, he entered a marriage that didn’t last.By 1979, DeAngelo had been fired from the Auburn police department for stealing a hammer and dog repellent from a Pay N’ Save store in Sacramento.The former cop retired last year after working 27 years at a distribution center for Save Mart grocery stores. Neighbors could often find him constructing remote-controlled model airplanes and laboring over his home and lawn.

The who, what, where, when, and how of the Golden State Killer suspect (2)

How did DeAngelo get caught?

In 2016, around the 40th anniversary of the first known attack, the search for the culprit of a suspected 12 homicides and about 50 rapes renewed.In addition to a task force created to hunt down the criminal, a $50,000 reward was offered for any clues that could prompt an arrest and conviction.

It was all in the DNA: Thanks to the advancement of DNA techniques and databases, authorities could connect pieces to the puzzle. DNA from a discardeditem and genetic information on a consumer genealogy website guided police to the missing piece with DeAngelo as the suspect.

MORE:Ex-cop Joseph James DeAngelo arrested as suspect in serial murder-rapes

For six days, police had DeAngelo under close watch before they confronted him with an unexpected arrest.Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones noted DeAngelo as being “very surprised” upon the bust.He was found living in Citrus Heights, another Sacramento suburb, with a daughter and granddaughter.

The who, what, where, when, and how of the Golden State Killer suspect (3)

Who else helped crack the case?

The late TV writer and devoted amateur criminologist Michelle McNamara, wife of actor and comedian Patton Oswalt, was captivated by the case and wrote the book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer." As well as spending years tracing the Golden State Killer, McNamara also originated the nickname.Two years after his wife’s death, Oswalt aided in the publishing of the book. The February publishing of the book reemerged curiosity in the Golden State Killer case.A HBO docuseries based on the book is currently in the works.

MORE:How Michelle McNamara's book renewed interest in the Golden State Killer

The charges againstDeAngelo:

As of now, DeAngelo is up against 12 murder charges coming from killings that took place in Ventura, Sacramento, Orange and Santa Barbara counties in the late 1970s and mid-1980s.These charges are in connection to the 1978 slaying of Brian and Katie Maggiore in Citrus Heights, the 1980 Ventura murders of Lyman and Charlene Smith, two double homicides that happened in 1979 and 1981 in the Goleta area, and four more in Orange County.

MORE:Local resident recalls Golden State Killer's Ventura murders

Out of the 50-plus rape cases all over California in which DeAngelo is a suspect, a majority are beyond the statute of limitations.While 10 people were killed in California after DeAngelo was fired from the Auburn police department, a bulk of the rapes occurred while he still served as a cop.

The who, what, where, when, and how of the Golden State Killer suspect (4)

Where will the case go from here?

DeAngelo has not entered a plea. His attorney, Public Defender Diane Howard, said as of May 14 she hadn't been givenaccess to any files on her client’s arrest and the search warrants of his home.She filed a motion to continue her client's arraignment, which the judge granted. DeAngelo will return to court May 29. It is a possibility that the suspect could head to trial in each jurisdiction where he is facing charges.There’s also a chance that DeAngelo’s trial could be held in one jurisdiction with all 12 charges included. Another likelihood is for district attorneys to decide on one jurisdiction where DeAngelo would only be tried on the local charges. According to Santa Barbara District Attorney Joyce Dudley, a resolution will be based on “what’s in the best interest of the people.”The district attorneys plan for another meeting in June.

MORE:District attorneys mull over next steps for Golden State Killer prosecution

The who, what, where, when, and how of the Golden State Killer suspect (2024)
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