"I’ve lived with the guilt for 45 years. I’m sorry." — Joseph James DeAngelo, aka the Golden State Killer
This Solved It Sunday, we’re unraveling the story of a man who terrorized California for decades — raping, killing, and vanishing into the night — and how DNA genealogy finally brought him to justice.
The Terror Begins
In the mid-1970s, Californians were being stalked by a predator no one could catch. First known as the Visalia Ransacker, he was a burglar. Then came the East Area Rapist, who broke into homes, tied up husbands, and raped their wives — often for hours — while whispering chilling threats.
Eventually, he became known as the Original Night Stalker, murdering entire families and leaving almost no trace.
The Trail of Victims
Between 1974 and 1986, he is believed to have committed:
-
Over 120 burglaries
-
At least 50 rapes
-
13 murders
Victims spanned from Sacramento to Southern California. His attacks followed a terrifying routine:
-
He would case neighborhoods days before striking.
-
Break in at night, sometimes while victims were sleeping.
-
Leave behind disturbing souvenirs and obscene phone calls.
The Case Goes Cold
Despite massive investigations, the case went cold. His crimes spanned jurisdictions and decades. Law enforcement gave him multiple nicknames over the years, but he remained a phantom.
Then came the breakthrough.
The Power of Genetic Genealogy
In 2018, investigators uploaded DNA from a crime scene to GEDmatch, a public genealogy site. It didn’t point directly to the killer, but it led to distant relatives. Using family trees, police narrowed in on one man:
Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer.
They followed him, collected DNA from a discarded tissue — and it was a match.
The Arrest and Confession
On April 24, 2018, DeAngelo was arrested at age 72. He later confessed to dozens of crimes in chilling detail. In 2020, he pled guilty to 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnapping, avoiding the death penalty in exchange for life in prison.
Victims and survivors finally faced the man who stole their peace — and sometimes their loved ones — in court.
The Bigger Picture
The capture of the Golden State Killer changed the landscape of forensic investigation forever. It:
-
Sparked renewed interest in using genealogy sites for unsolved crimes
-
Led to the resolution of other cold cases
-
Raised privacy concerns about public DNA databases
But for many, it was a moment of long-awaited closure — and proof that even decades-old killers can be caught.
Final Thoughts
Joseph DeAngelo was a family man, a former cop, and a respected neighbor. But behind closed doors, he was one of the most prolific and sadistic predators in U.S. history. And he almost got away with it — until science solved what justice couldn’t.
Stay tuned for more Solved It Sunday stories at Killer Thoughts and Twisted Plots, where real crimes, forensic science, and survivor voices take the spotlight.
Add comment
Comments