Back قاتل الولاية الذهبية Arabic جولدين ستات كيلير ARZ জোসেফ জেমস ডিঅ্যাঞ্জেলো Bengali/Bangla Assassí de Golden State Catalan Golden State Killer Danish Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. German Τζόζεφ Τζέιμς ΝτεΆντζελο Greek Asesino de Golden State Spanish جوزف جیمز دی‌انجلو FA Joseph James DeAngelo Finnish

Joseph James DeAngelo

"Earons" redirects here. For the band, see The Earons.
"Original Night Stalker" redirects here. For the unrelated serial killer commonly known as the "Night Stalker", see Richard Ramirez.

Joseph James DeAngelo
Mug shot of DeAngelo taken in 2018
Born
Joseph James DeAngelo Jr.

(1945-11-08) November 8, 1945 (age 78)
Bath, New York, U.S.
Other names
  • Visalia Ransacker
  • East Area Rapist
  • East Side Rapist
  • East Bay Rapist
  • Creek Bed Killer
  • Diamond Knot Killer
  • Original Night Stalker
  • EARONS
  • Golden State Killer[1][2]
Occupations
  • Police officer
  • Mechanic
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Criminal statusIncarcerated at California State Prison, Corcoran
Spouse
Sharon Marie Huddle
​
​
(m. 1973; div. 2019)​
Children3
Conviction(s)
Criminal penalty12 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 8 years
Details
Victims
  • 13+ murdered
  • 51+ raped
  • 120+ burgled
Span of crimes
1974–1986
CountryUnited States
State(s)California
WeaponVarious, including Miroku revolver
Date apprehended
April 24, 2018

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. (born November 8, 1945) is an American serial killer, serial rapist, burglar, peeping tom,[3][4] former police officer, and former mechanic who committed at least 13 murders, 51 rapes, and 120 burglaries across California between 1974 and 1986.[5][6][7] He is responsible for three known separate crime sprees throughout the state, each of which spawned a different nickname in the press, before it became evident that they were committed by the same person.

In the San Joaquin Valley, DeAngelo was known as the Visalia Ransacker from 1974 to 1976, before moving to the Sacramento area, where he became known as the East Area Rapist from 1976 to 1979 and was linked by modus operandi to additional attacks in Stockton, Modesto and Contra Costa County.[8][9] DeAngelo committed serial murders in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Orange counties from 1979 to 1986, and was known as the Night Stalker and later the Original Night Stalker (in order to differentiate him from Richard Ramirez, a later serial killer who also became known as the "Night Stalker"). He is believed to have taunted and threatened both victims and police via obscene phone calls and possibly written communications.

During the decades-long investigation, several suspects were cleared through DNA evidence, alibis or other investigative methods.[10] In 2001, the combined acronym EARONS came into use after DNA testing indicated that the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker were the same person.[6] The case was a factor in the establishment of California's DNA database, which collects DNA from all accused and convicted felons in California[11] and has been called second only to Virginia's in effectiveness in solving cold cases.[12] In an attempt to increase awareness, crime writer Michelle McNamara coined the name Golden State Killer in early 2013.[6]

On June 15, 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement agencies held a news conference to announce a renewed nationwide effort, offering a $50,000 reward for the Golden State Killer's capture.[13] On April 24, 2018, California authorities charged 72-year-old DeAngelo with eight counts of first-degree murder, based upon DNA evidence;[14][15][16] investigators had identified members of DeAngelo's family through forensic genetic genealogy.[17] This was also the first announcement connecting the Visalia Ransacker crimes to DeAngelo.[18]

Owing to California's statute of limitations on pre-2017 rape cases,[19] DeAngelo could not be charged with the rapes he had committed in the 1970s;[20] but he was charged in August 2018 with thirteen related kidnapping and abduction attempts.[21] On June 29, 2020, DeAngelo pled guilty to multiple counts of murder and kidnapping.[22] As part of a plea bargain that spared him the death penalty, DeAngelo also admitted to numerous crimes with which he had not been formally charged, including rapes.[23] On August 21, 2020, DeAngelo was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.[24][25][26]

  1. ^ McNamara, Michelle (February 27, 2013). "The five most popular myths about the Golden State Killer case". Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 20, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference HAP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Apology at sentencing deepens mystery of Golden State Killer". August 22, 2020.
  4. ^ "The Golden State Killer suspect became part of their family ⁠— and slowly revealed his violent side". Los Angeles Times. June 11, 2019.
  5. ^ "Golden State Killer pleads guilty to 13 murders". BBC. June 29, 2020. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c McNamara, Michelle (February 27, 2013). "In the footsteps of a killer". City Think. Los Angeles (blog). Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
    Lange, Jeva (March 19, 2018). "Michelle McNamara's tantalizing roadmap for finding a long lost serial killer". The Week. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  7. ^ Hallissy, Erin; Goodyear, Charlie (April 4, 2001). "DNA links '70s 'East Area Rapist' to serial killings / evidence suggests suspect moved to southern California". The San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California: Hearst Publishing. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  8. ^ Johnson, Brian (April 27, 2018). "Tulare DA awaits reports connecting 'Golden State Killer' to 'Visalia Ransacker'". ABC30 Fresno. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  9. ^ Fan, Christina (April 26, 2018). "Serial killer's crime spree likely started in Visalia". ABC30 Fresno. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Original Night Stalker". Cold Case Files. Season 2. Episode 22. May 28, 2000. A&E Networks.
  11. ^ Thompson, Don (June 15, 2016). "'Original Night Stalker,' active across California, eludes police for 30 years". The Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California: Media News Group. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  12. ^ Hallissy, Erin; Goodyear, Charlie (October 20, 1999). "How DNA fights crime/ other states make better use of technology". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  13. ^ The FBI Story 2016. Federal Bureau of Investigation (Illustrated ed.). U.S. Department of Justice. 2017. pp. 62–63. ISBN 978-0-16-093735-4. Retrieved January 2, 2018 – via Government Printing Office.
  14. ^ Blankstein, Andrew; Dienst, Jonathan; Siemaszko, Corky (April 25, 2018). "Golden State Killer: Ex-cop arrested in serial murder-rape cold case". NBC News. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  15. ^ Stanton, Sam; Egel, Benjy; Lillis, Ryan (April 26, 2018). "Update: East Area Rapist suspect captured after DNA match, authorities say". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California: McClatchy. ISSN 0890-5738. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "Joseph DeAngelo charges" (Press release). Media Advisory. Orange County District Attorney. April 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 30, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  17. ^ Zabel, Joseph (2019). "The killer inside us: Law, ethics, and the forensic use of family genetics". Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law. 24 (2). SSRN 3368705. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  18. ^ Gonzalez, Liz (April 25, 2018). "Police: Golden State Killer is also Visalia Ransacker". Bakersfield Now. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
    Woomer, Eric (April 27, 2018). "Visalia Ransacker suspect was a 'black sheep', described as a loner in Exeter". The Visalia Times-Delta. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
    Tehee, Joshua (April 25, 2018). "Golden State Killer suspect linked to Visalia mystery, was an Exeter police officer". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California: McClatchy. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  19. ^ Ford, Matt (September 29, 2016). "After Cosby, California ends statute of limitations on rape". The Atlantic. Washington, DC: Emerson Collective. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  20. ^ Arango, Tim; Goldman, Adam; Fuller, Thomas (April 27, 2018). "To catch a killer: A fake profile on a DNA site and a pristine sample". The New York Times. New York, NY. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  21. ^ "Golden State Killer suspect arraigned on rape-related charges". NBC News. New York, NY: NBCUniversal. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
    Thompson, Don (August 24, 2018). "Golden State Killer suspect faces 26 murder and rape-related consolidated charges". The Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois: Tribune Publishing. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  22. ^ Jouvnal, Justin (June 29, 2020). "Man accused of being 'Golden State Killer' enters guilty plea". The Washington Post. Washington, DC: Nash Holdings. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  23. ^ Gabbatt, Adam (June 15, 2020). "'Golden State Killer' suspect reportedly to plead guilty to avoid death penalty". The Guardian. London, England. Reuters. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  24. ^ "Golden State Killer sentenced to life in prison". CBS News. August 21, 2020. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  25. ^ Wamsley, Laurel (August 21, 2020). "Golden State Killer sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  26. ^ "Golden State Killer sentenced to life without possibility of parole". NBC News. August 21, 2020. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.