In a chilling revelation, the infamous serial killer who terrorized California for over a decade was ultimately apprehended due to a unique identifying feature – the remarkably small size of his genitals.
The recent publication by Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, titled “The People vs. the Golden State Killer,” exposes the harrowing investigation that led to the capture of Joseph DeAngelo, also known as the Golden State Killer, ending years of terror.
DeAngelo, now 80 years old, is serving life sentences for confessing to 13 murders, over 50 rapes, and more than 100 burglaries that plagued California from 1974 to 1986. Formerly a police officer, DeAngelo exploited his law enforcement knowledge to target and assault victims, often intruding into homes at night and restraining his victims before committing heinous acts.
According to Ho’s account, investigators meticulously pieced together evidence to link the frail suspect arrested in 2018 to the elusive killer who had evaded capture for decades.
A pivotal piece of corroboration emerged from the victims themselves, as several had described the perpetrator’s unusually small genitals. Subsequently, upon DeAngelo’s arrest at his Citrus Heights residence, detectives obtained a warrant for a thorough medical examination. Officers were tasked with documenting DeAngelo’s anatomy to compare it with witness descriptions.
In a surreal turn of events, a police photographer struggled to capture clear images of DeAngelo’s genitals, with one detective eventually exclaiming in frustration at the lack of visibility. When the necessary images were finally obtained, it became evident that DeAngelo’s genitalia was exceptionally small, matching the detailed accounts provided by victims from the 1970s and 80s.
DeAngelo’s apprehension marked the end of a prolonged pursuit by law enforcement. Known by various aliases such as the East Area Rapist, the Original Night Stalker, and the Golden State Killer, he had eluded justice despite extensive investigative efforts.
The breakthrough occurred in 2018 when investigators utilized crime scene DNA from old evidence on an ancestry website, leading them to focus on the DeAngelo family through genealogical tracing. Subsequently, discreet DNA collection from a discarded tissue outside DeAngelo’s home revealed a perfect match to samples from crime scenes.
The retired police officer, previously dismissed for theft, was ultimately unveiled as the mastermind behind a reign of terror spanning several decades. In 2020, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to multiple charges, avoiding the death penalty and bringing closure to families impacted by his crimes.
DeAngelo now resides at California State Prison in Corcoran, serving consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
