A notorious serial killer, who spread fear in California for over ten years, was ultimately apprehended thanks to a unique identifying characteristic – the extremely small size of his genitalia. Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho’s recent publication, “The People vs. the Golden State Killer,” reveals the intense investigation that led to the capture of Joseph DeAngelo, also known as the Golden State Killer, following years of terror.
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 exploited his law enforcement background to stalk and assault his victims, frequently breaking into homes at night and restraining his targets before committing heinous crimes.
Investigators, as detailed in Ho’s book, meticulously utilized all available evidence to connect the elderly suspect arrested in 2018 to the sadistic criminal who had eluded capture for decades. A crucial piece of corroborating evidence came from the victims themselves, many of whom had described the perpetrator’s remarkably small genitalia.
Upon DeAngelo’s arrest at his Citrus Heights residence, detectives obtained a warrant for a comprehensive medical examination. Officers were tasked with documenting DeAngelo’s anatomy to compare it with witness descriptions. A surreal moment ensued when a police photographer was required to capture detailed images of DeAngelo’s genitals, only to find minimal visible attributes, leading to frustration among the investigators.
The examination revealed that DeAngelo’s genital size was significantly below average, matching the descriptions provided by victims from the 1970s and 80s of their masked attacker’s “minute” penis. This peculiar but verifiable detail served as a key factor in confirming the prosecution’s case against DeAngelo.
After years of eluding law enforcement under various monikers like the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker, DeAngelo’s apprehension in 2018 marked a breakthrough. Through DNA analysis and genealogical tracing, investigators linked DeAngelo to the crime scenes, culminating in his arrest and subsequent guilty plea to numerous charges.
DeAngelo, who faced overwhelming evidence, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder and kidnapping in 2020, avoiding the death penalty. The sentencing phase included emotional impact statements from survivors and victims’ families, bringing closure to those affected by his reign of terror. Currently incarcerated at California State Prison in Corcoran, DeAngelo is serving multiple life sentences with no chance of parole.