Joseph James DeAngelo

Joseph James DeAngelo
Mug shot of DeAngelo taken in 2018
Born	Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. (1945-11-08) November 8, 1945 (age 79) 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
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Criminal status	Incarcerated at California State Prison, Corcoran
Spouse	Sharon Marie Huddle ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 2019)​
Children	3
Conviction(s)	First-degree murder with special circumstances (13 counts) Kidnapping (13 counts)
Criminal penalty	13 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 8 years
Details
Victims	13+ murdered 51+ raped 120+ burgled
Span of crimes	1974–1986
Country	United States
State(s)	California
Weapon	Various, including Miroku revolver
Date apprehended	April 24, 2018

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. (born November 8, 1945) is an American criminal who committed at least 13 murders, 51 rapes, and 120 burglaries across California between 1974 and 1986.^[3][4][5] 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.^[6][7] 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.^[8] 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.^[4] The case was a factor in the establishment of California's DNA database, which collects DNA from all accused and convicted felons in California^[9] and has been called second only to Virginia's in effectiveness in solving cold cases.^[10] In an attempt to increase awareness, crime writer Michelle McNamara coined the name Golden State Killer in early 2013.^[4]

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.^[11] On April 24, 2018, California authorities charged 72-year-old DeAngelo with eight counts of first-degree murder, based upon DNA evidence;^[12][13][14] investigators had identified members of DeAngelo's family through forensic genetic genealogy.^[15] This was also the first announcement connecting the Visalia Ransacker crimes to DeAngelo.^[16]

Owing to California's statute of limitations on pre-2017 rape cases,^[17] DeAngelo could not be charged with the rapes he had committed in the 1970s;^[18] but he was charged in August 2018 with thirteen related kidnapping and abduction attempts.^[19] On June 29, 2020, DeAngelo pled guilty to multiple counts of murder and kidnapping.^[20] 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.^[21] On August 21, 2020, DeAngelo was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.^[22][23][24]