Cases Old and Cold

[HairOfTheDog]

California Serial Killer Suspect Arrested after 40 Years

This is really exciting news.



-- The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department arrested Joseph James DeAngelo Jr, 72, late Tuesday night. He is the suspected Golden State Killer, East Area Rapist, and Original Night Stalker.

--The serial rapist and murderer is suspected of 12 homicides, nearly 50 rapes, and dozens of home burglaries in Sacramento County from 1976 to 1986. It's one of the most prolific unsolved crime sprees in the country.

--The arrest comes nearly two months after the release of journalist and author Michelle McNamara's posthumous crime novel about the Golden State Killer titled I'll Be Gone In The Dark.

The book, released in March, was co-authored by McNamara's husband, actor Patton Oswalt, and fellow journalist Billy Jensen after McNamara's death in 2016 and was #1 on the NYT Best Selller list. I don't know if the book had anything to do with the arrest though.

--DeAngelo is believed to have been fired from the Auburn Police Department for shoplifting a hammer and dog repellent.

--Surviving victims have said they're relieved and waiting anxiously for today's LE press conference; me too. I'm interested to know how LE finally traced the crimes back to DeAngelo. I did not believe this mystery would ever be solved.

https://heavy.com/news/2018/04/joseph-james-deangelo/