Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., born November 8, 1945, in Bath, New York, is one of the most notorious serial criminals in American history. Known under several aliases — the Golden State Killer, the Original Night Stalker, the East Area Rapist, and the Visalia Ransacker — DeAngelo committed at least 13 murders, more than 50 rapes, and hundreds of burglaries across California between 1974 and 1986.
Early Crimes and Burglaries
DeAngelo’s criminal career began in northern California, where he committed over 120 burglaries and one murder in the San Joaquin Valley. His early offenses included breaking into homes, rifling through possessions, and stealing low-value items such as coins, Blue Chip stamps, and personal effects, often leaving higher-value items untouched. Items were sometimes displayed or rearranged to taunt homeowners. These initial crimes earned him the moniker Visalia Ransacker, with his activities dating from 1973 to 1975.
The turning point came in September 1975, when DeAngelo escalated to murder. He fatally shot Claude Snelling, a journalism professor, after attempting to kidnap Snelling’s teenage daughter during a break-in. Over the next several years, his methods grew more violent and calculated.
East Area Rapist (1976–1979)
By 1976, DeAngelo had moved to Sacramento County, where his crimes escalated from burglary to serial rape. He targeted women in isolated homes, often stalking neighborhoods in advance, observing routines, and sometimes making repeated phone calls to intimidate his victims. His attacks were methodical: he would bind and blindfold victims, separate couples, and commit sexual assaults for hours, frequently using household items like shoelaces and towels for restraints.
Victims endured repeated violations, not only during the assaults but also afterward through invasive questioning by law enforcement. One victim, Kris Pedretti, described how DeAngelo alternated between leaving her outside in the cold and bringing her into different rooms to rape her multiple times. The intensity of his attacks, combined with psychological manipulation, left lasting trauma for survivors.
Serial Murders (1979–1986)
After Sacramento, DeAngelo committed at least ten murders across southern California, including Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Orange counties. He taunted victims and law enforcement alike with obscene phone calls and letters. Investigators spent decades trying to link crimes across multiple counties, hampered by a lack of DNA technology and DeAngelo’s careful avoidance of direct evidence.
DNA testing in 2001 revealed that the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker were the same individual. This breakthrough contributed to the establishment of California’s DNA database, which became pivotal in solving cold cases.
Capture and Conviction
In April 2018, California authorities charged 72-year-old DeAngelo with eight counts of first-degree murder, aided by forensic genetic genealogy that traced DNA from crime scenes to his family. DeAngelo was also connected to the Visalia Ransacker burglaries. Due to the statute of limitations, he could not be charged for decades-old rapes but faced charges for related kidnappings and abductions.
On June 29, 2020, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to multiple murders and kidnappings. As part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, he admitted to many uncharged crimes, including rapes, and on August 21, 2020, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Early Life and Background
DeAngelo was born to Kathleen DeGroat and Joseph DeAngelo Sr., a U.S. Army sergeant. He had three siblings and experienced trauma in his early life, including alleged abuse and witnessing the sexual assault of a family member. DeAngelo attended high school in California, later joining the Navy and serving during the Vietnam War. He earned degrees in criminal justice and police science, later serving as a police officer in Exeter and Auburn, California.
His career in law enforcement, which included working in burglary units, ended after he was caught shoplifting and subsequently fired. During this period, he exhibited threatening and stalking behavior toward colleagues.
Personal Life
DeAngelo married Sharon Huddle in 1973, raising three daughters while committing his crimes. His family and neighbors described him as a model husband and father, a stark contrast to his secret life as a predator. Huddle filed for divorce in 2018 following DeAngelo’s arrest.
Modus Operandi and Behavior
DeAngelo’s criminal methods evolved over time. Early burglaries involved breaking in and leaving “warning items” to intimidate occupants. During his rapes, he meticulously restrained victims, separated couples, and often returned to ransack homes after committing assaults. He displayed control and sadistic ingenuity, exploiting both physical and psychological vulnerabilities.
Neighbors recalled loud, aggressive outbursts and threats, but few suspected the scale of his crimes. DeAngelo’s combination of meticulous planning, opportunism, and escalation from burglary to murder demonstrates a chilling trajectory of predatory criminal behavior.
Legacy
DeAngelo’s crimes prompted major advances in criminal investigation, particularly in DNA profiling and genetic genealogy. Michelle McNamara’s book and media coverage heightened awareness, ultimately contributing to his capture. His case remains a landmark example of the interplay between forensic science, persistence in cold-case investigations, and the devastating impact of serial criminal behavior on communities.
Golden State Killer / East Area Rapist / Visalia Ransacker Timeline
1973–1975: Visalia Ransacker (Central California)
- May 1973 – 1975: Series of burglaries in Visalia, CA; around 120 burglaries including theft of coins, Blue Chip stamps, and low-value items.
- Nov 30, 1974: 12 separate break-ins in a single day.
- Sept 11, 1975: Murder of Claude Snelling during attempted kidnapping of his daughter in Visalia.
- Dec 12, 1975: Attempted confrontation with Detective William McGowen; shooter escapes, leaving evidence (Blue Chip stamps, flashlight, coins).
1976–1979: East Area Rapist (Sacramento & Surrounding Areas)
- 1976: Moves to Sacramento County; escalates to serial rapes.
- Dec 18, 1976: Attacks 15-year-old Kris Pedretti at home; multiple rapes over 2 hours.
- 1976–1979: Attacks target women and couples, binding and gagging victims with shoelaces, towels; separates couples, ransacks homes; repeatedly calls victims to intimidate.
- Locations: Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, East Sacramento, Contra Costa, Stockton, Modesto.
1979–1986: Original Night Stalker / Golden State Killer (Southern California)
- 1979–1986: Moves to Southern California; commits at least 10 murders and multiple rapes.
- Counties: Santa Barbara, Ventura, Orange.
- Victim interactions: Taunts victims and police via obscene phone calls; uses similar binding and assault methods as Sacramento crimes.
Notable Events
- Early 1980s: Married with children; continued crimes while living in Citrus Heights and Long Beach.
- 1986: Criminal activity goes dormant; no confirmed murders or rapes after this year.
Investigation Milestones
- 2001: DNA testing confirms East Area Rapist = Original Night Stalker.
- 2016: FBI and local agencies relaunch nationwide effort; $50,000 reward announced.
- 2018: Arrested at age 72; DNA linked to crimes via genetic genealogy. Charged with 8 murders initially.
- Aug 2018: Additional charges for kidnapping and abduction cases.
- June 29, 2020: Pleads guilty to multiple murders and kidnappings.
- Aug 21, 2020: Sentenced to life without parole.
