Golden State Killer
Joseph James DeAngelo, known as the Golden State Killer, terrorized California from 1974 to 1986, committing at least 13 murders and 50 rapes across various locations. After years of investigation, he was identified in 2018 through genealogical DNA analysis, leading to his arrest. DeAngelo pleaded guilty in 2020 and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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Case overview
Between 1974 and 1986, a serial offender terrorized Northern and Southern California, committing at least 13 murders, more than 50 sexual assaults, and over 100 residential burglaries across multiple counties. The perpetrator was known by different names in different jurisdictions — the East Area Rapist in Sacramento, the Original Night Stalker in Southern California — before investigators confirmed the crimes were connected and adopted the collective name "Golden State Killer."
Investigators had preserved biological evidence from multiple crime scenes over four decades. In 2017, Sacramento County detectives and the FBI partnered with investigator Paul Holes and forensic genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter to apply DNA genealogy analysis to semen evidence. [By uploading the DNA profile to the consumer database GEDmatch and tracing family trees of distant relatives, investigators identified Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., 72, a former police officer from Citrus Heights, California.](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/27/us/golden-state-killer-case-joseph-deangelo.html)
[Investigators surveilled DeAngelo and collected DNA from items he discarded — a tissue and a car door handle.](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/golden-state-killer-case-ex-cop-arrested-serial-murder-rape-n868936) The discarded DNA confirmed a match to decades-old crime scene evidence. DeAngelo was arrested April 24, 2018, at his Sacramento-area home in one of the most significant cold case breaks in American history. That he was a former law enforcement officer shocked the public and investigators alike.
[On June 29, 2020, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to all 13 murder counts and 13 counts of kidnapping with intent to commit rape.](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/joseph-james-deangelo-pleads-guilty-golden-state-killer-case) He was sentenced on August 21, 2020, to multiple consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. The case validated forensic genealogy as an investigative tool, directly influencing the identification of suspects in hundreds of subsequent cold cases, and prompted major legal and ethical debate about law enforcement use of commercial DNA databases.
Arrest & Charges
[DeAngelo was arrested April 24, 2018, in Citrus Heights, California](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/golden-state-killer-case-ex-cop-arrested-serial-murder-rape-n868936), and charged with 13 counts of first-degree murder across multiple California counties, as well as rape charges where statutes of limitations had not expired. He was held without bail.
Guilty Plea
[On June 29, 2020, DeAngelo pleaded guilty in Sacramento to all 13 murder counts and 13 counts of kidnapping with intent to commit rape.](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/joseph-james-deangelo-pleads-guilty-golden-state-killer-case) The plea agreement, reached with prosecutors from multiple counties, included acknowledgment of dozens of additional uncharged crimes. In exchange he received life in prison without the possibility of parole rather than the death penalty.
[DeAngelo was sentenced August 21, 2020, to multiple consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.](https://apnews.com/article/joseph-james-deangelo-golden-state-killer-plea-life-sentence) Over two days, victim survivors and family members — some waiting more than 40 years — delivered impact statements in court.
Current Status
DeAngelo is incarcerated in California. No appeal is available on a guilty plea absent an involuntary or uninformed waiver; no such challenge has been filed. He will die in prison.
August 21, 2020
Sentenced to Life Without Parole
Victims gave impact statements before DeAngelo was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
Source →June 29, 2020
DeAngelo Pleads Guilty to 13 Murders
DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murders and admitted to over 50 rapes, avoiding the death penalty.
Source →August 1, 2018
Additional Kidnapping Charges Filed Against DeAngelo
Prosecutors added 13 kidnapping counts to DeAngelo's charges; California's statute of limitations on pre-2017 rapes prevented charging him directly for the many sexual assaults.
Source →April 24, 2018
Joseph DeAngelo Identified and Arrested
Using forensic genealogy, investigators identified DeAngelo, a 72-year-old former police officer in Sacramento.
Source →April 18, 2018
Genetic Genealogy Identifies DeAngelo via GEDmatch Database
Investigators uploaded crime scene DNA to the consumer genealogy database GEDmatch to find distant relatives of the unknown killer. Working backwards through family trees, analysts identified Joseph James DeAngelo — a landmark use of investigative genetic genealogy that transformed cold-case work nationwide.
Source →July 9, 2016
FBI Holds Press Conference, Offers $50,000 Reward for GSK Capture
The FBI and California law enforcement launched a renewed nationwide effort to identify the Golden State Killer, offering a $50,000 reward and releasing new DNA evidence details.
Source →April 21, 2016
Michelle McNamara Dies Before Completing Her GSK Investigation
Michelle McNamara, who coined the name "Golden State Killer" and spent years investigating the case for her book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark," died unexpectedly at age 46. Her death shocked the true crime community; the book was completed posthumously and published in 2018.
Source →January 1, 2001
DNA Links East Area Rapist and Original Night Stalker Cases
In 2001, DNA analysis conclusively linked the East Area Rapist rape series and the Original Night Stalker murders, confirming they were all committed by the same person.
Source →May 5, 1986
Last Known Golden State Killer Attack Recorded
The last confirmed crime attributed to DeAngelo occurred in May 1986 in Irvine, California. He went dormant for over 30 years until his 2018 arrest.
Source →February 2, 1979
DeAngelo Commits First Southern California Murders
DeAngelo murdered Brian and Katie Maggiore in Rancho Cordova, then escalated to murdering at least 10 people in Southern California counties between 1979 and 1986.
Source →June 18, 1976
East Area Rapist Begins Serial Rape Campaign in Sacramento
DeAngelo committed the first of at least 51 rapes in the Sacramento area, terrorizing neighborhoods for three years before shifting to murder in Southern California.
Source →September 11, 1975
Claude Snelling Shot Dead — DeAngelo's First Known Murder
Claude Snelling was shot dead in Visalia while trying to stop his daughter's kidnapping. This was later confirmed as the Golden State Killer's first known murder.
Source →January 1, 1974
Visalia Ransacker Burglary Spree Begins in Central California
Circa 1974, DeAngelo began over 100 residential burglaries in Visalia, California, targeting women's personal items and displaying escalating predatory behavior before his first murder.
Source →
Anne Marie Schubert
Anne Marie Schubert is a dedicated legal professional who has served as the Sacramento County District Attorney. She is known for her leadership in the prosecution of Joseph James DeAngelo, the Golden State Killer.
Brian Maggiore
Brian Maggiore was a dedicated U.S. Air Force sergeant known for his commitment to service and his love for his family. He and his wife, Katie, shared a life filled with love and companionship, often seen enjoying walks with their dog in their Rancho Cordova neighborhood. Tragically, their lives were cut short in a shooting attributed to the Golden State Killer on February 2, 1978.
Joseph James DeAngelo
Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. is an American serial killer, serial rapist, and former police officer known as the Golden State Killer, the Original Night Stalker, the East Area Rapist and the Visalia Ransacker, who committed 13 murders and numerous rapes and burglaries across California between 1974 and 1986.
Janelle Lisa Cruz
Janelle Lisa Cruz was a vibrant eighteen-year-old from Irvine, California, known for her lively spirit and love for her family and friends. She was tragically taken from the world on May 4–5, 1986, becoming the last known victim of the Golden State Killer.
Paul Holes
Paul Holes is a retired cold-case investigator known for his groundbreaking work in solving the Golden State Killer case. With a career spanning over two decades at the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, he pioneered the use of genetic genealogy in criminal investigations.
Katie Maggiore
Katie Maggiore was a vibrant young woman who cherished her life with her husband, Brian. Known for her warmth and kindness, she was deeply loved by her family and friends. Her life was tragically cut short in 1978, alongside her husband, in Rancho Cordova, California.
Genealogy DNA — GEDmatch database
Investigators used GEDmatch, a public genealogy database, to identify relatives of the unknown suspect. Combined with a family tree analysis, this led directly to Joseph James DeAngelo.
Sacramento Police Department Booking Photo, Apr 25, 2018 (via ABC News)DNA from discarded trash — DeAngelo confirmed
After identifying DeAngelo as a suspect, investigators collected DNA from items he discarded (a tissue, a car door handle). The DNA matched the crime scene profiles, confirming his identity.
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, 2018 (public domain)Shoe prints — size 9 Adidas
Distinctive Adidas shoe prints found at multiple crime scenes linked the crimes together and pointed to a single offender operating across Northern California.
en.wikipedia.orgMO pattern — ropes, bindings, neighborhood surveillance
DeAngelo's modus operandi was highly consistent: breaking into homes, binding victims, and pre-surveilling neighborhoods on foot. This linked dozens of crimes spanning 12 years.
en.wikipedia.org
Other
1Joseph DeAngelo (Golden State Killer) — Redacted Arrest Warrant
People v. DeAngelo — redacted 48-page arrest warrant used to apprehend Joseph James DeAngelo, identified via genealogical DNA analysis.