Episode 1154
Golden State Killer
Tue, 2020-Jun-30 03:39 UTC
Length - 3:36
Direct Link
Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a popular Wikipedia page every day.
With 299,501 views on Monday, 29 June 2020 our article of the day is Golden State Killer.
Joseph James DeAngelo (born November 8, 1945) is an American serial killer, serial rapist, burglar, and former police officer who committed at least 13 murders, more than 50 rapes, and over 100 burglaries in California from 1974 to 1986. DeAngelo is a United States Navy veteran and worked as a police officer from 1973 to 1976. He was responsible for at least three crime sprees throughout California, each of which spawned a different nickname in the press, before it became evident that they were committed by the same offender. He began as a burglar (the Visalia Ransacker) before moving to the Sacramento area, where he was known as the East Area Rapist, and was linked by modus operandi to additional attacks in Contra Costa County, Stockton, and Modesto. He was later known for his southern California crimes as the Original Night Stalker. He taunted and threatened his victims and police in obscene phone calls and other communications.
During the decades-long investigation, several suspects were cleared through DNA evidence, alibi, or other investigative methods. In 2001, DNA testing indicated that the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker were the same person. The case was a factor in the establishment of California's DNA database, which collects DNA from all accused and convicted felons in California and has been called second only to Virginia's in effectiveness in solving cold cases. To heighten awareness that the uncaught killer operated throughout California, crime writer Michelle McNamara coined the name Golden State Killer in early 2013. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law-enforcement agencies held a news conference on June 15, 2016, to announce a renewed nationwide effort, offering a $50,000 reward for his capture. On April 24, 2018, authorities charged 72-year-old DeAngelo with eight counts of first-degree murder, based upon DNA evidence. Specifically, investigators identified members of DeAngelo's family through the use of forensic genetic genealogy. This was also the first announcement connecting the Visalia Ransacker crimes to the Golden State Killer. Owing to California's statute of limitations on pre-2017 rape cases, DeAngelo cannot be charged with 1970s rapes, but he was charged in August 2018 with 13 related kidnapping and abduction attempts. On June 29, 2020, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder. As part of the plea bargain, DeAngelo was also required to admit to crimes he had not been formally charged with, including rape.
This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:39 UTC on Tuesday, 30 June 2020.
For the full current version of the article, see Golden State Killer on Wikipedia.
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