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U.S. NEWS Thursday 26 april 2018

Ex-cop arrested in sadistic crime spree from ‘70s and ‘80s

By DON THOMPSON and taking souvenirs, notably on suspicion of committing for stealing a can of dog
BRIAN MELLEY coins and jewelry before double-killings in Sacra- repellant and a hammer
Associated Press fleeing on foot or bicycle. mento and Ventura coun- from a drug store, accord-
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Despite an outpouring of ties and later charged with ing to Auburn Journal arti-
— A man once sworn thousands of tips over the four counts of murder in Or- cles from the time. He was
to protect the public years, DeAngelo’s name ange County, officials said. convicted of the theft and
from crime was accused had not been on the radar Ventura County District At- fined $100.
Wednesday of living a of law enforcement be- torney Gregory Totten said Although it’s unusual for
double life terrorizing sub- fore last week, Sacramen- prosecutors would seek the serial killers to stop, Jones
urban neighborhoods at to County District Attorney death penalty. said they have no reason
night, becoming one of Anne Marie Schubert said. DeAngelo, who served in to think DeAngelo contin-
California’s most feared “We knew we were look- the Navy, was a police of- ued to commit crimes after
serial killers and rapists in ing for a needle in a hay- ficer in Exeter, in the San 1986, when the last rape
the 1970s and ‘80s before stack, but we also knew Joaquin Valley, from 1973 This undated law enforcement and killing occurred in Or-
leaving a cold trail that that needle was there,” to 1976, at a time a burglar photo provided by the ange County. “We have
baffled investigators for she said. “It was right here known as the Visalia Ran- Sacramento County, Calif., no indication of any crimes
more than three decades. in Sacramento.” sacker was active, Jones Sheriff’s Office shows Joseph with a similar or at least a
Former police officer Jo- A break in the case and said. He transferred to the James DeAngelo. close enough link to his MO
seph James DeAngelo, 72, the arrest came together force in Auburn in the Si- Associated Press and other things that he’s
was arrested at his home in “light speed” during the erra foothills near where done in the past to link him
after DNA linked him to past six days, Schubert he grew up outside Sacra- in Auburn, but Jones said to anything from ‘86 on,”
crimes attributed to the said, though authorities re- mento. About 50 crimes, it wasn’t clear if any were Jones said. “We just have
so-called Golden State fused to reveal what led including two killings, were committed while on duty. nothing at this point.”
Killer and he initially was to DeAngelo. Sacramento attributed to the East Area DeAngelo was fired from Jones said he always
charged with eight counts Sheriff Scott Jones said Rapist during the three the Auburn department in thought the rapist was alive,
of murder and could face detectives with “dogged years DeAngelo worked 1979 after being arrested but might be in prison.q
dozens more charges, au- determination” were able
thorities said. to get a sample of DNA
The culprit also known from something DeAnge-
as the East Area Rapist, lo discarded, though he
among other names, is wouldn’t say what the item
suspected of at least 12 was. The genetic material
slayings and 50 rapes in was not a match, but there
10 counties from Northern were enough similarities for
to Southern California. The investigators to return for
armed and masked prowl- more and they said they
er sneaked in through were able to get a conclu-
windows at night and sur- sive match.
prised sleeping victims who After watching DeAngelo
ranged in age from 13 to for several days, deputies
41. When encountering took him by surprise Tues-
a couple, he was known day.
to tie up the man and “It looked as though he
pile dishes on his back. might have been search-
He threatened to kill both ing his mind to execute
victims if he heard plates a particular plan he may
crash to the floor while have had,” but never had
he raped the woman. He time to act, Jones said.
then ransacked the house, DeAngelo was arrested