Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"He had a very strict MO, he had a very unique signature. He would order, you know, if there was a male home with the woman, he would force the woman to tie up the male as he held him at gunpoint and he would stack dishes on the male's back and he would take the woman in another room and rape her." — Mike Morford
"So the attacks that he did in Northern California, did they know for sure that they were all connected? I know other obviously scared of someone. Did they realize how prolific he was in Northern California or was it not until the DNA?" — Ashley Flowers
"So he was an officer in Auburn, California, which I think is, if I remember correctly, is a little bit outside of Sacramento County, not directly in there. And he was an officer of a not mistaken from 1973 to 1979 or maybe it's '76 to '79." — Mike Morford
This episode of Crime Junkie features a discussion between host Ashley Flowers and Mike Morford of the Criminology podcast regarding the apprehension of Joseph James DeAngelo, the individual identified as the Golden State Killer, East Area Rapist, and other monikers. Morford details the timeline of the perpetrator's crimes, beginning in 1976 with a series of rapes in Sacramento County, California, which later escalated to include murders as the offender moved to Southern California. The unique modus operandi, including specific rituals like stacking dishes on a male victim while raping his partner, and a distinctive verbal script, allowed investigators to link many crimes.
The conversation highlights the evolution of the offender's methods and the significant role of DNA evidence in his eventual capture. Morford explains that while the perpetrator was known to be prolific and meticulous in Northern California, it was the DNA linkage between the northern rapes and southern murders that provided a crucial breakthrough. The discussion also touches upon DeAngelo's past as a police officer, exploring how this background might have provided him with an advantage. His termination from law enforcement for shoplifting, including dog repellent, is noted as a peculiar detail that may have served to mask his scent from tracking dogs.
The episode further delves into the evidence found at crime scenes, such as dropped papers containing a neighborhood sketch, a sixth-grade essay, and an essay on General Custer, which are believed to be in DeAngelo's handwriting. The discussion points to a potential escalation of violence in Southern California, with more brutal attacks and murders, and explores a five-year gap in attacks coinciding with the birth of his children. The host and guest also discuss the difficulty in linking all crimes due to statutes of limitations, but emphasize that murder and attempted murder charges remain enforceable across multiple counties. The use of DNA databases and genealogical research is cited as the likely method for his identification and subsequent arrest.