Golden State Killer Finally Caught: The Former Cop Who Turned Into a Monster
Who’s the suspect? Who’s the crime? Who’s the book?
Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, once patrolled the streets of small‑town California, is now the culprit behind eight murders linked to the infamous Golden State Killer. Decades of terror—dozens of rapes, dozens of slayings, over a hundred burglaries—now have a name, thanks to a twist of science and a bestselling mystery.
Why the book matters (but not why we actually caught him)
The reboot of interest came from I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, a gripping true‑crime novel by Michelle McNamara. While the book helped bring fresh tips, the real catch‑up happened when investigators dug into a discarded DNA sample that finally matched records. Even the FBI’s renowned forensic team credit the DNA, not the page‑turning novel, for closing the case.
Entry – the “old‑school” arrest in our backyard
DeAngelo had been keeping a low profile in Citrus Heights, a Silver Spring suburb. A brief watch spell put him in custody on Tuesday with no drama. According to Sheriff Scott Jones, the would‑be killer looked “surprised” when confronted—a fitting moment for a storyteller’s twist.
The crimes: a city‑wide nightmare
- Two murders in Sacramento County (Feb. 1978) – Brian & Katie Maggiore, ripped from their routine walk with a pup.
- Two more murders in Ventura County.
- Four additional murders in Orange County.
- In total, eight killings, plus 12 other slayings, 45 rapes and over 120 burglaries.
From police officer to prolific serial killer
DeAngelo’s past as a 1970’s officer in Exeter and Auburn only fuels the unnerving narrative. He was fired from the Auburn force in ’79 after being accused of shoplifting – a small clue in the grotesque puzzle of his later crimes. Many had speculated his law‑enforcement training helped him get away for twenty‑four years.
Everyone’s emotional roller‑coaster
Remember the 1976 wave of home invasions, when open doors became a nightmare for families? District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, who was 12 then, recalls the “time of innocence” turning into a nightmare. The fact that the perpetrator was once on the side of the law is a brake throw in the anxiety road.
Silence broken with high facts… and humor
Oakland’s T. Rackauckas proudly declared, “Finally, after all these years, the haunting question of who committed these terrible crimes has been put to rest.” And in the sulk of the courtroom – the mere anchoring “surprised” moment – the truth felt unexpected, almost comedic, as though the story’s plot twist had finally snapped the case closed.
Finally a guilty verdict, a haunting story, and a hopeful future
With Arraignment set for Friday, DeAngelo’s case is a reminder: our pasts aren’t always as clean as we hope, and justice sometimes takes a romantic plateful of science and a book‑ish guess at the right mole‑in‑the-ponies evidence. It’s a sobering, yet oddly cathartic story of how a man once meant to protect people instead became their worst nightmare.
