Joseph James DeAngelo was the “Golden State Killer” in the 1970s-1980s in California. DeAngelo was born November 8th, 1945. He spent some of his childhood in the Sacramento area, served in Vietnam for the U.S. Navy, and then studied criminal justice at California State University. He served as a police officer from 1973-1979. He left the police force in 1979 because he was arrested for shoplifting a hammer and dog repellent. DeAngelo was engaged in May 1970 with a woman named Bonnie, but she then called it off because he was “manipulative” and “abusive.” He then went on to marry his wife Sharon Marie Huddle in 1973 and had 3 daughters.
“The Golden State Killer” would break into his victims’ houses by prying open their windows or doors while they slept. He would sometimes steal jewelry, identification, cash, and coins from victims’ homes. According to the FBI, he would break into people’s houses, attack couples then tie them both up and rape the female and end up murdering both the male and the female.
This is DeAngelo’s list of victims and the dates they were murdered: Katie Maggiore (20), and Brian Maggiore (21): DeAngelo shot and killed them on February 2nd, 1978 while they were walking their dog. Debra Manning (35) was raped and murdered and Robert Offerman (44) was murdered on December 30th, 1979. Cheri Domingo (35) and Gregory Sanchez (27) were raped and murdered on July 27th, 1981. Charlene Smith (33) and Lyman Smith (43) on March 16th, 1980. Jennifer Carole, the daughter of Lyman Smith, said “They are part of DeAngelo’s legacy of sadism, cruelty, moral and physical depravity.” Keith Harrington (24) and Patrice Harrington (27) were bludgeoned to death on August 21st, 1980. Manuela Witthuhn (28) was raped and murdered on February 6th, 1981. Finally, his last and youngest known victim: Janelle Cruz (18) was raped and killed on May 5th, 1986. Michelle Cruz, Janelle’s sister, said “He’s a selfish, sadistic, calculating, cruel pathetic piece of scum.” DeAngelo is said to have murdered and raped many others, though little can be found about his other victims and crimes.
In 2018 the “Golden State Killer” case was solved through one of the earlier cases using genealogical DNA. DeAngelo was arrested and charged with multiple counts of homicide and he pled guilty; he received 11 life sentences with no possibility of parole. DeAngelo is believed to have committed 13 murderers, 52 rapes, and 120 burglaries.
