Police Apprehend Golden State Killer, a 72-Year-Old Former Police Officer

The historic “Golden State Killer” case has eluded California authorities for decades - until today - where a 72-year-old former police officer was arrested for the murder of 12 people and the rapes of an additional 45 innocent victims in the 1970’s and 1980’s - bringing a long-awaited justice to the case.

For decades, law enforcement has scoured California and the majority of the west coast of the US in hopes getting justice for the countless victims of the <i>“Golden State Killer.”</i> The legendary serial killer murdered at least a dozen people, raped at least four dozen, and burglarized an equal amount of homes in what has been described by Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas as a “reign of terror.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">72 yr old Sacramento resident Joseph DeAngelo has finally been taken into custody.<br><br>12 murders/45 rapes<br>During 1970&#39;s - 80&#39;s<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenStateKiller?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenStateKiller</a><a href="https://t.co/7fcLHdC94L">pic.twitter.com/7fcLHdC94L</a></p>&mdash; Machiavelli (@TheRISEofROD) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRISEofROD/status/989224895275036672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2018</a></blockquote>

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72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo was arrested by a swath of law enforcement agencies outside Citrus Heights in Sacramento County, where Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said the monstrous criminal was taken into custody without incident.

According to Police, DeAngelo was fingered after discarded DNA on one of his victims matched his records, and law enforcement knew that they finally had their major break.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“The answer has always been in Sacramento.” – Officials update on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenStateKiller?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenStateKiller</a> in California. <br><br>MAJOR DEVELOPMENT: <a href="https://t.co/tnbSN1vO4D">https://t.co/tnbSN1vO4D</a> <a href="https://t.co/1xiSpx1yOT">pic.twitter.com/1xiSpx1yOT</a></p>&mdash; 48 Hours (@48hours) <a href="https://twitter.com/48hours/status/989222514671980544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2018</a></blockquote>

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DeAngelo, a former police officer himself in Exeter in central California from 1973 to 1976 and later in Auburn in Northern California from 1976 to 1979, worked as a cop until he was fired for stealing a hammer and a can of dog repellent, according to officials.

It was discarded DNA that confirmed, "We had our man," Sheriff Jones proclaimed.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">100% DNA MATCH! Golden State Killer: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EastAreaRapist?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EastAreaRapist</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NIGHTSTALKER?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NIGHTSTALKER</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenStateKiller?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenStateKiller</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenStateKiller?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenStateKiller</a> joseph deangelo Please CALL ME I AM AVAILABLE TO PUSH THE LETHAL INJECTION! Serial Murderer and serial rapist trash <a href="https://t.co/uh3JnS0sqD">pic.twitter.com/uh3JnS0sqD</a></p>&mdash; TrumpsAmericaPhD🇺🇸 (@irshroz) <a href="https://twitter.com/irshroz/status/989220182924103680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said that DeAngelo’s name never came up until cold-case detectives were able to place his DNA at a crime scene last week.

"For over 40 years, countless victims have waited for justice," Schubert said. "Over these years, hundreds of individuals seeking justice for these victims and their families."

An arrest Warrenton for DeAngelo’s apprehension was first issued on Tuesday, where he's now facing two counts of murder for killing a Sacramento couple in 1978. He's also facing charges for two capital murders of a couple killed in March of 1980, which occurred in Ventura County, California.

The crimes themselves span 10 counties throughout California with additional charges being expected in the other cases from the Sacramento area in Northern California, clear down to Orange County in Southern California.

Bruce Harrington lost both his brother and sister-in-law to DeAngelo’s crime spree in the 80’s and spoke at a press conference today saying, “Ladies who were brutally raped in these crime scenes, sleep better tonight. He isn’t coming through the window. He’s now in jail and he’s history."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So scary that this is my neighbor in my neighborhood! I really hope they prove that this is the man and the victims can have some closure!! <br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenStateKiller?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenStateKiller</a> <a href="https://t.co/XneVPx6pxP">pic.twitter.com/XneVPx6pxP</a></p>&mdash; Beth Walsh (@Bethumms33) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bethumms33/status/989215953052291072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2018</a></blockquote>

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A neighbor of the Golden State Killer tweeted that she was shocked to see police arresting the man who lived so close to her for these horrendously evil crimes of the past.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that the Golden State Killer used tactics such as breaking into the homes of his victims while they were asleep using various tools including a crowbar and a hammer to gain entry.

“He would then shine a flashlight into their faces, tie them up, ransack the house, and rape female victims,” the FBI said. “Sometimes he would take jewelry, identification, cash, and coins from the victims' homes.”

After he would break in, he more often than not would rape the female victims, and in at least a dozen cases murdered them. Sometimes, a husband and wife would both be murdered, with the man being killed, the wife being raped, and then later killed or set free to suffer for eternity.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“It’s not fair he got away with it!”<br><br>Crime blogger <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichelleMcNamara?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MichelleMcNamara</a> dedicated her life to finding the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenStateKiller?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenStateKiller</a>. McNamara died before his arrest today. <br><br>I talked with her for <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABC7</a> several years ago. It’s worth hearing her voice again today. <a href="https://t.co/xlUgZdDr5m">pic.twitter.com/xlUgZdDr5m</a></p>&mdash; Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) <a href="https://twitter.com/Elex_Michaelson/status/989231798713401344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The apprehension of the Golden State Killer is a monumental victory for law enforcement in finally closing the case, although he's unfortunately been able to live a long life of freedom in the meantime. Still, shutting the chapter of mystery is largely beneficial for surviving victims who can now finally close that book of hell in which they endured at the hands of DeAngelo’s terror.

DeAngelo will be formally arraigned in a court of law later this week, as numerous other agencies across the state will also be issuing charges for related crimes.

Additional Sources or Relevant Information:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-arrested-golden-state-killer-case-sources/story?id=54719856

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