The Chilling Case of the Golden State Killer: A 40-Year Hunt for Justice

Introduction

The case of the Golden State Killer is one of the most infamous and long-standing unsolved crimes in American history. For over four decades, a serial killer and rapist terrorized California, leaving a trail of fear and devastation across the state. The story of how Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer, was finally unmasked as the Golden State Killer is a gripping tale of forensic innovation, persistence, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

The Crimes

The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker, committed a series of heinous crimes between 1974 and 1986. His crime spree began in the Sacramento area, where he was initially known as the East Area Rapist. He would break into homes at night, often targeting couples, and subjecting his victims to terrifying hours of torment. His modus operandi included binding his victims, ransacking their homes, and then brutally assaulting them. In many cases, he would place dishes or other objects on the backs of the men he had tied up, threatening to kill everyone if he heard the objects fall while he raped their partners in another room.

The perpetrator was meticulous, leaving little evidence behind and managing to escape undetected after each attack. As he moved south, his crimes escalated to murder, earning him the additional moniker of the Original Night Stalker. By the time his crime spree ended in 1986…