In California, a notorious serial killer known as the Golden State Killer was finally apprehended after a lengthy reign of terror, thanks to a distinctive detail – the small size of his genitalia. A recent book by Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, titled “The People vs. the Golden State Killer,” reveals the intense investigation that led to the capture of Joseph DeAngelo, the individual responsible for a string of murders, rapes, and burglaries that plagued California from 1974 to 1986.
DeAngelo, now 80 years old, confessed to 13 murders, over 50 rapes, and more than 100 burglaries, using his past experience as a police officer to target and assault victims, often breaking into homes at night and restraining his victims before committing heinous acts. Investigators, as detailed in Ho’s book, meticulously pieced together evidence that linked DeAngelo to the crimes he had committed decades earlier.
A crucial piece of evidence came from the victims themselves, who had described their attacker as having unusually small genitalia. Upon DeAngelo’s arrest in 2018, detectives obtained a warrant for a thorough medical examination to compare his anatomy with witness testimonies. The examination involved capturing detailed images of DeAngelo’s genitals, which revealed his tiny size, smaller than a dime in circumference and equivalent to the length of a pinky finger.
Despite the humiliating nature of the detail, it served as a vital confirmation of the victims’ descriptions from the past, aiding prosecutors in identifying the right suspect. DeAngelo, also known as the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker, had eluded authorities for years until 2018, when a breakthrough in DNA analysis led to his identification through genealogical tracing of his family.
Following overwhelming evidence, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to multiple charges, avoiding the death penalty. His capture brought closure to the families of victims and survivors who had endured decades of anguish. Currently incarcerated at California State Prison in Corcoran, DeAngelo is serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.