Story map · 1974–1986
Joseph James DeAngelo
Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer, committed at least 13 murders, more than 50 rapes and well over 100 burglaries across California between 1974 and 1986, moving from Visalia to the Sacramento area, the East Bay, and Southern California. The case went unsolved for decades until investigators in 2018 compared crime-scene DNA with profiles on the genealogy site GEDmatch, built family trees from a relative's match, and confirmed the link with DNA he discarded. He was arrested at his Citrus Heights home on April 24, 2018, pleaded guilty to 13 murders and 13 kidnapping-related charges in June 2020, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Scroll to follow the case. Private homes are shown as shaded areas, never exact points.
Crime scene · September 11, 1975
Snelling home (Visalia)
September 1975, Visalia. Claude Snelling was shot and killed at his home. The burglaries and this killing, long attributed to the "Visalia Ransacker", were linked to Joseph DeAngelo decades later. He was a police officer in nearby Exeter at the time.
Other · June 18, 1976
East Area Rapist attacks (Sacramento County)
From 1976, as the "East Area Rapist", he committed dozens of attacks in Sacramento County, centred on Carmichael, Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova.
Crime scene · February 2, 1978
Maggiore shooting (Rancho Cordova)
In February 1978, Brian and Katie Maggiore were shot and killed while walking their dog in the Rancho Cordova area.
Other · October 7, 1978
Attacks in Contra Costa County (East Bay)
From late 1978 the attacks shifted to East Bay communities: Concord, Walnut Creek, San Ramon and Danville.
Crime scene · December 30, 1979
Offerman home (Goleta)
Then Southern California, where he became known as the "Original Night Stalker". Robert Offerman and Debra Manning, both doctors, were killed in Goleta in December 1979.
Crime scene · March 13, 1980
Smith home (Ventura)
Lyman and Charlene Smith were killed in their Ventura home in March 1980. DNA from this case was later used in the genealogy search that identified him.
Crime scene · August 19, 1980
Harrington home (Dana Point)
Keith and Patrice Harrington were killed in their Dana Point home in August 1980.
Crime scene · February 1981
Witthuhn home (Irvine)
Manuela Witthuhn was killed in her Irvine home in February 1981.
Crime scene · July 27, 1981
Domingo home (Goleta)
Cheri Domingo and Gregory Sanchez were killed in Goleta in July 1981.
Crime scene · May 1986
Cruz home (Irvine)
Janelle Cruz was killed in her family's Irvine home in May 1986. She was his last known murder victim.
Arrest · April 24, 2018
Arrest at his Citrus Heights home
April 24, 2018. After a genealogy-site match to a relative and DNA from items he had thrown away, deputies arrested DeAngelo outside his Citrus Heights home, more than 30 years after the last murder.
Court / trial · June 29, 2020
University Union ballroom, Sacramento State
Because of the pandemic, the court met in a ballroom at Sacramento State. DeAngelo pleaded guilty there in June 2020 and was sentenced to consecutive life terms without parole.
The full record
Victims, every location, and all sources are on the Joseph James DeAngelo case page.