How A Renewed Push and DNA Match Led to the Arrest and Conviction of the Infamous "Golden State Killer"

Beginning his career as a police officer Joseph DeAngelo would gain infamy when in 2018 it was revealed that he was the man who since the 1970s was wanted for a staggering number of rapes and murders

Depiction of Joseph DeAngelo

Background

In November 1945 in Bath, New York, United States Army sergeant Joseph James DeAngelo and Kathleen DeGroat welcomed a son, whom they named Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. He was the third child in the family and the first son.

Due to their father’s military career, the family moved frequently. They spent time in Europe, specifically in Germany. While the family was stationed in Germany, Joseph witnessed his older sister, Connie, being raped by airmen in a warehouse. At the time, Joseph was still a young boy.

In addition to this traumatic experience, Joseph reportedly also suffered physical abuse at the hands of his father. These experiences, coupled with the family’s constant moving, led to a tumultuous upbringing for DeAngelo.

In 1961, the family settled in a suburb of Sacramento, California. Joseph enrolled at Folsom High School, where he joined the school’s baseball team. However, though he did well in school and earned a GED certificate, Joseph was a troubled teen.

During his adolescent years, he committed multiple burglaries, frequently swiped packages from other people’s mail, and reportedly tortured small animals. This disturbing antisocial behavior was merely a precursor of things to come.

Rocky Relationship

Like his father, Joseph went on to serve as a member of the armed forces. In 1964, DeAngelo enlisted in the US Navy. He served in the Vietnam War, spending nearly two years in military service. Following his stint in the Navy, Joseph returned to California, where he attended Sierra College beginning in 1968.

He graduated with honors, earning an associate degree in political science. While enrolled, Joseph began a relationship with nursing student Bonnie Colwell. He proposed to Bonnie in 1970, but they would never marry.

Bonnie ended the relationship in 1971, citing his manipulative and abusive tendencies as her reasoning for the breakup. DeAngelo did not react well to Bonnie’s decision to call off the wedding.

Reportedly, DeAngelo threatened Bonnie at gunpoint, attempting to coerce her into marrying him. Thankfully, Bonnie escaped this confrontation unharmed, and she left DeAngelo behind.

Becoming A Cop

Photo of Joseph DeAngelo circa 1970 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)

After earning an associate degree and losing his relationship, DeAngelo pursued further education at Sacramento State University. DeAngelo earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and thus began his career in law enforcement.

Following his graduation, he enrolled in additional courses and specialized police training at the College of the Sequoias. After this, DeAngelo accepted an internship with the Roseville Police Department, which lasted over seven months.

In May 1973, DeAngelo began working as a police officer in Exeter, where he worked in the burglary unit. A few months later, DeAngelo married Sharon Huddle, an aspiring attorney. He spent three years in the department, until transferring to the Auburn Police Department in August 1976.

He remained in this position for almost three years, until he was placed on probation for shoplifting. After a six-month probationary period, DeAngelo was fired.

Once again, he did not react well to an unfavorable outcome. It is said that DeAngelo threatened to murder the chief of police, and beyond this, he stalked the chief’s home. Thankfully, the police chief and his family were not harmed.