-
Attends Folsom High School
He attended Folsom High School between 1961 to 1963 before receiving his GED in 1964 -
Navy and Vietnam War
After receiving his GED, DeAngelo enlisted in the Navy and served during the Vietnam War. -
Police Officer in Exeter, California
Joseph DeAngelo was a police officer for the Exeter Police Department, a town in South Central California near Visalia California. He was on the Exeter PD from 1973 to 1976. This was also the period of time he was burglarizing houses in the nearby Visalia, California. -
Married
Joseph DeAngelo marries Sharon Marie Huddle -
Visalia Ransacker
While on the Exeter PD, Joseph DeAngelo was breaking into and robbing houses in the nearby city of Visalia. He murdered one person in his crime spree and burglarized 85 homes ("NPR Choice Page"). He always chose to steal items of sentimental value and not monetary value. He always left his mark too, he would shred family photos for the homeowners to find. This part of his crime spree spanned from 1974 to 1975 roughly. -
Police Officer in Auburn, California
In 1976 DeAngelo moved from Exeter California area up to Auburn, California. He began working for the Auburn PD in 1976 and worked there until he was fired in 1979. -
First Rape Crime
On June 18th, 1976, DeAngelo raped his first victim in Rancho Cordova, California. This marked his first crime under his second crime spree which he was called the East Area Rapist. In this spree which lasted from 1976 to 1984, he would go on to rape 50 women and go on to kill an speculated 12 people. -
Chilling Phone calls
Before attacking the teen, he taunted police with a phone call in which he said: "I have my next victim already stalked and you guys can't catch me,” according to KGO-TV in San Francisco. -
The East Area Rapist First Kill
The East Area Rapist takes a drastic step and kills a couple. The couple, Brian and Katie Maggiore, were walking their dog on the street of Rancho Cordova when they were confronted a man in a ski mask. This murder was way outside the East Area Rapist MO. -
DeAngelo loses his job as a Auburn PD
DeAngelo shoplifted costing him his job as a police officer in Auburn, Calif. He was arrested for stealing a hammer and a can of dog repellent from a store. -
Connecting North and South
After the trail goes cold in the bay area when there is large brake out of brutal murder that have the same MO of the killer that was in Northern California earlier. The murders happen across 3 counties, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Orange County. -
Last Rape & Murder
Janelle Lisa Cruz, an 18-year-old woman, was raped and bludgeoned to death in Irvine, CA. She was home alone while her family was vacationing in Mexico. -
Sharon and DeAngelo Separate
For unknown reasons, Sharon and DeAngelo split but never divorce even though Sharon was a divorce lawyer. -
Caught after 40 years
After 40 years, and now 72 years old, DeAngelo was officially arrested and sentenced to prison for life. The as-yet-unidentified item discarded by DeAngelo that had a sample of his DNA on it which is enough to provide the evidence leading to his arrest.
