Joseph James DeAngelo’s early cruelty toward animals, as detailed in Sacramento DA Thien Ho’s book The People vs. the Golden State Killer, aligns with a well-documented pattern among serial offenders. Growing up in Rancho Cordova, California, during the 1960s, DeAngelo showed signs of animal abuse that foreshadowed his later crimes as the Golden State Killer (also known as the Visalia Ransacker, East Area Rapist, and Original Night Stalker). He killed a German Shepherd with an M-80 firecracker as a teen after it scared him during a burglary attempt, and this animosity persisted—he threatened a neighbor’s dog years later with a chilling voicemail: “Shut that dog up, or I will bring a load of death to your home.”
Psychological Context
Animal abuse in youth often signals deeper antisocial tendencies. Research from the FBI’s behavioral analysis unit and studies like those in the Journal of Forensic Sciences link the “Macdonald triad” (bedwetting, fire-setting, and animal cruelty) to potential violent offenders, though it’s not predictive for everyone. DeAngelo fits this profile: Ho notes he repeatedly targeted German Shepherds, a breed known for protection work, possibly stemming from fear or resentment. This behavior escalated into over 50 rapes and 13 murders across California from the 1970s to 1980s.
Arrest and Aftermath
DeAngelo evaded capture for decades until genetic genealogy cracked the case in 2018. Investigators uploaded crime scene DNA to public databases like GEDmatch, tracing it to him via distant relatives. Arrested at 72 in Citrus Heights, the ex-cop pleaded guilty in 2020 to avoid execution, receiving life without parole. He’s now in a Protective Housing Unit (PHU) in central California—reserved for high-risk inmates like sex offenders—where he reportedly works in the cafeteria, living in constant fear of violence.
This story underscores how early red flags, combined with modern forensics, brought closure to decades-old cases. Ho’s book draws from interviews, including with DeAngelo’s teenage accomplice, adding rare personal insights.
