Joseph James DeAngelo, known as the Golden State Killer, had a troubling past that dates back to his teenage years in the 1960s in Rancho Cordova, California. As a young man, he often cruised through neighborhoods in his Chevy Bel-Air, scouting for homes to burglarize. In one alarming incident, he encountered a German Shepherd that approached him while he was with a friend. Terrified of the dog, DeAngelo fell and injured his wrist. In a violent outburst, he retaliated by lighting a Cherry Bomb M-80 firecracker and throwing it underneath the dog, resulting in the animal’s tragic death.
This disturbing behavior was not an isolated incident; Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho revealed in his recently published book, “The People vs. the Golden State Killer,” that DeAngelo had a history of animal abuse, particularly towards German Shepherds. According to Ho, DeAngelo’s companion at the time pleaded with him not to harm the dog, acknowledging it was simply doing its job by protecting its home. This act of cruelty foreshadowed his later violent tendencies.
The book further elaborates on DeAngelo’s animosity toward dogs, with a neighbor recalling how he threatened to kill their family dog for barking too loudly after he was arrested. “Shut that dog up, or I will bring a load of death to your home,” was reportedly a message he left on their answering machine, reflecting his long-standing dislike for animals.
DeAngelo’s criminal exploits culminated in a notorious series of murders. He was apprehended in April 2018 through DNA evidence and genetic genealogy, and in June 2020, he pleaded guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Now at 72 years old, he resides in the Protective Housing Unit of a central California prison, where he faces a precarious existence. Ho noted that this unit is reserved for those most at risk of violence, indicating that DeAngelo constantly feels the threat of assault from other inmates.
This insight into DeAngelo’s background and the psychological factors that may have contributed to his violent behaviors illustrates a chilling profile of a man whose acts of cruelty did not begin with his string of murders but instead took root in his youth. As society grapples with the complexities of criminal psychology, the hope remains that understanding these patterns can lead to preventive measures that protect future victims from similar fates.