Location: California, USA (primarily Sacramento, Ventura, and Orange Counties, 1970s-1980s) 🇺🇸
Story: For over a decade, a predator terrorized California. He was a meticulous phantom who stalked couples, invaded homes, and committed at least 50 rapes and 13 murders. His signature was psychological torture: tying up the male victim, piling dishes on his back, and whispering that any sound would mean his female partner's death. He then vanished in 1986, leaving a 40-year cold case. đź‘®
Twist: In 2018, detectives used genetic genealogy, tracing crime-scene DNA to a distant relative's family tree. This led them to Joseph James DeAngelo, a 72-year-old grandfather. The ultimate shock: DeAngelo had been a police officer during his crime spree. His law enforcement training explained his ability to evade capture. Arrested while mowing his lawn, the former cop pleaded guilty in 2020. The Golden State Killer's capture proved that the monster wasn't a shadowy stranger, but the man once sworn to protect the community, hiding in plain sight until science finally unmasked him. đźŽ