A newly published account from a lead prosecutor reveals a critical, and highly unusual, piece of circumstantial evidence that helped solidify the case against one of California’s most infamous criminals.
Joseph DeAngelo, the man ultimately convicted as the “Golden State Killer” and linked to the “East Area Rapist” crimes, evaded capture for decades despite a brutal series of rapes and murders across the state in the 1970s and 1980s. While modern genetic genealogy techniques were pivotal in identifying him in 2018, investigators needed further proof to conclusively link him to the specific pattern of assaults.
According to the account, a consistent detail provided by survivors became a key factor. Multiple victims independently described their assailant as having an unusually small penis. This specific physical characteristic provided investigators with a unique identifier to corroborate DeAngelo’s involvement across the separate crime series.
The prosecutor’s narrative details that, following DeAngelo’s arrest, authorities undertook the sensitive task of obtaining photographic evidence for comparison. The process reportedly proved challenging due to the described anatomy, with a law enforcement photographer allegedly expressing frustration during the procedure. Official reports cited measurements comparing the size to common small objects.
This distinctive physical evidence was used to support the victim testimonies, creating a circumstantial link that strengthened the prosecution’s case before a definitive DNA match from a discarded item confirmed his identity.
DeAngelo, a former police officer, was known for a specific method of operation, typically entering homes through windows to attack couples. He was sentenced to multiple life terms without the possibility of parole for his crimes.
