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A former California police officer has been identified as the so-called Golden State Killer believed to have committed 12 killings and at least 50 rapes across California in the 1970s and 1980s, authorities said Wednesday.
Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested after investigators matched a discarded DNA sample from his home to evidence collected at some of the crimes, according to law enforcement officials at a news conference outside the crime lab where the key break in the case was uncovered.
DeAngelo was arrested without incident this week in connection with a crime spree that spanned a decade and at least 10 counties throughout California, officials said. His name emerged in connection with the crimes last week.
"When he came out of his residence, we had a team in place that was able to take him into custody. He was very surprised by that," Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said.
DeAngelo, who faces capital murder charges, is being held without bail in Sacramento.
"Very possibly he was committing these crimes during the time he was employed as a peace officer and obviously we'll be looking into weather it was actually on the job," Jone said.
From 1976 to 1986, DeAngelo's alleged crimes sowed fear across the state, where the suspect was also known as the "East Area Rapist" and "the Original Night Stalker."
Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested after investigators matched a discarded DNA sample from his home to evidence collected at some of the crimes, according to law enforcement officials at a news conference outside the crime lab where the key break in the case was uncovered.
DeAngelo was arrested without incident this week in connection with a crime spree that spanned a decade and at least 10 counties throughout California, officials said. His name emerged in connection with the crimes last week.
"When he came out of his residence, we had a team in place that was able to take him into custody. He was very surprised by that," Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said.
DeAngelo, who faces capital murder charges, is being held without bail in Sacramento.
"Very possibly he was committing these crimes during the time he was employed as a peace officer and obviously we'll be looking into weather it was actually on the job," Jone said.
From 1976 to 1986, DeAngelo's alleged crimes sowed fear across the state, where the suspect was also known as the "East Area Rapist" and "the Original Night Stalker."