'Golden State Killer' Sentenced To Life In Prison

Joseph James DeAngelo, the suspected Golden State Killer, is arraigned in a Sacramento, Calif., court on April 27, 2018. (Photo by Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee/TNS/Sipa USA)
Photo credit (Photo credit: Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee/TNS/Sipa USA)

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Seventy-four year old Joseph DeAngelo has been sentenced to life in prison.

The former police officer, who has confessed to being the serial rapist and murderer known as the "Golden State Killer," told his victims Friday he is "truly sorry" for a decades-long string of rapes, murders and break-ins that terrorized much of the state.

DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murders and 13 rape-related charges between 1975 and 1986 and received multiple life sentences.

Judge: "The defendant deserves no mercy." This after sentencing Joseph DeAngelo to 11 life sentences plus another life sentence and 8 years. #GoldenStateKiller @KNX1070

— Margaret Carrero (@KNXmargaret) August 21, 2020

Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman said DeAngelo will die in prison for his crimes. DeAngelo has confessed to dozens more rapes as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, although he cannot be charged for those crimes as the statute of limitations has expired. Prosecutors said he targeted 87 victims at 53 different crime scenes across nearly a dozen counties.

The sentencing came after an extraordinary three days of victim impact statements from survivors and victim’s family members. 

"You hid in plain sight, but now you are visible for everyone to despise, loathe and abhor," said Kris Pedretti, who was raped in her home when she was just 15.

After sitting quietly and rarely showing any reaction to the statements, DeAngelo stood and addressed the court Friday. "I’ve listened to all of your statements, each one of them, and I’m truly sorry for everyone I’ve hurt."

Judge Bowman held the sentencing in a university ballroom so that all of the survivors and their families who wished to could attend.

DeAngelo’s identity was a mystery for decades until breakthroughs in DNA technology allowed investigators to match DNA samples from the crime scene to a genealogy database in 2018.