Potential Golden Gate Killer Suspect to Stand Trial

In the late 70’s and early 80’s, there were rapes, murders, and burglaries in California that were never solved. Now, in 2018, police have a suspect from using DNA from the crime scene and a site that holds DNA information.

“Paul Holes, a recently retired investigator with California’s Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said he took crime-scene DNA — believed to be that of the culprit — and entered the profile into the online Florida-based GEDmatch database,” CNN said.  

This has some controversy on whether police should be allowed to use people’s DNA on websites without asking the users, directly, for their permission. However, GEDmatch allows cops to use the information so users should be aware that, by using the site, your DNA could potentially be looked at.

So who is the suspect? Joseph James DeAngelo, a 72-year-old from California.

“DeAngelo is a former police officer with the Auburn Police Department who was fired after he was caught shoplifting a hammer and dog repellent from a hardware store in 1979,” BBC said.

“In 2001, DNA evidence determined the East Area Rapist was the same offender as the Original Night Stalker. Now, the man is known as the Golden State Killer,” CNN said.

He will stand trial on 14 May 2018. There is no definite answer yet on whether the death penalty will be used or not.