‘Golden State Killer’ suspect charged with four more murders

JOSEPH DeAngelo, the man accused of a serial rape and killing spree spanning more than decade, has been hit with further charges.

Four fresh murder charges have been filed against alleged ‘Golden State Killer' Joseph DeAngelo. Picture: AP

A FORMER police officer arrested on suspicion of being a serial killer and rapist has now been charged with a total 12 murders during his reign of terror.

According to court documents published on Thursday, the district attorney in Santa Barbara charged Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, with four more counts of first degree murder.

“Violent cold cases never grow cold for their victims or loved ones,” Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley said at a news conference to announce the charges of first-degree murder against DeAngelo.

The ex-cop had already been charged with eight counts, including four in Orange County, two in Ventura County and two in Sacramento County, CNN reported. Law enforcement officials from across California had been searching for the so-called “Golden State Killer” since he first struck in 1976.

He is suspected of being behind more than 50 rapes and 12 killings over 10 years in the 1970s and 1980s across more than 10 counties in the state of California, according to the Sacramento District Attorney’s office.

The Golden State Killer, who was also known by other names across the state including the East Area Rapist, was a masked attacker known for surprising his sleeping victims in their homes.

He developed a penchant for raping women while their partners were tied up beside them.

On Thursday, a judge also ruled prosecutors can collect DNA, fingerprints and body photographs DeAngelo, despite his lawyers’ attempt to block that search.

“All we’re asking here is the prosecution follow the rules,” argued David Lynch, one of DeAngelo’s public defenders.

The former policeman is suspected of being behind more than 50 rapes and 12 killings over 10 years. Picture: Justin Sullivan/Getty

Superior Court Judge Michael Sweet sided with prosecutors, saying courts have repeatedly allowed the collection of such evidence because it’s not a form of testimony.

He said it would not harm DeAngelo’s right to protection against self-incrimination under the U.S. Constitution’s 5th Amendment. “There’s no basis to stop the execution of the search warrant,” Sweet said. “There is no 5th Amendment privilege that I can see.” He said courts have long upheld the right to collect “non-testimonial” evidence that doesn’t require suspects to share their thoughts and beliefs, such as blood samples or asking a suspect to stand in a line-up.

DeAngelo, appearing in court in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed to a wheelchair, said nothing. He has not entered a plea.

Earlier this month, his youngest alleged victim revealed she let her attacker know she was not afraid of him when he raped her and threatened to kill her when she was just 13.

She believed she knew that he “got off” on seeing the fear of his victims, so each time he threatened to hurt her or her mother she said, “I don’t care.

Wardlow, now 53 and with a daughter of her own, says that she was indeed raped but that her defiance seemed to have shortened the duration of the assault.

“He wasn’t getting what he wanted,” she said. “He wanted fear. He wanted to see fear in me.”

Originally published as ‘Golden State Killer’ suspect charged with four more murders