A serial killer responsible for 13 murders, including six on the South Coast will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Sentencing for the “Golden State Killer” in Sacramento wraps up an emotional week of testimony by family members and friends of the victims.
Tears flowed this week as prosecutors, and victims talked about how the two decade long crime rampage by Joseph James DeAngelo shattered lives.
Among the victims where Debra Manning and Robert Offerman, who were attacked and killed in Goleta in 1979. In 1980, DAngelo attacked and killed Charlene and Lyman Smith of Ventura. And, in 1981, he attacked and killed Cheri Domingo and Greg Sanchez in Goleta.
The former police officer went on a 13 county crime spree in the late 1970’s and early 1980's He was finally arrested in 2018, after DNA evidence linked him to the crimes.
He avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to 13 murders, as well as to committing crimes against nearly 90 people.
The 74 year old man spoke briefly at his sentencing, just saying that after listening to the testimony of some of his victims and their families, he was sorry for what he had done.
He will spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole. The plea deal avoided a long and costly trial. While prosecutors had originally sought the death penalty, the state currently has a moratorium on executions. And, because of his advanced age, it's believed he would haved died in prison anyway.
