The Golden State Killer

The infamous Golden State Killer was apprehended in 2018, more than 30 years after he stopped a campaign of rapes and murders that left 13 victims dead and 50 raped, in what is perhaps the most famous case of DNA from an ancestry site being used to solve a crime. The Golden State Killer was known as the original Night Stalker, the Visalia Ransacker, and the East Area Rapist during his original crime spree. It wasn't until 2001 that DNA evidence was used to prove that all three of those perpetrators were the same person who had been performing his crimes throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

In 2018, law enforcement took an unusual step by searching genealogy websites for a match to the DNA they had on file. They were able to score some partial matches by using databases of genetic material supplied by people who were only interested in learning about their family history. That meant the services were utilized by persons who were genetically connected to the killer.

A 1,000-person family tree was created to help identify the murderer. The tree was then pruned by removing persons who were the incorrect age or resided in the wrong part of the world when they died. After a while, only one name remained on the list: Joseph James DeAngelo. The former police officer was arrested and charged with multiple murders. He took a plea to avoid the death penalty and at age 70 the Golden State Killer was given 12 life sentences.

Born: November 8, 1945

Years active: 1974–1986