On Tuesday, August 21st, 2018 at 11:00 AM, a coalition of District Attorneys appeared together to issue statements to the press.
Presenting together were Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley, Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten, and Lisa Bartlett, Supervisor of the 5th District (where the Orange County murders took place).
This group of officials is in charge of prosecuting the case against Joseph James DeAngelo, the alleged Golden State Killer. Thus far, DeAngelo had been charged with thirteen murders.
The subject of the press conference was kept under wraps until it began, though speculation was that Contra Costa County had possibility figured out a way to charge DeAngelo for some of the many rapes and crimes he’s suspected of committing in that county. Paul Holes, an investigator who worked the case for over twenty years and who was instrumental in solving it, worked for Contra Costa County and it’s natural that the DA there would seek charges if possible.
Another possible subject was a change of venue for the trial.
The press conference took place in the Law Library on the first floor at the Orange County District Attorney’s office.
Rackauckas began by introducing his colleagues and making general statements about the case — the most effective of which was calling DeAngelo a “human predator.” He told the press that the District Attorneys from all jurisdictions had been meeting together and working out the best way to manage the case, with the goal of figuring out where the trial should be held. He explained that based on the location and complexity of the crimes, as well as the convenience and hardship to the various witnesses that would be called, they determined that the trial should take place in Sacramento. As Anne Marie Schubert said later on, it “began in Sacramento,” and it would “end in Sacramento.”
An amended complaint was filed at 10:00 AM this morning in Sacramento Superior Court that geographically pins the venue down in Sacramento.
Ventura County DA Totten spoke next, and discussed the “generational impact” of the case. He explained that the pooling of charges and resources into Sacramento shows that the prosecutors are “unified,” and that it serves the case and serves justice in the best possible way.
Santa Barbara DA Dudley spoke, mentioning that they want to take the case to trial as soon as possible and that everyone who suffered “needs this to end.” She felt that the move of her charges to Sacramento was the best opportunity for a “single, comprehensive, speedy trial.”
Tulare County DA Tim Ward spoke next, expressing his confidence in this process. He talked about the “successful and amazing” collaboration as it related to his case.
Dinah Becton, District Attorney of Contra Costa County, took the podium next to announce that she was filing charges related to four separate cases in her county against DeAngelo. The charges are four felony counts of kidnapping to commit robbery, with sentencing enhancements for personal use of a firearm and personal use of a knife. These crimes took place between October 7, 1978, and June 11, 1979. Becton explained that two of those cases involve DNA hits. My own understanding is that three of them do, but perhaps there’s something that excludes the third one.
The Sacramento County DA, Anne Marie Schubert, spoke next. She too announced new charges for DeAngelo, namely nine felony counts of kidnapping to commit robbery, with sentencing enhancements for personal use of a firearm and personal use of a knife. The crimes took place between September 4th, 1976, and October 21st, 1977.
She later explained that because “rape” had a short statute of limitations, neither she nor DA Becton could prosecute DeAngelo for it, despite rape being one his primary offenses.
She also gave some history about the Task Force, and announced that DeAngelo would be arraigned on these new and consolidated charges at 1:30 PM in Sacramento.
Lisa Bartlett, Orange County Supervisor of the 5th District spoke. She mentioned that her home city is Dana Point, where the Harringtons were murdered by the Golden State Killer.
When the press conference turned to questions, the team was asked if there were any additional charges coming or if there were any additional crimes DeAngelo was suspected of. Rackaukas answered that they’ve filed everything they can file as of right now, but investigation may turn up other cases. They’re looking carefully at other cases, but so far none have emerged as being definitively tied to DeAngelo.
The strength of the DNA evidence was questioned, and the team assured the press that the storage, analysis, and precedent for prosecutions similar to this case (from a DNA-standpoint) don’t seem to present any problems.
The death penalty was discussed, and DA Totten said that 10 of the 13 murders are death penalty eligible. They all “have and use a very solemn process” when evaluating a death penalty case. That decision point is still in the future. DeAngelo’s background, as well as various “aggravating and mitigating circumstances” in the crimes will help inform whether this should be a death penalty case.
The team was asked why only nine of the Sacramento cases were being charged, and how they could be prosecuted if there wasn’t any DNA. DA Schubert told the press that “signature MO” elements tie the cases together, and that she was unable to prosecute him for all of the suspected rapes because “kidnap for rape” isn’t something that she can reach back and prosecute him for, but she CAN reach back and get him for “kidnap for robbery.”
The team commented on their outreach to victims and how they’re in constant contact with survivors and loved ones of those who were murdered. The victims as a whole have expressed “tremendous gratitude” to Law Enforcement.
It was also noted that it’s unprecedented for so many District Attorneys from so many different offices to get together and prosecute a case like this.
The jailhouse informant scandal in Orange County was brought up by one of the reporters, and Rackauckas answered that the scandal had nothing to do with moving the prosecution of all cases to Sacramento.
When it comes to the speed of the trial, DA Schubert mentioned that they were trying to move as quickly as possible, especially with so many witnesses on the older end of the age spectrum. She’ll be swearing in some additional lawyers from other jurisdictions to help participate in this case, and the coalitions of District Attorneys will decide on a day-to-day and hearing-by-hearing basis about who will be located in Sacramento to assist with the case. She mentioned that DeAngelo himself can speed it up by entering a plea, if he so chooses.
We’ll find out if he does on Thursday at 1:30 PM, though he’s not expected to.
I have to commend you for making available to all of us who have followed this case since the beginning such a detailed reporting of the status of the prosecution of this (alleged, ha) monster. I worked in local news in Portland and Los Angeles for many years and am chagrined by the quality of local news these days so I was pleasantly surprised by the details found just now. Never forget you provide a tremendous public service, even if you’re not acknowledged enough.