Golden State Killer: 5 Chilling Theories Once Seen As Crazy

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Golden State Killer terrorized parts of California in the 1970s and 80s, and the case has captivated investigators, writers, and internet sleuths for decades. A dedicated cold case website curated evidence, articles, timelines and maps detailing the crimes and helped spur the creation of internet forums that overflowed with wild theories and discussions. But now that an arrest has been made, some of those theories — no matter how unlikely they sounded just two days ago — might not seem so far-fetched now.

The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist and Original Night Stalker, is one of the most prolific serial rapists and murderers in the nation’s history – sexually assaulting 51 women and killing 12 from 1974 to 1986. More than 30 years later, Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested at his home in Citrus Heights and charged with two murders in the Golden State Killer case.

Investigators obtained DeAngelo’s “discarded DNA” and positively identified DeAngelo as the man who committed multiple crimes, according to Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones. Coincidentally, the arrest took place on National DNA Day, which commemorates the discovery of the DNA double helix, Vox reported.

Over the years, books such as “Hunting a Psychopath: The East Area Rapist/Original Night Stalker Investigation,” written by Richard Shelby, an original investigator of the case, along with documentaries, internet sleuths and couch detectives, have kept the case alive. The Cold Case website was created, dedicated to the victims and their families. A subreddit was also established specifically for the case.

With thirty-two years of amateurs and professionals alike pouring over evidence time and time again, some interesting (if not far-fetched) theories bounced around.

Related: Golden State Killer, Nightstalker Caught Decades Later: Cops

Here are five theories that may once have seemed crazy, but after DeAngelo’s arrest, might not be so out there:

Theory: Victim statements about the killer’s bad smell and the bizarre reactions from scent-hounds are linked.

In almost a dozen attacks, victims of the East Area Rapist described his smell as strong, unpleasant, and “very bad.” The victim of the Oct. 7, 1978 attack in Concord, California, described the attacker’s odor as “a musty smell, like cinnamon.” Later, scent hounds used to track the attacker were sometimes erratic, and couldn’t follow the assailant’s smell for more than a few blocks, according to the cold case website.

What We Know Now: In 1979, DeAngelo was arrested for shoplifting a can of dog repellent and a hammer. Since his arrest Wednesday, theorists say dog repellent may have been behind the assailant’s pungent odor, as well as the reason that scent hounds behaved unusually and couldn’t track his scent.

Theory: The killer cried out “Bonnie,” not “mommy” after one assault.

One of the more intriguing facts about the East Area Rapist case is that the assailant would often break down sobbing, sometimes mentioning his mother and sometimes softly cursing while attacking his victims, according to the cold case website. During the attack on May 28, 1977 in Sacramento, he was heard saying “It scares my mommy when it's on the news. It scares my mommy when it's on the news." In the Sacramento attack on Oct. 29, 1977, he was heard saying “I'm sorry, Mommy. Help me. I don't want to do this anymore, Mommy. Oh, Mom. Somebody, please help me.”

In the Davis attack on July 6, 1978, he cries for someone else. Sheila Singleton, a 36-year-old mother, was woken up by her attacker and raped. After the rape, the assailant laid his head on the pillow next to her and began sobbing, and the victim heard him say "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you Bonnie," according to “Hunting a Psychopath.” Although the victim was not certain that he was saying "Bonnie," she said that's what it sounded like.

What We Know Now: A newspaper clipping has surfaced of an engagement announcement between Bonnie Jean Colwell and Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr.

Although they were engaged in 1970, there is no evidence of them ever getting married. DeAngelo married Sharon Huddle three years later. They had three daughters together before Huddle, an attorney, divorced DeAngelo in 1991, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Theory: The killer worked in law enforcement while committing the crimes.

A popular theory is that the Golden State Killer was in law enforcement, which is how he was able to stay under the radar for as long as he did. In a series of carefully planned attacks, the killer studied his victims’ schedules, broke into their homes and prepared for the crimes beforehand, according to The New York Times. Police long suspected the killer had experience in law enforcement, as he was known to use sophisticated knots to bind his victims, Vox reported.

What We Know Now: DeAngelo served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and worked as a police officer in Exeter and Auburn between 1973 and 1979 before he was fired.

According to a timeline of the Golden State Killer’s 58 attacks and attempted attacks, 50 of the incidents came before DeAngelo’s arrest in August of 1979. DeAngelo attempted to appeal his firing, but dropped it in November 1979. During the period of time between August and November 1979, only one documented attack occurred on Oct. 1 — and it was botched, according to the cold case website. The few remaining attacks happened from December 1979 through October 1987, and were mainly in Southern California. Theorists believe that DeAngelo’s shoplifting incident, followed by getting fired, may explain the lapse in crimes committed by the Golden State Killer during this period of time.

Theory: The killer worked in construction, or another home improvement field.

One popular theory was that the East Area Rapist worked in construction, or another home improvement field.

In 1977, traces of a very specific, uncommon type of paint were found at a couple of consecutive East Area Rapist attacks in Sacramento, according to the cold case website. In 2013, Los Angeles Magazine reported that traces of paint were found in three crimes scenes previously tied to the killer located in Irvine and Sacramento.

There was also a “punishment map,” a detailed map drawn with the word “punishment” scrawled on the back, found at one of the crime scenes, according to the cold case website. Authorities said it was done with such care and was so detailed that it had to come from someone who worked in the architecture or development field, the website said.

What We Know Now: In the engagement announcement to Bonnie, the announcement mentions that he was employed at Sierra Crane and Hoist, Co. – a construction company based in Newcastle, California.

Theory: The Golden State Killer was also the Visalia Ransacker.

Many theorists have toyed with the idea that the Visalia Ransacker and Golden State Killer were actually the same person. The Visalia Ransacker was a serial burglar, who is suspected of committing more than 100 crimes from 1974 to 1975, breaking into single-family homes and tearing apart the interior, while stealing only small items. The Golden State Killer was also known to steal money, jewelry, or various trinkets from his victims.

What We Know Now: This theory may prove to be true. So far, DeAngelo has been charged with two murders that had been linked to the Golden State Killer, and is suspected in more than a dozen other crimes – including the Visalia Ransacker crime spree, according to The Fresno Bee. The Visalia Police Department released a statement Wednesday saying it believes the cases of the Golden State Killer and Visalia Ransacker are related, the newspaper reported.

Photo of Joseph James DeAngelo provided by the FBI