The reliability of so-called 'touch DNA,' which is how the industry refers to DNA collected when only a few human cells are left behind when someone touches an object, has been an issue of controversy among forensic experts.įive days after the 'touch DNA' was gathered into evidence, investigators collected trash from cans left outside DeAngelo's home in Citrus Heights, California.Ī piece of tissue plucked from the trash on April 23 proved to be the piece of evidence they needed to obtain an arrest warrant, according to the documents.Īuthorities dig in the backyard of DeAngelo's home in Citrus Heights, California on April 26ĭeAngelo was arrested on April 25 and has since been charged with 12 counts of murder in Sacramento, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Orange counties. The door handle sample matched DNA from semen found at a Golden State Killer crime scene, but didn't immediately lead to an arrest. Once a distance relative was matched to that DNA, detectives told The Los Angeles Times that they were able to close in on DeAngelo based on his age, employment and close proximity to the location of many of the Golden State Killer's crimes.Īfter identifying DeAngelo as a suspect, investigators followed him to a Hobby Lobby located just outside of Sacramento in Roseville, and took a swab from the door handle of a car he exited on April 18.
The crime scene DNA was entered into private DNA testing and analysis databases that are intended, in part, to find relatives and assess ancestry. Investigators used DNA from a semen sample collected at the double murder of Lyman and Charlene Smith in 1980 in Ventura County to find one of DeAngelo's relatives and eventually the suspect himself, according to the warrants.
To crack the investigation that's been ongoing for 40 years, police zeroed in on DeAngelo by using genealogical websites to identify potential relatives of the killer based on DNA collected at a crime scene.Ĭress stands next to his client DeAngelo appears in Sacramento Superior Courtlast week In total, 123 pages of documents were released by Judge Michael Sweet, over the objection of DeAngelo's defense team. Last week, it emerged that DNA from a tissue left in a trash can ultimately led authorities to arrest DeAngelo.ĭocuments released by a judge at the request of news outlets detailed the case investigators pieced together to obtain arrest and search warrants for DeAngelo.ĭNA collected from the door handle of a car DeAngelo was seen exiting in Sacramento on April 18, and voluntary submission of DNA to private genetics testing and analysis companies also played a role in DeAngelo's arrest.
The accused serial killer was living with one daughter and a grandchild when he was arrested on April 25. Huddle and DeAngelo's three daughters are all adults now.
At least one victim of the Golden State Killer reported that her attacker said 'I hate you Bonnie' during the assault. Prior to marrying Huddle, DeAngelo was engaged to Bonnie Jean Colwell, who broke off the engagement.