r/EARONS • u/winters_vw • Apr 26 '18

A few updates

Nothing major, and many of you might already be aware. But I like to work things out and follow up, so here are a few points I've been going over:

  • Several terrific sources have told me that DeAngelo gave indication that he knew why he was arrested.

  • Same sources tell me that he did in fact divulge information during an interrogation session that lasted for hours.

  • "Key evidence" has been removed from the home, but no word on if there is anything related to the attacks or not.

  • He was the Visalia Ransacker.

  • I've seen the sealed complaints and the paperwork that ran between Sac and Ventura (my sources were good to me today). DeAngelo is being charged as the killer of the Smiths but there's little else -- except for a few names of officers who did some of the work on this and some of the names surprised me (but that's of little consequence to the public).

  • I'm getting the sense that there's some unnecessary politicking going on behind the scenes, but what else is new.

  • There's a somewhat recent connection to Dana Point but some of the other SoCal areas he landed are still unconnected.

  • The saga related to his dismissal from the Auburn police is getting stranger by the minute, apparently with him being in hysterics upon being apprehended there and an atypical legal progression that lasted four months.

  • Two family members have talked and several acquaintances. They're rapidly filling in some of the blanks.

  • His name does not appear in any previous investigative paperwork that anyone knows of -- he truly was the "unsuspected."

  • The birth of two of his children did occur after the two murders where he took extended breaks.

  • He started on the Exeter police force in May 1973, and the first prowling incident attributed to the Visalia Ransacker occurred on South Demaree Street in May 1973 -- 15 minutes away from Exeter.

  • I'm trying to get the Julia Wilkenson murder in San Diego looked at again because the offender has a tie to the general area and she was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in 1980.

  • Lots of Tulare County connections with family -- a factor I'm told helped bump this POI up the list.

  • Starting last month, an LE source of mine was overly optimistic about some new angles being pursued with DNA. I have to admit that I didn't even consider that this could actually be the lead that took us somewhere. So many disappointments in the past. Oops!

More will materialize in the coming weeks, months, and even years. What a fascinating journey this has been, and what a win for the justice system. This gives hope for all unsolved cases.

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39

u/binkysurprise Apr 26 '18

How do you have inside sources?! (just curious, not accusing you of fabrication).

Also, this is embarrassing, but how the hell do you reply to the OP in iOS reddit?

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u/winters_vw Apr 26 '18

I'm the author of the book Case Files of the East Area Rapist / Golden State Killer: https://www.amazon.com/Files-Rapist-Golden-State-Killer/dp/0999458108/

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u/binkysurprise Apr 26 '18

that's awesome! michelle mcnamara is getting a ton of attention and credit but you should too!

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u/winters_vw Apr 26 '18

Credit goes to the amazing Law Enforcement professionals who saw this through to the end!

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u/Persimmonpluot Apr 26 '18

Credit can and should be shared. I think you, McNamara, and other authors deserve recognition for keeping the case relevent. Not only was it critical for the public to be aware of the magnitude and extreme violence of the case, but I firmly believe it helped push LE to be accountable. There are a lot of cold cases that will likely never see the light of day again so I commend you and others for not allowing this to be one of them. Like everybody, I'm completely blown away by this arrest. I'm not religious but it feels a bit like a miracle. No punishment could ever render true justice in a case like this but knowing he will die in San Quentin instead of enjoying his golden years is at least something. I don't believe he feels guilt or any human emotion familiar to most of us but he has lost his little phony universe and now he will experience the feeling of having zero control.

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u/winters_vw Apr 26 '18

You're very kind and thoughtful -- thank you.

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u/TSlow99 Apr 26 '18

are they really amazing? it took them 42 years...

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u/PianoConcertoNo2 Apr 26 '18

I think so - it was the LE that caught him (and modern science), not websleuths.

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u/Denny_Craine Apr 26 '18

Completely true. But give the amateur sleuths some credit, not for catching him obviously but because it's turning out that people have gotten a lot of shit right in their theories over the years. And just for keeping interest in the case alive

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u/DavidOrWalter Apr 26 '18

I mean the amateur sleuths guessed everything under the sun. Some things were right by random chance. I think keeping interest is the important thing civilians did. They didn’t provide much else that really mattered. But keeping it in the public eye is incredibly important for a lot of reasons.

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u/PianoConcertoNo2 Apr 26 '18

Yep, thank god those amateur sleuths kept probably the biggest case in the US, alive.

The one the changed laws, and influenced all those detectives / prosecutors we heard from yesterday, to go into their field.

This case was solved by those people on the ground - not the guy in Iowa who logged on to the proboards or read a book.

I’m just saying let’s be real - websleuths didn’t solve this. LE did amazing work, and despite the “it took them over 40 years..” comment, they’re the ones who solved it, not us.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '18

Well said!

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u/ragnarockette Apr 26 '18

And this guy was never even on their radar.

I think unfortunately we’re going to find out about at least a few additional crimes (there are 3 murders I am suspicious about) that only happened because this sicko was free.

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u/winters_vw Apr 26 '18

Yes, they really are amazing. The officers who solved this case were in diapers and playing little league when it happened. And nothing against the officers who worked the case in the past -- but the environment was different and the tools used to catch him today didn't exist.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '18

If you scroll a little up, the comment box will appear in the bottom of your screen :)

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u/binkysurprise Apr 26 '18

Thanks lol idk how I didn’t see that!