The Golden State Killer is one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. Spanning from the 1970s through the 1980s, Joseph DeAngelo raped nearly 50 women, brutally murdered 13 people, and terrorized entire communities. For four decades, law enforcement professionals relentlessly sought to identify this sadistic killer. In 2018, through the innovative use of genetic genealogy, DeAngelo was identified, arrested, and prosecuted in Sacramento, California. In 2020, he was convicted and sentenced to multiple life terms.
This session will discuss the facts of this case, the use of genetic genealogy to solve it, and the revolutionary success in cases across the world. The session will also discuss the best practices in utilizing this tool, the legal considerations, and the future of genetic genealogy in forensics.
