For some survivors of Golden State Killer’s attack, historic hearing ‘fell short of justice’

For the survivors of the serial rapist and murderer that operated a 12-year crime spree under the nicknames of the Golden State Killer and East Area Rapist — among other monikers — Monday “fell short of justice” but brought some closure.

Joseph James DeAngelo, 74, admitted guilt Monday to 13 murders, 13 counts of kidnapping for robbery that were committed across the state from Sacramento to Orange County that victimized men and women still living and forever robbed families of their loved ones. In the sensational hearing at Sacramento State, he stated “I agree” to more than 150 offenses, mostly sexual assaults, for which the crimes’ statute of limitation had expired.

For Carol Daly, the lead investigator on the case for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office in the mid-1970s, Monday’s hearing was “surreal” and would “lighten the load” for victims.

“All of these victims are very strong women,” Daly said. “I’ve seen them grow and change and accept and lean on each other.”

Kris Pedretti, one of DeAngelo’s rape victims, told reporters outside the Sacramento State ballroom where the hearing took place that it was “empowering” for her and others to see DeAngelo.

“We want people to know there are survivors and we’re not afraid to face him,” said Pedretti, who was raped in her Carmichael home when she was 15. ”We have a great support system. ... We’re just surrounded by brave women. We support each other. We all know each other.”

“This is not our shame,” she added. “This is not our secret anymore.”

For Gay and Bob Hardwick, who were attacked by DeAngelo in their Stockton home in 1978, a life-in-prison sentence fell short of justice, they said.

“The fact of the matter is that the survivors have served more a life sentence already,” Gay Hardwick. “More than 40 years of consequences due to his actions.”

Under a plea-bargain deal reached two weeks ago, DeAngelo is expected to be sentenced in August to life in prison without parole. The sentencing hearing, which will be dominated by testimony from victims, could take two days.

Prosecutors agreed to forego seeking the death penalty to save the cost of taking DeAngelo to trial in what would have been one of the largest and costliest prosecutions in California history. Given DeAngelo’s advanced age, the ages of witnesses and investigators, and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s imposition of a moratorium on executions, prosecutors decided it was time to accept a plea deal and not conduct a death penalty trial.

“The familiy members of murder victims have waited decades for justice,” said Amy Holliday, Sacramento County’s assistant chief deputy district attorney. “The time for justice stands in front of us now.”

Wearing a jailhouse orange jumpsuit, and a face shield to guard against the spread of the coronavirus, DeAngelo agreed to plead guilty to 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnap for robbery, starting with the Nov. 11, 1975, shooting death of college professor Claude Snelling in Visalia. By day’s end, DeAngelo also admitted to 62 rapes and other crimes for which he wasn’t formally charged.

DeAngelo’s only words were few and far between.

During the hearing that spanned seven hours, he said “guilty” 26 times and “I admit” 207 times. At the start of the hearing, around 9 a.m., DeAngelo told Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael G. Bowman “yes” 21 times — as it related to his want of a plea — and “no” six times — confirming to Bowman that he was not coerced or under the influence. In all, DeAngelo spoke only when asked to respond, and did so a total of 250 times.

He pleaded to each of the charges with a simple but feeble, “Guilty.” When the uncharged counts were read aloud, he said, “I admit.”

Roger Sandler, whose wife, Jane, was raped by the East Area Rapist in 1976, said he thought DeAngelo “was putting on an act” during the hearing.

“He looks like a phony,” Sandler said. “He’s acting like an invalid as they’re reading all those vicious stories of how he murdered people.”

“He was very, very capable in terms of his athletic ability and ability to avoid detection and then you see them wheel him out in a wheelchair,” he added, raising his eyebrows in skepticism.

Sandler had traveled from South Carolina the day before with his wife to attend the hearing, he said. They stayed at a detective’s house before coming to the courtroom early Monday.

“It’s good to get this thing behind everyone affected by these vicious attacks,” he said.

This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 3:41 PM with the headline "For some survivors of Golden State Killer’s attack, historic hearing ‘fell short of justice’."