Death Penalty Sought in Golden State Killer Case

This photo shows suspected Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo in his Exeter Police Department uniform in the early 1970s.

Four of the six district attorneys pressing charges against alleged Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo have decided to pursue the death penalty, including Santa Barbara’s District Attorney Joyce Dudley. The announcement comes weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a moratorium on the death penalty in California. Orange, Ventura, and Sacramento county DAs have also decided to seek the death penalty; Contra Costa and Tulane county DAs cannot seek the death penalty because the crimes committed in their counties do not qualify. DeAngelo is being tried in Sacramento Superior Court and is charged with 13 counts of murder, including four in Goleta. A settlement conference is scheduled for 8/22.

Editor’s Note: The post was edited on May 8 to clarify Contra Costa and Tulane counties cannot seek the death penalty because the crimes committed in the counties do not qualify for the death penalty.