Dogs

Closing argument of prosecutor David Tellman to the jury.

DEANGELO’S CRUELTY TO DOGS

As police reports, witnesses, and newspaper descriptions confirm, DeAngelo was frequently cruel to dogs: 

• Dating as far back as 1962, incidents describe vicious beating/kicking, shooting, blowing up, placing the animals in the trunk of vehicle or swimming pool, stabbing, and poisoning. DeAngelo’s fiancee in 1969/70 (Bonnie Colwell), described animal cruelty, and kicking a dog to death.

• EAR Investigator Shelby documented empty meat packages at attack scenes with large dogs in the yard.

• Other EAR attacks had dogs threatened, kicked, locked in rooms, or let out of yards by opening gates.

• DeAngelo’s shoplifting arrest was for stealing a can of dog repellent spray, which also can be fatal if sprayed on the dog, rather than on the ground or on an object.

•DeAngelo's first documented dog murder was described in Sacramento DA Ho's recent book:

After spotting a garage with its door open, they parked their bikes around the corner and returned on foot. As they got halfway up the driveway, a large German shepherd came running out of the garage and barked at the intruders. As the dog advanced, DeAngelo tripped over his own feet backing up, and Kane pulled him up as they retreated toward the street. More angry than hurt, DeAngelo seethed. “I’m gonna kill that dog!” Kane immediately pleaded, “No, man. That dog’s doing its job. He owns that property. He’s protecting it. He’s a good dog.” But DeAngelo only muttered, “No, I gotta get him. I’m gonna get him!” Trying to calm him down, Kane said, “Don’t do anything to that dog. Come on.” According to Kane, DeAngelo reached into his pocket and pulled out a Cherry Bomb M-80 firecracker, lit it, and threw it in the garage. It landed under the dog and exploded. The animal died from its injuries.

Ho, Thien. The People vs. the Golden State Killer (pp. 207-208).

•These dog incidents continued when DeAngelo returned to the area after his Navy service:

•Attacks on the dogs belonging to Visalia Ransacker victims were also noted in VPD reports:

10-19-76 1010 HRS  Detectives Irwin and Sgt. Bowman were searching the Cordova Meadows area in an attempt to locate the vehicle taken in the robbery and assault that had occurred the night before on the corner of Los Palos and Dawes. Officer observed the car parked northbound on El Segundo Drive, south of  Los Palos, north of La Presa, in front of 2533 El Segundo. The car, a White 1962 Mercury Comet, had condensation on the windows and upon surfaces, and appeared to have been parked there overnight. All the windows were rolled up and the car door locked. Officers heard a dog barking and realized the dog was in the trunk. An owner was requested to respond with a key, as well as the ID units were requested also. 

ID Officer Hasting arrived and took photos of the car, and then processed it for prints. The car was then turned over the owner afterward. The car keys are still believed to be missing and were not found.  

When DeAngelo chased, shot, and killed Katie and Brian Maggiore in Rancho Cordova in 1978, their dog Thumper was found paddling for its life in a nearby swimming pool:

•Dog poisonings followed DeAngelo to Auburn, where he lived from 1976-1980:

•Although SSD had never been able to prove that the EAR was using dog repellant to commit his crimes, they had long suspected it. This was confirmed by DeAngelo's shoplifting arrest, which SSD somehow failed to connect to the information they had that the EAR had been in Tulare County between 1974-1976:

•DeAngelo's violence against dogs at his crime scenes continued after he was fired from Auburn PD, and started killing in Southern California:

•Inevitably, neighborhood pet murders also followed DeAngelo to the Canyon Oak neighborhood of Citrus Heights after he moved there in 1980:

NOTE:  In the article below, the residence address of reporting party (Susan Safholm) is 8324 Canyon Oak Dr. This is located on the same side of street, with one house separating from  Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr., whose residence was located at 8316 Canyon Oak Dr. Also — Sue Safholm was a Crime Scene Technician/Detective with Sacramento Sheriffs Dept. for 22 years; beginning 1977, retired in 1999.