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Rewind with Karen & Georgia - 118: Golden State Killer Caught!

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

Hosted by Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff

1h 6m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark look back at episode 118 of My Favorite Murder from April 2018, celebrating the breaking news that the Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo, had finally been caught. The hosts recount the disbelief and endless late-night research they went through after reading the initial tweets and Reddit threads announcing a 100 percent DNA match. They discuss DeAngelo's background as an ex-cop in Auburn, the infamous shoplifting incident where he was caught with dog repellent and a hammer, and the eerie parallels between online sleuthing and law enforcement work. Throughout the episode, they reflect on the emotional weight carried by victims, the tireless dedication of investigative journalist Michelle McNamara, and what it felt like to experience a historic victory for a case they had obsessed over for years.

  • The Golden State Killer was identified through investigative genetic genealogy after investigators matched DNA from old crime scenes to familial databases. 57:28
  • DeAngelo was charged with thirteen counts of first-degree murder and thirteen counts of kidnapping, but could not be charged with sexual assaults due to the statute of limitations. 57:43
  • In June 2020, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to all charges in a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, receiving multiple consecutive life sentences without parole. 58:09
  • Michelle McNamara's book I'll Be Gone in the Dark helped bring widespread public attention and renewed pressure to the decades-old cold case. 24:01

Chapters

  1. 0:00
    Intro and Ad Reads

    The episode opens with brief intros and a series of ad reads for Zillow, OnDeck, and other sponsors.

  2. 1:46
    Episode Introduction and Host Greeting

    Karen and Georgia introduce the Rewind episode and set the stage for revisiting the Golden State Killer arrest.

  3. 2:23
    Rewind to Episode 118: Golden State Killer Arrest

    The hosts play the intro of the original episode and react to the news of the arrest.

  4. 4:15
    Speculation on the Arrest Process and Evidence

    Discussion of DNA evidence, tips, and the investigative process that led to the arrest.

  5. 6:06
    Reddit Community and Media Coverage

    How Reddit sleuths, media, and the public reacted to the arrest and the role of the internet.

  6. 10:00
    Conclusion: Reflection on the Case and Future Implications

    Hosts reflect on the significance of the arrest, the case’s impact, and what it means for future investigations.

  7. 14:36
    Background on Joseph DiAngelo and Early Life

    Exploration of the suspect’s past, including his time as a cop and alleged shoplifting incident.

  8. 57:05
    Revisiting the Golden State Killer Investigation

    Karen and Georgia dive into the details of how the Golden State Killer was finally caught, discussing DNA evidence and investigative techniques.

  9. 1:00:00
    The Role of Genetic Genealogy

    The hosts explain how genetic genealogy was pivotal in identifying Joseph D'Angelo and the broader impact on solving cold cases.

  10. 1:10:00
    Media Coverage and Public Perception

    They critique the press conference and media response, noting what was missing and how the story was framed for the public.

Highlights

  • 1:49

    Learning the Breaking Newsstory

    Georgia and Karen recount the frantic texts and late-night disbelief when they first learned the Golden State Killer had finally been arrested.

  • 14:36

    Shop-lifting Dog Repellent and Hammersinsight

    The hosts discuss the bizarre detail that DeAngelo was fired from the Auburn police force after being caught shoplifting dog repellent and a hammer.

  • 21:36

    Connecting the Bonnie Connectioninsight

    A Reddit sleuth discovered that DeAngelo was once engaged to a woman named Bonnie, linking back to a victim's account of the attacker whispering Bonnie's name.

  • 23:55

    The Chilling Punishment Evidencestory

    The hosts discuss the terrifying piece of evidence where the killer wrote punishment on the back of a school paper left at a crime scene.

  • 33:56

    The Majore Murders Mysterystory

    Georgia details the tragic murder of Brian and Kate Majore while walking their poodle, a case later linked to the killer.

  • 37:54

    Michelle McNamara's Impactinsight

    Karen and Georgia argue that Michelle McNamara's relentless investigative work and branding of the case as the Golden State Killer drove public momentum.

  • 57:28

    Official Arrest Detailsdata

    The hosts share the official updates on how investigators tracked and arrested DeAngelo in Citrus Heights, California.

Quotes

  • “Fuck, they caught the fucking Golden State Killer.”
    Georgia Hardstark · 2:30
  • “I had, like, Georgia, so I text that, then fucking thank God Georgia calls me because I was like, "If I have to be by myself with this information, I'm gonna lose my mind."”
    Karen Kilgariff · 6:51
  • “Prosecutors ended up charging D'Angelo with thirteen counts of first degree murder and thirteen counts of kidnapping to commit robbery.”
    Karen Kilgariff · 57:43
  • “They got the second sample from a tissue that was in a garbage can outside of his house and then, once they had that, they arrested him the next day.”
    Karen Kilgariff · 57:19
  • “I think we have plans to do that in, in December.”
    Karen Kilgariff · 1:03:28
  • “The only way we could ever get him was from genetic genealogy.”
    Georgia Hardstark · 1:00:35
  • Zillow 0:37–0:58
  • OnDeck 1:02–1:23
  • Zillow 54:48–55:33
  • Virgin Voyages 1:11:13–1:11:40
  • Scam Goddess 1:12:22–1:12:44

About this episode

It's time to Rewind with Karen & Georgia! This week, K & G recap Episode 118: Golden State Killer Caught! Karen and Georgia discussed the arrest of the Golden State Killer and the decades-long investigation that led to his capture. Tune in for all-new commentary, case updates and more! Whether you've listened a thousand times or you're new to the show, join the conversation as we look back on our old episodes and discuss the life lessons we’ve learned along the way. Head to social media to share your favorite moments from this episode! Instagram: instagram.com/myfavoritemurder http://instagram.com/myfavoritemurder Facebook: facebook.com/myfavoritemurder http://facebook.com/myfavoritemurder TikTok: tiktok.com/@my_favorite_murder http://tiktok.com/@my_favorite_murder Now with updated sources and photos: https://www.myfavoritemurder.com/episodes My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. The Exactly Right podcast network provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics, including true crime, comedy, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

0:00
1:06:48

14,150 words · 6 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • Sacramento
  • Reddit
  • Auburn
  • Citrus Heights
  • California
  • All Be Gone in the Dark
  • Celtic Bank
  • Hulu
  • Irvine
  • ABC

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