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Golden State Killer suspect arraigned on new charges

The consolidated case against the 72-year-old spans six California counties and two decades.
Image: Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, who authorities said was identified by DNA evidence as the serial predator dubbed the Golden State Killer , appears at his arraignment in California Superior court in Sacramento
Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, who authorities say was identified by DNA evidence as the serial predator called the Golden State Killer.Fred Greaves / Reuters

The retired police officer suspected of being the Golden State Killer was arraigned Thursday in a California courtroom on 13 new rape-related counts and 13 murder charges.

No plea was entered as Joseph James DeAngelo stood stone-faced in a courtroom cage to hear the charges read against him, according to NBC News affiliate KCRA in Sacramento. He appeared to have lost weight.

The onetime officer, 72, faced the new rape-related allegations filed as kidnappings to commit robberies because California's statute of limitations for sexual assaults excludes cases that old.

The six-county crime spree that prosecutors attribute to DeAngelo also earned him the nicknames East Area Rapist and Visalia Ransacker. District attorneys from Orange County to Contra Costa County agreed to consolidate their cases against DeAngelo in Sacramento.

Image: Joseph James DeAngelo
Joseph James DeAngelo at his arraignment in California Superior Court in Sacramento on April 27, 2018.Randy Pench / Pool via Reuters

Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said, according to KCRA, "When someone asks me how I feel that a case of this magnitude would come to Sacramento, my answer is that it is very fitting that the answer to this case that has been sought for over 40 years will be held in Sacramento."

The allegations against DeAngelo in an amended felony complaint filed Tuesday are:

In Sacramento County, two counts of murder for the Feb. 2, 1978, shootings of Kate Maggoire, 20, and Brian Maggoire, 21, and nine counts of kidnapping to commit robbery using a gun and knife between Sept. 4, 1976, and Oct. 21, 1977.

In Contra Costa County, four counts of kidnapping to commit robbery using a gun and knife between Oct. 7, 1978, and June 11, 1979.

In Santa Barbara County, four counts of murder in the Dec. 30, 1979, rape and slaying of Debra Manning, 35, and slaying of Robert Offerman, 44, and in the July 27, 1981, slaying of Gregory Sanchez, 27, and Cheri Domingo, 35.

In Tulare County, one count of murder in the Sept. 11, 1975, slaying of Claude Snelling, 45, during what prosecutors say was an attempted kidnapping of the victim’s daughter.

In Ventura County, two counts of murder in the rape and slaying of Charlene Smith, 33, and slaying of Lyman Smith, 43, between March 13 and March 16, 1980.

And in Orange County, four counts of murder in the Aug. 21, 1980, slaying of Keith Harrington, 24, and rape and slaying of Patrice Harrington, 27; the Feb. 6, 1981, rape and slaying of Manuela Witthuhn, 28; and the May 5, 1986, rape and slaying of Janelle Cruz, 18.

DeAngelo, whom prosecutors allege was connected to the case through DNA, was arrested April 24 at his home in Sacramento County.

Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to seek the death penalty. DeAngelo is scheduled to return to court in December.