Michelle McNamara’s 2018 book, I’ll Be Gone In The Dark, has recently been turned into a critically acclaimed HBO miniseries. The now-infamous Golden State Killer has been gaining attention ever since. This is especially true given that he was identified and charged for at least eight murders just months after McNamara’s book was released.
The Golden State Killer, as Michelle McNamara dubbed the then unidentified criminal, did not begin as a killer. In fact, most of (the now-identified as) Joseph James DeAngelo’s victims survived his attacks. Beginning with petty ransacking crimes, DeAngelo escalated to rape in 1976, his first attack occurring in the Rancho Cordova suburb of Sacramento. The serial rapist terrorized the sleepy California city; by the end of the 1970s, he was linked to over 50 rapes. He was dubbed the “East Area Rapist”, as his attacks began in Sacramento’s east side.
By the end of the Golden State Killer’s criminal activity in 1986, 13 people had been murdered. Most of the killings happened in Southern California; for years, these deaths remained unconnected to the East Area rapes. But, with such a prolific history of destruction, one wonders: why did it go on for so long?
The Silence
Unfortunately, attitudes toward rape at the time had significant impacts on the investigation, and even greater effects upon survivors. The rapes, at first, were not reported on. However, after an information leak, the story exploded. Sacramentans went on high alert. Gun and dog guard sales skyrocketed.
Despite the public fear, the conservative nature of Sacramento society prevented many survivors from speaking out. Survivors often recounted a society of silence, as their families encouraged them to keep their stories and feelings private.
A Slap on the Wrist
An even greater roadblock to justice was police attitudes toward rape at the time, and attitude which persists amongst many officers. According to the Man in the Window podcast from the LA Times, in 1976, there were 9,522 reported rapes in California. Of those, there were only 573 convictions (around 16.6%).
Half of those found guilty served only a year or less in county jail, and 10% were released directly to probation. The lieutenant in charge of the East Area Rapist Task Force remarked “I don’t think rape was considered the horrendous crime that it is considered today”.
Survivors Speak Out
Fighting through the indifference and inaction of both police and society, survivors found solace in early, grassroots rape crisis centers. These centers were often highly politicized, being attached to what conservatives decried as “anti-male” and “lesbian” feminist movements. Due to this divide, the Sacramento sheriff blocked funding to the local center, refusing to work with counselors.
Survivors found community in the centers, and in the case of the serial rapes, they were able to share their experiences with those who had faced the same attacker. For years, they lived without the knowledge of who had caused such insurmountable pain.
Limits on Justice
When DeAngelo was finally captured, it appeared that justice may appear for survivors of the East Area Rapist. However, this was not the case. The statute of limitations, or the amount of time after the crime that it can be prosecuted, has expired. In California at the time, the statute of limitations on rape was 3-8 years. Now, in California, all rapes committed after January 2017 can be prosecuted at any time, without limitation; however, this does not work retroactively. Although DeAngelo has at last been identified, and has admitted to nearly all of the rapes, he cannot be prosecuted.
As we learn for information on the Golden State Killer, we cannot forget those who bravely survived both his attacks and societal misconceptions about sexual assault. Likewise, we must learn from the mistakes of the past. For every sexual assault not responded to, a risk of more looms. We must commend the bravery of survivors, and actually act upon calls for justice.
Read also:
10 Books About Sexual Assault You Need To Read Post-SAAM
An Evolution Of The Predator In The Year Of Progress
Lousiana District Attorney Says Rape Survivors Will Be Jailed If They Refuse To Testify
