Did the Golden State Killer Have a 13th Murder Victim? Or Possibly More?
Hello, good readers! I'm back from vacation and it's time to catch up on the major cases that are captivating the nation, starting with the Golden State Killer. While GSK suspect Joseph James DeAngelo's lawyers continue to fight in court to suppress evidence from being brought into trial, police all over California are reviewing old cold cases. In Tulare County, where the "Visalia Ransacker" operated in the 1970s, police are focusing on the 1975 slaying of College of the Sequoias journalism professor Claude Snelling. Snelling was shot while trying to save his 16-year-old daughter from a masked abductor. Police have long suspected that the "Visalia Ransacker" was involved in the homicide and while the burglaries cannot be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations, officials plan to bring the Snelling case before the Tulare County District Attorney to see if a 13th murder charge can be made against DeAngelo.
Another possible charge could be brought against DeAngelo if his DNA is found to be a match against DNA that was left at the scene of a 1978 double homicide in Simi Valley. Last year Craig Coley was exonerated in the murders of Rhonda Wicht and her son Donald. DNA testing proved his innocence after he had served 13,991 days in prison for the crime. He is now set to receive $1.95M in compensation for his wrongful conviction but of course, that will never make up for the years that he lost. Police are now looking at whether DeAngelo's DNA is a match.
DeAngelo did appear in court on May 14 and unlike his previous appearances, he stood on his own instead of sitting in a wheelchair. Some investigators, perhaps rightly so, claim that the wheelchair was nothing but an act to try to gain sympathy from the court and the public. This hearing was to determine whether media outlets are allowed to release arrest and search warrant records that the defense wants to be sealed. No decision was made and the hearing is expected to continue on May 29. In attendance at the May 14 hearing was Jennifer Carole, whose parents Charlene and Lyman Smith, were allegedly bludgeoned to death by GSK.
Another possible charge could be brought against DeAngelo if his DNA is found to be a match against DNA that was left at the scene of a 1978 double homicide in Simi Valley. Last year Craig Coley was exonerated in the murders of Rhonda Wicht and her son Donald. DNA testing proved his innocence after he had served 13,991 days in prison for the crime. He is now set to receive $1.95M in compensation for his wrongful conviction but of course, that will never make up for the years that he lost. Police are now looking at whether DeAngelo's DNA is a match.
DeAngelo did appear in court on May 14 and unlike his previous appearances, he stood on his own instead of sitting in a wheelchair. Some investigators, perhaps rightly so, claim that the wheelchair was nothing but an act to try to gain sympathy from the court and the public. This hearing was to determine whether media outlets are allowed to release arrest and search warrant records that the defense wants to be sealed. No decision was made and the hearing is expected to continue on May 29. In attendance at the May 14 hearing was Jennifer Carole, whose parents Charlene and Lyman Smith, were allegedly bludgeoned to death by GSK.
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