The Golden State Killer
The book has three portions a description of the Golden State Killer's crimes, a description of the failed investigation efforts, and finally a final reckoning of the DNA evidence used to convict Joseph DeAngelo.
The book covers his method in rather sparse detail describing his "familiarity" with law-enforcement procedure and his ability to escape through pre-planned escape routes. While this is probably meant to discourage information regarding methods to commit crime, it makes the reader question what DeAngelo's X factor was that enabled him to commit crime for so long. For example, DeAngelo's ability to break in to locked homes without any signs of forced entry is stated but not examined in detail: Was he able to dissamble locks? Was he able to unscrew windows?.
DeAngelo's method as described in the book is the following: Case the house to determine times when 1 victim is alone, find nearby watersheds for disposal, and plan an escape route about 1-2 weeks before hand. Then, look for commonly opened windows or weak locks and enter through the back-yard or climb to the top of the house then break in stealing into the victims room before threatening them to be silent often with a bright flashlight shining into their face to disorient and then tie them up with ligatures steal a few trinkets A few victims descrobe DeAngelo cooking himself dinner in their homes after incapacitating them then assault the women and leave through a pre-planned route.
The book presents a few hypotheses on why DeAngelo was able to commit crimes for so long. The California Police Departments were unwilling to communicate beetween districts which meant distant crimes could not be connected. Secondly, DeAngelo was effecient often with pre-tied ligatures and used his millitary and police background to estimate response times and protocols.
DeAngelo's crimes became progressively more malicious over time One of the investigators describes DeAngelo having visiited his house and scaring his four-year old. The police department sent men to stand guard at all the investigators homes.The fear and desperation that surrounded Sacramento at the time is described excellently though sometimes Thrope meanders overmuch such as when he dedicates two paragraphs to describing the position of female law enforcement at the time. Overall, a great short book to read in one sitting and its fascinating the techniques DeAngelo used to stay free until DNA evidence caught up to him.