Joseph James DeAngelo’s public defender had attempted to block efforts by prosecutors to collect additional identifying information.
Ruling against the defense, a Sacramento judge said on Thursday that prosecutors can collect additional DNA evidence from the Golden State Killer suspect and take photographs of his body, including pictures of his genital region.
Joseph James DeAngelo’s public defender had attempted to block efforts by prosecutors to collect additional identifying information earlier this week, arguing in court filings that it was akin to asking her client to incriminate himself and violated his Fifth Amendment rights. But Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Sweet reasoned that defendants are regularly asked to submit physical evidence, and said that the defense had to honor the prosecutor’s search warrant. The Sacramento Bee was first to report on the court proceedings.
Investigators are expected to take the DNA evidence and photographs sometime this week. A public defender representing DeAngelo did not immediately return Newsweek’s request for comment.
Although court documents do not say what the genital pictures are for, it could be to confirm victim statements. The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker, reportedly had an exceptionally small penis, although authorities haven’t confirmed the rumor publicly.
The Sacramento District Attorney’s Office said it would not be commenting on the case.
“In accordance with our ethical and professional standards, we will refrain from discussion of the facts of the case or our position on any matter while the case and investigation is ongoing,” an office representative told Newsweek .
DeAngelo, a former police officer, had been living in a quiet Citrus Heights suburb in Sacramento County until his highly publicized arrest last Tuesday evening. Police believe the 72-year-old raped at least 45 women, killed a dozen people and burgled as many as 150 homes in an infamous crime spree that spanned from the mid-1970s to 1980s and stumped authorities for more than four decades.
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In the end, it was DNA evidence submitted through a genealogy website that finally cracked the cold case, police said last week. The arrest of DeAngelo stunned his community.
“I’m still in shock,” neighbor Beth Walsh told Newsweek following the arrest. “He always seemed friendly.”
DeAngelo is currently being held without bail at the Sacramento County Jail. He is due in court next on May 14.
Joseph James DeAngelo, the suspected ‘Golden State Killer’, appears in court for his arraignment on April 27,2018 in Sacramento, California. A judge ruled on Thursday that prosecutors can take additional DNA samples and photographs of the suspect’s genital region. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
