"I'm Sorry?": Joseph DeAngelo's First Court Appearance, April 2018

Raw courtroom footage from Sacramento, April 27, 2018: three days after his arrest, Joseph DeAngelo hears the first two murder counts read against him and answers the judge in a few faint words.

Subject

Joseph James DeAngelo

Recorded

about April 27, 2018

Runtime

3:48

Content warning: The judge reads two counts of murder (Brian and Katie Maggiore, 1978). No graphic detail.

The Interview

This is not an interview. It is raw courtroom footage, without narration, of Joseph James DeAngelo's first court appearance, in Sacramento County Superior Court on Friday, April 27, 2018, three days after his arrest. DeAngelo is heard only briefly. Asked whether Joseph James DeAngelo is his true name, he says "I'm sorry?" and then "Yes." Asked whether he has a lawyer, he gives a two-word reply after a long pause, and he appears to answer "Yes" when the judge asks whether his lawyer is the public defender.

Historical Context

Between 1974 and 1986 an unidentified man committed dozens of rapes and at least 13 murders across California. He was known as the Visalia Ransacker, the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker, and later as the Golden State Killer. On April 24, 2018, investigators using genetic genealogy arrested DeAngelo, a 72-year-old former police officer, at his home in Citrus Heights, outside Sacramento. The arrest was announced at a news conference the next day.

Circumstances

DeAngelo was arraigned on a felony complaint charging him with the murders of Brian and Katie Maggiore, shot in Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, on February 2, 1978, with a multiple-murder special circumstance. Press reports describe him as brought in in a wheelchair, in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs, with relatives of the Maggiores in the front row. He did not enter a plea, and he was held without bail.

What the Recording Covers

The clerk calls the case. The judge confirms DeAngelo's name and refers to a Ventura County case against him on two counts of murder, with no bail. He then reads the Sacramento County complaint: two counts of murder on February 2, 1978, each with an allegation that DeAngelo personally used a firearm, and the special circumstance of multiple murders. After a long silence and the question "Did you not understand the question?", DeAngelo answers. The judge appoints the public defender; Assistant Public Defender Diane Howard accepts, reserves objections to "any potential penalty or punishment," and says she and Deputy District Attorney Steve Grippi have agreed on a further date of May 14 at 8:30. The judge orders it and calls a recess.

What Makes the Recording Significant

It was the first court appearance of the man later convicted as the Golden State Killer, and the first time the public heard him, and it records, unedited, the first murder charges read to him in court. His few words here are among the very few he spoke in court before his guilty plea in 2020.

Important Caveats

DeAngelo's words are very brief and faint. The machine texts give his reply about a lawyer only as "I have" or "I know"; press accounts report "I have a lawyer". The judge is named in press reports, not in the recording. The machine texts garble the statute and case numbers and the victims' first names; these are marked unclear in the transcript. This was a first appearance on two counts only: DeAngelo later pleaded guilty, on June 29, 2020, to 13 murders and 13 kidnappings, and was sentenced on August 21, 2020, to consecutive life terms without parole.

Court Clerk: All right, Your Honor, on the 1:30 calendar, page two, in custody, DeAngelo.

Judge: Is Joseph James DeAngelo your true and correct legal name?

Joseph James Deangelo: I'm sorry?

Joseph James Deangelo: [unclear: "Yeah. Yes." (CBS13 copy) / "Yes." (ABC7 copy); the "Yeah" may be the judge prompting]

Judge: Mr. DeAngelo, you're before the Sacramento Superior Court for two reasons. One, [unclear: "to a building where isn't more than" (CBS13 copy) / "who is warning their missing lawyer is held for you" (ABC7 copy); evidently a warrant held for him] out of Ventura County, for two counts of murder, 187, subdivision (a) of the Penal Code. That case is [unclear: "116-1124" / "1-1-6-1-1-2-4"]. There is no bail [unclear: "point on you from" / "for time from"] Ventura County.

Judge: The Sacramento County Superior Court has charged [you] by way of a felony complaint, 18FE008017, complaint [unclear: "equal 22" / "5, April 22"], 2018, [which] alleges two counts of murder and a special circumstance. Count one alleges on or about February 2nd, 1978, in the County of Sacramento, you did willfully, unlawfully, and with malice aforethought murder [unclear: first name; "any majority" / "can be a majority"] Maggiore, a human being, a violation of Penal Code Section 187, subdivision (a). It is a felony. It's further alleged in the commission of that murder that you personally used a firearm of unknown caliber. It's alleged as a violation of Penal Code statute 12022.5, subdivision (a). [That] makes it a violent and serious felony.

Judge: Count two, for a further and separate cause of action, with the charges set forth in count one, [unclear: words may be missing here] it's alleged on or about February 2nd, 1978, in the County of Sacramento, that you [did] unlawfully, willfully, and with malice aforethought murder [unclear: first name; "any majority" / "by a majority"] Maggiore, a human being. It's again further alleged, during the commission of that murder, that you personally used a firearm, again of an unknown caliber. It's charged as a violation of Penal Code Section 12022.5, subdivision (a).

Judge: There is a special circumstance alleged against you, and that reads as follows. It is further alleged that the offenses charged in counts one and two are a special circumstance, in that the defendant committed multiple murders within the meaning of Penal Code statute [unclear: "1-19-22" / "one-nineteen-twenty"], subdivision [unclear: "C"], subdivision [unclear: "5"].

Judge: Do you have a lawyer, Mr. DeAngelo, [unclear: "that took the envelope to report one" / "for the afford one"; possibly "or can you afford one"], or are you asking the court to appoint you a lawyer? [pause of several seconds] Did you not understand the question?

Joseph James Deangelo: [unclear: "I have." (CBS13 copy) / "I know." (ABC7 copy); press accounts report "I have a lawyer"]

Judge: Do you have a lawyer? Is that the public defender?

Joseph James Deangelo: Yes. [CBS13 copy only]

Judge: [unclear: "Let me appoint" / "Do you appoint"] the public defender. Ms. Howard, you accept representation on behalf of your office?

Diane Howard: Thank you. Yes, I will. Diane Howard from the Public Defender's Office, [unclear: "always set the appointment"; possibly "I'll accept the appointment"] for Mr. DeAngelo. I'll acknowledge [unclear: "the seat" / "the suit"; possibly "receipt"] of the complaint. At this time, Judge, I'd also like to reserve the right to make any later objections to any potential penalty or punishment. Mr. Grippi and I have agreed on a further continuing court date of May the 14th at 8:30 in this department, please.

Judge: Mr. Grippi, is that correct? [reply not picked up in either machine text] Okay. That'll be the order. May the 14th at 8:30 in this department, please.

Diane Howard: Thank you.

Judge: Anything else we need to do this afternoon?

Steve Grippi: No, Your Honor.

Judge: Okay. Ms. Howard?

Diane Howard: Yes, sir.

Judge: Anything else?

Diane Howard: No, thank you, sir.

Judge: Okay. May the 14th, 8:30, [unclear: "6.30" / "6-0"; possibly a department number] on Mr. DeAngelo. All right. We'll take a recess.

Unidentified Voice In Court: Anybody else? All right. Everybody stay in your seats. [CBS13 copy only] [No further speech in the machine text to the end of the clip at 03:48.] ---