"A Huge Day of Victory": Debbi Domingo on the Day the Golden State Killer Was Sentenced, 2020

Name: "A Huge Day of Victory": Debbi Domingo on the Day the Golden State Killer Was Sentenced, 2020
Uploaded: 2020-08-22T00:00:00Z
Duration: 4 min 48 s
Description: On the day Joseph James DeAngelo was sentenced, Debbi Domingo, whose mother Cheri Domingo was one of his victims, told ABC10 about his "total letdown" of a statement, her friendships with other families, and her mother's singing.

On the day Joseph James DeAngelo was sentenced, Debbi Domingo, whose mother Cheri Domingo was one of his victims, told ABC10 about his "total letdown" of a statement, her friendships with other families, and her mother's singing.

Subject: Joseph James DeAngelo
Recorded: August 21, 2020
Runtime: 4:48

Content warning: A daughter speaks about the murder of her mother. No graphic detail.

The Interview

This is a television interview with a victim's daughter; Joseph James DeAngelo does not speak in it. On August 21, 2020, the day DeAngelo was sentenced in Sacramento, ABC10 reporter Madison Wade spoke with Debbi Domingo, whose mother, Cheri Domingo, was murdered in 1981. Although the video's title refers to "survivors and victims' families," she is the only person interviewed.

Historical Context

Between 1974 and 1986 an unidentified man committed dozens of rapes and at least 13 murders across California and became known as the East Area Rapist, the Original Night Stalker and finally the Golden State Killer. On July 27, 1981, he murdered Cheri Domingo and Gregory Sanchez at her home on Toltec Way in Goleta, Santa Barbara County. Debbi Domingo was 15.

Circumstances

The sentencing followed three days of victim impact statements. Domingo spoke to ABC10 afterward.

What the Recording Covers

Domingo calls the day "a huge day of victory" and DeAngelo's statement "a total letdown" that confirmed "how pathetic he is." She describes her friendships with other victims' relatives, the "sister survivors," and recalls how Michelle Cruz first contacted her online years before. She speaks of her mother's constant singing and humming, which she says she inherited; of Gregory Sanchez, "like the big, big brother that I never had"; of her long hesitation to contact the Sanchez family and the relationships she has begun to build with some of them; and of her faith, crediting God with the truth coming out in the case: "Everybody says, 'Oh, you know, the DNA is what got him.' Well, guess what? Guess who designed DNA?"

What Makes the Recording Significant

The interview records a victim's daughter's reaction on the day the case ended, including her verdict on the brief apology DeAngelo made in court that day.

Archival Importance

The video is from ABC10's own channel.

Important Caveats

DeAngelo is not heard. Debbi Domingo is a murder victim's daughter, not a survivor of an attack, despite the video's title. She is not named aloud; ABC10's description names her and the interviewer. Her views are her own. Michelle Cruz, whom she names, is the sister of Janelle Cruz, murdered in Irvine in 1986.

Debbi Domingo: Today was full of surprises, really, really good surprises. Some, you know, disappointment. You know, you hear him stand up and say something, and it's like, okay, is this going to have any substance to it, whatever? And, um, what a letdown. What a total letdown. I don't know. I mean, he, he just, he totally demonstrated and reinforced what we've always known about how pathetic he is. So, but, but today is just a huge day of victory. Just, I mean, just, I'm so overwhelmingly happy that we've come to this, to this moment right here, right now. It's so good.

Madison Wade: Could you talk about that, your unity with all the other victim families and survivors, the lifelong friendships you have now?

Debbi Domingo: Yeah, it's been really crazy. I, and I don't even know where to start. I mean, I have some of these, some of these sister survivors that I've known for years, and, um, I mean, I remember, you know, my first contact with Michelle Cruz, years and years ago. She sent me a message online that says, "Hey, you and I might have something in common that could help the case. Maybe we should get to know each other." And I said, "Yeah, sure, why not?" And now, I don't know, six, seven years later, we're like, like this, you know? And that, um, I don't know. Those, a lot of these, these relationships are, are like that. They're, they're irreplaceable. So.

Madison Wade: I know you talked about your, your mom last time we spoke, being proud of you for, for being here today and being part of this journey to help them solve this case. Do you feel her presence today with you?

Debbi Domingo: I always feel her presence with me, and I, um, this may sound kind of silly, but she, one of my favorite memories of her is her constant, always singing or humming something. There was always music in her head, and most of the time that was coming out of her mouth and out of her spirit. And, and I feel really grateful and blessed that she passed that on to me, because I sing constantly. I hum constantly. It makes people crazy. The people I work with, my husband, everybody's like, "Oh my gosh, she's still singing." But, um, but so she's always with me in that, always. Yeah, today's a good day like that.

Madison Wade: I [unclear: "hear that" / "'m happy to hear that"] for you, and I know it means so much. And, and for Gregory's family, are they present as well, part of this?

Debbi Domingo: Uh, you know, it's, that's been one of the, one of the hardest things for me these past 39 years has been, um, the, the lack of connection with them. And, you know, I've always walked this fine line of, okay, I want to, I want to get in touch. I, I, you know, I had this temptation to, like, always be hounding the sheriff's office: "Can you get me in touch with the Sanchez family?" Because I, I miss them. I want to know them. And, um, and then, you know, on the flip side of that was like, you know, if, if my approach into their lives would be painful, I don't want to do that. So I've always held back. This last several years I've had the opportunity to, to get to know a couple of those family members, and those relationships are, the, those are budding relationships, um, but they are proving to be very, very valuable and special as well. So it's, it's remarkable.

Madison Wade: I know he really fought, you know, he fought back.

Debbi Domingo: I, Greg was something, man. He, he was something. He was like the big, big brother that I never had. But, um, I don't know. I just always imagined that he and my mom would just be together forever. I just assumed that. And, um, you know, uh, unfortunately, in an ironic way, they are together forever. I just, I wish it was here.

Madison Wade: My last question for you is, is your faith plays a huge role in your recovery and in your strength and your story. How is that today? Did you, you know, pray before coming in here? What does that look like for you?

Debbi Domingo: Uh, the, the prayers are constant. I just, a con-, constant, uh, constant thanks, constant gratitude for, um, you know, not just my life and, and, and, you know, the blessings that I know that I've got, but, but the truth, the miracle of the truth being revealed in this case. Um, I mean, I, all that credit to God. You know, everybody says, "Oh, you know, the DNA is what got him." Well, guess what? Guess, guess who designed DNA? So, yeah. So, yeah. Holy Spirit's been in me all day today, and I know that's not ever going to stop. [04:38 to 04:48: no further speech; clip ends.] ---