Joseph DeAngelo, 74, who admitted to 13 murders and dozens of rapes, brought destruction upon his victims in the 1970s and ’80s.
“When a person commits monstrous acts they need to be locked away where they could never harm another innocent person,” Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman said.
Before his sentencing was issued, DeAngelo, a lanky frail fellow dressed in orange prison scrubs and a white shirt, stood up from his wheelchair and removed a white face mask.
He proceeded to tell relatives of his victims, many who seated in the vast room: “I’ve listened to all your statements, each one of them and I am truly sorry to everyone I hurt.”
Last June, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to raping more than 50 women and murdering 13 people. As part of a plea deal, he also admitted to crimes he has not been charged with.
Bowman imposed 11 consecutive life without parole sentences, plus an additional life sentence and another eight years. The judge said the court statements delivered by victims and their families “will always stay with me.”
“I was moved by their courage, their grace, their strength — all qualities you clearly lack,” Bowman told the defendant.
“This is the absolute maximum sentence the court is able to impose under the law,” the judge added.
“And while the court has no power to make a determination where the defendant is imprisoned, the survivors have spoken: Clearly the defendant deserves no mercy.”
Victims and family members applauded and, moments later, the masked defendant was wheeled out of the large university ballroomwhere the sentencing was held to allow for social distancing.
“I was moved by their courage, their grace, their strength — all qualities you clearly lack,” Bowman told the defendant.
“This is the absolute maximum sentence the court is able to impose under the law,” the judge added. “And while the court has no power to make a determination where the defendant is imprisoned, the survivors have spoken: Clearly the defendant deserves no mercy.”
Victims and family members applauded and, moments later, the masked defendant was wheeled out of the large university ballroomwhere the sentencing was held to allow for social distancing.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the victims — whether in heaven or here on earth — were now “free from the shackles they and their loved ones were forced to endure since their paths intersected with the devil.”
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