California authorities used genetic websites in 2017, misidentified Oregon man as possible suspect

Friday, April 27, 2018
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Investigators trying to hunt down the so-called Golden State Killer used information from genetic websites a year ago and misidentified an elderly Oregon man as a possible suspect.

Court records obtained by The Associated Press show that in March 2017 investigators in Clackamas County, Oregon, convinced a judge to order the 73-year-old man to provide a DNA sample.
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The documents said they used a genetic profile based off DNA from crime scenes linked to the serial killer and compared it to information from genealogical websites. They created a family tree and used public records to identify the Oregon man.

Investigators also cited a rare genetic marker, which the Oregon man shared with the killer, to get the judge to issue the order.

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A well known criminal pyschologist from the Valley offers insight into the crimes deangelo is accused of committing.

Earlier this week, police say they arrested the right man for a dozen killings and 50 rapes from 1976 to 1986. He is Joseph DeAngelo, a 72-year-old former police officer who lived in the Sacramento area.

FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Golden State Killer' investigation moves to Walnut Creek in 1978
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Golden State Killer' investigation moves to Walnut Creek in 1979

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