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November 30, 2025 23 mins

He stalked families in the dead of night, slipping through windows like smoke—and for decades, no one knew his name. In this episode, we dive into the terror left behind by the Golden State Killer, a predator who shattered the peace of California's suburbs with a string of home invasions, sexual assaults, and murders that spanned ten counties and three eras of fear.

We trace the evolution of his crimes—from the early days as the East Area Rapist to his transformation into the Original Night Stalker—and explore how he vanished just as suddenly as he appeared. You'll hear how investigators chased thousands of leads, how the case grew colder, and how a revolutionary DNA technique cracked open the mystery everyone thought was unsolvable.

We also examine Joseph DeAngelo's secret life: the ex-cop with rage simmering beneath the surface, the chilling mutterings about "Jerry," and the strange fractures in his psyche that raised more questions than answers.

How does a cop become a killer?

👉 For deeper insight into surviving the mind games of a psychopath, get my book Surviving a Psychopath.   https://kerriedroban.com/surviving-psychopath

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"Richly told, grippingly crafted-Kerrie Droban's podcasts are drama of the highest order...you don't just hear the story. You visit a world you could never imagine, led by a guide who knows what to look for!" D'artagnon Goldfarb

 

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