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Golden State Killer's 'Jerry' Defense Revealed
25 Nov
Summary
- Joseph DeAngelo blamed his crimes on an alter ego named Jerry.
- DeAngelo attempted a split personality defense during interrogation.
- He pleaded guilty to 13 murders to avoid the death penalty.
Joseph DeAngelo, known as the Golden State Killer, attempted to shift blame for his horrific crimes onto an alter ego named Jerry during his interrogation. DeAngelo, arrested in April 2018, reportedly muttered that Jerry compelled him to commit murders and rapes. This alleged attempt at a dissociative identity disorder defense was seen by prosecutors as a flawed strategy.
According to lead prosecutor Thien Ho, DeAngelo's claim that 'Jerry made me do it' undermined his defense because he acknowledged the wrongfulness of his actions. This tactic was not unprecedented, as DeAngelo had previously feigned illness to evade police in 1979. His manipulation tactics were evident throughout his interactions with law enforcement.
Ultimately, DeAngelo pleaded guilty in June 2020 to 13 murders, accepting responsibility to avoid a death sentence. His crime spree began as burglaries in the 1970s and included the murder of Claude Snelling in 1975, who died trying to protect his daughter.
