Police in California have arrested a man believed to be the Golden State Killer, a serial murderer and rapist who evaded capture for over four decades. The suspect is accused of at least 12 murders, 45 rapes, and hundreds of burglaries across the state, with crimes dating back to the 1970s.
The last known victim was 18-year-old Janelle Cruz, killed in her home on 3 May 1986. She was raped and bludgeoned to death, her face left unrecognisable. Despite a rape kit being collected, DNA testing was in its infancy and the case went cold. Her sister, Michelle Cruz White, said the family lived in fear for 32 years.
The perpetrator operated under various monikers, including the 'Visalia Ransacker', 'East Area Rapist', and 'Original Night Stalker'. His crimes spanned from Sacramento to Los Angeles. It was only through advances in DNA technology that law enforcement linked the sprees to a single individual.
Sacramento County Sheriff's Sergeant Shaun Hampton described the arrest as the culmination of generations of investigative work. The case had terrorised communities, with residents arming themselves and locking doors for the first time.
The suspect's identity has not yet been officially released, but authorities confirmed the arrest earlier this week, bringing an end to one of the most notorious manhunts in US history.
