Police had to employ an unusual tactic in their pursuit of a well-known serial killer, with the strategy centered around his alleged micro-penis.
This isn’t the first time micro-penises have attracted public attention. Recently, scientific findings suggested that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler might have had a micro-penis, concealed beneath his clothing. However, Hitler may not be the only infamous figure linked to this characteristic.
It appears that the presence of a micro-penis played a key role in apprehending the ‘Golden State Killer’.
Joseph James DeAngelo, the identified killer, was ultimately captured with the help of true crime writer Michelle McNamara. He was convicted of numerous murders that took place during the 1970s and 1980s.
Despite its small size, the killer’s penis became the central piece tying all investigative elements together.
A suspect had already been detained in relation to several violent crimes in California, and investigators suspected he might also be linked to someone known as the ‘East Area Rapist’.
Victims of the East Area Rapist had reported that their attacker had a very small penis.
Without any DNA evidence, detectives relied on what Sacramento DA Thien Ho referred to as ‘circumstantial evidence’ in his recent book about the DeAngelo case.
According to Page Six, Ho wrote: “I needed to confirm the extreme smallness of his penis.”
Police officers and a photographer were tasked with the uncomfortable duty of photographing the genitals of DeAngelo, who was then 72 and in custody.
Ho recounted how the photographer struggled to capture the necessary images, leading to frustration after multiple unsuccessful attempts.
Eventually, as Ho described, an officer expressed his frustration by exclaiming, “There’s nothing there.”
The officers then reported back to Ho, detailing their findings with the statement: “It’s smaller than the circumference of a dime and its length is equal to the tip of your pinky.”
Ho was satisfied with the findings, recalling, “We had the circumstantial evidence we needed in order to corroborate the testimonies of DeAngelo’s victims.”
The investigation ultimately proved successful, with DeAngelo pleading guilty in 2020 to 26 crimes, including the East Area attacks.
DeAngelo faced charges of 13 counts of first-degree murder, along with rape and robbery.
He was sentenced to multiple consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.