Background, Training & Crimes

The state’s case against Paul Kovacich hinged on the argument that only he could pull off the “perfect murder” of Janet due to his unique police training. 

• Prosecutor Tellman told the jury that only an educated, trained, and experienced police officer could have committed this crime.

FBI True ( S2:Ep. 9 ), FBI Analyst Julia Cowley and Orange County cold case Investigator Larry Pool:

Larry:  “What I was thinking was that was he prior military, military history? It was a fairly common threat to be found in many serial offenders.” 

Julia:  “Right. But the other really interesting part of this case was his ability to evade law enforcement. At the height of his attacks in Sacramento, patrols were everywhere. And I wondered if he had some sort of inside information, if he understood law enforcement tactics when it came to surveillance and where they would be sitting. And I thought he potentially was a police officer at some point in time.”

•One of the answers was DeAngelo's access to CLETS:

•DeAngelo’s APD reports are full of notations showing that he was regularly using CLETS  (California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System) to run license plate checks. 

• The serial rapist and killer not only had access to normally private vehicle and drivers license name and address information, but he could read every single law enforcement entry made about his own crimes. 

•The information uploaded to CLETS by SSD after the Maggiore homicides gives a clear picture of one of the big advantages DeAngelo had over the deputies who were trying to catch him. DeAngelo knew exactly what evidence SSD had, and what they were thinking:

Following the shoplifting incident in Citrus Heights on July 20, 1979, APD Officer DeAngelo was suspended, fired, and convicted: 

(below:  Auburn Journal, August 29, 1979)