Dogs
KILLING & CRUELTY
Closing argument of prosecutor David Tellman to the jury.
DEANGELO’S CRUELTY TO DOGS
As police reports and newspaper descriptions confirm, DeAngelo was frequently cruel to dogs:
• Dating as far back as March of 1972, incidents describe vicious beating/kicking, shooting, placing the animals in the trunk of vehicle or swimming pool, stabbing, and poisoning. DeAngelo’s fiancee in 1969/70 (Bonnie Colwell), described animal cruelty and kicking a dog to death.
• EAR Investigator Shelby described finding empty meat packages at attack scenes with large dogs in the yard.
• Other EAR attacks had dogs threatened, kicked, locked in rooms, or let out of yards by opening gates.
• DeAngelo’s shoplifting arrest was for stealing a can of dog repellent spray, which also can be fatal if sprayed on the dog, rather than on the ground or on an object.
10-19-76 1010 HRS Detectives Irwin and Sgt. Bowman were searching the Cordova Meadows area in an attempt to locate the vehicle taken in the robbery and assault that had occurred the night before on the corner of Los Palos and Dawes. Officer observed the car parked northbound on El Segundo Drive, south of Los Palos, north of La Presa, in front of 2533 El Segundo. The car, a White 1962 Mercury Comet, had condensation on the windows and upon surfaces, and appeared to have been parked there overnight. All the windows were rolled up and the car door locked. Officers heard a dog barking and realized the dog was in the trunk. An owner was requested to respond with a key, as well as the ID units were requested also.
ID Officer Hasting arrived and took photos of the car, and then processed it for prints. The car was then turned over the owner afterward. The car keys are still believed to be missing and were not found.
NOTE: The Auburn Journal article above states the shoplifting arrest was on July 2, however, the correct date was July 20, 1979.
NOTE: In the article below, the residence address of reporting party (Susan Safholm) is 8324 Canyon Oak Dr. This is located on the same side of street, with one house separating from Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr., whose residence was located at 8316 Canyon Oak Dr. Also — Sue Safholm was a Crime Scene Technician/Detective with Sacramento Sheriffs Dept. for 22 years; beginning 1977, retired in 1999.
