(KGTV) - The man accused of carrying out dozens of rapes and at least 12 murders across California in the 1970s and '80s did not enter a plea at his arraignment Friday.
Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer cases.
He was handcuffed in a wheelchair during his court appearance, and listened to the judge with his eyes barely open.
In a frail voice, DeAngelo responded, "I have a lawyer." An attorney from the public defender's office was with him in court.
He was denied bail.
DeAngelo, a former California police officer, is charged in Sacramento County with two counts of murder in the 1978 killings of Brian Maggiore and his wife, Katie, and with additional murder charges in Ventura County. Four more murder charges have also been filed in Orange County.
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Investigators say some of DeAngelo's earlier crimes occurred while he was an officer. Authorities said the man would break into homes wearing a ski mask, tie up the occupants and commit rapes and often murders. He usually stole cash or small items from the homes.
Most of the crimes occurred in or near Sacramento or the Bay Area, though San Diego's District Attorney is reexamining cold cases that may be liked to DeAngelo.
DNA technology has been credited for leading authorities to DeAngelo. Investigators reportedly used genealogical sites to find a DNA match for DeAngelo, according to the Associated Press.
Investigators compared DNA collected from a crime scene to online genetic profiles and found a match: A relative of DeAngelo.
