Joseph DeAngelo is a former police officer who gained notoriety as the Golden State Killer, a serial rapist and murderer responsible for a series of crimes in California during the 1970s and 1980s. He was arrested in 2018 after DNA evidence linked him to several cold cases, leading to his identification as the suspect. In 2020, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder and kidnapping, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His case highlighted advancements in forensic science, particularly the use of DNA testing, which played a crucial role in solving long-unsolved crimes.