Case 53
The East Area Rapist 1977
(Part 2)
Case 53
The East Area Rapist 1977
(Part 2)
[Part 2 of 5]
On June 18th, 1976, the Sacramento Sherriff’s Department responded to a break in, and rape of a young woman. By the end of the year, there were ten attacks in total, all attributed to the one serial offender, who the media dubbed, “The East Area Rapist”.
Detectives with the Sherriff’s Department noticed the MO of the East Area Rapist fairly early on but kept the information under wraps. They didn’t want a state of panic, they didn’t want a copycat, and they didn’t want to alert the East Area Rapist that they were onto him.
But by November 1976, the community started to become aware that a violent serial predator was walking their streets.
The Sacramento Sherriff’s Department attended a local school meeting. Their intention was general crime prevention, but as people questioned rumours of the rapes, they were forced to confirm that a serial rapist was at large.
The police were shocked at the brazen nature of the attacks and the meticulous planning. The East Area Rapist moved through the community with military precision. He seemed to always know where the police were. Did he have a police radio? Did he have ears in the force? Or was he just lucky?
He had no sense of fear, his level of bravado was rarely seen in criminal investigations. And he had only just gotten started.
________
Open and download map #2 of the attacks here
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
– Michelle Cruz
– Debbi Domingo
– Patti
– Orange County District Attorney’s Office Investigator Erika Hutchcraft
– Contra Costa County DA Cold Case Investigator Paul Holes
– Detective Richard Shelby
– Detective Larry Crompton
________
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call/
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode researched and written by Anna Priestland
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
MAPS:
Open and download map #2 of the attacks here
BOOKS:
HUNTING A PSYCHOPATH: The East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker Investigation – By Detective Richard Shelby
SUDDEN TERROR: The True Story of California’s Most Infamous Sexual Predator. The East Area Rapist And The Original Night Stalker – by Larry Crompton
DOCUMENTS:
The Original Nightstalker profile
WEBSITES:
East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker
Phone calls and communications
Letters from Michelle and Debbi
ARTICLES:
Veterans honor California’s Vietnam War dead at Capitol Park memorial – The Sacramento Bee
Valley of death – News Review
The mystery of the Visalia Ransacker won’t go away after 41 years – The Fresno Bee
The story behind the first rape kit – CNN
USA: Rapists Escape Prosecution – Backlog of Rape Kit Tests – Safe World for Women
DNA Technology in Forensic Science – NCBI
Colleen Cason: Cast of thousands searches for killer – Ventura County Star
VIDEOS:
48 Hours (CONNECTING THE DOTS IN THE SEARCH FOR A CALIFORNIA SERIAL KILLER) – CBS News
UNSOLVED: CALIFORNIA’S ‘EAST AREA RAPIST’ REMAINS AT LARGE – Crime Watch
Cold Case Killer – FBI
Golden State Killer – East Area Rapist Survivor #5 Speaks
Interview with Debbi Domingo on Golden State Killer EAR-ONS
Interview with Det. Richard Shelby on East Area Rapist – Golden State Killer
SUSPECT’S SKETCHES:
The official East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer – FBI*
*Over the years nearly all of the sketches have been retracted as they were considered misleading
FBI TOLL-FREE TIPLINE:
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the FBI’s Toll-Free Tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), your local FBI office, or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. You can also submit a tip at: tips.fbi.gov.
The official FBI poster
[Part 2 of 5]
On June 18th, 1976, the Sacramento Sherriff’s Department responded to a break-in, and rape of a young woman. By the end of the year, there were ten attacks in total, all attributed to the one serial offender, who the media dubbed, “The East Area Rapist”.
Detectives with the Sherriff’s Department noticed the MO of the East Area Rapist fairly early on but kept the information under wraps. They didn’t want a state of panic, they didn’t want a copycat, and they didn’t want to alert the East Area Rapist that they were onto him.
But by November 1976, the community started to become aware that a violent serial predator was walking their streets.
The Sacramento Sherriff’s Department attended a local school meeting. Their intention was general crime prevention, but as people questioned rumours of the rapes, they were forced to confirm that a serial rapist was at large.
The police were shocked at the brazen nature of the attacks and the meticulous planning. The East Area Rapist moved through the community with military precision. He seemed to always know where the police were. Did he have a police radio? Did he have ears in the force? Or was he just lucky?
He had no sense of fear, his level of bravado was rarely seen in criminal investigations. And he had only just gotten started.
________
Open and download map #2 of the attacks here
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
– Michelle Cruz
– Debbi Domingo
– Patti
– Orange County District Attorney’s Office Investigator Erika Hutchcraft
– Contra Costa County DA Cold Case Investigator Paul Holes
– Detective Richard Shelby
– Detective Larry Crompton
______
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode researched and written by Anna Priestland
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
MAPS:
Open and download map #2 of the attacks here
BOOKS:
HUNTING A PSYCHOPATH: The East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker Investigation – By Detective Richard Shelby
SUDDEN TERROR: The True Story of California’s Most Infamous Sexual Predator. The East Area Rapist And The Original Night Stalker – by Larry Crompton
WEBSITES:
East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker
Phone calls and communications
Letters from Michelle and Debbi
DOCUMENTS:
The Original Nightstalker profile
ARTICLES:
Veterans honor California’s Vietnam War dead at Capitol Park memorial – The Sacramento Bee
Valley of death – News Review
The mystery of the Visalia Ransacker won’t go away after 41 years – The Fresno Bee
The story behind the first rape kit – CNN
USA: Rapists Escape Prosecution – Backlog of Rape Kit Tests – Safe World for Women
DNA Technology in Forensic Science – NCBI
Colleen Cason: Cast of thousands searches for killer – Ventura County Star
VIDEOS:
48 Hours (CONNECTING THE DOTS IN THE SEARCH FOR A CALIFORNIA SERIAL KILLER) – CBS News
UNSOLVED: CALIFORNIA’S ‘EAST AREA RAPIST’ REMAINS AT LARGE – Crime Watch
Cold Case Killer – FBI
Golden State Killer – East Area Rapist Survivor #5 Speaks
Interview with Debbi Domingo on Golden State Killer EAR-ONS
Interview with Det. Richard Shelby on East Area Rapist – Golden State Killer
SUSPECT’S SKETCHES:
The official East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer – FBI*
*Over the years nearly all of the sketches have been retracted as they were considered misleading.
FBI TOLL-FREE TIPLINE:
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the FBI’s Toll-Free Tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), your local FBI office, or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. You can also submit a tip at: tips.fbi.gov.
The official FBI poster
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