Paul Holes of the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office was preparing to retire when the biggest moment of his career happened outside the home of John Joseph DeAngelo. Full story here: abc7ne.ws/2vNk8Pe.
There has been very little media coverage on this but in my opinion this is the biggest moment in American criminal history. Paul Holes is a hero in my eyes. Thank you for your steadfast commitment and bringing this case to an end.
You and I are in the same boat. I started reading about the case back in 2010 when it was still quite obscure and had only one book from Detective Crompton. There were a few websites like questerfiles that did a phenomenal job documenting the case but that was about it. I was stunned at the lack of attention that the case had just like you were. I was also absolutely disgusted with Patton Oswalt upon the resolution of the case. His wife's book essentially had no impact on solving the case and he put up instagram videos that made it sound like she had lead authorities right to the front door of DeAngelo with her input. Ridiculous... For the record, I have no problem with McNamara, she cared about the case just like you and I and I commend her for her effort- but her husband is a fucking scumbag for what he did and I would love to say that right to his face. Guys like Detective Crompton, Detective Shelby, Bruce Harrington and websites like Questerfiles are the real heroes in this story. They kept this case alive when there was no glory or celebrity to be had with it.
vyris wasp I don't think she "revamped the investigation". It's not like the investigators forgot about the case. The cops who worked their asses off for 30years are the heroes, Michelle wrote a book based on their hard work.
I was a teenager in the area EAR was attacking. He imbued fear into my fiber. When the sun sets, I drop the shades. When I pull out of or in to my garage, I turn on my brights and watch for prowlers. I don't fall asleep without checking my doors, windows, and perimeter. Thank God for this investigator. I wish I could thank him in person. Maybe he should not retire.
For anyone wondering what in heck the post-ers in this thread are talking about: One of the podcasts that Morf (aka Mike Morford) hosts or co-hosts is the highly-regarded "Criminology." All the episodes in Season 2 were about the Golden State Killer (GSK) crimes - and by chance, DeAngelo was arrested *during* that season. If you can find Season 2 somewhere (even if you have to pay for access), it's well worth the time to listen to all the episodes. When I was a newbie to the GSK case - hadn't even heard of it (I live in the Midwest) - I was completely confused. What is EAR? And EAR-ONS? Where is Visalia? Who's this "Michelle" the knowledgeable people seem to know so much about that they don't bother using her surname? I felt like a kid who's wondering what the popular kids are always discussing at their lunch table. Then I ran across "Criminology." I binge-listened to Season 2 in its entirety over a single weekend. I also did that with the podcast series entitled "12-26-75," and I binge-read the book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" by Michelle McNamara. (Yup, that's who "Michelle" was, rest her soul.) Now, I'm informed for talking about GSK with the coolest of the popular kids.😎
I'm not gay but I am falling in love with this man. And for all the people out there who are splitting hairs and say, "But this person deserves more credit," "No, THIS person deserves more credit.." I salute everyone who put time into this case. From the living victims (as well as murder victims' families) to eyewitness all the way up to Michelle McNamara (for bringing GSK into the public eye), Paul Holes and the countless other detectives who worked on this case..I love you all and thank you massively. Ear Ons didn't affect my family in any way but he destroyed lives, spread fear into multiple communities...I am glad that Joe DeAngelo has just retired and will spend the rest of his pathetic, shitty life in jail, and Paul Holes has just retired and will spend the rest of his life smiling his ass off. Cheers everybody!! LISK, you're next!!
Sounds like you are comfortable with your manhood and manly to realize that you admire a decent hard laboring protector of our country. Just imagine, if these wonderful men didn't keep our society safe. I am very grateful for his services too.
PAUL HOLES! You solved this case. When the history/histories of this case are written, your name is going to be very much the most prominent one amongst a number of very talented and dedicated investigators. On behalf of everyone that has been following and investigating (in an amateur capacity) this case, thank you so much for your absolute dedication and hard work. And congratulations! I NEVER thought he would be caught. Ya did it, dude!!!
Holes deserves the kudos for the genealogy angle that solved the case. Unfortunately, he was part of team GSK-is-not-Visalia-Ransacker, but only since he started working the case in the mid-90's. Had the Sacramento County Sheriff's not dismissed this idea in 1977, it, along with the East Area Rapist = cop idea, which they did not dismiss, had a strong chance to uncover Deangelo way back when. In 1977 The Visalia Police Dept. came to Sacramento with the EAR = VR idea and wanted to work with them on it - but SCSO roundly and publicly ridiculed them as "publicity seekers." IMO, the major blunder of the case.
Paul Holes was in a sit-down interview in a video on youtube and answered questions about the criminal,, their research, etc.... He is absolutely a fantastic interviewee. He would make a great host on a crime series. He reminds me of a younger Robert Conrad (from the original Wild Wild West series and more)
Judging by the comments, we think that you guys need more Paul Holes in your life...so here he is: abc7ne.ws/2FlheAF. Also, shout out to all the fans of the "My Favorite Murder" podcast who dropped by. We're a Georgia. abc7ne.ws/2FlheAF
When I discovered this case I was surprised it had not been in the American consciousness like the other big notorious cases. And this investigator is own of the best of them I've ever see, years spent on looking into every single little detail. And if it weren't for him it would not have gotten done.
No, it's because they have no conscience. They mimic normal life. They never actually participate in normal life. It is all the same to them. Nothing is compartmentalized.
I think this guy’s law enforcement background helped him elude capture all these while. If you are police and know what police look for in a crime you can avoid such things.
Just finished reading Unmasked My Life Solving Americas Cold Cases by Paul Holes. Looking up everything Paul Holes related. Such an excellent read & how awesome to know he didn’t give up looking for the GSK.
Wow, truly amazing the way they caught this guy, great job Mr. Holes my hat is off to you sir..Also what a coincidence being the "Unmasking A Killer" t.v. show on HLN and McNamara's book dropping in February, what a great solve...
now that he's retired he should be a Hollywood actor as a detective because that's how I envision a detective looks like-- well-spoken and he has that face and stare
It would be fantastic if he writes a book about DeAngelo. He tells the story so well. Also a movie about The GSK like ‘Zodiac’ with Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. would be awesome.
As a camera man with 2 decades experience... I hate it for the photog that the audio keeps cutting out. Probably no fault of his own. Who ever he/she is... I feel for ya!
This is so damn amazing! I'm sitting here smiling thinking about the police and FBI and the work they put into this. And now they actually found this guy. It's amazing! Great job, guys, you can all hold your heads up high. This is a monster and to be honest I thought this was going to be a case like Zodiac and Jack The Ripper, unsolved. BUT here he is. I'm so happy for the victims families and the police department right now. I am going to follow this however long it takes to get him convicted.
@John MacTavish Ohh, sorry to hurt your feelings but if it were not for the police from way back this retired detective would have had fuck all. I know you are just here to bitch and you are a sad person. And to correct you, he was not retired when he and the rest of the team found him. He is now. If you think this was a one man operation you are dead wrong. So before you go bad mouthing people, THINK.
Exactly...I wish Patton Oswalt and so many others would QUIT saying “Michelle got him ..” I read her book...she did not present any new information that I hadn’t already heard. Paul, FBI, the police GOT.HIM.
Around 1:40 he's talking about De Angelo being under investigation before they had any DNA on him. What I want to know is how De Angelo came up in the first place before they got a DNA sample. That's the interesting part.
he was tipped of. after 40 years someone who knew told on him. the new dna technology cant find another man whos dna they did not have. unless its a living bloodhound kind of dna technology
They matched dna from crime scene with public dna database and found partial match of his relative and then it was narrowed down to him based on age and other factors. After which is dna was collected from things he used outside his house. And it was a perfect match!
xssfun but why does he talk so casual about driving up to his house 3 weeks before And just thinking randomly going up and knocking on the door, if they already had a pretty sure matching sample from his relatives? Also in on of the first statements about his capture a lady said that the first heard about him for the first time 6 days ago? Something don't match up
HjerneStimulanz because once they suspected it was him based on the DNA search and narrowing it down to possibly him, he obviously wanted to check him out.
HjerneStimulanz you cannot conclude based of partial match from the relative. You need the actual dna for case to stand that’s the reason he thought of going and asking his dna but that would tipped him off that police is on his tail and you need a warrant as well. Hence they got the dna by other means so that they can do the actual match of his dna with crime scene dna.
I will never, ever forget out running that creep in San Ramon all those years ago. I am convinced that I am Melanie that was found on a piece of paper he had on him. It pays to be a fast running soccer player and VERY aware of who's following me!
Paul Holes is obviously on a roll. Well deserved. So now that you know what chasing a freezing cold case is like, Paul, how about tackling OCCK? After a vacation?
Gotta say, that as someone who has followed this case for years and read all the books and knows this case inside and out and has closely followed the arrest, that it is really infuriating to read the comments and see absolute ignorant morons making absolutely ignorant comments about the case. Comments so stupid that it makes you wonder how people survived this long.
Hand drawn map?!!!! If you watch the documentary on Netflix there’s a part where they talk about a hand drawn map that the offender dropped while fleeing a crime scene. Now that we know he was a former police officer, it makes me wonder if he was looking at an aerial photograph of the neighborhood when he hand drew the map for his getaway. Could it be that the photograph was pinned on the wall in the investigation room? When the police found the hand drawn map, could they have maybe linked the two maps and realized that the offender was one of their own? One of DeAngelos partners as a police officer already suspected him . . .
It's too bad that the justice system failed to apprehend this man sooner. He got to live basically his entire life the way he wanted. hopefully the next time there's a killer like this the cops can do better job and figure it out quicker.
This man is a hero but sad that the criminal got away for almost 50 years living a normal life , that's fuck up now he barely are going to life few more years in prison paying for all that.
It's sad we won't know what other crimes he committed. Specifiaclly the gap between his Exeter and Auburn move and 81 to 86. And his supposed normal life after as a truck mechanic for 27 years and 3 daughters... wow wow wow
I know this is beside the point, but gosh this investigator Holes is the most handsome man I've seen in a long time. There needs to be a law that every cop should have to provide their DNA, so they can be easily identified if they commit crimes.
I can’t answer three questions for you which I’m pretty sure the majority of us have already figured out. One. Did he commit any of the rapes while he was on duty? Of course he did! He was still in uniform which is why he entered some of the residents wearing only a T-shirt. He took off his police issued over shirt, pants and shoes or boots. This is why he entered naked from the waist down. Two. Did anyone know? Yes! His wife knew! She may have come across some jewelry ohare she may have been at one of the homes when he was in there attacking someone. Two victims did say that they heard a woman’s voice after she had the car and tapped at their window while he was in there. He left shortly afterwards with her. I believe that his wife knew which is why she never divorced him even though she was and is and will continue to be a divorce attorney. I believe that she used it as leverage to take the children with her. Three. What is he eating at the places that he ransacked and raped for sexual stimulation? I don’t believe so I believe that he spent so much time on reconnaissance, stocking and breaking in entering that he couldn’t eat during these times. He ate at the residence so not to leave a paper trail having to stop at fast food restaurants along The way to grab a bite to eat. He also make sure that he had vehicles that had gas so that he didn’t stop. Number four. I’ll throw this one in also believe that he possibly worked at a body shop or a place where they restored classic cars. He seem to have several different vehicles that he used and they weren’t reported stolen. I am wondering why no one that he work with ever spoke about his voice? I want to see pictures of him during this time. His composite sketch was shown all over the news and in the papers. Why didn’t anyone recognize him?
his manner is pleasantly not too macho. i wish she had asked him what he would ask deangelo if he could and what questions he would like answered about the saga
Why do I keep seeing this ex cop, clearly a bright guy who deserves a lot of credit, interviewed by complete amateurs!!! Entering the frame to physically move your interviewee?? Are you kidding me??
It wasn't only the police that caught him, it was a amateur genetic genealogist, that the police asked for assistance. Every case that D'Angelo ever touched is now tainted, any rapes, murder case should be investigated or pardoned. You can bet your bottom dollar that this guy set people up or framed them. Supposedly he stopped committing all these crimes in 1986 when genetic DNA test was in it's infancy. My suspicions are police just stopped linking the GSK to anymore crimes. It had to have been obvious to the police that it was a cop doing it, & was using their database to get victims phone numbers because he was ringing them even years after they had been attacked and harassing his victims, where else would someone get that type of personal information. I watched an early youtube clip on the GSK, where they formed a task force group to try and catch the GSK. Police admitted they suspected it was somebody with a police or military background, let s hope he goes to prison for the rest of his life.
You have got some handsome police men over there😋, can't stop watching😊. No one would mind this one coming to the bedroom. No, it is just great that that deranged monster was finally caught. May be some might think twice now that he was finally caught 😏 It is so very disturbing to know that there are people out there like that killer. If some like that had happened to me I would make my home a fortress afterwards full of vicious animals. And sleep in a panic room every night. Great job they have got him.
I was watching Paul at the DNA symposium where he said when he was in GSK's house and he walked in a room where he had his computer and the t.v.was on and it had a towel over the s green, just like the homes in these crime scenes , it gave me goose bumps
All this a crock if bug bull shit. The cops knew and so did his wife. I knew it was a cop since he avoided them so perfectly. And the cop that got fragments in his eye for sure recognized him but surely was told to be quiet.
