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Joseph James DeAngelo, the 72-year-old former police officer prosecutors believe to be the man known as the “Golden State Killer” or “East Area Rapist” in Sacramento, has now been charged in connection with four additional slayings between 1979 and 1981 in Santa Barbra County according to District Attorney Joyce Dudley.

Our own Criminal Defense Attorney Daniel Olsen was asked by Fox 40 news about his thoughts on how prosecutors should best handle the trials that will include multiple counties across the state. He believes that the best way to ensure that DeAngelo stay behind bars is, “For each county to say here’s our best evidence and try him, and if that doesn’t work in one county, then next county tries it and then the next country tries.”

Dan also believes that finding an impartial jury in each county will not be an issue. “You’re not going to find such a large enough percentage of people to move it (the trial) out of the county who say I’ve know who this is my whole life and we’ve been looking to nail him.”

The charges in Santa Barbra County include the 1981 killing of Greg Sanchez and his girlfriend Cheri Domingo in a home near Goleta where Domingo had been house-sitting. DNA gathered at the scene was linked to other crimes law enforcement believed were committed by the Golden State Killer.

The additional charges are in connection to the 1979 murders of Robert Offerman and Debra Manning in their condominium. DeAngelo now faces four counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances in Santa Barbra in addition to the previous eight murder counts already filed.

DeAngelo is suspected by investigators to have committed at least twelve murders and fifty rapes across California in the 1970s and 80s. Prosecutors used advancements in DNA technology and a genealogical website to identify DeAngelo last month. He was arrested in Sacramento County in April and remains there awaiting trial.

Prosecutor’s for the case say DeAngelo was “one of California’s most elusive serial killers” in state history. He now faces twelve counts of murder, including eights charges in Sacramento, Ventura and Orange counties and the four new charges in Santa Barbra county.

Information about this case taken from Fox 40 News and The Associated Press.