Triumph Over Trauma
A Survivor's Journey
Ann MacPhetridge, Promega
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The Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo, was a notorious serial rapist and murderer who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s. His crimes included burglaries, rapes, and murders, often targeting couples and families. DeAngelo would break into homes, tie up his victims, and subject them to psychological torture before committing his heinous acts. His arrest in 2018 was a result of forensic investigative genetic genealogy, and the passion and dedication from detectives who had worked so tirelessly to identify him.
1976 News Reports of a Serial Rapist in Sacramento
East Area Rapist or (EAR) and (EAR/ONS)
Later, he would come to be recognized by many different monikers:
- The Vidalia Ransaker
- The Diamond Knot Killer
- The Original Night Stalker (prior to Richard Ramirez in 1984)
- Later, he would simply be referred to as "The Golden State Killer" after a book written by the late Michelle McNamara titled, "I'll Be Gone In The Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer".
In a heartfelt and candid interview, Jane Sandler, a survivor of the Golden State Killer, shared her harrowing experience and the remarkable journey of healing and empowerment that followed.
Jane agreed to meet me in a hotel lobby after giving a presentation to the Massachusetts State Police Laboratory. With her gray hair and short height, I'm immediately struck by the resemblance to my mother who is the same age as Jane, has a similar haircut and build. She smiles as she greets me, and immediately thanks me and Promega for enabling her to share her story. I smile, telling her how absolutely honored we were to have her present on our behalf and how horrific, yet moving I found her story to be.
Life Before the Assault
Before the assault, Jane led a busy life as a student, mother, and member of the Air Force Reserves. She was unaware of the serial rapist terrorizing the area and had been robbed just weeks before the assault, adding to her fear and trauma she experienced after her attack. As time went on, and she learned more about how GSK evolved in the scope of his attacks, she began to wonder if he was the burglar from the weeks prior to her rape.
The Assault and Its Aftermath
Jane's attack occurred early in the morning, shortly after her husband left for work. A ski-masked man wielding a butcher knife broke into her home, threatening her between clenched teeth. He bound, gagged, and blindfolded both her and her 3-year-old son, and then tied them both up with shoelaces. She said she could hear him ripping up sheets or towels and opening her dresser drawers. At one point, he moved her son away from her, filling her with terror about what he might be doing to her child. After the rape was over, he did move her son back next to her, much to her relief.
The assault had a profound impact on her family, and she did not receive the support she hoped for from her husband. During that time, couples rarely discussed such traumatic events, which only added to her sense of isolation. The lack of support further highlighted the need for therapy for both victims and their families. The Rape Crisis Center provided crucial support to her, helping her realize that her emotions were normal and connecting her with other survivors.
She recalls, "It was because I really thought that all these emotions that I was having made me think that I was going crazy sometimes. And then when I talked to these other women, not just the ones that were raped by D'Angelo…to have them tell me their stories. And I thought, Oh, wow. Oh, wow. I'm okay because I'm not the only one that's feeling this way. So that really helped me".
Struggles and Recovery
Jane struggled with alcoholism, which she eventually overcame through prayer and support from Alcoholics Anonymous. Her faith played a significant role in her recovery, and she emphasizes the importance of seeking help.
For months after the attack, she would often fantasize about tying her attacker to a tree and approaching him with the same butcher knife, threatening to cut and torture him. But over time, and because of her faith, she recognized that she needed to forgive her rapist for her own well-being. Forgiving D'Angelo was a pivotal moment in her healing process, driven by her strong faith and belief in Jesus' teachings.
She explains, " He was still in control of me until I let it go. Right? Still in control. I just carried this backpack of anger and hate and despair, and it was weighing me down. It was weighing me down. And, you know, Jesus forgave us. And we need to forgive others. And I kept thinking about that. What would Jesus do? What would Jesus do? And, I'll never forget what he did, but I had to forgive him because I couldn't live with that heaviness I was carrying for so long".
GSK Arrest
Forty-eight years passed. The notorious rapist and serial killer, known today as the Golden State Killer, raped more than 50 women and murdered twelve people in California. When Jane got the phone call that he had been arrested, she immediately reached out to fellow survivors. They attended most of the court proceedings, except for the arraignment, and were thrilled when he received a life in prison sentence without the possibility of parole. He received 11 consecutive life sentences, an additional life sentence, and an additional eight years for other enhancements.
Advocacy and Support
Jane remains cautious and advocates for victims to share their experiences and seek help, stressing the importance of not letting fear control their lives. She emphasizes the importance of support groups and therapy for survivors and their families, advocating for a holistic approach to recovery.
She, and other survivors of the East Side Rapist/ Golden State Killer, stay in touch, hosting get togethers and gatherings for those survivors who banded together. Many are activists for victims and attend various conferences to help educate law enforcement officers on how to comfort and interview victims with compassion and understanding.
A Message of Hope
Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, there is hope and a path to recovery. She encourages other survivors to seek help, share their stories, and turn their pain into power.
Reflecting on her journey, she shares, "I have a very close relationship with God. I truly do. And, to the Holy Spirit, I pray. And I can't tell you how many times I have had miracles performed by Him. And they are truly miracles. And again, I'm not ashamed that I was raped, because a lot of good has come out of that. And I'm not ashamed that I'm a recovering alcoholic because of the people that I've met in my AA groups. And why do I still go to AA? I go every Saturday, and these folks just pour out their hearts. I love them. And I'm there because maybe there's someone there that could hear my story".
Jane’s positivity and genuine half glass full approach to life surprises me. I tell her, “You remind me of my mom. She's got the same kind of haircut, the same kind of outgoing personality, the same ‘let me help you’ frame of mind. You would like my mom. She's pretty amazing. I can't help thinking, you know, about how my mother would have dealt with the situation like yours. And I think it would have been very similar to your story."
I continue, "my mother was in a horrible car accident last May, and she nearly died. And, you know, therapy was very physical, therapy was very hard, etc. but she never gave up. She felt the power of prayer, people praying for her. And she just said, ‘You know what? I am here for a reason. God's not done with me yet’ and I get the same vibe off of you, Jane."
I ask her one final question: "how, after everything that happened to you, have you brought on that sense of normalcy and that sense of power and empowerment that you just exude to everybody and this warmth and so forth? How did you learn to trust people after what happened to you?"
She replies, “Honest to goodness-- I think that's the power of prayer. You know, getting down on your knees is the only way up, sometimes. It really is.”
Jane and I finish the interview, we hug and her eyes light up as she grins at me while inviting me to go to CrimeCon with her, “we can be roommates!”. Remarkable.
Jane’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, there is hope and a path to recovery. She encourages other rape survivors to seek help, share their stories, and “turn their pain into power”.
To hear more of Jane's story, read her book, Frozen in Fear: A True Story of Surviving the Shadows of Death.