Sacramento DA's Book Offers First Insider Account of Golden State Killer Case

Thien Ho's 'The People vs. the Golden State Killer' includes never-before-heard survivor testimony and behind-the-scenes insights from the investigation.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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In 'The People vs. the Golden State Killer', Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho delivers the first official account of the investigation, capture and prosecution of Joseph DeAngelo, also known as the Golden State Killer. The book includes never-before-heard survivor testimony, chilling details of DeAngelo's deception, and behind-the-scenes insights from the investigators who refused to let him escape justice.

Why it matters

DeAngelo's crimes included more than 120 burglaries, over 50 rapes and 13 murders across six counties in California, with Contra Costa residents among the victims he terrorized for decades. The book covers one of Contra Costa County's darkest chapters and provides the first direct account from the lead prosecutor who helped bring DeAngelo to justice.

The details

As the lead prosecutor on the case, Ho recounts the exhilarating and harrowing experience of bringing a cold-case killer to justice and putting him behind bars for life. Rather than focusing solely on the criminal and the crimes, Ho's narrative centers the dedicated law-enforcement teams who never gave up their pursuit of the GSK, and the courageous survivors of his crimes who fought to heal and regain control of their lives.

  • DeAngelo pleaded guilty to his crimes on June 29, 2020.
  • Ho was elected Sacramento County District Attorney in 2022 and took office in 2023.

The players

Thien Ho

The author of 'The People vs. The Golden State Killer' and the current District Attorney of Sacramento County. He has prosecuted hundreds of high-profile sexual assault, gang, and homicide cases over his 25-year legal career.

Joseph DeAngelo

Also known as the Golden State Killer, DeAngelo is one of California's and America's most notorious serial predators. He terrorized California communities for over a decade before disappearing without a trace for more than 30 years.

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What’s next

A portion of the book's proceeds will benefit Phyllis's Garden, a nonprofit that honors a GSK survivor and champions victims' rights.

The takeaway

This book provides a powerful account of how a dedicated team of law enforcement and prosecutors, along with the courage of survivors, were able to finally bring one of America's most notorious serial killers to justice after decades of fear and unanswered questions.