President Matt Ross rang the bell and welcomed everyone to
the best damn Rotary club in all the world.
Pledge: Bruce Stimson
The President asked Bruce Stimson to lead the pledge to our flag, and he was happy to do so.
He then asked Al Cady to provide the musing of the day... which he did.
Words of Wonder: Al Cady
President Ross lead the recitation of the Four-Way test.
... and Guests!
Visiting Rotarian - John Price
PDG Steve Turner introduced Visiting Rotarian, John Price, Assistant Governor from the Point West Rotary Club with the classification of Window Repair Businessman.
Guest - Michelle Elder
Linda Bigler introduced her friend Michelle Elder. She is a retired CPA and is checking out our club to see if it is something she might like to participate in.
Guest - RayAnn Bradford
Jenny Davini introduced her mother, RayAnn. RayAnn heard that District Attorney, Thien Ho, was going to be the guest speaker and wanted to attend.
Guest - Andrew Ross
President Ross introduced his son and future Rotary President, Andrew Ross, attending for his 47 time (give or take a few) to hear our guest speaker and keep an eye on his dad. This is an important day for Andrew, and it has nothing to do with his dad... it is his "Rocket Day" and has nothing to do with Elton john's Rocket man, at least not yet.
Guest - Sean Tracy
President Ross introduced his longtime neighbor and friend, Sean Tracy. Sean will be retiring in a couple of months and will have some free time and is including our club in the list of options for investing his time.
Guest - Frank Huntington
PDG Steve Turner introduced private investigator, Frank Huntington. He has done a ton of work for the state and hopefully will be guest speaker in the future.
Show Me the Money!
Al Cady - Happy Bucks
Al shared that he was donating $7 Happy Bucks to round out his bill for the 18 rose bouquet to Alicia to $250 .
Tim Cahill - Happy Bucks
Tim was Happy to acknowledge Assistant District Governor, John Price, attending our meeting. Tim's daughter, Christine, is a member of the Point West Rotary Club and Tim wished to show appreciation for John and Point West.
President Ross - Happy Bucks
President Ross was Happy to acknowledge his son Andrew's presence and his successful launch of a rocket this last weekend.
Chris Figueroa - Bell Ringer
Chris shared that tomorrow is a rain day and in his world of landscape maintenance that reduces his expenses and saves him a lot of money.
Rob Olmstead III - Happy Bucks
Rob started and stopped his happy buck presentation, as the target for the reason for his donation left the room, to use the restroom. At the last minute, Joe Green returned from powdering his nose and came back just in time to hear the happy buck's tail. It seems that Rob was attending his son's Jesuit soccer game when he looked on the field and saw at a distance, in the center of the field, officiating the game, a person that at first glance looked very familiar. He then heard his voice and saw his mannerisms and that removed any doubt about who the person was that was Center Ref. It was none other than our club's very own Pit Boss, Joe Green. Rob made it a
point, ashe often does, to voice his observations, concerns and constructive assessment of the Ref's ability to see and call the game in a fair and impartial manner. Rob gave Joe a passing grade for his refereeing... the fact that Jesuit won the game 1 to 0 may have played a role in his assessment. In response to Rob's lackluster assessment of Joes officiating acumen, Joe responded that Rob's assessment of his abilities as a ref, as portrayed to the club, varied dramatically from the comments made to him right after the game. Rob appeared to take umbrage at this accusation. Joe responded with "4-Way Test!"
Marisol Cabrerra
Marisol knew
Walkers
Was the Secret Word... even though the Editor was clueless about the use of the word.
Marisol selected the wine option and "sweetened? the win with a couple of lemons from the bag of lemons donated by a Rotarian.
!!! NEWS YOU SHOULD USE !!!
Board Meeting
There will be a board meeting right after next week's lunch meeting. This will be a great opportunity for all Red Badgers to fulfill their board meeting attendance requirement.
Charter Night
Charter night is Friday, February 20th at Del Paso Country Club. Drinks will be served at 6:00 and dinner and the program at 7:00. Members have already paid for this event as it is included in your annual dues. Guests are $75. There are three different meal options, Steak, Salmon and Vegetarian Risotto.
15th Annual Poker Tournament
Mr. Thomas Goode noted that most of the major sponsorships have been sold. This is an all-hands-on-deck event for our annual Poker Tournament, March 21st. We need more sponsors and butts in the seats. We have never maxed out the players. We have sold more tickets than seats and even then, due to no-shows, we did not fill every seat. The website is up and running so you can log in and register and see all the sponsors that we already have. Even if you have never played, you stand a good chance of winning as a first-time player won the tournament a few years back. It is a great time... you can even win prizes if you make it to the final table. We have Blackjack for those interested in playing for drink tickets. The food is good, the players are great, and the cause is wonderful.
Aspire's Annual College Fair
Christine Jensen shared that Aspire will be holding their annual College Carrer Fair on April 24th. They are looking for individuals willing to share aspects of their profession with impressionable minds looking for future careers. For more information contact Marisol or Rachel.
Susan Skinner
Christine also shared information regarding Susan Skinner, a local photographer and journalist for the Carmichael Times, as well as a singer will be performing on February 22nd at the Twin Lotus, which is a Thai restaurant that serves great food and now music.
Rotary Youth Exchange Update
Bruce Stimson shared that our student, Kiera Matthews is in Switzerland and is having a wonderful time until this last weekend. It seems that while she was bobsledding she broke her collarbone. The secret word is bobsledding. She was with her first host family. They were very nice and got her to a hospital. Her insurance took care of everything. She is not sure if surgery will be needed or how long it will take her to recover. The good news is she now has matching collarbones as she broke her other collarbone two years earlier.
It is looking like we will not have a long term exchange student next year. It looks like we may have a short-term student exchange though... Bruce's granddaughter. Short-term exchanges last from three to six weeks and the families decide how many weeks they want on either end, from six to twelve weeks during the summer.
Heart Screening for Youth
On Sunday, March 22nd, at Rio Americano, a free heart screening will take place. it is being put on by the same people that helped with the AED program, Project Adam. If you know any youth and young adults 12 to 25 years of age that should be screened, please have them attend. Historically, each event screens about 400 individuals and 3 or 4 are found to have some sort of heart abnormality.
MEMBER MINUTE
Jason Borg
Jason was given a hard time by the Prez for his reluctance to participate in the Member Minute since he appears in court and speaks in front of people all the time. Jason's reply to this critique was "I don't mind talking about other people. I just don't like talking about myself."
"I've been a member for probably 25 years. I took a short hiatus for a few years. I joined the club because I was interested in the community service aspect of it. And it's been great being involved over the years. One thing I learned about the club when I joined, I was the youngest member for years until Mr. Good joined.
This club used to have a softball team that played in a Rotary league that we had. And there was one year where I was trying to score and I stumbled because I'm closing, and broke my wrist. Mr. Prather and Gary Johnson drove me to the ER and I have a nice scar to prove it... I've been scarred by Rotary. Anyway, it's a great club. I'm glad I'm back."
As seen through of the eye of the Editor & Stenote.AI
Type caption here
Thien Ho
District Attorney, Sacramento County
The Prez introduced our Guest Speaker, Thien Ho, District Attorney for the County of Sacramento. Thien has had a remarkable story of how his family got to the USA and how he got into politics, working on numerous cases, and now being our District Attorney.
## Summary:
This transcript features Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho discussing the notorious Golden State Killer case, also known as the East Area Rapist, Visalia Ransacker, and Original Night Stalker. The speaker details the criminal's extensive crime spree across California from 1974 to 1986, including 13 murders, over 50 sexual assaults, and 120 burglaries. The presentation covers the killer's modus operandi, key incidents, and victims, such as the murders of Brian and Katie Majore and the assault on Phyllis, the first rape victim. Significant attention is given to the investigative challenges, including the lack of initial DNA matches and the eventual breakthrough using genetic genealogy, which identified Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer, as the perpetrator. The prosecution process, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, led to a plea deal removing the death penalty in exchange for full confessions and victim impact statements, providing closure to many survivors. The DA also touches on ongoing public safety concerns, evolving criminal tactics, and advances in forensic technology. The talk concludes with a Q&A addressing psychological profiling, forensic evidence, and current crime trends.
# Presentation by District Attorney Tien Ho on the Golden State Killer Case
## Overview of the Golden State Killer
- Known by several names:
- Visalia Ransacker
- East Area Rapist
- East Bay Rapist
- Original Night Stalker
- Golden State Killer
- Crimes committed:
- 13 known murders
- Over 50 sexual assaults
- 120 burglaries
- Crimes spanned 11 California counties
- Crime timeline started in 1974-1975 in Visalia.
### Murder of Professor Claude Snelling (September 11, 1975)
- Snelling’s daughter, Beth Snelling, was attacked at home.
- Snelling intervened and was shot and killed by the Ransacker.
- Bullet fired from a stolen Moroku handgun.
- The handgun was linked to a recent burglary.
## Visalia Ransacker Phase (1974-1975)
- Series of 120 burglaries within a 3-mile radius in Visalia.
- MO (Modus Operandi):
- Broke into empty homes.
- Stacked glasses by front doors as alarms.
- Turned off air conditioning.
- Ransacked homes, ate food, drank beer.
- Laid out women's clothing on beds in human form.
- Took coins, stamps, and one earring (left the other).
- Masturbated in homes leaving ejaculate as a territorial mark.
### Police Encounter with the Ransacker (December 10, 1975)
- Officer Bill McGowan staked out a garage.
- Encountered masked intruder who fled after being spotted.
- The intruder shot at Officer McGowan but missed.
- Officer McGowan saw the intruder’s face but could not identify him.
- The Ransacker was Joseph James DeAngelo, a police officer on the task force.
## Transition to East Area Rapist Phase (1976 Onwards)
- DeAngelo transferred to Auburn Police Department.
- Began a series of sexual assaults in Sacramento County.
- Known as the East Area Rapist due to location.
### Modus Operandi of East Area Rapist
- Broke into homes around 1 AM.
- Used flashlight, ordered victims to freeze, claimed to be after drugs/money.
- Forced wife to tie up husband with pre-tied shoelaces.
- Ransacked homes, took one earring, left the other.
- Separated wife and husband to sexually assault wife repeatedly.
- Threatened husbands with harm to children.
- Watched victims for days, tested if they found his marks.
### Notable Incidents
- Brian and Katie Majore murder in Rancho Cordova (February 2, 1978):
- Couple chased and murdered after walking their dog.
- Fence collapse allowed killer to corner and kill them.
- Sketch released (Robin Williams sketch) led to DeAngelo fleeing Sacramento County.
## Original Night Stalker Phase (Late 1970s - 1986)
- Crimes moved to Southern California counties including Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Orange County.
### Santa Barbara Incidents
- October 1979: Husband and wife attacked; wife escaped but was dragged back and tied up.
- December 30, 1979: Dr. Robert Offerman and Deborah Manning murdered.
- Offerman fought back; bindings ripped.
- March 13, 1980: Lyman and Charlene Smith murdered and bludgeoned.
- Two rape kits collected; one preserved for nearly 40 years.
- August 19, 1980: Heath and Patricia Harrington murdered in Dana Point.
- Ligatures removed and taken by killer.
- February 6, 1981: Manuela Whitung raped and murdered in Irvine.
- July 17, 1981: Sher Domingo and Greg Sanchez murdered in Santa Barbara.
- May 4, 1986: Janelle Cruz murdered in Irvine.
## DNA Evidence and Investigation
- DNA from various counties matched to one individual.
- No matches found in CODIS or familial DNA databases initially.
- Use of genetic genealogy pioneered by Paul Holes:
- Converted crime scene DNA to SNP profile.
- Uploaded to genealogy databases to find relatives.
- Built extensive family tree using public records and databases.
- Discovery of preserved rape kit from Charlene Smith led to usable DNA.
- Narrowed suspects to three, including Joseph James DeAngelo.
## Surveillance and Arrest
- Surveillance of DeAngelo included following him and flying overhead.
- DNA obtained covertly from his garbage.
- DNA matched all crimes.
## Prosecution
- Death penalty sought due to severity of crimes.
- COVID-19 pandemic delayed court proceedings.
- Plea deal made removing death penalty in exchange for guilty plea to all charges.
- Victims and survivors had opportunity to testify.
- Phyllis, first rape victim, was present for sentencing but died three months later.
## Insights and Reflections
- DeAngelo was a police officer during much of his crime spree.
- He used gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.
- FBI did two psychological profiles but DeAngelo refused to talk.
- DeAngelo remains in protective custody at Corcoran State Prison.
- Continues to exhibit predator behavior even in prison.
## Questions and Additional Points
- Why did the crimes stop for a period?
- Unknown; possible unaccounted time in LA.
- Fingerprints were not useful due to gloves.
- Shoelaces were sometimes brought by the killer.
- Modern burglary tactics are becoming more sophisticated (alarm jamming, glass breaking).
- Importance of glass break sensors on alarms emphasized.
- Discussion on investigative techniques like tower dumps for tracking suspects via cell phone data.
## Additional Notes
- DA Tien Ho authored a book: "The People Versus the Golden State Killer" available on Amazon.
- Proceeds support a charitable cause called Delicious Garden.
The Prez thanked Greg for his informative presentation. He then presented him with a certificate showing that a donation of $25 to Polio Plus would be made on his behalf, vaccinating 25 people with the help of matching funds.
President Mattthanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting by ringing the bell and closing the meeting at 1:12 P.M.
Respectfully (more or less) submitted by,
Mike Grace
Reporter, Photographer and Editor
Hellen Weight
Ombudsman and Content Supervisor
DISCLAIMER - Some of the information provided in some of the articles and possibly included in some of the "quotes" from club members, may have been a fabrication of a demented mind. It is up to you to determine fact from fiction. Individuals objecting to all or any parts herein, are encouraged to go to Hellen Weight to lodge a formal complaint.
Club Information
Service Above Self
Tuesdays at 12:00 PM
Piatti
571 Pavilions Lane
Arden-Arcade, CA 95825 United States of America
