Janelle Cruz's house

This is the house where Janelle Cruz was murdered.

It is located at 13 Encina in Irvine, California.

Cruz was the last known victim of the Golden State Killer (aka EARONS).

Cruz was a troubled teenager who had spent time in a psychiatric hospital due to self-harm. Her parents' divorce impacted her significantly, and it took some time before she accepted the situation.

By 1986, she had finally started to turn her life around.

After participating in an education and vocational training program, she secured a part-time job as a cashier at Bullwinkle's Pizza.

On May 4, 1986, Cruz's mother, stepfather, and younger brother went on vacation to Mexico. Meanwhile, Cruz remained at the family home in Irvine due to her new work commitments.

Murder

The 18-year-old was reportedly nervous about spending the night by herself. Consequently, she invited a male coworker to visit.

That evening, the pair heard strange noises outside Cruz's bedroom window and near the garage door. After investigating and finding nothing, they assumed it was just a cat or the washing machine.

Unknown to them, a sexual predator who had been dormant for nearly five years was prowling outside in the dark.

By that stage in his "career," EARONS had already broken into more than 120 homes, raped dozens of victims, and taken the lives of at least 12 people.

He likely selected the house due to its proximity to Crestwood Park.

To lower the risk of being spotted by neighbors, he deliberately targeted victims who lived next to open spaces. That way, he could come and go without having to use the main road.

At the time of Cruz's murder, Irvine was far less built-up than it is today. The areas to the north and west mostly consisted of fields.

In the lead-up to the crime, he likely parked his car or bike on the opposite side of Crestwood Park before proceeding toward Encina on foot.

After seeing who was inside the house, he began probing the exterior for an entry point.

Cruz's friend left the residence around 10:45 p.m., a decision that undoubtedly saved his life.

Although most killers prefer attacking lone victims, EARONS was different. During his East Area Rapist crimes (1976-1979), he seemingly preferred targeting couples. By doing so, he could tie the pair up, separate them, rape the female, and taunt her male companion.

Discovery

The following afternoon, a real estate agent arrived at the house.

Cruz's mother and stepfather were trying to sell the property, and their agent had recently found a prospective buyer.

After knocking on the door and receiving no answer, the agent assumed the house was empty and entered.

Shortly after entering the house, he saw Cruz's body lying diagonally on her bed, partially covered by a blanket. The teenager had been raped and bludgeoned to death. The attack had knocked out three of her teeth.

Investigators found blades of grass on the bed and footprints behind the house. The murder weapon was believed to be a pipe wrench that was missing from the backyard.

Gregory Jesus Gonzalez

In June 1986, the police arrested a 19-year-old named Gregory Jesus Gonzalez in connection with the crime.

Gonzalez had previously spent time in a mental health institution due to emotional problems. The authorities charged him with Cruz's murder after learning that he allegedly confessed to an acquaintance.

In March 1987, a judge dismissed the charges after blood and semen tests proved he was innocent.

Arrest

For more than three decades, her murder remained unsolved. Over time, the likelihood of bringing her killer to justice grew increasingly remote.

However, all of that changed on April 24, 2018, when the authorities announced that they had arrested a 72-year-old man named Joseph James DeAngelo in connection with the Golden State Killer case.

To avoid the death penalty, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murders, including Cruz's.

On August 21, 2020, he received multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.