Victims and witnesses of crimes handled by the Folsom Police Department now have a unique and comforting space to share their testimony with officers, thanks to a local nonprofit founded by a woman who is herself a survivor of a high-profile crime.
On Thursday afternoon, Kris Pedretti stood before members of the Folsom Police Department to share the story of her nonprofit and the horrific event that inspired her mission to support victims of rape, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. More than four decades ago, Pedretti was a victim of Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., the serial rapist and murderer known as the Golden State Killer and East Area Rapist. DeAngelo had early ties to Sacramento County and the communities of Folsom and Auburn.
DeAngelo, a former Folsom High School student and police officer in nearby Auburn, committed at least 13 murders, 51 rapes, and 120 burglaries across California between 1974 and 1986. His crimes remained unsolved for decades until April 2018, when investigators used forensic genetic genealogy to identify him through family members. DeAngelo was arrested at age 72 in his home near Fair Oaks…