Claude Ray Snelling (August 24, 1930 - September 11, 1975) was a 45-year-old man who was a journalism professor at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California and Korean war veteran. He was the first murder victim of the "Golden State Killer" (Joseph James DeAngelo).
Backstory[]
Claude Snelling resided in Visalio, California with his wife, Arlene, and children, Jeffrey, Eric and Elizabeth.
Events[]
On September 11, 1975, DeAngelo broke into the home of Claude Snelling at 532 Whitney Lane. Snelling had previously chased a prowler discovered under his daughter's window around 10:00 p.m. on February 5, 1975. On September 11, he was awakened around 2:00 a.m. by strange noises. Upon leaving his bedroom, Snelling ran through the open back door and confronted a ski-masked intruder in his carport attempting to kidnap his daughter (16-year-old Elizabeth), who had been subdued with threats of being stabbed or shot. Snelling was then shot twice, staggered back into the house to his wife, and later died. After the shooting, the assailant fled the scene, leaving behind a stolen bicycle at 615 Redwood Street.
Aftermath[]
After the murder, Elizabeth, a cheerleader at Mt. Whitney High School, underwent hypnosis in order to gather further details. The Visalia police also committed more resources to apprehending the Ransacker, and a $4,000 reward was posted. Nighttime stakeouts were set up near houses that he had previously prowled, but the ransackings continued.
In August 2018, Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was charged first-degree murder in the 1975 slaying of Claude Snelling in Visalia, California. He was also convicted of many other crimes spanning from 1974–1986.
As of February 2021, DeAngelo is incarcerated in protective custody at California State Prison, Corcoran. He is serving 12 life sentences plus 8 years.