Visalia Ransacker Case Study

The Visalia Ransacker is a burglary crime series that began in Visalia in 1974.  The suspect burglarized 100 homes in a small centralized location within the city.  The Visalia Ransacker was identified as being responsible for shooting and murdering Claud Snelling during a ransacking burglary/attempt kidnapping of Snellings 16 year old daughter in September of 1975.  After the murder of Snelling, the ransacking burglaries continued, culminating in a stake out in an attempt to apprehend the suspect.  During the attempted apprehension, the suspect shot at a Visalia P.D. Officer and fled the area and was not captured.  The ransacking burglaries stopped after the incident leaving investigators and the community with several unanswered questions. 

It has long been believed the Visalia Ransaker is the same suspect as the East Area Rapist who was active in the Sacramento area from 1976-1979 and the Original Night stalker who was active in southern California from 1979-1986.   In 2018, Joseph James DeAngelo was identified by DNA and arrested for his involvement in the East Area Rapist and Original Night Stalker crimes.