EAR? ONS? GSK? The Basics!
Introduction
The criminal known as the East Area Rapist ("EAR") was a sadistic rapist-turned-killer who operated from 1976-1986 (and possibly more crimes before and after). He committed break-ins, about 50 rapes, and possibly a dozen murders, and despite an extensive stalking pattern and a heavy presence throughout California's capitol for so many years, we're not even sure any witnesses or victims have even seen his face. He was so discreet, so invisible, and so elusive that we know almost nothing about him. Anything we learn has to be culled from the dozens of police reports and probable eyewitness accounts. In fact, the very reason that this site exists is because so little is known about this assailant, and my thinking is that one of the only ways to move forward is to pull together every piece of evidence that's publicly known into one place and present it to the public at large in hopes that it will jog someone's memory and make it possible for someone to put something together.
The Crimes
The typical East Area Rapist crime was a home invasion/rape in the middle of the night in quiet, unassuming, "safe" middle class communities and usually in single-story homes. A woman or a couple would be fast asleep, and they'd awaken to a steady tapping and a flashlight shining in their eyes. The EAR would tie them up - often so tightly that circulation would be cut off - and take the female out of the bedroom and sexually assault her. He'd stack dishes on the back of the man so that if the man tried to move, the EAR would hear him. The EAR carried various weapons to keep his victims in line.
His words rarely varied (he seemed to stick to a "script"), he rarely wore the same articles of clothing twice, he never removed his mask without blindfolding his victims, and he left very, very little physical evidence. His attacks occurred over a very wide geographical area, and he began moving southward as his crime spree went on.
Tragically, it appears the rapist from Sacramento eventually evolved into a killer. From 1979 to 1986, a series of rapes/bludeoning deaths swept through disparate parts of Southern California. The murders were just unique enough to keep from forming solid links to each other, although this serial killer was eventually dubbed the "Original Night Stalker" ("ONS"). A link to the EAR was suspected by many at the time, but it wasn't until many years later that a DNA link was made between 3 EAR crimes in Northern California and most of the ONS crimes in Southern California.
Acronyms
- EAR: "East Area Rapist"
- ONS: "Original Night Stalker"
- GSK: "Golden State Killer"
These acronyms are generally used to refer to the same series of crimes, although "EAR" is frequently used in reference to the crimes in Northern California and "ONS" to refer to the crimes in Southern California. Often we just call him "EARONS". In actuality, some of the "EAR" crimes and the "ONS" crimes may or may not be committed by the same person. At this point it's generally assumed that they are but it gets tricky, and we'll dive deeper in the next section. The "GSK" acronym stands for "Golden State Killer", another name the killer is known by.
name than "EARONS" to spread word of his crimes.Why this Site Exists
Volumes have already been written about the EARONS, and there are various places to discuss the case and read about it on the web already. So why create something new?
Because so little about the EARONS is known, it's almost impossible to find a resource on the case that isn't heavy on theory or preconceived notions. Because there are so many tiny pieces of evidence, it's almost impossible to find a resource that assembles them all into a cohesive whole. Because this is such an old case, it's almost impossible to find a resource that doesn't contain a lot of questionable, unsubstantiated, uncited and/or just plain incorrect "facts". This website exists to attempt to address those issues.
My friends and I are doing our best to try to address these issues. This website is taking a clean, scientific approach where it can. We're collecting original materials, citing our sources, and when we devolve into theory we make it clear that we're doing so. At this point in the case it's important to keep an open mind and to not exclude any piece of evidence, because so little is truly known.
I hope we do a good job and if we don't, feel free to let us know!
Read On...
Whether you're new to this case or a seasoned pro, there's still a lot to learn and a lot to piece together. It seems like I still learn new things about the case every day! A good place to start is to read the rest of this section, which includes some info on the physical evidence, the M.O. that ties together the other cases, some words that add some perspective to the case, and a quick guide to the site and some additional resources that might interest you.