THE "Golden State Killer" faced the families of his alleged victims as he made his first court appearance shackled to a wheelchair after being charged with murder.

Ex-cop Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested at his home in Sacramento, California, this week when cops tracked him down using DNA left at crime scenes.

8 The dazed 'Golden State Killer' has appeared in court in California charged with murder Credit: AP:Associated Press

Handcuffed to a wheelchair in orange jail scrubs, DeAngelo looked dazed and spoke only to acknowledge he was represented by a public defender - but didn't enter a plea.

He was largely inexpressive during the brief hearing, appearing to squint to see the judge across the courtroom and speaking haltingly in a hoarse voice.

He has been charged with eight counts of murder, and additional charges are expected, authorities said.

Investigators were able to make the arrest this week after matching crime-scene DNA with genetic material stored in an online database by a distant relative.

8 Ex-cop Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was brought into court wearing orange prison garb and shackled to a wheelchair Credit: Getty Images - Getty

8 The former police officer appeared dazed throughout the hearing in the packed courtroom Credit: Reuters

8 Family members of the Golden State Killer's victims were in court to see the man accused of the brutal slayings Credit: Reuters

They waited for DeAngelo to discard items and then swabbed the objects for DNA, which proved a conclusive match to evidence that had been preserved more than 30 years.

Court documents reveal detectives compared the profile to information on a free online genealogical site.

DNA was just coming into use as a criminal investigative tool in 1986 when the predator also known as the East Area Rapist apparently ended his decade-long wave of attacks.

Experts say that as a former police officer, DeAngelo probably would have known about the new method.

8 Joseph James DeAngelo pictured in a police mugshot after his arrest Credit: AP:Associated Press

8 The Golden State Killer was responsible for a number of brutal slayings in the 1970s and 1980s Credit: FBI

DeAngelo is suspected in a dozen slayings as well as 45 rapes and more than 120 burglaries in 10 California counties in the 1970s and 1980s - a decade-long crime spree considered one of the most prolific in state history.

His first victims are believed to be newlyweds Brian and Katie Maggiore - who were shot dead while walking their dog in Rancho Cordova, California on February 2, 1978.

He was identified about two months after the case gained renewed attention in the recently published bestselling book Ill Be Gone in the Dark, by journalist Michelle McNamara, who died in April 2016.

8 Officers remove evidence bags from the alleged killer's home in Sacramento, California Credit: Reuters

8 Cops swooped on the pensioner earlier this week - apparently taking him by surprise Credit: AP:Associated Press

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In addition to being known as the Golden State Killer the unknown suspect was also dubbed the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker, at various times.

DeAngelo was a police officer in two small California communities - Exeter and Auburn - during the 1970s.

He was fired from the Auburn force in 1979 after being accused of shoplifting.

Chilling phone call Golden State killer made to victim after attack

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