THE shocked neighbours of the suspected Golden State Killer say he was known as the "freak" and once threatened to "deliver a load of death" in a row over a barking dog.

They claim former cop Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was "creepy, angry and odd" and used to launch X-rated rants from the porch of his well-kept home.

14 Accused rapist and killer Joseph James DeAngelo Credit: AP:Associated Press

14 Sheriffs have sealed-off the home of the former cop Credit: Getty Images - Getty

The former police officer was arrested at his home in Citrus Heights, California after scientists reported a perfect DNA match to the Golden State Killer.

Cops believe the notorious murderer - also known as the East Area Rapist - committed 12 killings and at least 50 rapes across California from 1976 to 1986.

Those living near DeAngelo say even though he was notoriously moody, they were still shocked to learn he's now being linked to the infamous case.

“We used to just call him ‘freak,’” said Natalia Bedes-Correnti, who lives a few houses away.

14 Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones answers reporters' questions Credit: EPA

14 Crime scene evidence from one of the Golden State Killer attacks Credit: FBI

14 The Golden State Killer murdered at least 12 across California in the 1970s and 1980s Credit: Reuters

“He used to have these temper tantrums, not at anybody, just (expressing) his self frustration...usually because he couldn’t find his keys.”

Natalia says DeAngelo was so loud, she could hear him from inside her house, although she added the tantrums seemed to quieten down several years ago.

Another neighbour, Eddie Verdon, said he once had a stare-down with DeAngelo after catching him prowling on his property.

“I had the creeps about this guy for a long time,” he said.

14 County Sheriff Scott Jones said DeAngelo lost his police job over a theft Credit: Getty Images - Getty

14 Police believe they may have finally caught the serial killer after a 40 year manhunt Credit: AP:Associated Press

14 DeAngelo during his sophomore year at Folsom High School Credit: U.S Navy

Grant Gorman, who grew up next door to DeAngelo, described him as being so frightening it stopped him from playing with one of his daughters.

"This guy just had this anger that was just pouring out of him. He'd just be yelling at nothing in the backyard, pacing in circles," he said.

He added that DeAngelo left a voicemail message for his family around 1994 in which he said would "deliver a load of death" if they didn't stop their dog barking.

"He was the kind of person you didn't want to make mad," said Sonja Gorman. "There were enough times where we just knew not to bother him and not to incite him."

Has the FBI ​arrested the Golden State Killer one of the most prolific ​murder​s in​ modern history​?​

14 Cops swooped on the quiet neighbourhood after a DNA breakthrough Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Several neighbours said they saw DeAngelo working in his garage and in front of his house hours before his arrest.

Cory Harvey, his next-door neighbour, said she heard a commotion and looked out to see three or four law enforcement cars had pulled up, some wearing vests and helmets.

The local sheriff's office said officers had conducted surveillance on the house for several days, watching DeAngelo's patterns, and decided to wait until he was outside his home to apprehend him.

An investigative team that included crews in FBI jackets set up an analysis scene on DeAngelo's driveway Wednesday with tents.

14 The Maggiores, who were victims of the Golden State Killer Credit: FBI

14 Officers had conducted surveillance on the house for several days Credit: Reuters

By midday, investigators had pulled a Suzuki motorcycle and an outboard boat out of the suspect's garage and his backyard into the front driveway, as well as two newer-model cars, a Volvo and Toyota.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said DeAngelo worked for the Auburn Police Department from 1976 to 1979.

He was sacked after he was charged with stealing a hammer and dog repellent from a Citrus Heights drug store, according to reports.

Jones said the investigation will include looking at whether what was taken is in anyway related to crimes the East Area Rapist was committing around that time.

DeAngelo is being held without bail in Sacramento on two murder counts.

The arrest came just days after a book about the case shot to the top of bestseller lists across the world.

The publicity storm that followed I'll Be Gone In The Dark is though to have led to a vital tip-off.

14 Evidence experts from the FBI are also at DeAngelo's suburban home Credit: Reuters

14 The storm of publicity from a book about the case is though to have led to a tip off Credit: AP:Associated Press

The book was written by Michelle McNamara and published posthumously with the help of her grieving husband Patton Oswalt.

The comedian - who shot to fame by voicing Remy the rat in Pixar hit Ratatouille - tweeted: "I think you got him, Michelle."

FBI officers first started probing DeAngelo after the tip last week - and soon had a DNA match from a piece of kitchen rubbish.

Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said: "We all knew that we were looking for a needle in a haystack.

14 Pictured above is crime scene evidence of one of the attacks Credit: FBI

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The official list of cases linked to the Golden State Killer June 18, 1976: Sexual assault/rape, Rancho Cordova

July 17, 1976: Sexual assault/rape, Carmichael

August 29, 1976: Burglary, attempted sexual assault, Rancho Cordova

Sept. 4, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael

Oct. 5, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Citrus Heights

Oct. 9, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Rancho Cordova

Oct. 18, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael

Oct. 18, 1976: Carjacking, Rancho Cordova

Nov. 10, 1976: Kidnapping, Citrus Heights

Dec. 18, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael

Jan. 18, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento

Jan. 24, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Citrus Heights

Feb. 7, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael

Feb. 16, 1977: Assault, attempted murder, Sacramento

March 8, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento

March 18, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Rancho Cordova

April 2, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Orangevale

April 15, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael

May 3, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento

May 5, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Orangevale

May 14, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Citrus Heights

May 17, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael

May 28, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento

Sept. 6, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Stockton

Oct. 1, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Rancho Cordova

Oct. 21, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento

Oct. 29, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento

Nov. 10, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento

Dec. 2, 1977: Attempted sexual assault, Sacramento

Jan. 28, 1978: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael

Jan. 29, 1979: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael

Feb. 2, 1978: Brian and Katie Maggiore were killed, Rancho Cordova

March 18, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Stockton

April 14, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Sacramento

June 5, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Modesto

June 7, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Davis

June 23, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Modesto

June 24, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Davis

July 6, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Davis

Oct. 7, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Concord

Oct. 13, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Concord

Oct. 28, 1978: Sex assault, San Ramon

Nov. 4, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, San Jose

Dec. 2, 1978: Sexual assault/rape,San Jose

Dec. 8, 1978: Sexual assault/rape ( DNA link ), Danville

), Danville Dec. 18, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, San Ramon

March 20, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Rancho Cordova

April 4, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Fremont

June 2, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Walnut Creek

June 11, 1979: Sexual assault/rape ( DNA link) , Danville

, Danville June 25, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Walnut Creek

July 5, 1979: Attempted sexual assault, Danville

Oct. 1, 1979: Attempted sexual assault/murder (no DNA) Goleta

Dec. 30, 1979: 2 people killed, Goleta

March 13, 1980: Sexual assault/rape, Lyman and Charlene Smith were killed ( DNA link ), Ventura

), Ventura Aug. 19, 1980: Sexual assault/rape, 2 people killed Dana Point

Feb. 5, 1981: Sexual assault/rape, 1 person killed ( DNA link ), Irvine

), Irvine July 27, 1981: 2 people killed ( DNA link ), Goleta

), Goleta May 4, 1986: Sexual assault/rape, 1 person killed (DNA link) Irvine

"It is fitting that today is National DNA Day. We found the needle in the haystack and it was right here in Sacramento."

In 2016, 40 years after the Golden State Killer's first attack, the FBI offered a $50,000 reward for any information that could lead to his arrest and conviction, as they said they had his DNA and it was a "solvable case".

The FBI described him as a white male, close to 6 feet tall, with blond or light brown hair.

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