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Who is Larry Crompton?
Larry Crompton is a retired Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office lieutenant who began working the East Area Rapist case in 1978 as a member of a special task force after the attacker struck in his jurisdiction. In 2010 he published Sudden Terror, a book about the case that later drew writer Michelle McNamara to it. He was living in Oregon when Joseph DeAngelo was arrested in April 2018.
Key dates
- 1978 — Crompton began working on the East Area Rapist case and was assigned to a special task force after the attacker struck in Contra Costa County. KATU / WKRC Local 12
- 1998 — Crompton retired as a lieutenant from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office after nearly three decades. KATU / WKRC Local 12
- 2010 — Crompton published Sudden Terror, a book about the East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker case. Oxygen
- 2011 — Writer Michelle McNamara began reading Sudden Terror, which fed into her later reporting on the case. Oxygen
- 2018-04-27 — Speaking from his home in Salem, Oregon, Crompton told reporters about the case's toll on him after DeAngelo's arrest. KATU / WKRC Local 12
Last reviewed 2026-10-18. Statements are attributed to the linked sources; inclusion on this page does not imply wrongdoing.
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Crompton investigated the EAR cases in Contra Costa County and documented the crimes in "Sudden Terror."
Frequently asked questions
Who is Larry Crompton in the Golden State Killer case?+
Larry Crompton is a retired Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office lieutenant. He joined the East Area Rapist investigation in 1978 on a special task force after the attacker struck in Contra Costa County. He worked with Sacramento investigators and helped authorities in Santa Barbara and Orange County link crimes to the same suspect. KATU / WKRC Local 12
What is the book Sudden Terror about?+
Sudden Terror (2010) is Crompton's account of the East Area Rapist / Original Night Stalker case. It draws on police and victim interviews, newspaper clippings and his own notes. A Kindle edition was updated in 2020 to cover DeAngelo's arrest and prosecution. Oxygen
Did Larry Crompton influence Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark?+
According to Oxygen, McNamara found Sudden Terror after seeing the case on television and began reading it in 2011, and her later writing on the case grew from it. Crompton himself has said he does not credit her book with helping the investigation or the arrest. Oxygen
