Trial Starts For Man Accused Of Being 'NorCal Rapist,' A Predator Similar To Golden State Killer

The trial for a California man accused of breaking into homes and raping women in a case reminiscent of the Golden State Killer has begun.

Roy Charles Waller, 60, is accused of being the “NorCal Rapist,” a serial sexual predator who terrorized northern California between 1991 and 2006, committing at least nine rapes, local outlet KCRA reports.

He was arrested in 2018 after DNA from a soda straw from Waller’s garbage connected him to the 15-year rape spree, the Sacramento Bee reports.  The former University of California, Berkeley employee is accused of breaking into homes and tying up women before sexually assaulting them. The "NorCal Rapist" would also tape his victims' eyes shut while cuddling them between assaults, and would steal jewelry and ATM cards. He often wore a ski mask as he attacked the victims in Sacramento, Yolo, Butte, Contra Costa, Sonoma and Solano counties.

His alleged modus operandi mirrors that of Joseph DeAngelo, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole earlier this year. In addition to committing 13 murders, DeAngelo raped at least 50 women and girls in northern California during the 1970s and '80s.

The two alleged rapists' attack areas overlap: Many of DeAngelo's victims were attacked in Sacramento and Contra Costa County. While often wearing a ski mask, DeAngelo would break into their homes and tie up couples, psychologically torturing the men and children while raping the women for hours. His spree earned him the monikers “East Area Rapist,” “Original Night Stalker,” “Visalia Ransacker,” and “Golden State Killer.” He, like Waller, was also caught by DNA and genealogy. Both are also accused of one day stopping their reign of terror and going dormant for years.  

Waller’s trial to determine if he is indeed the “NorCal Rapist” kicked off on Monday in Sacramento, ABC 10 in Sacramento reports. He has pleaded not guilty to 46 criminal counts, including 21 rape charges and various kidnapping and burglary charges. A jury will determine his fate.

One of the NorCal Rapist's survivors, who identified herself as Theresa Lane to ABC 10, testified in court on Monday and said she hopes he is convicted.

She said she was attacked in her home after a man in a ski mask broke in, bound her, and raped her three times over a six-hour period. 

“It just felt good to finally look at him in his eyes, whether he looked at me or not, it felt good just to look at him," she said, regarding her testimony.

Waller worked for 25 years as a safety specialist in the university’s office of environment, health, and safety until his 2018 arrest. He faces life behind bars if convicted.