Golden State Killer faces his victims in court

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Golden State Killer, a former police officer in California who eluded capture for four decades, has faced his victims in court before he is sentenced to life in prison.

Victim after victim lined up to describe Joseph DeAngelo as a "sick monster," "horrible man" and "subhuman" who changed their lives during a long reign of rape and murder that earned him the nickname Golden State Killer.

The daughter of one rape victim gave him an obscene hand gesture and cursed him Tuesday during the first of four days of hearings in Sacramento County Superior Court.

Sixteen of his rape victims plan to confront him Tuesday.

Joseph DeAngelo has confessed to committing 13 murders and nearly 50 rapes between 1975 and 1986. The former police officer in California eluded capture for four decades.

All told, he admitted to harming 87 victims in 53 separate crimes scenes spanning 11 California counties in a plea deal that spares him the death penalty.

A similar number will tell a Sacramento County judge on Wednesday and Thursday how DeAngelo's crimes changed their lives, before he is formally sentenced Friday.