Despite a prolific and violent crime spree spanning years, Joseph DeAngelo abruptly stopped his activities in 1986 after his last attack on Janelle Cruz. The exact reasons for this cessation remain a mystery, with the investigator offering personal theories but acknowledging that only DeAngelo himself knows the definitive cause.

Impact: Medium. The unexplained halt to DeAngelo's crimes leaves a lingering question mark over his capture and the full scope of his potential actions. It highlights the unpredictable nature of serial offending and the limitations of understanding such complex criminal behavior without direct confession.

In the source video, this keypoint occurs from 02:23:42 to 02:23:48.

Sources in support: Megyn Kelly (Host)