A serial killer who terrorized California for years has pleaded guilty to more than a dozen murders.

Joseph DeAngelo, a 74-year-old former police officer, appeared in a California State University, Sacramento ballroom on Monday and pleaded guilty in a deal that will allow him to avoid the death penalty. Instead, he is expected to serve life in prison without parole. He appeared at the hearing wearing a plastic face guard because of the coronavirus pandemic and was clad in a bright orange prison jumpsuit.