Tony Reid

Defense Investigator & Author

Tony Reid is a private investigator and experienced criminal appeals attorney. Following a request to evaluate a Tulare County case for a claim of actual innocence, the inquiry turned into a real-time investigation—the hunt for a serial killer. Turning to the public for information, this investigation became a podcast: “12/26/75.” It was not merely the date of the homicide, it was also the moment that should have changed everything… and, it remains the critical turning point. While most true crime podcasts generate theories and rely on random speculation, Mr. Reid partnered with three of the original investigators, and using police reports, witness statements, and primary evidence, they re-examined the cases. They found their suspect. In fact, one year before Joe DeAngelo, Jr., was identified as the most wanted serial killer in California, Mr. Reid’s investigative team added DeAngelo to their suspect list, and correctly announced that the offender was “a resident of Exeter, California in 1975.” The book adaptation of the podcast provides a firsthand glimpse into the investigation. It is the story of a sworn California law enforcement officer whose decade of terror, and ensuing 40 years of freedom, were facilitated by other lawmen who squabbled with one another and, even some who actively covered for him.