Former investigator Paul Holes, the forensic criminologist who helped crack the Golden State Killer case, has signed an overall development deal with Oxygen to bring more true-crime programming to the cable network.
Announced Wednesday, the deal is the latest in the network's effort to rebrand itself as a true-crime programmer for women.
"Paul embodies what Oxygen is all about," Rod Aissa, Oxygen's executive vice president of original programming and development, said in a statement.
"His story is of the highest stakes, a career journey with brilliant investigation work that resulted in justice for dozens of victims and their families. He's deservedly become a true crime icon among fans of the genre and we're excited to develop future projects with him," Aissa added.
The former investigator for the Contra Costa County district attorney's office spent 24 years tracking down the so-called Golden State Killer and the investigation culminated in this year's arrest of ex-cop Joseph James DeAngelo Jr.
DeAngelo is believed by investigators to have committed more than 50 rapes, 100 burglaries and at least 13 murders, but faces charges only for a fraction of those offenses due to statutes of limitations.
Holes continued to work on the gruesome case _ one of the nation's most notorious cold cases _ through retirement. And, with the help of FBI lawyer Stephen Kramer, he used a novel technique of comparing crime-scene DNA with a genealogy website full of family histories and hereditary information to bring the 72-year-old DeAngelo in.
The breakthrough and DeAngelo's arrest in April launched Holes into the national spotlight.
"In speaking with Rod and his team, I felt the passion Oxygen has for storytelling and showcasing the very best in true-crime content," Holes said in the same statement. "I'm retired now, and am looking forward to this next chapter of my career where I can help shine a light on cases that deserve national exposure."
Oxygen, a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, began its rebranding campaign last summer, developing and airing true-crime content such as "The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway," "Dahmer on Dahmer: A Serial Killer Speaks," "Aaron Hernandez Uncovered" and "Cold Justice."
The mystery docuseries "Snapped" remains its flagship franchise.
