Offender Record · OFF-2026-054
James Anthony Daveggio
Also known as Froggie
Sex
Male
Race
White
Born
1960
Custody
Incarcerated
States
CA, NV, IN, OK
Distinguishing featuresTattoos on both arms and chest; raspy, low voice; known by nickname 'Froggie'
Custody
Incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison
Custody record at the facility
Daveggio was sentenced to death in Alameda County Superior Court in 2002
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
James Anthony Daveggio was convicted of one count of first degree murder and two counts of oral copulation in concert by force, with Daveggio pleading guilty to the oral copulation counts before trial. Daveggio was given the death penalty in Alameda County Superior Court in 2002 for kidnapping Vanessa Lei Samson on the morning of December 2, 1997, raping her with modified curling irons and murdering her by strangulation with a rope. Daveggio and Michaud were also convicted in the 2002 trial of the oral copulation of Daveggio's daughter, then 16, and the daughter's friend, then 17, on November 3 and 27, 1997. Both were later sentenced to death and remain on California death row.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Jun 25, 1985, San Joaquin County, California
Sexual Assault
San Joaquin County, California · San Joaquin County Superior Court · Docket unknown · California Penal Code § 261 · Arrested Jul 26, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 1 year jail, 5 years probation
In 1985, Daveggio and his pal picked up a woman at a bar and drove her to a remote area, where Daveggio forced her to orally copulate him. She tried to escape but was shot at and ordered back, according to San Joaquin County court records. Daveggio served a year in jail for the sexual assault and five years' probation.
SourcesPAGE ONE (SACRAMENTO) -- Rape-Murder Suspect's Jekyll-Hyde Life
Offense date Sep 1997, Sacramento, California
Sexual Assault of Minor
Sacramento Police Department / Alameda County · Alameda County Superior Court (trial) · Docket unknown · California Penal Code § 261 et seq. · Arrested Dec 03, 1997 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty (as part of murder conviction)
Sacramento police issued no bail warrants for Daveggio and Michaud in connection with the abduction and sexual assaults of a 13-year-old girl in September and 12-year-old girl in October. Victim survived and was released.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Daveggio, James
Offense date Sep 29, 1997, Reno, Nevada and Interstate 80
Kidnapping and Sexual Assault
U.S. District Court, District of Nevada · U.S. District Court · Docket unknown · 18 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. · Arrested Dec 03, 1997 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 24 years and 5 months
Before giving James Daveggio the maximum sentence, U.S. District Judge David Hagen commented on the 'depraved nature of the forcible sexual assault' of the student in the back of a van traveling on Interstate 80 in 1997. Daveggio was convicted in federal court of kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and aiding and abetting a kidnapping.
SourcesDaveggio gets nearly 25 years for kidnap, rape of Reno college student; People v. Daveggio & Michaud
Offense date Nov 03, 1997, Pleasanton, California
Oral Copulation of Minor
Alameda County Superior Court, California · Alameda County Superior Court · Docket 134147 · California Penal Code § 288a(b)(1) · Arrested Dec 03, 1997 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty (as part of murder conviction)
Daveggio and Michaud were convicted in the 2002 trial of the oral copulation of Daveggio's daughter, then 16, and the daughter's friend, then 17, on November 3 and 27, 1997.
SourcesPeople v. Daveggio & Michaud; Radford University serial killer biography: Daveggio, James
Offense date Dec 02, 1997, Pleasanton, California
Oral Copulation in Concert by Force
Alameda County Superior Court, California · Alameda County Superior Court · Docket 134147 · California Penal Code § 288a(d) · Arrested Dec 03, 1997 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty (as part of murder conviction)
Daveggio and Michaud were given the death penalties in Alameda County Superior Court in 2002 for kidnapping Vanessa Lei Samson on the morning of December 2, 1997, raping her with modified curling irons and murdering her by strangulation with a rope. Daveggio pleaded guilty to the oral copulation counts before trial.
SourcesPeople v. Daveggio & Michaud; Radford University serial killer biography: Daveggio, James
Offense date Dec 02, 1997, Pleasanton, California
First Degree Murder
Alameda County Superior Court, California · Alameda County Superior Court · Docket 134147 · California Penal Code § 187(a) · Arrested Dec 03, 1997 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty
Daveggio was given the death penalty in Alameda County Superior Court in 2002 for kidnapping Vanessa Lei Samson on the morning of December 2, 1997, raping her with modified curling irons and murdering her by strangulation with a rope. The pair allegedly strangled Samson with a 6-foot-long black nylon rope and dumped her body off Highway 88 on an embankment in remote Alpine County.
SourcesPeople v. Daveggio & Michaud; Sex-torture killer Daveggio given death penalty; Radford University serial killer biography: Daveggio, James
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
1
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
6
Victims suspected
Active years
1983–1997
Victim profile
Young women, Children, Teenagers, Family members, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual
Range from home
interstate
Accomplice
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
3
Military discharge
medical
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CA
San Francisco, California
1960 – 1964 · Born at Mary's Help Hospital
Union City, California
approx. 1964 – 1977 · Early childhood residence
Pleasanton, California
approx. 1977 – 1983 · Attended Foothill High School for one year before dropping out
California
approx. 1985 – 1987 · Incarcerated at California State Medical Facility, Vacaville for psychological evaluation following 1985 assault conviction
Vacaville, California
Oct 1986 – Jun 1987 · California State Medical Facility in Vacaville for psychological evaluation; sentenced to one year jail and five years probation
California
approx. 1987 – 1989 · Released from jail, moved in with mother, attended school to learn diesel mechanics
California
approx. 1989 – 1996 · Founded and operated Smog Enders automobile repair business; worked in bars
Sacramento, California
approx. Oct 1996 – Dec 1997 · Bobby Joe's bar (roadhouse) where he met Michelle Michaud
Sacramento, California
approx. Oct 1996 – Aug 1997 · Met Michelle Michaud at Bobby Joe's bar in Sacramento; moved in with her in tri-level Sacramento home
California
Aug 1997 – Dec 03, 1997 · Following Michaud's eviction, lived out of green 1994 Dodge Caravan minivan
Pleasanton, California
approx. Sep 1997 – Dec 1997 · High school area where couple searched for abduction victims
Nevada, California
approx. Sep 29, 1997 – Dec 02, 1997 · Interstate 80 · Interstate 80 corridor used for transportation of victims between Nevada and California; traveled between Reno, Auburn, and other locations during crime spree
California
approx. Aug 1999 – Sep 2002 · Transferred to California after federal conviction for trial on state murder charges
San Quentin, California
Sep 25, 2002 – present · San Quentin State Prison on death row
IN
Unknown, Madhya Pradesh, India
1978 – 1978 · Marines, injured foot in basic training · marines
NV
Washoe, Nevada
approx. Dec 03, 1997 – Aug 1999 · Held at Washoe County Jail pending federal trial in Reno
Stateline, Nevada
Dec 03, 1997 – Dec 03, 1997 · Arrested at Lakeside Inn and Casino (also called Lakeside Inn and Casino) in Stateline, Nevada
OK
Oklahoma, Oklahoma
approx. 1983 – 1985 · Moved to Oklahoma at urging of mother; documented rape and murder activity during this period
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1994 Green Dodge Caravan – Green 1994 Dodge Caravan with special modifications; had sliding passenger-side door with childproof lock, removable back and middle seats (seats removed), equipped with restraints, rope, mirror
approx. 1996 – Dec 1997
Police say Daveggio and Michaud worked together to lure victims into a green 1994 Dodge Caravan. Defendants began living out of Michaud's green Dodge minivan. The minivan had a sliding passenger-side door with a childproof lock, as well as removable back and middle seats. At some point, defendants removed the middle seats.
Photographs by Year
Photo from www.sfchronicle.com
Photo from www.cbsnews.com
Photo from www.kqed.org
An article in the Dec. 8, 1997 edition of the Reno Gazette-Journal reports on a possible link between Daveggio and Michaud -- who were arrested in Nevada -- and the murder of Vanessa Lei Samson in Cal
An article in the May 7, 2002, edition of of the Reno Gazette-Journal announces the conviction of James Daveggio and Michelle Michaud.
Timeline
Jul 27, 1960
James Daveggio was born on 27 July 1960 in San Francisco, California, USA.
Oct 02, 1974
Union City police took a statement from 14-year-old James Daveggio on Oct. 2, 1974 -- one week after Cassie Riley's body was discovered.
1978
Daveggio dropped out of high school, married his pregnant girlfriend, Becky, and joined the marines. A couple weeks later he injured his foot in basic training was released with honorable discharge.
Sep 29, 1979
Daveggio married Annette Carter.
Jul 1983
Jim, acting on advice from his mother, decides to take Donetta and move to Oklahoma.
Dec 02, 1983
Raped and Killed Kellie Poppleton.
Apr 05, 1984
Raped and Killed Tina Faelz.
Jul 08, 1984
Jim is arrested for rape.
Sep 1984
Rape charges are dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Jun 25, 1985
In 1985, Daveggio and his pal picked up a woman at a bar and drove her to a remote area, where Daveggio forced her to orally copulate him. She tried to escape but was shot at and ordered back, according to San Joaquin County court records.
Jan 1986
Jim is sentenced to one year in jail and five years of probation.
Oct 1986
Jim is sent to the California State Medical Facility in Vacaville for psychological evaluation. Psychologists conclude he has no mental illness and is a marginal candidate for probation.
Oct 1996
Daveggio testified that he met Michaud in 1996 at a Sacramento bar.
Sep 29, 1997
A then-20-year-old Reno college student who was kidnapped and assaulted on Sept. 29, 1997.
Nov 03, 1997
Daveggio and Michaud were convicted in the 2002 trial of the oral copulation of Daveggio's daughter, then 16, and the daughter's friend, then 17, on Nov. 3 and 27, 1997.
Dec 02, 1997
Daveggio was given the death penalty in Alameda County Superior Court in 2002 for kidnapping Vanessa Lei Samson on the morning of December 2, 1997, raping her with modified curling irons and murdering her by strangulation with a rope.
Dec 03, 1997
James Daveggio, known to some as 'Froggie' for his raspy voice, and Michelle 'Mickie' Michaud were arrested on Dec. 3, 1997, under suspicion of abduction and rape of a woman in Reno, Nevada.
Aug 23, 1999
A convicted kidnapper facing murder charges in another case was sentenced to nearly 25 years in prison Monday for the rape of a Reno college student he snatched from a city street. Before giving James Daveggio the maximum sentence, U.S. District Judge David Hagen commented on the 'depraved nature of the forcible sexual assault' of the student in the back of a van traveling on Interstate 80 in 1997.
May 06, 2002
Daveggio and Michaud were convicted of first-degree murder of Samson on May 6, 2002.
Sep 25, 2002
They are sentenced to death and wait on death row.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
Other · IMDb ·
James Daveggio - Biography“James Anthony Daveggio and Michelle Michaud were sentenced to death in California in 2002 for the 1997 abduction, rape, torture, and murder of 22-year-old Vanessa Lei Samson from Pleasanton, California.”
News report · KQED ·
Hope: A New Theory, Case Notes and a Letter From the Governor“Daveggio and Michaud were convicted of first-degree murder of Samson on May 6, 2002. Both were later sentenced to death and today they remain on California death row.”
Court record · California Supreme Court ·
People v. Daveggio & Michaud“Defendants James Anthony Daveggio and Michelle Lyn Michaud were each convicted of one count of first degree murder and two counts of oral copulation in concert by force.”
News report · CBS San Francisco ·
Court Upholds Death Sentences In Pleasanton Woman's Murder“The California Supreme Court Thursday unanimously upheld the death penalties of a Sacramento couple for the murder, kidnapping and rape of a 22-year-old Pleasanton woman in 1997.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Daveggio, James“Both James and Michelle were convicted of many counts of murder, kidnapping, and force of oral copulation. 9/25/2002 42 They are sentenced to death and wait on death row.”
News report · San Francisco Chronicle ·
Sex-torture killer Daveggio given death penalty“James Anthony Daveggio, 41, was formally sentenced by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Larry Goodman for killing 22-year-old Vanessa Lei Samson in 1997.”
News report · Las Vegas Sun ·
Daveggio gets nearly 25 years for kidnap, rape of Reno college student“A convicted kidnapper facing murder charges in another case was sentenced to nearly 25 years in prison Monday for the rape of a Reno college student he snatched from a city street.”
News report · San Francisco Chronicle ·
PAGE ONE (SACRAMENTO) -- Rape-Murder Suspect's Jekyll-Hyde Life“In 1985, Daveggio and his pal picked up a woman at a bar and drove her to a remote area, where Daveggio forced her to orally copulate him. Daveggio served a year in jail for the sexual assault and five years' probation.”
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