#3

The Zodiac Killer

aka identity unknown

source: wikipedia.org

The American serial killer known as the Zodiac Killer committed his crimes from the late 1960s until early 1970s in the state of California. There have been 7 confirmed victims but the killer has claimed that there are 37 total victims.

The Zodiac Killer has not yet been identified nor has he come forward to take responsibility for his crimes. There have been multiple theories and suspects throughout the years but nothing has been definitively proven. The case was closed as a cold case in 2004 but has been re-opened since 2007. Many believe that with the technological advances made in forensic sciences, identifying the killer will be possible in the near future. With the Golden State Killer now identified and captured in 2018, anything is possible!

Confirmed Victims:

David Arthur Faraday, age 17. Shot & killed on 12/20/68.

Betty Lou Jensen, age 16. Shot & killed on 12/20/68.

Michael Renault Mageau, age 19. Survived on 7/4/69.

Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin, age 22. Shot & killed on 7/4/69.

Bryan Calvin Hartnell, age 20. Survived on 9/27/69.

Cecelia Ann Shepard, age 22. Stabbed to death on 9/27/69.

Paul Lee Stine, age 29. Shot & killed on 10/1/69.

Suspected Victims:

Robert Domingos, age 18. Shot & killed on 6/4/63.

Linda Edwards, age 17. Shot & killed on 6/4/63.

Cheri Jo Bates, age 18. Stabbed to death on 10/30/66.

Donna Lass, age 25. Disappeared on 9/6/70.

Kathleen Johns, age 22. Escaped abduction on 3/22/70.

Our story begins on December 20, 1968 in Northern California in a town called Benicia. David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen were on their first date and were on their way to a Christmas concert at the area high school. At the last minute, the young couple decides to visit a friend, grab a bite to eat, and then get some alone time on lover's lane. David parked the car at a secluded spot at approximately 10:15 pm. Around 11 pm, a passerby found their bodies. Police were able to determine that a second vehicle pulled up beside the young couple. The suspected killer exited the car and approached the couple. It appears as though Betty Lou exited the car first with David following behind her. When David exited the vehicle, it appears that the killer shot David in the head and then shot Betty Lou in the back 5 times as she was attempting to flee.

Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday
source: zodiackiller.com

The killer strikes again on July 4, 1969. Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau were driving through a State Park only 4 miles from the site where Faraday and Jensen were murdered. It was late at night--Darlene and Michael decided to park the vehicle in the park. After the couple had parked, a second vehicle pulled beside them but then drove away. The same vehicle returned about 10 minutes later and parked behind them. The killer exited his car and approached the couple. He shown a light through the couple's car and then shot into the car 5 times. Both victims were hit. The killer, believing his work to be done, begins walking back to his car. Michael moaned in pain, bringing the killer's attention back to them. The killer returned to the couple and shot both 2 more times before finally leaving. Darlene died because of her injuries but Michael miraculously survived. Michael was able to identify his attacker as a white male between 26-30 years old, approximately 5'8" with short, curly brown hair.

Law enforcement received a phone call on July 5, 1969. The caller claimed responsibility for the attack on Darlene and Michael. The caller also claimed responsibility for the murder of David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen. The call was able to be traced to a pay phone located just blocks from the police station.

Darlene Ferrin & Michael Mageau
source: zodiackiller.com

 On August 1, 1969, three separate newspapers received nearly identical letters from a person claiming to be responsibility for the Faraday/Jensen and Ferrin/Mageau attacks. Each letter also included part (1/3 to be exact) of a 408 symbol cryptogram to which the writer claimed to be the key to his identity. The letter also demanded that it be printed on the front page of each newspaper or a dozen people would be killed.

                              

source: zodiackiller.com

One newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle, published the letter the next day on page 4 of the newspaper. The newspaper also included a letter from the police stating that they wanted more proof and did not believe that the letter was written by the actual killer. Fortunately, no one else was killed because of this. Eventually, all 3 parts of the letter were published by the newspapers.

On August 7, 1969, the killer responds to the police chief in another letter published by The San Francisco Examiner. The letter opened by saying "Dear Editor This is the Zodiac speaking"--which is the first time that this moniker is used. The letter included details about the murders committed that the general public had not yet been informed about. The writer also taunted police by saying that they could catch him when his code was cracked.

source: zodiackiller.com

On the very next day, a couple from Salinas, California cracked his code:

source: zodiackiller.com

Translated, his message came to be:

"I like killing people because it is so much fun it is more fun than killing wild game in the forrest because man is the most dangeroue anamal of all to kill something gives me the most thrilling experence it is even better than getting your rocks off with a girl the best part of it is thae when I die I will be reborn in paradice and thei have killed will become my slaves I will not give you my name because you will try to sloi down or atop my collectiog of slaves for my afterlife ebeorietemethhpiti"

The last 18 letters of the message have not yet been deciphered to mean anything specific. 

As we can see, the Zodiac Killer can't spell for shit and is a crazy person, killing people so that they will become his slaves in the afterlife. Also, he taunted law enforcement by saying that he could be caught if the code was cracked & then gives us this garbage.

BUT ANYWAYS--on with the story.

On September 27, 1969, two college students named Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were having a lovely picnic at Lake Berryessa (which is the largest lake in Napa County, California FYI) when they were approached by a stranger. This stranger was described as a "white man, about 5'11" weighing more than 170 lbs with combed greasy brown hair, approached them wearing a black executioner's-type hood with clip-on sunglasses over the eye-holes and a bib-like device on his chest that had a white 3"x3" cross-circle symbol on it." (source: wikipedia.org) This stranger also had a gun, which is believed to have been a .45. The armed stranger claimed to be an escaped convict who (conveniently) had several lengths of plastic rope with him. The man ordered Cecelia to tie up Bryan with the plastic rope & then he tied Cecelia up. He carefully checked his handiwork then began stabbing the two victims repeatedly. All in all, Bryan ended up with 6 stab wounds and Cecelia had 10 stab wounds. The attacker then walks to the victim's vehicle and drew the same cross-circle symbol on the car along with the phrase "Vallejo/12-20-68/7-4-69/Sept 27–69–6:30/by knife." (source: zodiackiller.com)

source: zodiackiller.com

At 7:40 pm on the same evening, the killer calls police from a payphone (that was blocks away from the police station but 27 miles away from the crime scene) to report the crime. The caller first states that he would like to report a murder but then quickly catches himself and states that it is a double murder.  He claims responsibility for the crime but gives no other information. Law enforcement traces the phone call to the specific payphone & goes to investigate. The phone is found off the hook with a palm print able to be lifted from it. No matches were found for the palm print.

Meanwhile, Bryan and Cecelia are still at the crime scene screaming for help. Luckily, a local fisherman hears their screams and calls law enforcement. Cecelia was still conscious when help arrives and was able to give the detailed description of the attacker. Both were transported to the hospital; Cecelia lapsed into a coma and soon died. Bryan survived the attack and was able to verify Cecelia's account of the story as well as her description of the killer. 

Cecelia Shepard & Bryan Hartnell

source: zodiackiller.com

Only two weeks later on October 11, 1969, the killer strikes again. Paul Stine was a taxi driver in San Francisco, going about his day like any other day. A passenger enters the taxi & directs him to an address. Once the taxi starts moving, the passenger shoots Paul Stine in the head with a 9 mm, stole his wallet and car keys, and tore a section of Paul's bloody shirt. He flees the taxi. Three bystanders call the police while the crime was in progress and were able to describe the assailant. A police officer was just a few blocks away and witnessed a man enter into a home in the neighborhood, but did not investigate further as he did not match the killer's description. Police dispatchers had mistakenly said to look out for an African American suspect instead of a white man like originally reported. The three witnesses worked with a sketch artist a few days later to come up with a description of the attacker that they had seen.

source: zodiackiller.com

 Shortly after the murder of Paul Stine, the San Francisco Chronicle receives another letter from the killer on October 13, 1969. This letter contained a piece of Paul Stine's bloody shirt and a threat about harming children on a school bus.

 

source: zodiackiller.com

 October 20, 1969: a man claiming to be the Zodiac Killer calls the Oakland Police Department and demands that 2 prominent lawyers appear on a TV show. One of the attorneys did so & received a telephone call from the self-proclaimed killer. The killer, who stated his name was Sam, set up an appointment with the lawyer but then never showed up.

November 8, 1969: another letter is received along with a 340 character cryptogram. This cryptogram has never been definitively solved.

source: zodiackiller.com

November 9, 1969: a 7 page (bit excessive) letter was received gloating about not being caught for Paul Stine's murder.

source: zodiackiller.com

December 20, 1969: the same attorney that appeared on the TV show receives a letter from the Zodiac that also includes another piece of Stine's bloody shirt. This was also 1 year to the date that David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen died.

source: zodiackiller.com

The Zodiac seems to take a break but not for long.

On March 22, 1970, a young woman named Kathleen Johns was driving on a dark highway with her 10 month old child. Kathleen was also 7 months pregnant. While driving, a car behind her began flashing it's lights and honking the horn. Kathleen pulled off of the road and parked her car. The driver of the other vehicle approaches her car and states that he has spotted something wrong with her tire & offers to fix it for her. Kathleen accepts and the driver fixes the wheel. She thanks the driver and starts on her way again. Almost immediately, the wheel falls off the car, causing Kathleen to have to pull over again. The same driver approaches again and offers to drive Kathleen to a gas station to call for help. Kathleen accepts his offer and gets into his vehicle with her young daughter. The driver then proceeds to take her on a 90 minute ride, passing several gas stations. Kathleen begins to become anxious because the driver will not stop at any of the gas stations and will not answer her questions. When the car came to a stop at an intersection, Kathleen jumps out of the car with her child and hides in a field. The driver gets out of the car and attempts to find them with a flashlight, but can't locate them. He eventually drives off. Kathleen is able to make it to the local police station and gives her account of what happened. When shown a variety of mugshots matching the description of her kidnapper, Kathleen immediately identifies the sketch drawn of Paul Stine's killer. A police officer takes Kathleen back to her car and upon arrival, they immediately notice that the car has been gutted and burned.

Kathleen Johns

source: zodiackiller.com

Several skeptics have denied that this incident was the work of the Zodiac. It is uncharacteristic of the Zodiac to not immediately threaten and/or kill his victims. The Zodiac does write a letter on July 24, 1970 claiming responsibility, but the letter is without it's usual spunk and detail. Many believe that he was claiming responsibility for the actions of someone else.

source: zodiackiller.com

1970 is an active year for the Zodiac at the post office. He writes many letters to both the media and law enforcement.

Letter from April 20, 1970

source: zodiackiller.com

Card from April 28, 1970

source: zodiackiller.com

Letter & Map from June 26, 1970

source: zodiackiller.com

Letter from July 26, 1970

source: zodiackiller.com

Zodiac takes another break from July 1970 until October 1970.

A new letter was received on October 7, 1970 by the Chronicle. The card was a three-by-five inch card signed by the Zodiac with the  and a small cross reportedly drawn with blood. The card's message was formed by pasting words and letters from an edition of the Chronicle, and thirteen holes were punched across the card." (source: wikipedia.org) Law enforcement agreed that it was probable that the card came from the Zodiac.

October 27, 1970: another letter is received by a Chronicle reporter.

source: zodiackiller.com

This same reporter receives another letter soon after pointing out the similarities between Zodiac attacks and a murder of a young woman, Cheri Jo Bates, 400 miles away in Riverside, California. The reporter writes about this topic and publishes it in the November 16, 1970 paper.

FLASHBACK TO:
Cheri Jo Bates was 18 years old in 1966 in Riverside, California. On October 30, 1966, Cheri Jo was studying at the school library until approximately 9 pm when the library was closing. The next morning, Cheri Jo's body was found in her car a short distance from the library, brutally beaten and stabbed. Upon discovering her body, police also found a men's watch nearby with the time stopped at 12:24. Cheri Jo's car had been tampered with. Residents nearby reported hearing screams around 10:30 pm the previous night but nothing was reported to the police at that time. A month later on November 29, 1966, identical typewritten letters arrived to police & a local newspaper. The author of the letters claimed responsibility for the murder and warned that they were not finished killing nor was that their first murder. The letters were not signed.
In a weird twist, a poem was discovered carved into a bottom of a desk on the same college campus that Cheri Jo was a student at. The carver's handwriting is eerily similar to that of the Zodiac, leading some to believe that the Zodiac was indeed the carver. This carving was initialed RH.

source: zodiackiller.com

On April 30, 1967 (exactly 6 months after Cheri Jo's murder), Cheri Jo's father, the police, and the newspaper all receive identical letters. The letters read "Bates had to die there will be more" and was signed with a Z at the bottom.

source: zodiackiller.com


Now we flash forward to 1971.
Law enforcement have never been able to definitively link Zodiac to Cheri Jo Bates' murder. Zodiac obviously reads the newspaper because he saw the article linking himself to the Bates murder from November 1970. Of course, he writes a letter in response in March 1971.

source: zodiackiller.com


March 22, 1971: the Zodiac mails a postcard to the same Chronicle reporter as before claiming responsibility for the disappearance of  Donna Lass.
Donna Lass vanished without an explanation on September 6, 1970. Donna was a nurse at a hospital near Lake Tahoe, California. She left work at approximately 2 am on that day and was never seen again. Lass' boss and landlord received calls stating that Lass had to go out of town for a family emergency but she never returned. A body has never been discovered and no definitive link has ever been established between Lass' disappearance and the Zodiac.

source: wikipedia.org




November 13, 1972: law enforcement believes that they have linked the Zodiac to the murders of a young couple killed in 1963. The victims, Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards, were shot multiple times on a beach during "senior skip day." Their bodies were discovered in a small shack nearby that had unsuccessfully attempted to be burned.


Three years go by with no communication from the Zodiac.


Then on January 24, 1974, the Chronicle receives a letter from their faithful follower, the Zodiac.

source: zodiackiller.com

What's notable about this letter is that down in the bottom right corner, the Zodiac has apparently tallied up his "victories" again the San Francisco Police Department. This is where the claim that the Zodiac has 37 total victims comes in, although 7 have only ever been able to be verified.



Beginning in 1974 through 1978, several letters were received by various media outlets. The authenticity of these letters is debated.

February 14, 1974


May 8, 1974


July 8, 1974


May 2, 1978







Since 1978, the Zodiac has remained silent. The case was closed by law enforcement as a cold case in 2004 but was re-opened in 2007. In early 2018, law enforcement announced their intention to attempt to retrieve DNA from the stamps used to mail Zodiac's various letters. They had success with a similar technique in identifying the Golden State Killer.

There have been many, MANY theories about who the Zodiac is and if he remains alive at this time.