Zodiac Killer

In July of 1969, a coded message arrived at The San Francisco Examiner newspaper. The man who sent this message, the Zodiac, was a serial killer who would soon become notorious for his killings throughout Northern California. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Zodiac killer terrorized Northern California with gruesome murders, bizarre public letters filled with threats, twisted demands, and allusive ciphers teasing his identity. While the Zodiac killer is officially connected to five murders and two attempted murders, he is believed to have killed at least 37 victims. The Zodiac killer disappeared in the late 1970s and still hasn't been identified or found to this day. Despite taunting the public with nearly two dozen messages, law enforcement officials have not been able to identify the Zodiac killer. The Zodiac killer may be gone, but he is not forgotten: the Zodiac inspired three real-life copy cat killers as well as dozens of books, TV shows, and movies.

Timeline:

June 4, 1963, Santa Barbara: Zodiac Killer suspected of killing two high school seniors, Robert Domingos and his fiancé Linda Edwards, on a beach in Santa Barbara.

October 30, 1966, Riverside: Zodiac Killer suspected of killing an eighteen-year-old female, Cheri Josephine Bates, at a library in Riverside.

December 20, 1968, Benicia: Zodiac Killer admitted to killing two high school students, Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday, at a lovers’ lane spot along Lake Herman Road in Benicia. The Zodiac killer admitted to these killings after the murder in Vallejo.

July 4, 1969, Vallejo: Zodiac Killer admitted to killing a twenty-two-year-old female, Darlene Ferrin, and attempting to murder her friend, Michael Mageau, in the parking lot of Blue Rock Springs Park in Vallejo.

July 31, 1969: Vallejo Times-Herald Letter, San Francisco Examiner Letter, San Francisco Chronicle Letter

August 4, 1969: San Francisco Examiner Letter

September 27, 1969, Lake Berryessa: Zodiac Killer admitted to killing two college students, Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard, along the shore of Lake Berryessa.

October 11, 1969, San Francisco: The Zodiac Killer admitted to killing a 28-year-old taxi cab driver, Paul Stine, at the intersection of Washington and Cherry Streets in San Francisco.

October 13, 1969: Letter to the Chronicle

November 8, 1969: Envelope containing a piece of the cab driver's shirt sent to the Chronicle

November 9, 1969: Seven-page letter to the Chronicle

December 20, 1969: Letter addressed to famous attorney Melvin Belli

March 22, 1970, Modesto: Zodiac Killer suspected of luring a 22-year-old woman, Kathleen Johns, and her infant daughter into his car and making threats. After jumping from the car, Kathleen identified the Zodiac Killer using a police sketch of the Zodiac. Months later, a letter from the Zodiac described “a rather interesting ride” with a woman and her baby.

April 20, 1970: Letter to San Francisco Chronicle

April 28, 1970: Greeting card to San Francisco Chronicle

June 26, 1970:  Letter to San Francisco Chronicle

July 24, 1970:  Letter to San Francisco Chronicle

July 26, 1970: Five-page letter to San Francisco Chronicle

September 6, 1970, Lake Tahoe: Zodiac Killer suspected of killing Donna Lass, a woman who mysteriously disappeared. Donna Lass' car was found near her apartment in South Lake Tahoe. Many believe the Zodiac Killer was responsible because a postcard linked to the Zodiac featured an advertisement for a condominium project in Lake Tahoe with the phrases “pass Lake Tahoe areas” and “Sought Victim 12.”

October 5, 1970: Suspected Zodiac postcard

October 27, 1970: Halloween Card San Francisco Chronicle

March 13, 1971: Los Angeles Times Letter

March 22, 1971: Postcard to the San Franciso Chronicle reporter Paul Avery

August 1, 1973, Albany: The Albany Times Union newspaper received an envelope with a crossed-circle, a symbol of the Zodiac, drawn in the corner instead of a return address. The letter read, “YOU ARE WRONG I’M NOT DEAD OR IN THE HOSPITAL I AM ALIVE AND WELL AND IM GOING TO START KILLING AGAIN. Below is the NAME AND LOCATION OF MY NEXT VICTIM But you had Better hurry because I’m going to kill Her August 10th at 5:00 P.M. when the shift change. ALBANY is a nice town.” The three rows of symbols under the message read, “Albany Medical Center. This is only the beginning.” Investigators were unable to identify any murders that could explain the reference of August 10 and handwriting experts could not determine if the new letter was written by the writer of the Zodiac letters.

January 5, 1974: Letter to San Francisco Chronicle

February 14, 1974: Postcard to San Francisco Chronicle

May 8, 1974: Card to San Francisco Chronicle

July 8, 1974: Letter to San Francisco Chronicle




https://www.history.com/news/the-zodiac-killer-a-timeline