Nov. 22, 2002) Today I received a letter from someone claiming to be the Zodiac killer.
Click here for the amazing details.
Nov. 21, 2002) I’ve updated the Z-mail page to include a new batch of the more interesting and entertaining e-mail I’ve received over the past few months. It’s truly fascinating stuff. Click here for Z-mail.
Nov. 7, 2002) A feature film on the Zodiac case is now being filmed in Germany. Here are a few words from the director, Ulli Lommel:
“The lead character is a 22-year-old man who has become so obsessed with the Zodiac that he actually believes he is the Zodiac. He starts executing people just like his idol, until the real Zodiac, who hasn’t killed anybody in 30 years, gets a hold of the copycat. I would like to shoot several scenes where the young and the old Zodiac check out your website for details regarding the 1969-71 murders. I will also send you one of the first video copies once the film is completed approx. February 25, 2003.”
> Recently I was informed that a suspect in the Zodiac crimes was acquainted with actor Steve McQueen during the 1960s. Since the Zodiac was apparently a movie buff, immediately I remembered McQueen’s 1968 San Francisco-based cop movie Bullitt and that San Francisco Police Dept. inspector Dave Toschi was a consultant to McQueen. Tonight I scrutinized the film to see if I could find any connections to the Zodiac. There were several, but none bigger than this:
In Bullitt, Robert Duvall portrays a cab driver who drives cab number 6912. Approximately one year after the film was released, Zodiac killed cab driver Paul Stine. His cab number? 912. Coincidence? (For more information see the Zodiackiller.com Message Board.)
Oct. 14, 2002) This Thursday, ABC’s Primetime Thursday will devote its entire show to the Zodiac case. Over a year in the making, the show should be fantastic.
> Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) at 7:30 I will be a guest on Kevin & Bean’s Los Angeles morning show on 106.7 KROQ-FM.
Sept. 27, 2002) Today is the 33rd anniversary of Zodiac’s attack at Lake Berryessa which killed Cecelia Shepard and wounded Bryan Hartnell. Here’s a message Cecelia’s sister, Carolyn, sent Zodiackiller.com:
“Each September, the last week of the month, family and friends are reminded of this tragedy. I am very grateful to the strangers who comforted and attended to Cecelia at the lake, during transport, and the hospital medical team. We know you cared and at times felt powerless to help.
“One to two days before the attack, Cecelia mentioned that if she ever died she wanted to be buried at the St. Helena cemetery! The morning she left for Angwin, she ran back to Mom and hugged her for a second time. Mom said she had never done that before. I believe Cecelia somehow knew her death was coming soon.
“Cecelia was loving, caring, fun, beautiful and talented. Most of all, she was a beloved sister, daughter, and friend.“
> The lucky winner of the Lake Berryessa crime-scene photo was Alex Breitler of Redding, Calif. The response was overwhelming; thanks to all of you who participated.
Sept. 1, 2002) I’ve updated the page of Zodiac victims Darlene Ferrin and Mike Mageau to include a very interesting letter Darlene wrote her future husband, Dean, in 1967. Also included in the update is a three-page transcript of Darlene’s 1967 divorce from her abusive first husband, Jim Phillips. Click here for the update.
> The more information I collect about Zodiac suspect Rick Marshall, the more interesting he becomes. Marshall’s page has been updated with yet another newspaper article the San Francisco Examiner wrote about him in 1968.
> The Zodiac Audio page has been updated with new MP3 sound files, including the comments of former FBI profiler John Douglas. Click here for the MP3s.
Aug. 9, 2002) Most Zodiac-case followers are only familiar with the late-1960s version of the City of Vallejo, Calif. Here’s a look at Vallejo from the early 1950s, more than a decade before Zodiac changed it forever.
> I’ve added a rare crime-scene photo to the David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen page.
July 28, 2002) Sad to report possible Zodiac victim Kathleen Johns died in late April after suffering complications due to a heart condition. She was 54.
July 6, 2002) The 2002 Zodiackiller.com Task-Force Meeting was a big success, as the approximately 100 enthusiasts who attended seemed to have a great time and learn even more about this baffling case. Most amazing of all was the number of reporters and TV cameras. I do appreciate the publicity; however, if I ever organize another event like this, it will be without news-media involvement.
Click here for pictures of the event.
For those of you who missed it, coverage of the event was seen on San Francisco’s KGO-TV, Sacramento’s KCRA, KXTV and KTXL, plus Fresno’s KFSN and Chico/Redding’s KRCR. One of the “Big Three” television networks filmed for several hours in preparation for an hour-long, prime-time special on the case due this fall. Even BBC Radio attempted to broadcast live from the scene, unfortunately to no avail.
Multiple newspapers also covered the event. For those stories, including your in-depth discussion, visit the Zodiackiller.com Message Board.
I thank those who attended. It was great to meet everyone!
May 24, 2002) Got plans this 4th of July? Change ’em!
For the first time ever, a Zodiac task-force meeting exclusively of amateur detectives/case enthusiasts is being held. Organized by this site, it’s an event no Zodiac buff should miss.
Update: The event was a big success. Thanks to everyone who attended. (See the above update.)
May 13, 2002) I recently returned from a few days of research in Riverside, Calif., where I was joined by fellow Zodiac buffs Sandy Betts and Howard Davis. See the Special Reports Archive for a link to the pictures.
April 3, 2002) For decades there has been speculation regarding Zodiac’s potential sources of inspiration, ranging from Charlie Chan movies to Batman comics. However, an unsolved 1930s murder might just be the answer.
The Arthur Leigh Allen File has been updated to include two new items:
1) George Bawart’s 1992 seven-page report on all the reasons Arthur Leigh Allen was the Zodiac.
2) Sherwood Morrill’s 1971 handwriting results on Allen, complete with the actual handwriting samples.
Sick of Allen? Here is information on a new suspect that San Francisco Police Department inspector Dave Toschi sent Vallejo Police Department detective Jack Mulanax in 1972.
Did Zodiac continue killing into the 1970s? Here is an SFPD report containing several potential victims.
Thanks to retired detective William Baker, a transcript of my interview with Arthur Leigh Allen informant Don Cheney is available to download.
March 14, 2002) Congratulations to Wally Farkas of Cypress, Tex. He was the lucky winner of the 8″ x 10″ color photograph of Zodiac victim Darlene Ferrin.
Feb. 21, 2002) I’ve added a page featuring some of the most memorable e-mail I’ve received since this site was launched in March 1998. Some of the e-mail featured is touching, some frustrating, some hysterically (and unintentionally) funny. All of them are interesting. Click here to read them.
Jan. 24, 2002) The Zodiac Audio page has been updated with an MP3 of my appearance on The Howard Stern Show from late-1998. Howard and I talked quite a bit about the Zodiac case, but of course things got crazy in a hurry. Click here to hear it.
Jan. 1, 2002) I’ve posted the last page of Zodiac’s Nov. 9, 1969 bus-bomb letter to the San Francisco Chronicle. This is the first time a good-quality reproduction of the page has been published. Click here to see it.
