Zodiac Ciphers: How The Z 408 Cipher Was Solved 

Are You Willing To Try Solving The Zodiac’s Ciphers? 

The Zodiac didn’t leave much behind to clue us in to who he was after his horrific spree of crimes in the 1960s and 1970s. He terrified the Northern California population for years, then seemingly disappeared. He left behind just what we know of the crimes he’s been linked to, his letters, and his ciphers. Can the final mysteries of the Zodiac Killer case be unraveled with the information we have now? 

The Race To Solve The Zodiac’s Ciphers 

Even decades later, only 2 of the 4 Zodiac Killer ciphers have been solved. These include the Z 408 cipher and the Z 340 cipher. Read the Z 408 cipher in its 3 parts here: Z 408 cipher part 1, Z 408 cipher part 2, Z 408 cipher part 3. Only time will tell if the remaining Zodiac ciphers can be solved as well. 

The Solving Of The Z 408 Cipher 

Husband and wife David and Bettye Harden solved the Z 408 cipher within about 20 hours. Bettye correctly guessed at two cribs, or words or phrases that are suspected to appear in a message. Discovering cribs is useful in cracking a cipher because finding the locations of those cribs can allow substitutions to be identified, ultimately speeding up the process of uncovering the message. 

Using some of the little information known about the Zodiac Killer – the craving for attention made obvious by his letters – Bettye believed his message would start with “I.” She also believed the message would contain either the word “kill” or “killing” – or even that the Zodiac would directly state “I like killing.” Both of her guesses were correct. 

Read About The Zodiac Killer Case, Learn What Police Knew 

You can read over 200 pages of Zodiac-related police reports in Tom Voigt’s Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts. The chronological order of the reports makes it easy to learn things in the order they occurred, or you can use the easily searchable index to pinpoint whatever information you’re looking for. 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today. 

How Long Will It Take To Solve The Zodiac’s Ciphers? 

Is There A Chance The Zodiac Killer Case Could Be Solved? 

Like many unsolved serial murder cases, the Zodiac Killer’s actions still haunt the minds of the public. After his string of murders in Northern California in the early 1960s and late 1970s, the Zodiac Killer was never found. It’s likely that, by now, the Zodiac himself may have passed away before he could be held responsible for his crimes. Still, many who are dedicated to studying the Zodiac Killer case remain dedicated to achieving some sense of closure on this case by unveiling its final mysteries. 

How Long Will It Take To Solve The Zodiac’s Ciphers? 

The Zodiac’s ciphers a famous, and there are those all over the world who are dedicated to studying those ciphers with the hope of finally cracking them. You can find the Zodiac’s ciphers here along with the Zodiac’s letters. 

How long will it take to solve these ciphers? Two of the Zodiac’s four ciphers are already solved. However, there is a great difference in how quickly these two ciphers were solved. 

The first Zodiac cipher to be solved was the Z 408 chapter, which can be read in three parts at these here: Z 408 cipher part 1, Z 408 cipher part 2, Z 408 cipher part 3. A husband-and-wife team, David and Bettye Harden, solved the cipher in only 20-something hours. 

The second Zodiac cipher solved took significantly more time. The Z 340 cipher was solved recently – just in 2020, approximately 51 years after the cipher was sent. A group of amateur sleuths including David Oranchak, Sam Blake, and Jarl Van Eycke solved this cipher. This was truly a worldwide effort, with each member residing in Virginia, Australia, and Belgium respectively. 

The final two ciphers waiting to be solved may be the toughest of the Zodiac’s ciphers, if only because they are so short. It may yet take several more years to solve the Z 13 cipher and the Z 32 cipher. Perhaps, though, if we’re lucky, we might uncover the messages behind these ciphers sooner than we expect. 

Want To Learn More? 

Be sure to read Tom Voigt’s Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, a facts-based book about the Zodiac Killer case which includes over 200 pages of chronologically ordered police reports. Get your copy soon! 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today. 

Is The Zodiac The Only Killer To Send Letters?

Will The Zodiac Killer’s Identity Be Revealed? 

The Zodiac terrified and taunted the public of Northern California through the early 1960s and 1970s – and the memory of his crimes haunts many today. Is it possible his identity could still be revealed? Will his famous letters play a role in uncovering his identity? Only time will tell. 

Is The Zodiac The Only Killer To Send Letters? 

Arguably one of the reasons the Zodiac Killer case still draws so much attention is because of his letters. The Zodiac spoke directly to the public, although he never revealed his identity. Is the fact that the Zodiac sent letters make him unique? 

No. The Zodiac is far from the only serial murderer to send letters. In fact, famous serial killers you’ve likely already heard of have sent at least one known letter. One of the most famous examples we can note dates back to September 1888, when Jack the Ripper sent a letter to the Central News Agency. 

What makes the Zodiac more unique among letter-sending murderers are the facts that his identity was never discovered and that he was never caught. Many famous examples of letters sent by serial killers came from criminals who (unlike the earlier example of Jack the Ripper) were ultimately discovered, arrested, and punished for their crimes. Notable examples include the BTK killer Dennis Raider, the Beltway snipers of 2002, and Dr. H.H. Holmes who was said to have killed many in his “Murder Castle” in late 1800s Chicago. 

If the Zodiac’s letters lead to the reveal of his identity all these decades later, it’s unfortunately likely that there will be no one left to hold accountable for his horrific crimes. However, it may at least grant a sense of closure to this dark chapter of our history. 

Learn More Zodiac-Related Facts 

When you read Tom Voigt’s Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, you can learn what the police knew then. This book includes over 200 pages of police reports relating to the Zodiac Killer case. Read them in chronological order or pinpoint particular information with the easily searchable index. 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today. 

Zodiac Killer – Look At The Facts 

zodiac killer

What Do You Know About The Zodiac Killer Case? 

The Zodiac Killer is one of the most infamous serial killer cases in the world. While the Zodiac’s activity was limited to the Northern California area during the 1960s and 1970s, this case is still studied all around the world. Are you ready to learn more about the Zodiac Killer case? Do you want to learn what there is to know about the Zodiac? 

Take A Look At The Facts 

Some of the information about the Zodiac Killer case isn’t straightforward. Though the Zodiac claimed credit for 30+ victims, only 7 victims were definitively linked to him. There are many Zodiac suspects, but no suspect has been definitively identified as the Zodiac. The Zodiac’s mysterious ciphers imply that they hold answers, but the Zodiac was known for mocking the police and the public behind the relative safety of anonymous letters. 

With all these confusing details, it may seem like it will be impossible to ever fully solve this save. However, if we closely study the facts, we may yet find answers. We can study the Zodiac’s known victims, the Zodiac’s letters and ciphers, and more. 

Take A Look At The Facts Today 

The public has more access to information about the Zodiac Killer case now than we ever have before. Tom Voigt’s Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts provides a look into some of that crucial information. This book holds over 200 pages of police reports, ordered chronically for your convenience. With an easily searchable index, you can quickly pinpoint particular information in these reports. 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today. 

Can The Zodiac’s Ciphers Be Solved? 

The Zodiac Killer Case’s Final Mysteries Are Waiting To Be Solved 

There are still many unknown factors about the Zodiac Killer case. The Zodiac took pleasure in terrorizing the Northern California populace in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and he left us with more questions than answers. The final mysteries of the case include the identities of the victims he claimed but were never found, the meaning of his ciphers, and – of course – his identity. Which of these mysteries will be solved next? 

Can The Zodiac’s Ciphers Be Solved? 

The Zodiac is perhaps most well-known for his infamous letters and ciphers. He sent a total of four ciphers through the early 1960s and late 1970s. Two of the ciphers have been successfully solved so far. Those ciphers are known as the Z 408 cipher and the Z 340 cipher. The first was sent in three parts, which can be read here: Z 408 cipher part 1, Z  408 cipher part 2, and Z 408 cipher part 3.  

What About The Other Two Ciphers? 

The final two Zodiac ciphers, which remain unsolved to this day, are the Z 13 cipher and the cipher Z 32. Many believe that these final ciphers may reveal the Zodiac’s identity. The Zodiac himself even hints that in the letter that contains the Z 13 cipher – though it’s fair to say this implication should be taken with a grain of salt. 

Can these two final ciphers be solved? If it’s possible at all, it will be far trickier to solve these ciphers than the previous two. The difficulty lies in the length of the ciphers. Since these ciphers are so short, it becomes more difficult to find patterns than can help unlock the final answers. Only time will tell. 

Read More Zodiac Facts 

You can find more Zodiac facts here on zodaickiller.com – or you can pick up a copy of Tom Voigt’s Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, which includes hundreds of pages of police reports relating to the Zodiac Killer case. 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today. 

Who Were The Zodiac’s Victims? 

Nancy Bennallack Murder Solved!

The Zodiac Killer Case Remains Unsolved For 50+ Years 

In December of this year, it will have been 55 years since the first of the Zodiac’s known victims were brutally attacked and murdered. Although the Zodiac succeeded in terrorizing the public of Northern California in the 1960s and 1970s, many still hold hope that the case can be solved. Are you among those who hope to solve this 50+-year-old case? 

Who Were The Zodiac Killer’s Victims? 

The Zodiac Killer made no secret of the fact that he took a twisted enjoyment in taking the lives of others. In his letters, he revealed his motivation for these murders and even directly claimed responsibility for some of the victims. The Zodiac even bragged that there were far more victims of his than had been found by the police – as many as 37. 

Only seven victims are currently recognized officially as the victims of the Zodiac. An additional two victims have possible links to the Zodiac. Who were these victims? 

Definite Zodiac Killer Victims 

  • David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen – Attacked and killed in a gravel parking area along a remote Lake Herman Road on the eastern outskirts of Vallejo, California. 
  • Darlene Ferrin and Mike Mageau – In the parking lot of a secluded park in Vallejo, California, Ferrin and Mageau were shot. Mageau survived the attack, while Ferrin was killed. 
  • Cecelia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell – Both were stabbed multiple times on the shoreline of Lake Berryessa near Napa, California. Shepard died within 48 hours of the attack. Hartnell recovered from his wounds and survived. 
  • Paul Stine – Shot and killed in the Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, California. 

Read more about these victims and more on zodiackiller.com! 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today. 

Want To Start Studying The Zodiac Killer Case? 

The Zodiac Killer Mystery – Will You Be Able To Help Solve The Case? 

The Zodiac Killer case may be more than 50 years old now, but people all over the world remain dedicated to the study of this mysterious and frightening figure. His horrific crimes and threatening taunts left a sense of dread hovering over the population of 1960s and 1970s Northern California. That sense of dread can still be felt today – but it is also paired with the tentative hope that the final mysteries of the Zodiac Killer case may still be solved. 

Start Studying The Zodiac Killer Case 

If you’re just beginning your dive into the information available about the Zodiac Killer case, you’re in the right place. Zodiackiller.com has all of the information you need to get familiar with the basics. 

The Victims Of The Zodiac Killer 

Although the Zodiac Killer claimed through his letters to have had about 37 victims over the years, only a few victims were ever officially linked to the Zodiac Killer case. You can read about what happened to these unfortunate victims here. 

The Zodiac Killer Suspect List 

There have been many suspects over the course of the Zodiac Killer case. Some, however, drew more scrutiny and attention than others. Read about the Zodiac Killer suspects today. 

The Zodiac’s Letters And Ciphers 

One of the most unique aspects of the Zodiac Killer case is the fact that the Zodiac communicated with the police and the public through his letters and ciphers. The Zodiac’s letters and ciphers provide insight into the Zodiac’s motives and personality. 

Study The Zodiac Killer Case On The Go 

Tom Voigt’s Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts provides simple, straightforward documentation of the facts. Specifically, this book includes chronologically ordered police reports relating to the Zodiac Killer Case with an easily searchable index. Get your copy soon! 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today. 

What Do The Zodiac’s Ciphers Say?

Are You Interested In The Zodiac Killer Case Being Solved? 

The Zodiac Killer case is decades old now – and many would have given up on solving the final mysteries surrounding the Zodiac. However, even 50+ years after he terrorized the Northern California populace, people all over the world hope that this case can finally be solved. Do you believe the Zodiac Killer case can finally be put to rest? What mysteries will be solved next? 

The Zodiac Killer’s Ciphers 

One of the unique factors about the Zodiac Killer case is the infamous ciphers that the Zodiac sometimes sent with his letters. There are four ciphers in total, each named after the number of characters in the cipher. The first cipher, the Z 408 cipher, was sent in 3 parts in three different letters to newspapers on July 31st, 1969 – Z 408 cipher part 1, Z cipher 408 part 2, Z 408 cipher part 3. The second cipher is the Z 340 cipher, included in a letter sent to the San Francisco Chronicle on November 8th, 1969. The Z 13 cipher is in an April 20th, 1970 letter to the San Francisco Chronicle, and the final cipher, cipher Z 32, was also sent to the San Francisco Chronicle on June 26, 1970. 

What Did The Zodiac Say In His Ciphers? 

Unfortunately, only two of the ciphers have been solved. The first cipher was solved by a husband-and-wife team only approximately 20 hours after it was published. The Z 340 cipher, however, was only solved recently, in December 2020. The solution for the Z 408 cipher is included with the cipher itself in the links above. Here you can read the solution to the other solved cipher: Z 340 cipher solution. 

Both ciphers show a certain pleasure the Zodiac took in evading his would-be captors. He also explains his beliefs that the victims he claims in this life will become his “slaves” in the afterlife. 

Will the other two ciphers reveal more about the Zodiac’s identity, or will their content be similar to the two solved ciphers? 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today. 

Is The Zodiac’s Identity Hidden In A Cipher?

Zodiac Cipher on ZodiacKiller.com

The Zodiac Killer Case Has Many Unsolved Mysteries 

Although it’s been more than 50 years since the Zodiac Killer began his string of horrific crimes in Northern California, there are still many things we don’t know about the Zodiac Killer case. The Zodiac claims to have killed more than 30 people, but only 7 victims are officially recognized as victims of the Zodiac. The Zodiac sent ciphers to be solved, and after decades only two of the four ciphers have been cracked. Who was the Zodiac, really? Can we identify him after all this time? 

Is It Possible That The Zodiac’s Identity Is Hidden In A Cipher? 

One of the two unsolved Zodiac ciphers is cipher Z 13 – a cipher included in a letter he sent to San Francisco Chronicle on April 20, 1970. Cipher Z 13 is near the top of the letter, following the words “My name is…” 

It’s questionable if the Zodiac would truly risk revealing something as important as his name. In fact, in a previous cipher, he clearly states “I will not give you my name.” You can read the cipher than includes this message here – Z 408 cipher part 1, Z cipher 408 part 2, Z 408 cipher part 3. In one of the letters that accompanied the 3-part Z 408 cipher, the Zodiac wrote “In this cipher is my identity.” The Zodiac willingly misled the readers of this letter by promising something he then refused to reveal. 

It’s possible that between the time of writing the Z 408 cipher and the Z 13 cipher the Zodiac had become so confident in his cipher writing ability that he truly did leave information that would make him vulnerable in the Z 13 cipher. After all, the Z 340 cipher had been written between Z 408 and Z 13. The Z 340 cipher remained unsolved until December 2020. Unfortunately, only time will tell if the promise of revealing his name in the Z 13 cipher was a lie or not. 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today. 

The Zodiac’s First Letters To The Public

zodiac 1969 chronicle cipher

The Zodiac Killer’s Identity Is Unknown More Than 50 Years Later 

The Zodiac Killer spent years terrifying the public and seeking out new victims in the Northern California area. The crimes he committed in the late 1960s and early 1970s continue to haunt the public to this day. Given the twisted enjoyment that the Zodiac took in committing these crimes, made evident in his infamous letters, it is no surprise that the horror he inspired more than 50 years ago still lingers today. 

The Zodiac Addresses The Public 

One of the unique factors about the Zodiac Killer case isn’t just that he wrote letters. He desired to reach the public at large through his letters. He frequently demanded that either part of his letters or the ciphers he sometimes sent with those letters be published in local newspapers. 

The first letters in which he showed his desire to be seen and recognized by the public – if only in the limited capacity he allowed – was in the set of three letters sent to the Vallejo Times Herald, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Francisco Examiner. All letters were mailed on July 31st, 1969. In these letters, all nearly identical to each other, he claimed to have been responsible for the shootings at Lake Herman Road and Blue Rock Springs. 

Each of these letters also included 1/3rd of his first cipher, which you can find here – Z 408 cipher part 1, Z 408 cipher part 2, Z 408 cipher part 3. These parts of the cipher were what the Zodiac wanted these newspapers to publish. He demanded a front-page publication and threatened to go on a “kill rampage” if his demands were not met. 

These are some of the earliest known Zodiac Killer letters – and it becomes immediately clear that the Zodiac, in some capacity, wanted an audience even if he was not willing to completely reveal himself. Could this desire for acknowledgment lead to his identification now, all these years later? Only time will tell. 

Information Gathered From the #1 Zodiac Killer Website 

Tom Voigt is responsible for the creation, curation, and editing of the #1 Zodiac Killer website, Zodiackiller.com. Launched in 1998, Zodiackiller.com remains the ONLY Zodiac Killer website recognized by law enforcement. To learn more about the release of Zodiac Killer: Just the Facts, as well as other information about the Zodiac Killer case, visit Zodiackiller.com today.