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"This is the Zodiac Speaking..."
A Definitive Overview and Analysis of the Zodiac Case, 1966-1974

By Jake M. Wark

On Line Since 2 August 1998
Accurate as of  7 January 2006

All Text Copyright © 1996 - 2007 by Jake Wark
Unless Otherwise Noted
Introduction and Terms of Service

"The Zodiac case is of particular interest because it may have been the
most cerebral murder case of all time. The case is full of unknowns. What
appears to have been unprovoked catharsis may actually indicate a
premeditated, cold-blooded act of instrumental aggression. Or does it?
What passes for craziness may really have been a well-planned scheme
to accomplish what the killer wanted. Or was it?"
-Dr. Jack Levin,
Northeastern University, Boston, MA

"We have not made any conclusion as to who the Zodiac was or is,
and at this point the investigation is still open."
-Insp. Vince Repetto,
San Francisco Police Department

"The case is being placed inactive.  Given the pressure of our existing
caseload and the amount of cases that remain open at this time,
we need to be most efficient at using our resources."
-Lt. John Hennessey,
San Francisco Police Department, April 2004

Between 1966 and 1969, at least five people were murdered in California by an unknown killer who called himself "The Zodiac." During this time and well into the early 1970s, he sent dozens of letters, codes, and diagrams to area newspapers detailing his crimes, taunting the police, threatening mayhem, and claiming to identify himself. Because these letters were usually riddled with misspellings and bad grammar, the killer was initially believed to be a discretionary illiterate, with little education beyond popular films and novels, but some believe that his prolific writings reveal a working knowledge of chemistry, geometry, and literature that points toward higher education. The truth likely resides somewhere between these two extremes.  It was perhaps this misunderstanding, in conjunction with a great deal of luck on the Zodiac's part, that gave the killer the head start that has enabled him to confound no less than four local police forces, the California State Department of Justice, the US Postal Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of Naval Intelligence for over 30 years. Because each major source for Zodiac information comes with its own suspect and attendant interpretation of details, none are truly complete. Invariably, too much attention is given to the links between the case and a particular suspect, and an accurate, impartial presentation becomes a low priority.  For this reason, this page will not present any of the numerous suspects considered by the aforesaid law enforcement agencies or theorists.  Instead, it will present a narrative based on all  of these sources and many others that will avoid the swamp of suspect-specific reporting, and that will be equally valuable to the novice and the well-read investigator. It is my sincere hope that the fatal cocktail of sanctimony, sensationalism, and self-promotion that pervades most amateur research into the case can also be avoided here.  By necessity, this narrative is in a constant state of revision as errors are noted and new information comes to light. I am actively seeking Zodiac-related clippings, photographs, and documents of almost any kind. If you have such items, or if you have theories or analyses you'd like to share, please let me know through the e-mail link below.  Confidentiality is assured, and trades are welcome. My deepest thanks go out to Mike Butterfield,  Henry DaMassa, Howard Davis, Mario F., Liz Kanter, Clark K., Spencer H., Pam Huckaby, Mike Kelleher, Ed Neil, Spencer N., Gabette O., Doug Oswell, Roger Redding, Charles Reynolds, Mike Rodelli,  David Van Nuys, Tom Zoellner, and Thomas Nelson Voigt for their help and generosity, and to the many others who have assisted greatly in researching what follows.  I am indebted to you all.

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