A SATURDAY ON THE ZODIAC TRAIL BY REX BOLT

10/16/2018

Rex Bolt, author and avid Zodiac researcher, has made an excellent video on Youtube about his thoughts on the October 11th 1969 murder of Paul Stine, detailing with the use of a comprehensive slideshow the possible escape route of the Zodiac Killer.
It is a fantastic analysis of the area of Presidio Heights, with respect to the options Zodiac faced that night as he walked away from the intersection of Washington and Cherry. Of course, it was around 10:00 pm at night when the Zodiac Killer departed the crime scene, and the route ahead of him was far more claustrophobic.

Corner of Washington and Maple. Click photograph to enter Google maps.

Rex, from the perspective of a native of San Francisco, takes you on a journey from Mason and Geary, bordering Union Square (where Paul Stine picked up Zodiac) through to the crime scene and beyond.

With photographs showing the layout of Presidio park, Rex comes to the conclusion that Zodiac most likely headed east from Julius Khan playground to the dense wooded area by Presidio Boulevard.
The Zodiac Killer, now waiting for an opportune moment, had just a few hundred feet to escape the Presidio to his waiting vehicle.

The killer would now reach his vehicle, parked somewhere close to Broadway and the Lyon Street Steps. A relatively remote area for residential San Francisco and an ideal location to escape to Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge in a matter of minutes.
You are now out of San Francisco and away.

28 Comments

Rubislaw 32 link

10/16/2018 05:55:59 am

Thanks for the recommendation,Richard.

Certainly worth an hour of an enthusiast's time to get a sense of scale of the area,and options open for the Zodiac to have absconded successfully.

Undoubtedly,Zodiac would have ''cased the joint'',and made decisions,or at least a choice of them,in advance.

And the size and cover,was more than ample,beyond the playground,had he chosen to enter this ''forest land'',as a means to short cut to a chosen exit gate...to possibly even,have parked his car,on a ''conventional'' street,somewhere away.....as opposed to a quiet parking area,that would have been,part of the military grounds.

In addition,the realisation that,Zodiac could have ''encamped'' in the woods,beyond the playground,all night,and ''waited out'' the search teams with dogs,had he felt the need to.

One feels that,once Zodiac had [probably] entered the park,he merely pressed on with his plan,but had been aware of the arrival of search teams.....and did recount,in his two subsequent letters,quiet truthfully,what he experienced,in his journey,on foot,to a get to his car.

Rex Bolt

10/16/2018 11:50:22 am

Richard - Thank you very much for posting this.

One additional point I didn't make in the video:

If the Zodiac parked the getaway car on Broadway and Lyon, he could then walk 2 blocks to Jackson and board a public bus (the 3 Jackson) to Union Square, which would put him a block and a half from Geary and Mason.

Richard

10/16/2018 12:29:55 pm

No problem Rex, it is an excellent video and pretty much mirrors everything I have concluded from Presidio Heights. It's possible he got on a bus back to Union Square, but considering the indeterminable risk of having his identity corroborated by passengers, and having to hang around for the bus to arrive, I much prefer the idea of his vehicle parked by the hydrants on Broadway in relative anonymity. Additionally, because I believe he lived in Vallejo, the separation of the park and Golden Gate Bridge made this choice of murder site the perfect site to escape from. The entrance down Spruce and Pacific Avenue the obvious choice, being a common thoroughfare. This area lends credence that his likely initial intention was a murder by Washington and Maple - an exit up the road, turn right and out of sight, before heading to Spruce. His backtracking along Jackson from Cherry a consequence of unforeseen events, yet to be fully determined. Hence why he mentioned Washington and Maple in his letter. Your analysis of this intersection as compared to Washington and Cherry, and reduced proximity to residences, would certainly have made it the preferred choice. Hope you do some more slideshows, possibly the other three canonical crimes. Regardless, great to get the insight of somebody 5,000 miles closer to the crime scene.

Rex Bolt

10/16/2018 12:51:57 pm

Richard, I love your continuing insights on the subject. What I meant about the 3 Jackson bus was that it would be an easy option--not after the crime--but beforehand, in order to get to Mason and Geary to hail the cab - after parking the getaway car on Broadway.

Richard

10/16/2018 01:23:38 pm

My mistake Rex - yes that sounds perfectly reasonable. After all, he has to get back somehow and this is the most likely option. I could never have considered his options with my lack of knowledge of bus routes in 1969, which is why it's good to get the local knowledge of people who lived through the late 60s and early 1970s in San Francisco or Presidio Heights.
One question about the crime that night that has always bothered me, is the position of the taxicab. Was it normal for taxicab drivers to pull up to the sidewalk in such a skewed fashion. The position of the taxicab always gives me the impression that Paul Stine already had a gun to his head before he pulled up, or am I probably reading too much into the situation.

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 01:59:50 am

Rex, excellent video and great food for thought! I was skeptical of the notion that Zodiac could have fled through the Presidio that night but I have completely reconsidered the possibility after watching this.

From his previous crimes, we know that Zodiac was quite comfortable in the outdoors so he would be in his element in the woods of the Presidio. Even so, to someone who wasn't familiar with the area, it might be a bit daunting to plan an escape that way. I wonder if he was intimately familiar with the area adding to his comfort level. Was Zodiac in the Army and stationed at the Presidio at some point? I'm starting to believe the military background thing is more likely than not.

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 02:33:29 am

Also, Rex, I appreciated your comments about how young people dont engage in spontaneous sports activity anymore. Very true. They seem to need to be told what to do. They also aren't socialized in the same ways anymore. I notice that in bars or restaurants they always stay in their clicks and rarely talk to other groups around them. Ok, done ranting. (Of course, I could go on LOL)

Richard

10/17/2018 03:12:56 am

Three young people are at a bar or restaurant - one is texting, one is looking at Facebook and the third has headphones on, totally ignoring each other for an hour or so. When they get home, they text each other 300 times saying "how are you getting on, this is what I did today".

You know your getting old when you point these things out and complain about young people. lol.

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 03:37:05 am

So true, Richard. I'm 52 - just one generation before the Millennials but it feels like a hundred years gap sometimes. Haha

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 03:45:47 am

*Cliques. Must be getting tired. It's only 4am here in SF.

Richard

10/17/2018 04:28:55 am

Not surprised at 4.00 am, pissing about on Zodiac websites. Get some shut-eye.

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 03:00:42 pm

What else is a hopeless night owl obsessed with the Zodiac supposed to do? ;)

Rex Bolt

10/17/2018 10:01:33 am

Thanks KayElle - I appreciate that coming from you, since I know you're a fellow native San Franciscan. Excellent point, that Zodiac might very well have been stationed in the Presidio at one time, or worked there.

I could be wrong but I believe Dave Toschi and Graysmith have him exiting down by Letterman Hospital, at the Lombard Gate. To me there'd be no way, and they overlooked an obvious exit much closer to the crime scene, not to mention darker.

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 02:59:03 pm

Great points, Rex...thanks so much for doing the video!

OCINAZ

10/17/2018 03:22:51 pm

Hey Bolt, I saw you mention civilians working on base & that is an interesting idea. My mom worked at the Pendleton Exchange when my dad was stationed there in '68-9. They lived in Fallbrook. Pendleton is definitely more locked down than the Presidio but she was given a type of military ID as a civilian on base.

Rex Bolt

10/17/2018 07:14:34 pm

Thanks Ocinaz, interesting about your parents. I'm assuming a civilian employee could use the PX, and among other things purchase wingwalkers. The Presidio had a big PX on Chrissy Field, at the north end.

In those days probably Letterman Hospital had the most civilian employees on the base.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/17/2018 12:33:32 pm

Thanks Rex Bolt,for a really informative slide show video.

Prior to viewing it,I had tended to go along the lines of the Letterman Hospital car park......thinking ''Well the horse bolt - he got away''.

I had though given consideration to the north end of The Golden Gate Bridge,as where Zodiac drew a ''target line'',on account of this being,where SFPD jurisdiction ended.This,in considering the outside possibility of road blocks deployed.

But your well put together video filled in an important gap for me,and brought the area ''to life''.So,thank you for that.

My experience of San Francisco,amounts to just one week,assisting a friend,with research on a book about the Railways [Mark Hopkins,a big player].

A great day,spent around the Golden Gate,I seem to remember...and certainly left,at least a part of my heart,there.

Rex Bolt

10/17/2018 03:15:54 pm

Much appreciated Rubislaw! And interesting about your railways experience - you probably know much more about local San Francisco railways than I do!

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 03:22:38 pm

Love hearing that, Rubi. San Francisco has that affect on a great many people. Even though our city is going through a rocky period right now, it hasn't lost it's magic. I am hopeful that our new mayor is truly dedicated to solving some of our biggest problems...but we will see.

One thing that wont work is throwing more money at the complex issues that plague us. i.e homelessness & drug abuse. There is so much money here (not in my wallet) that they think it will solve everything. So far it hasn't. Brain capital is what is desperately needed. Still I remain optimistic...why? Because I'm a San Franciscan!

Rubislaw 32 link

10/17/2018 03:53:56 pm

Yes,I think you are very fortunate to be a San Franciscan,KayElleSF.

It is a very beautiful place,and the residents are very courteous to visitors.

I hope to re-visit,one day.

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 03:56:49 pm

You're always welcome, Rubislaw! :)

Rex Bolt

10/17/2018 03:21:17 pm

KayElle, Richard and Rublislaw -

Do you think the Zodiac could have worked at a civilian job in the Presidio, while living in Vallejo?

That would enable him to mail the letters from SF and might have given him an edge with the escape route, and maybe even the idea for the crime location.

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 03:45:36 pm

Yes, very possible. The more I think about it, the more it seems likely he could have been a "wannabe" military person, so working a civilian job in a military environment would have appealed to him. He also may have tried to enter the military at some point, but was rejected due to mental health issues...possibly sparking his resentment towards authority (total speculation, but I think it fits what we know about him).

I also (thanks to Richard's research) strongly believe Zodiac is/was a resident of Vallejo.

My opinion is that Zodiac is not any of the well known suspects. I think he has been living anonymously (in Vallejo) this entire time and continued killing off and on. Whether he's still alive today, it's hard to say. But I feel he's more of a Joseph DeAngelo than a Ted Kaczynski.

Richard

10/17/2018 09:22:12 pm

I have for many years believed Zodiac lived near the phone booth in Vallejo and commuted into San Francisco to work, likely a Mon-Fri, 9-5 job. Hence his first two crimes on a Friday close to where he lived, while venturing further afield on his day off - Saturday.
The Kim Rossmo geographical profiling of Zodiac is an excellent read.

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 11:12:00 pm

Thanks, Richard...I will check out the Rossmo report for sure!

Rubislaw 32 link

10/17/2018 03:45:47 pm

I'll just tell you,the way that I see it,KayElle.

I believe that the Zodiac,was working,on contract to Exxon,at the refinery construction project,at Benicia.With,his employees local head office,in Sacramento,for which he would occasionally visit.

San Francisco represented an amazing playground of art and culture,to the Zodiac,still a relatively young man.

The Stine murder was an I.R.A. inspired copycat murder,for him,with much preparation invested.

KayElleSF

10/17/2018 03:53:56 pm

Sure, why not? I do think Zodiac was strongly influenced by the heady times of the late sixties. There's no getting around that.

Karen Schwarz

7/26/2019 11:41:34 pm

Hello from Canada Rex! Loved your video. I wonder about two things in particular. How do Melvin Belli living at the Broadway house and Donna Lass working at the Letterman Hospital align with the timing of the Stine murder? Just wondering if either could have drawn Zodiac to that neighbourhood?

A SATURDAY ON THE ZODIAC TRAIL BY REX BOLT

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