A SEARCH BACK IN TIME

12/2/2019

Michael Butterfield is amassing thoroughly excellent coverage of the Zodiac story via a series of podcasts called Zodiac: A to Z. They cover the canonical attacks and the Riverside murder of Cheri Jo Bates on October 30th 1966, which still sits on the periphery of the Zodiac case, unable to be fully corroborated as a forerunner to the Bay Area murders. The podcasts also cover the ciphers, including the 408 and 340 character codes, with guest appearances from the knowledgeable Mike Morford, as well as renowned cryptologist David Oranchak, who provides an extensive insight into the mechanics of both ciphers. I have personally gained much from listening to the 2 hour and 7 minute episodes on the two main ciphers - and is why I wanted to make the case against the premise we have an unsolved 340 cipher, that is based upon the structure of the Z13 and Z32 codes. This is just my opinion, to which I know many will strongly disagree - and can freely do so in comments. The reason I refute the claim we have three main unsolved ciphers or codes, is based upon statements made by people with a much better understanding of cryptology than me.

It has been widely shown that the Z32 and Z13 codes are simply too malleable - one is too short and open to thousands of different interpretations, while the other has 29 unique characters within a 32 character code, allowing amateur sleuths to literally fill in the blanks, make it say whatever they want and subsequently justify that solution with an explanation of biblical proportions which could never be proved or disproved. I am sure that the overwhelming consensus of experts in the field of cryptology, is that without a key to the Z32 and Z13, two of the remaining three "unsolved ciphers" are effectively unsolvable. It becomes plainly evident that no such key exists subsequent to April 20th 1970 with respect to the 45 unsolved characters. The following communications have no content pertaining to a key for either the Z13 and Z32, especially when you look at the remaining communications mailed by the Zodiac Killer in 1970. If these two codes cannot be truly solved because of their brevity and character make-up - and the Zodiac Killer provided no key - then the only option remaining is he provided us with the answers. If these answers were provided in 1970, what are the odds that they would be contained in three consecutive communications, the answers would be in the exact words of Zodiac, and each would pertain to each cipher in reverse chronological order? The answer to the Mount Diablo code provided by the Little List Letter on July 26th 1970, the answer to the '13 Symbol' Cipher provided by the '13 Hole' Postcard on October 5th 1970 and the answer to the 340 Cipher provided by the Halloween Card on October 27th 1970. I won't expand any further on this because I've covered it extensively in this article and the link at its foot.

Michael Butterfield stated at the beginning of the 340 Cipher podcast that "In the decades since, experts and amateurs have tried to crack the Zodiac's cipher, but the puzzle remains unsolved". It is my contention that the codes are not unsolved because there has been nothing to solve over the last 50 years. The ciphers were 'cracked' by Zodiac five decades ago.

The Zodiac Killer mailed copious communications to the newspapers showing us his willingness to engage with the San Francisco Chronicle and the investigators chasing him. His literary verbosity fell from his dripping pen throughout his campaign of terror from 1969 to 1971, eager to prove he was the killer of five in the Bay Area through a succession of boasting communications. Yet this model of the Zodiac Killer is totally abandoned when it comes to his ciphers - we now have a killer who has stayed deathly silent on the workings of his codes for upwards of 50 years, unable to provide us with a single clue to their construction. A murderer who provided us with extensive details to his Lake Herman Road and Blue Rock Springs attacks, his recollections in Presidio Park, as well as finding the time to write on a car door, but has since remained astonishingly reserved and tight-lipped regarding any of his codes to this day. He has supposedly been able to resist this temptation for a possible five decades, squashing his hands and pen firmly under his buttocks in order to prevent the ink flowing from his previously rampant pen. From everything we have learned about the Zodiac Killer, could a murderer who spent more time writing than killing, just shut up shop and keep us guessing for just over 50 years?

Many people have staked a claim to have solved the 340 character cipher, but as yet, none of the solutions have been universally verified by esteemed arbitors of cryptology. The approach I have taken in the above two articles is not claiming a solve to the three unbroken codes, because I don't believe a code such as the Z32 and Z13 could ever be broken, as their design doesn't facilitate the possibility of a verifiable solution. Therefore, without a key that doesn't exist, the only other options are the Zodiac Killer left us hanging for upwards of 50 years or gave us the answer. Rather fortuitous then, that the exact wording of Zodiac through three consecutive communications fell exactly into his three 'unsolved' ciphers. We don't need to find a solution to the three 'unsolved' codes because they were never enciphered in the first place. A code that is only designed with respect to length and not the content of its characters, just needs an answer of corresponding length. The Zodiac Killer wasn't a dumb-ass, and knew that the Z32 and Z13 codes required his later input to be answered - and we knew he had a big mouth, who couldn't resist putting his thoughts down on paper.

Why do we need to play mathematical games, create anagrams, twist like a pretzel, jump through hoops, bang square pegs into round holes and create convoluted essays describing how we arrived at the solution we did, when the answer had already been given to us 50 years ago. Sometimes the answer to something doesn't require an abstract, mind-bending solution - sometimes it doesn't require a solution at all. "In the decades since, experts and amateurs have tried to crack the Zodiac's cipher, but the puzzle remains unsolved" - and will remain so until you heed the words of Zodiac. He may have been a ruthless killer, but he had loose lips and an even more loose pen.

Regardless of my thoughts, the podcasts by Michael Butterfield make interesting listening with excellent conrtributions from a number of people - and well worth the time spent to brush up on the cryptological aspect of the case.

15 Comments

Richard

12/2/2019 12:53:10 pm

Running on fumes - please pass.

Roger

12/2/2019 05:48:34 pm

I also came to the conclusion long ago that a homophonic cipher must satisfy certain rules in order to be solvable. As it happens, the Z408 cipher is a good homophonic cipher and the Zodiac even threw in a final line of gibberish, most likely as an attempt to make his cipher a bit harder to crack. This line was like a prelude to his Z340. The thing about homophonic ciphers is the more randomness you add, the more random they become. But by making only the final line random, this did little to prevent the coded message from being solved.

Perhaps the Zodiac extended this idea of randomness to an extreme in the Z340. All we know is the Z340 is a dog's breakfast. It is smaller but has many more symbols. It breaks all the rules. It is too random. Therefore it cannot be solved by conventional means. Don't bother trying to solve it as a conventional homophonic cipher. Those who believe they have solved it as a homophonic or polyphonic cipher are deluded.

Likewise, you can run Z13 and Z32 through all kinds of software. The results are generally just gibberish and the randomness factor is off the chart. Try to solve them without knowing the original key (if there really ever was one)? Forget it. My feeling is the Zodiac was just playing games and messing with our heads. At some point in time the idea of being uncrackable became as important to his ego as being uncatchable. The two ideas were from the same twisted mind.

Anybody can write a bunch of symbols down and ask others to crack it. -@&BNW-^#$++%DW$ Solve that! Can't solve it? Haha, that means I must be uncrackable!

12/2/2019 08:37:30 pm

Very good article, Richard. And good additional points, Roger. It would be logical to create the 408 cipher as bait, to entice interested parties in attempting to solve the unsolvable. Was it Gaikowski who said something along the lines that "not every cipher is intended to be solved?"

Personally, I still think there's more to the ciphers, and that he provided the clues to solve them. Unfortunately, as he was the one who created the ciphers, the key would have been clear in his mind but not to the ones who try to solve them. As Roger pointed out, it is all subjective. Unless, of course, someone comes up with a solution that reveals further clues.

If you don't mind, here is something that can be easily solved. I say easily because I know the answer. If you, Richard or Roger, were to challenge me with this, there would be no way I would get this right. I don't have the mind for it. But if you challenged me with it, and told me the answer, I know I'd be kicking myself. I suppose someone that does have the mind for it might get it rather easily. By the way, is it a cipher, code, cryptogram, or puzzle? Does anyone wish to take a stab at it?

My Name Is: T E H 8 P 8 I 8 H X 8 P

Richard

12/3/2019 03:13:34 am

I have found three words that fit the above code, but none have any particular relevance, so initially I'm guessing this is two words of 4 and 8 characters.

12/3/2019 06:58:44 pm

Thanks for trying, Richard. Like I said, if you had given this to me, there would have been no way I would have figured it out either. But I did give you the key to solving it. I was betting you wouldn't see it because there is no way I would have seen it.

The answer is the name of a person I had not heard of until last night: Vera Nazarian. The key was the phrase "not every cipher is intended to be solved." Richard Gaikowski expressed the idea, and maybe used similar wording. But I added the question whether it was a cipher, code, cryptogram, or puzzle because if you google "not every puzzle is intended to be solved" you will find that is a quote attributed to her.

It's really no different than when you and I both, separately, suggested William Blatty for the 13 symbol cipher. You didn't take it as seriously as I did, and maybe with good reason. I certainly wouldn't have thought of trying his name if I hadn't been reading your articles and other comments on Blatty and Groucho. I just didn't realize you had already put that idea forth.

You may very well be right in your assessment of the remaining ciphers, and you may have solved them. I know you said you don't like to use the word solved, but you know what I mean. I just have other ideas and like to keep my options open, right or wrong.

I guess, as you have said, the only real way we will ever know is if Zodiac is apprehended or if he left behind the answers. Unless, like a jigsaw puzzle, the answers are more obvious than we realize, and like a jigsaw puzzle, form a larger picture.

Anyway, cheers. Not ever trying to be argumentative. Just throwing out ideas. Thanks again for your forum and articles. Always appreciated.

12/3/2019 07:04:22 pm

oops, and i should add that maybe you were ready to guess the correct name. after all, 4 and 8 do = Vera Nazarian. My apologies if i jumped the gun.

Richard

12/4/2019 03:12:24 am

Because the code was only 12 long I guessed the clue lay in the question but obviously couldn't find it. I appreciate that people keep their options open and everyone has to take the path they believe regarding the ciphers. Some believe that the ciphers will be solved using some form of cryptology and/or key and contain a message, while others believe the ciphers are total gibberish with no answers at all. I believe somewhere in between - they have an answer, but don't require any decoding technique because the answers were hidden in plain sight all along. The notion of a braggart keeping Mum for upwards of 50 years doesn't work for me anymore. If we look at the three consecutive communications beginning with the July 26th letter, any clues to the answer one would suspect would be be given in "cipherish" terms - PS. The Mt. Diablo Code concerns Radians & # inches along the radians, Fk, I'm crackproof and sorry no cipher (mirroring paradice and slaves) being the prime and only examples in those three communications. We then have to determine the odds of all slotting into the unbroken codes without any manipulation (just the 5 added via the arrow). Then couple this with every answer being only the words of Zodiac not breaching a single line.

If I were creating a message such as the 408, I would write the message and then apply the code. Inevitably, if the message is natural thoughts and ramblings, it will bleed from line to line. Creating 24 rows of 17 first and ensuring every word stays within the line and doesn't extend from row to row, would require a heavily manipulated message - the alternative being, you don't create a uniformly structured cipher. This was exhibited early on in both Fairfield letters, one that contained variance in every line that I suggested contained the Halloween card wording, followed by a rudimentary design that looked like the Halloween card configuration. The 13 symbol cipher and 32 symbol cipher structured in such a fashion that length was the overriding factor, particularly in the 32 symbol code of 17 and 15 characters. Dr Marsh referenced Poe, to which he stated "Out of, perhaps, one hundred ciphers altogether received, there was only one which we did not immediately succeed in resolving. This one we demonstrated to be an imposition–that is to say, we fully proved it a jargon of random characters, having no meaning whatever". This may have been right up Zodiac's alley - create a jumbled set of codes which cannot be deciphered using normal techniques but fulfil the promise to Dr. Marsh of giving us his name. A code that truly contained his name, yet not in a fashion Dr. Marsh would have appreciated. Of course, employing a technique of just creating a number of characters without an answer is rather meaningless, and hence why I believe he surreptitiously slipped us all the answers in later correspondence. I know I couldn't have resisted the temptation of concealing the answers in later communications for multiple years, and the Zodiac was the definition of verbosity who clearly loved puzzles. But there is no fun in creating puzzles with no chance of a solution. I couldn't have resisted supplying everybody the answers, so how did Zodiac. A man who literally shouted his exploits via every newspaper in the Bay Area. It's a dichotomy I cannot resolve satisfactorily.

Anyway, for me, I'm satisfied that the answers were there all along, so I doubt I will be searching anymore for alternatives, other than to improve the existing premise. Like I said, others will disagree - some have their own solutions, some are still searching - we all have to choose our own path. Thanks JD.

Richard

12/4/2019 05:57:53 am

"Not ever trying to be argumentative. Just throwing out ideas".

Be as argumentative as you like JD - you are entitled to your opinion. Constructive disagreement and criticism should always be welcomed. Rubislaw has different opinions on the codes to me, and we disagree on their solutions, but I haven't fell out with him......yet.

Richard

12/4/2019 06:27:00 am

If for example JD a real solution existed for the 340, somebody could in theory provide a key and say here is the answer, just like the Harden's. If there is not an answer similar to the Harden's, then how can you ever prove that the alternative explanation you have given is the right one. If people want key and answer, full stop, then no alternative, however compelling, will ever adequately satisfy this line of thinking. It will always be labelled subjective. I always imagine a crime scene where a woman has been raped and stabbed by a man. Having an eyewitness who thought they saw the man near the crime scene isn't enough, his mobile pinging in the area isn't enough, no alibi is not enough - his biological fluids inside her is better, but he could claim they had a relationship prior to the murder, so the police need more. The more they have, the more overwhelming the case becomes. His fingerprints are found on the knife, there is blood on a pair of his shoes despite claiming he was nowhere near the crime scene, he was caught on video in the vicinity just before the murder, and finally the evidence is so overwhelming that a case can be brought and without little doubt bring the perpetrator to book. If you apply this to any solution to the ciphers - no matter each compelling component - it wouldn't matter if you had 10, 20, 50, 500 or one million corroborsating strands, the same answer will always be applied - coincidence. It effectively becomes impossible to prove a claim that doesn't employ a Harden style solution, if that is the only solution the observer will accept. A "solution" to the ciphers can never be equally considered if these are the standards applied.

We often complain about people who use anagrams, switch letters to numbers and vice-versa, twist logic, interpret symbols, like triangles for A's,etc. That is because rightly so it's subjctive interpretation from the eye of the observer and we don't know if Zodiac meant what is being claimed. That is why I used the exact wording of Zodiac to avoid being accused of manipulation. My point being, is that unless we can provide that solid Harden style key, I'm afraid nothing will ever satisfy somebody searching for such a key. The person searching for an alternative solution to conventional wisdom will always be met with scepticism, thrown aside as just another "pattern seeking animal" unable to prove this is what Zodiac meant - even if it's in his own words. The search for the solutions will go on, but it's a search I won't be pursuing anymore. I'll leave that to others - always remembering that people are free to make their own conclusions regarding the codes, and will probably wholly disagree with my assessment.

12/4/2019 09:59:37 pm

I'm glad you didn't have the answer, because I was starting to feel bad. It wasn't until I sent the answer that I started thinking more about your reply as possibly holding out to see if anyone else was going to try and answer. Now I don't have to kick myself. That get's a little painful after a while.

I can definitely see where you are coming from, especially wanting to have something definitive such as the Harden solution. Really, as you pointed out, one could even question the Harden solution as well.

Re: Rubislaw. Please don't have a falling out! You two have a good rapport and I always enjoy the comments.

Roger

12/4/2019 11:53:50 pm

There are literally millions of things that could fit that cipher. I say again, if anyone thinks they know a single answer, they are well and truly deluding themselves.

Richard

12/5/2019 12:58:21 am

The way the Z32 and Z13 are set up, there are 100's of millions of answers that can be placed into them. 29 unique characters out of 32 is factually unsolvable without either a key or an answer. After that, it boils down to what you believe - and we know the power of self belief.

3/9/2020 05:13:06 pm

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=C5ABCA81BE813ACBCF90CE5143A838A42580705F&thid=OIP.oSX5ZuK_yv1WPQYyWXgAewHaGx&mediaurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fy2ArV.gif&exph=512&expw=560&q=Photo+of+Darlene+Ferrin+and+Zodiac+Killer&selectedindex=40&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=0,1,2,3,4,6,8,10&ccid=oSX5ZuK%2F&simid=608019033363842168&sim=11

These pictures are all of the same guy

http://www.mk-zodiac.com/images/sandy/Clark%20Sandy.gif

Same big lips
And same height
Same hair
And same age
Same glasses
And same gaped teeth
Same laugh
And same weight
Same guy

Both Sandy and Jim were the same age as Donna Lass in 1970 when she went missing Just after being seen walking with a young blond haired man. They were 25 to 26 yo.

http://www.zodiackiller.com/LassArticles.html

Jim lived in the South Lake Tahoe area soon before the abduction of Donna.

2/23/2020 05:14:31 pm

What if the z32 was mostly numbers as in the coordinates

for the bus bomb location YouTube - Solution to the Zodiac killer's Z32

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gJ6ij7haRM

3/3/2020 03:56:36 pm

Z13 deciphered using the Concerned Citizen key

WEED 8 S 8 H 8 OE(or T)WH

Does it refer to Steven Weed or Weed California?
The Hearst mansion was near Mt. Shasta next to Weed California.
I wish we knew what the 888's stands for.

A SEARCH BACK IN TIME

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