On August 26th 1976, an article (see below) appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle entitled Tips Still Pursue Multiple Slayer, chronicling the relentless pursuit of the Zodiac Killer by Inspector David Toschi, who stated "I feel he's out there. I feel he's going to surface". The third paragraph of the newspaper article continued: "With the transfer of his long time partner, William Armstrong, to the fraud detail, Toschi is the only San Francisco detective on the case now, one of the most baffling in the history of American crime". A personal advertisement appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle in the same morning edition, seemingly connected to the now extremely rare coverage of the Zodiac Killer story. The fact that the story and personal advertisement coincided, with linguistically similar traits, could be interpreted in two different ways.
Inspector David Toschi Many have considered that the personal advertisement may have been placed in the San Francisco Chronicle by law enforcement to encourage a reply from the Zodiac Killer. However, the cryptic nature of the message seems to refer directly to the opening section of the newspaper article, shrouded in confusing language, rather than any meaningful attempt to lure the Zodiac Killer from the shadows and have him begin speaking to law enforcement once again. The second possibility, is that the message is a threat to kill Inspector David Toschi by promising to terminate his case, especially when you consider that Inspector David Toschi was the only investigator currently working the Zodiac case in 1976. A threat upon his life would certainly terminate his involvement in pursuing the Zodiac Killer. The beginning of the advertisement, after possibly declaring he was "Zodiac", suggested that David Toschi's once partner was in "Deep Real Estate". Having been transferred to fraud detail, it would certainly be worthwhile looking for recent newspaper articles concerning William Armstrong and discover if he had been involved in any high profile mortgage frauds during the month of August (or recent months). One of the most lucrative crimes during the 1970s (and today) is mortgage fraud, and may explain the phrase "Your partner is in Deep Real Estate".
The personal advertisement coincided with the newspaper story of Zodiac on August 26th 1976, so it would appear that the personal advertisement could not be a response to the San Francisco Chronicle article, unless the Zodiac Killer (or author) knew in advance that the story of David Toschi and his drive to solve the case in absence of his long time partner, was about to break in the newspapers. This, of course, would require the author of the advertisement to have prior knowledge to its publication, such as somebody connected to law enforcement or the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper
The personal advertisement coincided with the newspaper story of Zodiac on August 26th 1976, so it would appear that the personal advertisement could not be a response to the San Francisco Chronicle article, unless the Zodiac Killer (or author) knew in advance that the story of David Toschi and his drive to solve the case in absence of his long time partner, was about to break in the newspapers. This, of course, would require the author of the advertisement to have prior knowledge to its publication, such as somebody connected to law enforcement or the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper
The meaning behind "The Imperial Wizard can save you" is a lot more ambiguous, having no apparent connection to the newspaper article, other than known affiliations between law enforcement personnel and the Ku Klux Klan. The notion of infiltrating an organization with white supremacists to promote an agenda of hate is nothing new. Suggesting that David Toschi surrenders to the Imperial Wizard, could imply this was his only redemption. Two years earlier, in 1974, the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Scott Nelson, claimed they had infiltrated the Houston Police Department, including narcotics officers and members of the theft and burglary divisions.
Contact with David Toschi would become a feature of future Zodiac letters, such as on April 24th 1978 and October 28th 1987, as well as inferences (through the wording used) in the May 6th 1986 letter, and questionable July 19th 1978 Scotch Tape communication. Therefore, based on the correlation between the language used in the personal advertisement and newspaper article featuring David Toschi on August 26th 1976, the threat to "terminate his case" could be perceived as a direct threat on the life of the renowned Zodiac investigator. The newspaper article closed with: "I don't know if I'll ever get the case solved, but I'm sure as hell trying, Toschi said gamely".
Contact with David Toschi would become a feature of future Zodiac letters, such as on April 24th 1978 and October 28th 1987, as well as inferences (through the wording used) in the May 6th 1986 letter, and questionable July 19th 1978 Scotch Tape communication. Therefore, based on the correlation between the language used in the personal advertisement and newspaper article featuring David Toschi on August 26th 1976, the threat to "terminate his case" could be perceived as a direct threat on the life of the renowned Zodiac investigator. The newspaper article closed with: "I don't know if I'll ever get the case solved, but I'm sure as hell trying, Toschi said gamely".
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