ZODIAC CIPHERS
Richard Grinell, Coventry, England
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A WALK IN THE PARK

6/29/2016

 
PictureOfficer Donald Fouke
One thing we know for certain is that Zodiac after exiting the taxicab of Paul Stine headed north up Cherry Street, after which the facts become a little clouded - although we are fairly certain that patrolmen Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms 'encountered' the Zodiac on the north side of Jackson Street. From this point on we have conflicting accounts of that night, notably Donald Fouke, stating in the 2007 Zodiac documentary that Zodiac was climbing some steps to enter the residence of 3712 Jackson Street. The other, in his memorandum, has Zodiac turning north into Maple Street. However, he seems to also back the latter up in the 2007 documentary just after meeting Officer Armond Pelissetti at the top of Cherry Street and being updated on the suspect being a white male adult, recalling "We turned around to get to the Presidio, and my reasoning on that, was because turning down Maple would lead through the Presidio wall directly into Julius Kahn playground, which had a lot of foliage. So we turned and went down looking for the alleged suspect in the area of Julius Khan playground. Nothing was observed".

The distance from the steps at 3712 Jackson Street to the corner of Maple Street is 98 feet, so if both accounts were to have happened, then the patrol car would have to be stationary or near to it. A version of events could be argued where Donald Fouke is approaching Zodiac in his patrol car, spots the suspect, who in turn feigns to enter a residence. Donald Fouke then pulls up and questions the man, who directs them away with a story. As the patrol car pulls away a certain distance, the suspect re-enters the sidewalk thus catching the police officers attention in their rear view mirror as he proceeds onward towards the corner of Maple. This is the only way both accounts can be justified.
​
This encounter at 3712 Jackson Street would have occurred 862 meters from the point Donald Fouke received the initial broadcast at 9:58 pm on Presidio Avenue, taking approximately 1 minute duration, traveling at 30 mph. This means the Zodiac left the crime scene at 9:56 pm, taking 3 minutes to reach 3712 Jackson Street, something he confirmed in the 'Bus Bomb' letter mailed a month later. It has been previously noted that Donald Fouke could not have turned directly south along Cherry after this encounter with Zodiac, because in doing so he would arrive at the top of Cherry to meet Armond Pelissetti in approximately 70-80 seconds (possibly closer to 2 minutes had he stopped Zodiac), and something that was unattainable by Pelissetti from his accounts after arriving at the crime scene. Armond Pelissetti needed at least 3-4 minutes to achieve this meeting with Donald Fouke, a feat only achievable if Donald Fouke took a diversion.

In the 1989 Crimes of the Century documentary he gives us a clue, stating "We proceeded on Jackson Street towards Arguello continuing our search, as we arrived at Arguello Street the description of the suspect was changed to a white male adult, believing this suspect was possibly the one involved in the shooting we entered the Presidio of San Francisco and conducted a search on West Pacific Avenue, the opposite side of the wall and the last direction we observed the suspect going, we did not find the suspect". This account tallies nicely with his 2007 documentary account of "We turned around to get to the Presidio, and my reasoning on that, was because turning down Maple would lead through the Presidio wall directly into Julius Kahn playground, which had a lot of foliage. So we turned and went down looking for the alleged suspect in the area of Julius Kahn playground. Nothing was observed". The only difference, in that the events described in the first statement would have to have occurred before the meeting with Armond Pelissetti. However, what was his reasoning in heading to Arguello Boulevard, away from the crime scene he was supposed to be heading towards. Either he had been directed there by Zodiac, or he had acted on impulse, his suspicions aroused after seeing the suspect change direction, heading from the stairwell into Maple St after he pulled away in his patrol car. But this detour towards the Julius Kahn playground is important, regarding the sighting of a man 'running into the Julius Kahn playground' after the murder of Paul Stine and reported in the October 12th 1969 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle - but not for the reasons you may think.            

PictureClick image for full article
This article details the sighting of a man scurrying into the playground by Spruce Street, as does an account in Robert Graysmith's Zodiac book "The detectives heard from neighbors that a stocky figure was seen dashing across Julius Kahn playground and into the dense undergrowth of the Presidio. The dog patrol units, seven of the best search dogs in the country, gathered at the front entrance of the Presidio and were deployed one at a time in various directions. Armstrong and Toschi considered the possibilities. Had the killer gone quickly through the dark woods and emerged from the Presidio at Richardson Avenue, and taken Highway 101 past Fort Point onto the Golden Gate Bridge and vanished into Marin County".
 
​This account, coupled with the San Francisco Chronicle article and Donald Fouke's directional movements that night of "
we turned and went down looking for the alleged suspect in the area of Julius Kahn playground. Nothing was observed", appears to center the focus squarely over Julius Kahn playground. Even the Zodiac Killer alluded to entering the park at Spruce Street, when he remarked in the 'Bus Bomb' letter "the cops peeled rubber + went around the corner as I directed them + I disappeared into the park a block + a half away never to be seen again".  But how did it come to pass that possibly several neighbors happened to spot the Zodiac Killer entering the playground at just gone 10.00 pm at night, with their curtains likely drawn? Well, Officer Donald Fouke may be responsible for the sighting, even though he observed nothing.
 
After the meeting with Zodiac at 3712 Jackson Street, the journey westwards for Donald Fouke to Arguello Boulevard and eastwards along West Pacific Avenue to Julius Kahn playground is 810 meters (1/2 mile), taking approximately 1 minute traveling at 30 mph. For Zodiac, the journey eastwards to Spruce Street from 3712 Jackson Street is 180 meters (0.112 miles). So, assuming he picked up his walking speed to 4 mph after giving Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms the runaround, he would arrive somewhere in the vicinity of the Jackson and Spruce intersection in 1 minute 40 seconds. Assuming Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms arrived in 1 minute and performed a cursory inspection of the Julius Kahn playground and vicinity, then turned around, the Zodiac Killer would be just arriving as they were leaving. Once the patrol car had headed into the distance, Zodiac seized the opportunity of retreat into the playground and 'dense foliage'. 

PictureClick to enter Google Maps street view
Unfortunately for Zodiac, the local residents and neighbors had been alerted to the commotion just outside their residences (possibly by the red light and siren of the patrol car) and may have likely peered out of the windows. A short time later the Zodiac makes his move, only to be spotted by several key witnesses: "Later reports indicated someone was seen running into Julius Kahn playground in the Presidio, and all seven dog units were pressed into the search".

If this sighting is correct, detailing a near perfect description of the killer, then this opens up further avenues, but unfortunately closes others. It would appear to suggest it highly improbable for Zodiac to have parked a getaway vehicle somewhere close to the Jackson/Maple or Jackson/Spruce intersection. Why would a killer in urgent need to flee the area, bypass his vehicle in preference to hiding in the vicinity of Julius Kahn playground?  Furthermore, a vehicle parked exposed further down Jackson Street even more of a stretch and seemingly of greater risk. On the other hand, a vehicle or residence located to the east of the Presidio Park is not without merit, with the park providing the cover of dense foliage and a distinct barrier of separation from the locale of the crime scene and search area - that fanned out across the park from north to south, and west to east.

The options appeared limited. The Zodiac, had he entered the park, would naturally move away from the activity, that included the search dogs barking: "The detectives heard from neighbors that a stocky figure was seen dashing across Julius Kahn playground and into the dense undergrowth of the Presidio. The dog patrol units, seven of the best search dogs in the country, gathered at the front entrance of the Presidio". The Zodiac would goad the police on November 9th 1969 with the claim that "The dogs never came with in 2 blocks of me + they were to the west." Had this been the truth, the Zodiac had clearly moved in an easterly direction after entering the park, moving down to somewhere opposite Laurel Street or beyond - and to an area of very dense coverage. See here.

​It is highly unlikely the Zodiac Killer remained in the park for long, with the search (he knew) was intensifying, and the dog units had been deployed with his options narrowing. There may be one final clue as to his exit strategy and direction, as he continued eastwards towards Presidio Boulevard. In the 'Bus Bomb' letter mailed on November 9th 1969, he would say one last thing about his excursion into the park, stating "then the motor cicles went by about 150 ft away going from south to north west". It is only supposition (as is the entirety of this analysis), but had he arrived close to Presidio Boulevard at this juncture, waiting for his moment to escape the Presidio into the Cow Hollow region on the eastern fringes, it can be seen here on Google Maps, that the motorcycles circling the park perimeter would be approximately "150 ft away going from south to north west".  They pass by and the Zodiac is gone.  
​
The only question left to ask is; was this improvisation on behalf of the Zodiac Killer, triggered by the three teenagers sighting and subsequent close shave with Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms, or was this escape route planned in advance? The answer as yet is undetermined, but it reminds me of  youtube/4OAFtr-ciQE?t=7m37s .   

'The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. And like that he's gone'.
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LET THE INSPECTORS FOLLOW THROUGH

6/24/2016

 
We have three contesting accounts of the Donald Fouke sighting which will be outlined here;

DONALD FOUKE MEMORANDUM:  http://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/orig.jpg
#1. "I respectfully wish to report the following, that responding to the area of Cherry and Washington Streets a suspect fitting the description of the Zodiac Killer was observed by officer Fouke walking in an easterly direction on Jackson Street and then turn north on Maple Street."

2007 ZODIAC DOCUMENTARY:  
https://youtu.be/HI0jnsbZwys?t=1h26m39s
#2. "We turned west on Jackson Street, as we approached Maple Street I noticed on the north side of the street a white male adult. We slowed down as we passed him, I don't know, we we're still rolling, saw that it was a white male, step on the gas, 5, 10, 15 seconds tops from first spotting him to passing him. He sort of looked down, perhaps this lumbering gait, stumbling along, like a semi-limp might have come up in my mind, because he was putting his head down when he spotted the police car, and turned into the entrance way of a house, and by entrance way I mean stairs that are leading up that are concrete to a path, that leads to a front door. Never saw him get to the top of the stairs. You want the address of that residence, 3712 Jackson Street."

2002 ABC PRIMETIME INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTARY:  ​
https://youtu.be/FPPr7JXISxc?t=32m55s
#3. Narrator "We asked officer Don Fouke to take us back to the place where he spotted the man he later realized was Zodiac." Donald Fouke "He came down the north side of the street and turned and went up a flight of stairs into a courtyard." Narrator "He brings us very close to the house, then occupied by the man Mike Rodelli suspects."  
The address of that house is 3636 Jackson Street. 

The first thing to clarify, is that the ABC Primetime documentary is clearly showing the occupants of the vehicle parked just past Spruce Street, close to 3636 Jackson Street. It can be identified using a visual reference from Google Maps. The houses themselves, shown in the video, are located much closer to the sidewalk and street compared to the properties located by 3712 Jackson Street, one block west. So where did Donald Fouke actually spot Zodiac - it cannot be all three. If we take a look at his statement in the 2007 documentary and look at the property at 3712 Jackson Street (assuming the layout has not changed drastically) we see only seven steps leading from the sidewalk to the pathway. This sounds like the house he is describing, "stairs that are leading up, that are concrete, to a path, that leads to a front door."     
PictureThe area of 3712 Jackson St
Donald Fouke gave a very detailed description of the suspect "as he rolled past in 5, 10, 15 seconds tops". He mentioned that he didn't see the suspect reach the top of the stairs, so obviously the suspect was still close to the sidewalk (evident by the photograph).

There may be much debate about how Donald Fouke can give such a detailed description with limited lighting and such a short time period, but what he actually stated in the 2007 Zodiac documentary regarding 3712 Jackson Street can be visually corroborated.

In the ABC Primetime video, it could be argued that being 2002, this is his initial identification of a specific residence - his memory is 5 years fresher and he is physically seen revisiting the location. This is actually an 'in situ' recollection, not harbored from memory alone. But this is not 3712 Jackson Street, it is 3636 Jackson Street, 413 feet and nearly one full block distance eastwards. Had Zodiac been seen approaching this house, his next turning north would take him into Spruce Street and Julius Khan playground, not Maple described in Donald Fouke's memorandum. 

PictureClick the photograph to enter Google Maps
On the right is a photograph of 3636 Jackson Street.
​As described by Donald Fouke in the 2007 documentary, a suspect is seen walking on Jackson Street and turning into a residence. If his wording in this documentary was applied to this address of 3636 Jackson Street, and "not quite reaching the top of the stairs", for "5, 10, 15 seconds tops", a suspect entering this residence would be spending all, if not the majority of his time with his back to Donald Fouke, making his identification and detailed description of the killer all the more unlikely. This particular house is set back and its front pathway is at street level, better described as a "concrete path, leading to some stairs, that leads to a courtyard and front door." Slightly different to his recollection in the 2007 documentary.

​But his description in the ABC Primetime documentary does sound more in tune with this residence "He came down the north side of the street, and turned, and went up a flight of stairs into a courtyard." This house has a courtyard. However, for Zodiac to walk in a stumbling manner to reach these stairs, seems difficult to imagine as Donald Fouke's police car rolls by the Zodiac Killer in 5 to 15 seconds "from first spotting him to passing him." Even traveling at low speed he cannot maintain a visual on these stairs long enough for Zodiac to leave Jackson Street, travel the length of the path and reach them, unless the police car is stationary. The field of view is too narrow. For this short time period, he certainly would not be looking into the Zodiac's eyes, only the grey hair on the back of his head.

The statement in the 2007 documentary of Donald Fouke receiving the initial radio broadcast  "We turned west on Jackson Street, as we approached Maple Street I noticed on the north side of the street a WMA", cannot separate the issue by itself of where Zodiac was spotted.     

Picture
The diagram on the left shows the area between the Jackson/Maple and Jackson/Spruce intersections. Had Zodiac been walking here, the remark of Donald Fouke in the 2007 documentary could still apply. The police car would still be "approaching Maple" and the Zodiac would still be on the "north side of the Street".

However, his 3712 Jackson Street sighting would be negated, as would a Zodiac turning into Maple Street, as described in his memorandum. The San Francisco Chronicle article dated October 12th 1969, indicating a man seen running into Julius Khan playground, in alliance with the Zodiac Killer's Bus Bomb letter, also seems to support the Zodiac being spotted by Donald Fouke approaching Maple Street. The Zodiac Killer stated  "p.s. 2 cops pulled a goof abot 3 min after I left the cab. I was walking down the hill to the park when this cop car pulled up + one of them called me over + asked if I saw anyone acting suspicious or strange in the last 5 to 10 min + I said yes there was this man who was runnig by waveing a gun & the cops peeled rubber + went around the corner as I directed them + I disappeared into the park a block + a half away never to be seen again." 

From 3712 Jackson Street, or just shy of Maple Street, it is nearly 1 1/2 blocks traveling distance to Spruce Street and Julius Khan playground and is approximately 3 minutes from the Washington and Cherry murder scene. ​It is hard to believe that Donald Fouke could misidentify the area around 3636 Jackson Street for 3712 Jackson Street - it is at least a block away and the layout of the buildings are different. Furthermore, Mike Rodelli's suspect's address had likely already been given to Donald Fouke prior to him being led to the 3636 Jackson Street residence. If we try to answer the question of where Zodiac was spotted using memory as the overriding indicator, it seems we arrive back to the memorandum issued on November 12th 1969 as the likely 'tale', of a Zodiac Killer heading into the blind access of Maple Street.

I just don't know anymore, "let the inspectors follow through."  

THE BOASTFUL SLAYER

6/20/2016

 
Chief Inspector Martin Lee asserted that the Zodiac Killer had "made some mistakes",  allowing himself to be seen by three witnesses as he fled from the Presidio Heights murder scene and leaving alive two of his intended victims in the deranged attacks he made on couples in the North Bay region -- two young men who may one day pick him out of a line-up. These mistakes, as well as others police won't elaborate on, show Zodiac not to be the master criminal he apparently considers himself. And, says Lee "he is a liar". He continued, stating "His boast of being in the area we were searching while we were searching it is a lie," Lee said. "We had the whole area flooded with lights. We had seven police dogs and a large number of patrolmen searching the area tree by tree and bush by bush. The dogs are the best in the country. A mouse couldn't have escaped our attention". San Francisco Chronicle October 18th 1968.

Clearly Zodiac wasn't a master criminal, but what Chief Inspector Martin Lee failed to appreciate, is that the police were not chasing mice and the Zodiac did escape their attention. Furthermore, it is highly likely the Zodiac was in the Presidio Park as he claimed. It has often been stated that the Zodiac Killer enjoyed ridiculing the police and newspapers, so is it fair his claims in the October 13th 1969 mailing and November 9th 1969 Bus Bomb Letter should be treated as such, dismissed as a pack of lies? An easy game to play in an investigation bedecked with multiple shortcomings and contradictions. So let us examine the lies.

Picture
The crime was detailed in the police report at 9:55 pm approx, with responding officers being alerted at around 9:58 pm by the dispatcher. The Zodiac Killer exited the taxicab and headed north up Cherry Street at approximately 9:56 pm. It takes 3 minutes at normal walking pace to approach the intersection of Jackson and Maple Street, placing the Zodiac Killer here at 9:59 pm. Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms responded to the 9:58 pm broadcast traveling northbound on Presidio Avenue, having just passed Washington Street. From this location to the intersection of Jackson and Maple it takes approximately 1 minute, placing the two patrolmen at this location at 9:59 pm. This aligns perfectly with the Zodiac Killer approaching the intersection. "p.s. 2 cops pulled a goof abot 3 min after I left the cab. I was walking down the hill to the park when this cop car pulled up". So from this simple timeline, the Zodiac Killer appears to be correct about his 'meeting', because the police movements of Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms that night had not been disclosed publicly prior to his November 9th 1969 letter.
As we explained in the last article, the San Francisco Chronicle released a story the following day (October 12th 1969), reporting the sighting of an individual that resembled other descriptions of the killer 'running into the Julius Kahn playground.'   

PictureClick image for full article
The actual address of Julius Kahn playground is West Pacific Ave & Spruce St, San Francisco. The Zodiac Killer in the 'Bus Bomb' letter stated "I was walking down the hill to the park when this cop car pulled up + one of them called me over + asked if I saw anyone acting suspicious or strange in the last 5 to 10 min + I said yes there was this man who was runnig by waveing a gun & the cops peeled rubber + went around the corner as I directed them + I disappeared into the park a block + a half away never to be seen again".

One and half blocks from the location of the Donald Fouke meeting, places the Zodiac Killer at Spruce Street and the exact area of the sighting detailed above. As stated previously, this sighting could not have originated from Donald Fouke because the killer had supposedly already passed him, as testified by both patrolmen - and Donald Fouke never mentioned at any time observing anybody running or entering Julius Kahn playground. A witness at this location would have observed the 'running man' or Zodiac Killer approximately 5 minutes after he exited up Cherry Street, confirming a time of 10:01 pm. See here.

Another San Francisco Chronicle article dated October 15th 1969 entitled 'The Boastful Slayer', details the following search "A large contingent of police with dogs and searchlights scoured the area around Cherry Street, which includes the wooded south boundary of the Presidio and Julius Kahn playground".  A logical starting place bearing in mind the killer may have entered close to West Pacific Avenue and Spruce Street. However, the search with dog units was not deployed at 10:01 pm, meaning the Zodiac Killer could have entered the park at this time without detection. The police report states "Victim was pronounced dead at 10:10 pm. Inspector Krake responded and summoned dog units and a fire department "spotlight" vehicle to assist in the search".  The report continued "Homicide detectives Armstrong and Toschi responded and took charge. Lt Kiel also responded. The military police headquarters of the Presidio of S.F. was notified and an intense search of the Julius Kahn area was made by seven dog  units". The police report mimics the article, but the Zodiac Killer - as one can see - has ample time to enter the park and secure his location before any dog units are deployed. Likely upwards of 10 minutes.    

Picture
Initial sweeps of the area were deployed, including police motorcycles to Arguello Boulevard, West Pacific Avenue and Presidio Boulevard. The Zodiac alluded to his location in the Bus Bomb Letter, stating "Hey blue pig I was in the park -- you were useing fire trucks to mask the sound of your cruzeing prowl cars. The dogs never came with in 2 blocks of me + they were to the west".  But was he telling the truth?

​As the Zodiac Killer enters the Julius Kahn playground at 10:01 pm he is presented with several choices. He can remain in the exposed area of the Julius Kahn playground, head back towards the crime scene traveling westwards through Presidio Park or head into the middle of the park with no immediate escape route - none of which seem to benefit his cause. Or he can head eastwards two blocks to Laurel Street, where a nice healthy coverage of trees provides adequate protection, as they did in the 1969 topographical maps of the area. He would arrive at this location 4 minutes after entering the park - at approximately 10:05 pm. Several minutes would pass before dog units were deployed from the north and west, scanning the area of Cherry Street, the south boundary and Julius Kahn playground, as the October 15th San Francisco Chronicle article alluded to. The Zodiac was 4 minutes, and over two blocks to the east  and therefore had ample time to observe the floodlit search and then disappear into the darkness. "The dogs never came with in 2 blocks of me + they were to the west".

In the Bus Bomb Letter the Zodiac also remarked "there was only 2 groups of parking about 10 min apart".  Here are the two groups parking; [1] By Julius Kahn playground, and [2] the second group sweeping the densely wooded area by Arguello Boulevard, to which Zodiac has a direct line of sight between the trees. See here. "Then the motor cicles went by about 150 ft away going from south to north west".  From the Zodiac Killer's location in the trees opposite Laurel Street, he is 150 feet from West Pacific Avenue as the motorcycles went by. They then turned into Presidio Boulevard going from south to northwest. See here. The question though, is was the Zodiac Killer lying or was Chief Inspector Martin Lee telling the truth all along,   

FOOTNOTE: A passage in Robert Graysmith's book Zodiac appears to corroborate the premise that eyewitnesses at Spruce Street observed a man running into Julius Khan playground, and tallies with the October 12th 1969 San Francisco Chronicle article. Here is the excerpt, "The detectives heard from neighbors that a stocky figure was seen dashing across Julius Kahn playground and into the dense undergrowth of the Presidio. The dog patrol units, seven of the best search dogs in the country, gathered at the front entrance of the Presidio and were deployed one at a time in various directions. Armstrong and Toschi considered the possibilities. Had the killer gone quickly through the dark woods and emerged from the Presidio at Richardson Avenue, and taken Highway 101 past Fort Point onto the Golden Gate Bridge and vanished into Marin County".
 
​It can be seen that the October 12th 1969 Chronicle article and Robert Graysmith are relaying similar information, of a man seen running, not just into the park, but into the Julius Kahn playground, with the mention of seven dog units deployed in the search. The Graysmith excerpt also details the dog units and responding officers grouping in one particular area of the Presidio - and something the Zodiac Killer was careful to mention in the November 9th 1969 Bus Bomb Letter.  

THE SIXTH WITNESS ON SPRUCE STREET

6/19/2016

 
During the aftermath of the Paul Stine murder in Presidio Heights on October 11th 1969, five witnesses were party to the events that night. Three teenagers overlooked the crime scene from a residence across the street and two police officers passed the Zodiac Killer a few short minutes later on Jackson Street as they were heading westwards in their patrol car. However, a sixth witness recently became the subject of much scrutiny, when Alex Lewis was able to procure an unredacted version of an FBI document. The 8-year-old witness identified Xenophon Lusby Anthony 'as a possible subject in the matter'. The matter being the murder of Paul Stine. One vital question remained: where was the residence of the 8-year-old when they made this identification? Was it near the location of the murder or elsewhere? If it was close to the crime scene, then change the title of this article to The Seventh Witness on Spruce Street, but if the 8-year-old was a resident of north Spruce Street then everything is fine as it stands.

The three teenagers overlooking the crime scene are one party, Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms are the second party, the third party we will get to in a minute or so. Donald Fouke is on camera on two occasions, stating he saw the Zodiac Killer motion towards a residence along Jackson Street. In the 2007 Zodiac documentary that accompanied the David Fincher movie, he details the suspect heading up a stairwell to 3712 Jackson Street. See here. In an earlier documentary, he again mentions the suspect heading into the courtyard of a house on Jackson Street, stating "He came down the north side of the street, and turned and went up a flight of stairs into a courtyard."  This of course makes a mockery of the Donald Fouke memorandum issued on November 12th 1969, that stated "The Zodiac Killer was observed walking in an easterly direction on Jackson Street and then turning north on Maple Street". No mention of turning into any house - and considering that he supposedly passed the Zodiac Killer in "5,10,15 seconds tops" - it is actually physically impossible for the killer to walk up the stairs to a residence, walk down and then travel to the end of Jackson Street from the aforementioned address in 15 seconds. So one story is fiction. Unless of course, the two police officers were parked up for a set duration of considerably longer than 15 seconds, which is something that Donald Fouke has always denied. But before we move on, please note that the observation in the memorandum was a final sighting of Zodiac, heading north on Maple and his other sightings were at residences on Jackson Street, neither of which mention the Zodiac running or wearing a grey jacket and trousers. In fact, he never mentions seeing Zodiac enter the park either.
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This article appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle one day after the murder, before anybody was aware it was a Zodiac crime. It states "Later reports indicated someone was seen running into the Julius Kahn playground in the Presidio, and all seven police dog units were pressed into the search."  Who was this 8-year-old witness? The first thing to note is its specificity, detailing the Julius Kahn playground in the Presidio. It doesn't say the man just ran into the Presidio; it makes a point in emphasizing the playground in the Presidio. Julius Kahn playground is one block east from the upper region of Maple Street, so this eyewitness could not have been Donald Fouke, because he describes the Zodiac's clothing in great detail in the memorandum as "Dressed in dark blue waist length zipper type jacket (Navy or royal blue). Elastic cuffs and waist band zipped part way up. Brown wool pants pleated type baggy in rear (Rust brown)." No mention of dark grey trousers and jacket expressed in the Chronicle article. This, coupled with the fact, that Donald Fouke had no line of sight on the Julius Kahn playground as he initially responded to the radio broadcast, and described the Zodiac Killer as moving with a shuffling lope, slightly bent forward, head down, in direct contradiction to the article of a subject "running into the playground."  The witness in the Chronicle article certainly wasn't the three teenagers, so it had to be a third party who viewed the subject run into the playground, either in passing or from a residence nearby.   
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The road heading towards the Julius Kahn playground from Jackson Street is Spruce Street, which has relevance. The Zodiac Killer on October 13th 1969 claimed he entered the park. He then backed this up by mailing the Bus Bomb letter on November 9th 1969, in which he stated one crucial thing: "2 cops pulled a goof abot 3 min after I left the cab. I was walking down the hill to the park when this cop car pulled up + one of them called me over + asked if I saw anyone acting suspicious or strange in the last 5 to 10 min + I said yes there was this man who was runnig by waveing a gun & the cops peeled rubber + went around the corner as I directed them + I disappeared into the park a block + a half away never to be seen again."

The supposed sighting of the Zodiac Killer by Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms was at either 3712 Jackson Street, or a Zodiac walking east on Jackson, before turning north on Maple. Either way, Zodiac was somewhere just short of the Jackson and Maple intersection. So when the Zodiac described "disappearing into the park a block + a half away never to be seen again," this would place him at Spruce Street, the only clean thoroughfare to the Presidio Park he had so far passed, and the exact location of the eyewitness (or eyewitnesses) in the Chronicle article, thereby corroborating Zodiac's claim of entering the park where he said he did. The two closest residences overlooking the Julius Khan playground are 1 and 2 Spruce Street, so it's likely the witness was either a resident living at the north end of Spruce Street overlooking West Pacific Avenue and the playground location, a passing motorist or pedestrian, or for that matter, the unidentified 8-year-old witness, detailed in the FBI report in connection with Paul Stine's murder. But above all, we likely have a sixth or possibly more witnesses.

THE 8-YEAR-OLD WITNESS - THE STORY SO FAR

6/11/2016

 
In recent days some excellent progress has been made in an often sterile investigation, with ever more avenues hitting blind alleys and dead ends. On June 2nd 2016, after repeated attempts, Alex Lewis [Welsh Chappie] was able to secure the release of a previously redacted FBI document under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The document was relevant to the brutal murder of Paul Stine at Presidio Heights on October 11th 1969. There were two sightings of the Zodiac Killer that night by [1] The three teenagers who observed Zodiac in and around the taxicab from a residence across the street and [2] Officer Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms, two patrolmen traveling westward on Jackson Street. From these a description and composite sketch of the killer was generated. But a third sighting lay buried in the FBI Zodiac files, and it is this document that has created a further opening.      
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The document effectively reads "Xenophon Lusby Anthony, WMA, DOB 28th February 1931, Resides at 3218 Jackson Street, San Francisco. For Info Ident Division, San Francisco Police Department advised; 8 year old witness in murder of cab driver identified Anthony as possible subject in this matter". 

Of course this doesn't mean that the identified man is the Zodiac Killer, because all we know is that the 8-year-old witness named this subject. The Zodiac Killer exited the taxicab, headed north up Cherry Street and turned eastward along Jackson Street. 3218 Jackson Street is situated five and a half blocks from the intersection of Jackson and Cherry Street, between Walnut Street and Presidio Avenue, approximately 12 minutes walking time from the crime scene.

​The next task is to examine the wording on the document. Does "witness in murder of cab driver" mean that the witness was close to the murder scene in progress, or simply a witness relating to the murder of Paul Stine. It depends how you interpret the phraseology. The closer the 8-year-old witness was to the corner of Washington and Cherry Street and the taxicab itself, the more relevant this information becomes. A sighting of a man walking somewhere on Jackson Street around the relevant time period may be important, but an identification near to the crime scene, particularly around 9:55-10:00 pm that night is far more substantial.
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The logical place to investigate this further, would be the residence closest and directly overlooking the taxicab crime scene -that of 3898 Washington Street. Had the 8-year-old observed the crime from here, then the child was likely only a matter of 20 to 30 feet away, adding credence to the sighting. This can be achieved by crossing residence records with ancestry, to find out if an 8-year-old child was resident at this address on October 11th 1969. This was suggested to Dave Oranchak of Zodiackillerciphers.com, who then took the baton and did an excellent internet investigation to unearth some very interesting details. 

Picture3898 Washington Street. Click photograph to enter Google Maps.
The occupant of 3898 Washington Street had four children, but the question was, were any of these children 8 years of age on October 11th 1969. ​There was one, a male born on August 4th 1961, aged 8 years and 2 months at the time of the Paul Stine murder. But was he looking out of his window on that fateful night, or indeed, was he the 8-year-old witness mentioned in the FBI document? This has yet to be determined, nevertheless, it provides a tantalizing prospect.

This named subject in the document cannot be concretely linked to the Zodiac Killer story, only that Xenophon Lusby Anthony was named in the unredacted FBI document.

What we do know however, is​ that the 8-year-old child was mentioned as a witness in the murder of Paul Stine and had to be reasonably close to the subject to confidently identify him shortly after the crime. But what the subject was doing and where he was, is totally dependent on the address of the 8-year-old, or whether the identification was correct. 
​
Thanks to Alex Lewis and Dave Oranchak.

​


​To further discuss this subject visit;
http://www.zodiacciphers.com/welsh-chappie---zodiac-news/eight-year-old-witness-identified-name-release​
​
http://www.zodiackillersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=3080​  

THE 8-YEAR-OLD WITNESS - NAME RELEASED

6/8/2016

 
Intrepid Zodiac researcher Alex Lewis aka Welsh Chappie, after dogged persistence, has managed via the Freedom of Information Act to secure the release of a name, detailed as a possible suspect in the murder of taxicab driver Paul Stine on October 11th 1969 in the Presidio Heights district of San Francisco. The man was observed walking in the area shortly after the crime by an 8-year-old child, which until now, the identity of this person has remained a mystery. To examine the released document, name of the man observed and join the discussion, please visit the Welsh Chappie Zodiac blog page here:
www.zodiacciphers.com/welsh-chappie---zodiac-news/eight-year-old-witness-identified-name-release
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