There were 9 entry wounds and 7 exit wounds to the body of Darlene Ferrin noted at autopsy. There were 2 bullets recovered from her torso at autopsy. The right arm has 2 entry wounds; one is 5 and 1/2 inches above elbow on right lateral side, fracturing the humerus shaft and exiting anteriorly and medially 1 and 1/4 inches distal to the elbow. The second entry wound to the right arm is behind the forearm, 3 and 1/2 inches above the wrist (exiting opposite side).
The left arm has two entry wounds; one is medially located in the upper arm, 3 and 1/4 inches above the elbow and exiting the opposite side. The second entry wound is located medially on the forearm, 2 inches above the wrist, fracturing the radial and ulnar bones, and exiting above and laterally at 3 inches above the wrist.
The left arm has two entry wounds; one is medially located in the upper arm, 3 and 1/4 inches above the elbow and exiting the opposite side. The second entry wound is located medially on the forearm, 2 inches above the wrist, fracturing the radial and ulnar bones, and exiting above and laterally at 3 inches above the wrist.
[1] Bullet passes through posterior margin of the 12th thoracic vertebra, the liver and stomach, and exits body through left rib #8 on left mid-axillary. line.
[2] Bullet passes through posterior margin of the 10th/11th thoracic vertebrae, the liver and spleen, and is recovered at autopsy in the medial margin of left rib #9.
[3] Bullet passes through posterior axillary line of the 7th thoracic vertebra, right lung, left ventricle of heart, left lung, and exits body through left rib #7 near the mid-axillary line.
[4] Bullet passes through 4th rib, right lung, the anterior shaft of right 2nd rib, where it was recovered in the subcutaneous tissue at autopsy.
[5] Bullet passes through right shoulder, the anterior chest wall to the anterior margin of the sternum, level with 4th ribs, and exits the left side of the left breast, just above the nipple.
[2] Bullet passes through posterior margin of the 10th/11th thoracic vertebrae, the liver and spleen, and is recovered at autopsy in the medial margin of left rib #9.
[3] Bullet passes through posterior axillary line of the 7th thoracic vertebra, right lung, left ventricle of heart, left lung, and exits body through left rib #7 near the mid-axillary line.
[4] Bullet passes through 4th rib, right lung, the anterior shaft of right 2nd rib, where it was recovered in the subcutaneous tissue at autopsy.
[5] Bullet passes through right shoulder, the anterior chest wall to the anterior margin of the sternum, level with 4th ribs, and exits the left side of the left breast, just above the nipple.
Bearing in mind Michael Mageau was shot 4 times (and had 4 entry wounds), many have asked why did Darlene Ferrin have 9 entry wounds, when it is reasonable to conclude she should have had 5 entry wounds, due to 9 bullets being fired into the vehicle. The Corvair of Darlene Ferrin was in gear, the ignition switch was turned to "on", the handbrake was off, and her hands were possibly holding the steering wheel when the Zodiac Killer arrived at the passenger side window. There was an entry wound 3.5 inches above her right wrist and an entry wound 2 inches above her left wrist. If she had turned away at the point of receiving these injuries, with her right arm coming across her body, it isn't too difficult to understand how a second bullet would strike 5.5 inches above the right elbow, exit 1.25 inches distal to the right elbow and enter 3.25 inches above the elbow on her left arm. The 2 bullets fired towards her arms created 4 entry and 4 exit wounds. Her torso showed 5 entry wounds and 3 exit wounds. That is 9 entry and 7 exit wounds in total (as noted at autopsy). This shows that Darlene Ferrin was struck by 7 bullets, two of which passed through Michael Mageau into her. These bullets likely lost momentum and, as a result, remained in the body of Darlene Ferrin, as shown in the depiction. These can be observed as [2] and [4] in the diagram above.
If the first shot fired by the Zodiac Killer that morning (just past midnight) struck Darlene Ferrin's right and left wrist, she would have instinctively turned her right side away from the perpetrator, thereby exposing the "posterior axillary line" of her right torso (shown in the accompanying diagram). This explains why the 5 bullets that entered her right side, entered the posterior side of her trunk and right shoulder.
Michael Mageau was struck by 4 bullets. One was removed from his left thigh during surgery by Dr. Shirai. One bullet had exited his hip and was noted on the ground by his person when responding officers arrived at the crime scene. This had likely trapped in his clothing and fell to the floor when he exited the Corvair. The remaining 2 bullets exited his jaw and right shoulder (through skin), and struck Darlene Ferrin seated to his left. I suspect the bullet that struck Michael Mageau's right shoulder region was the bullet that created pathway [2] in the anatomy diagram above. While the one that struck his jaw region created pathway [4].
It cannot be claimed with certainty that Darlene Ferrin was targeted first that morning, but the coinciding bullet wounds to her right and left wrist, in addition to her vehicle being "primed" to drive away, could suggest an uneasiness in Darlene Ferrin caused by the approaching man at Blue Rock Springs. If the Zodiac Killer had suspected this, it would have made sense to target the driver first.
A WHISKER AWAY FROM ESCAPE
Michael Mageau was struck by 4 bullets. One was removed from his left thigh during surgery by Dr. Shirai. One bullet had exited his hip and was noted on the ground by his person when responding officers arrived at the crime scene. This had likely trapped in his clothing and fell to the floor when he exited the Corvair. The remaining 2 bullets exited his jaw and right shoulder (through skin), and struck Darlene Ferrin seated to his left. I suspect the bullet that struck Michael Mageau's right shoulder region was the bullet that created pathway [2] in the anatomy diagram above. While the one that struck his jaw region created pathway [4].
It cannot be claimed with certainty that Darlene Ferrin was targeted first that morning, but the coinciding bullet wounds to her right and left wrist, in addition to her vehicle being "primed" to drive away, could suggest an uneasiness in Darlene Ferrin caused by the approaching man at Blue Rock Springs. If the Zodiac Killer had suspected this, it would have made sense to target the driver first.
A WHISKER AWAY FROM ESCAPE
RSS Feed
