FBI FILES: THE ZODIAC KILLER, SLA AND KENNEDY THREATS

9/29/2019

The Zodiac Killer disappeared sometime in 1971, only to reappear on February 3rd 1974 and mail the SLA Letter to the San Francisco Chronicle the day before the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapped media heiress, Patricia Campbell Hearst on February 4th. Remarkable timing from the Bay Area murderer. Not only that, but seven days later on February 10th 1974, the real Symbionese Liberation Army sent a communication targeting the Hearst Family that was intercepted at the Burlingame, California, U.S. Postal Annex, addressed to Santa Inez Avenue in Hillsborough. This too began with the wording "Dear" and signed off with "a friend". Both were withheld from the newspapers. This casts huge doubt on the Zodiac Killer being responsible for the SLA correspondence, unless you are of the opinion that the Zodiac Killer typed up the February 10th 1974 communication.

With much gratitude to Rubislaw32, a regular contributor to this site, another communication has been unearthed from the Symbionese Liberation Army Hearnap Files. This picture postcard (shown below) was mailed to Richard Nixon and the White House, postmarked 974 PM 23 MAY 1974. It read "Dear King, We know where Patty Hearst is but wait till we get your daughter. A concerned citizen for freedom." The writing is extremely scattergun, exhibiting some similarities to the April 30th 1967 Bates' letters, but just like the SLA Letter, the timing of this postcard with respect to the Badlands or Citizen Card (purportedly mailed by Zodiac) is again relevant.

The Citizen Card was mailed on May 8th 1974, so this postcard was sent approximately 15 days later. The Citizen Card read in part "Why don't you show some concern for public sensibilities and cut the ad? A citizen". The Zodiac Killer supposedly wrote the SLA Letter on February 3rd 1974, beginning the correspondence with "Dear* and signing it off with "a friend", which was mimicked by the Symbionese Liberation Army on February 10th 1974, who also began their communication with "Dear" and signed off with "a friend". Then came the supposed Zodiac Citizen Card on May 8th 1974 expressing "concern" for public sensibilities and signing off with "a citizen", which was seemingly again mimicked by the Symbionese Liberation Army on May 23rd 1974, beginning their communication with "Dear" and signing off with "a concerned citizen". Two consecutive communications accredited to the Zodiac Killer bearing an uncanny similarity to two Symbionese Liberation Army communications, separated by only 7 and 15 days. Do the math. Either the Zodiac Killer didn't write the February 3rd and May 8th communications, or the Zodiac Killer was getting in on the act of writing to the Hearst Family on February 10th 1974 and making threats to President Richard Nixon on May 23rd 1974.

The Zodiac Killer was linked to the Riverside murder of Cheri Jo Bates on October 30th 1966, as well as the Riverside Desktop Poem, Confession Letter and Bates' letters. The Riverside Desktop Poem threatened murder and pronounced "Wait till next time", while one of the Bates' letters addressed the father of Cheri Jo Bates and threatened "She had to die, there will be more". The Richard Nixon Postcard contained elements of both, with the scruffy capitalized writing below evident in the Bates' letters.

Postcard Image: McKenzie River, Oregon with Three Sisters in the background

Color version of postcard

A series of 5 letters were mailed to Edward Kennedy, Joseph P. Kennedy, Ethel Kennedy and Adlai Stevenson in the June and July of 1968 with various threats - but bearing in mind the Richard Nixon Postcard above and the initial comparison to the Bates' letters - these threats contained one particular correspondence that mimicked the trinity of Bates' letter, when a communication was addressed to Edward M. Kennedy in June of 1968, just over one year later (see below). It stated "Jack had to die. Bobby had to die. Teddy has to die". The Riverside communications thrice stated Bates "had to die".

In a second letter postmarked Boston, Mass on June 29th 1968 to Edward M. Kennedy, it stated "You will die if you run for Pres or VP. We hate Kennedys".

Here we have a selection of communications purportedly from the Zodiac Killer, Symbionese Liberation Army and a third person mailing threats to officialdom and presidential candidates. But which communications belong to which? Did the Zodiac Killer really return in 1974 and fire off four correspondences to the San Francisco Chronicle, or were all or some mailed by the Symbionese Liberation Army? Did the threat on "goverment life" in the December 16th 1969 Faifield Letter begin one year earlier with the Kennedy communications, thereby bridging the gap between Riverside and the Bay Area? I shall let you decide.

A big thanks to Rubislaw32 with his help in finding valuable communications in the Hearnap and Kennedy FBI files. Without his assistance, this article would not have been possible.

51 Comments

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 05:58:45 am

Thanks Richard....and nice to see these potential gems,up as an exclusive,at your site.

Much here to examine and scour.

The extreme left-hand side of the postcard,becomes more apparent,when the original is viewed,and appears to serve as a reminder of the Halloween Card.

Just one such initial observation,of what seems like many.

It will be interesting to see what your readers and regular contributors,''see'' for themselves.

Richard

9/29/2019 06:23:26 am

Have you found the original Rubislaw, that would be really helpful.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 07:02:16 am

Yes,I allude to it,in the ''Marauder'' comments.

It's yours,if you want it,Richard.

Richard

9/29/2019 08:07:40 am

If you send it me or link where it's on the internet, I could place it alongside the Nixon photocopy above Rubislaw.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 06:19:09 am

.....and just to catch those,who take an interest,in these sorts of specimens.....The Ted Kennedy FBI File 9,might find oneself in ''Zodiac heaven''

Within the context of what is being examined,Page 8 and Page 19,from that File 9,alone.....possess ''wings that might fly'' .

Richard

9/29/2019 08:11:12 am

They certainly went to town on him in all those newspaper cuttings - some you had to laugh at.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 08:33:13 am

Yes...it's just that ''Goverment'' gets me everytime [page 19].

Though I don't suppose the Zodiac will have been the first to misspell ''Government''.

Richard

9/29/2019 09:36:53 am

Unfortunately that is a common error, but still noteworthy Rubislaw.

Richard

9/29/2019 10:09:43 am

McKenzie River, Oregon with Three Sisters in the background.

The Three Sisters are closely spaced volcanic peaks in the U.S. state of Oregon. They are part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Cascade Range in western North America extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. Each more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in elevation, they are the third-, fourth- and fifth-highest peaks in Oregon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sisters_(Oregon)

Richard

9/29/2019 10:15:06 am

Found the postcard

Richard

9/29/2019 10:19:25 am

Placed it above Rubislaw.

Richard

9/29/2019 10:56:39 am

The two newcomers ordered beers and took an empty corner table. William Harris, a short, muscular ex-Marine lance corporal better known as General Teko of the Symbionese Liberation Army, had requested a rendezvous to say farewell to Patty Hearst. But his kidnap victim-turned-comrade was absent. She held too many regrets and harbored too much bitterness for any final courtesies. She never wanted to see Harris again.

Instead, Steve Soliah had come, as her boyfriend and surrogate. “We’re leaving town,” he told Harris. “We’ll be gone by the end of the month. Probably drive to Oregon, get some new IDs from a friend of mine there, and then we’re headed back east.”

James William Kilgore (born July 30, 1947) is a research scholar at the University of Illinois,[2] who was involved with the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), an American left-wing terrorist organization. Born July 30, 1947 Portland, Oregon

Richard

9/29/2019 11:06:05 am

On April 29, 1974, Nixon announced he would release edited transcripts of White House tapes (which contained recordings of his conversations with staffers). In late July, just before the House Judiciary Committee voted to recommend the first article of impeachment, the United States Supreme Court decided unanimously that all subpoenaed materials should be given to the federal district court. Finally, the straw that broke the camel’s back: On August 5, 1974, the White House released an undisclosed tape from days after the break-in that caught Nixon talking to his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, about how to bar the FBI from investigating Watergate further.

https://www.theatlantic.com/letters/archive/2018/09/nixon-watergate-letters/568771/

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 02:05:48 pm

One can get bogged down,inanalysing handwriting,when we know that none of us are so called experts.

But,for instance,check out the ''Y'' in ''Pennsylvania'' on the postcard....and compare it to the ''V'' in ''VP'' [,,,vice-president..],on the note '' You will die....''.

A bit ''eerie'',and six years apart.

I always feel that the Zodiac,started as a ''harmless'' hoax letter writer,in his teens,with the his first typewriter,that he had begged his parents to buy him.

Then,he started to develope handwriting ''styles'',which became part of his ''cannon''....with his ''hoaxing'',becoming more daring,in order to give him greater thrills.

Then...all this ''hobby'',came together,for much more nefarious purposes,when real grudges started to bite,in his life into adulthood.

Richard

9/29/2019 02:35:07 pm

Certainly a similarity Rubislaw, but like you said it's extremely difficult to compare random letters when we are not really qualified to do so. What we do know is 974 is Oregon zip code, where the centre is Eugene. So, it's like the author lived in Oregon or travelled there and picked up the card while visiting, since it depicts Oregon's Three Sisters. All we needed really was a few eyes peeking out of the trunk (like you mentioned earlier regarding the Halloween card). Had that been the case, I might have conceded it was Zodiac.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 02:57:05 pm

Oh yes...you noticed about the tree trunk,Richard [?].Quite a coincidence.This picture postcard is not so dissimilar to others,in composition.....''apart'' from having something ''substantial'',in the foreground....and in this case,a tree trunk.Just a coincidence of the purchaser's choosing,perhaps [?].

Naturally,the Oregon link to that postcard,drums up a few thoughts,with ''D.B.Cooper''...and the North Hollywood Hoaxer,with his ''suspected'' Oregon licence plate....among them.

That postcard came out of the ''Hearnap'' files...and yet,who among real SLA sympathisers,would take it upon themselves,and purchase a picture postcard,threatening the President's daughter [?].

The author ''had'' to be an ''outsider''...a ''joker''....someone with no real allegiance to the serious cause,that ''bona fide'' members carried.

''Someone'' like the Zodiac.perhaps.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 03:14:46 pm

And yes...the Ted Kennedy Files,with File 9,a good example.

We seem to observe,the most extraordinary outpouring of hate and revulsion,by one extortionist....who,although directing this ''venom'' at all the Kenedys,seems to constantly hark back,to that which underpins,his [...the extortionist's...] whole reason for his ''industry of hate'',in the first place....

This being the accusations levelled at Ted Kennedy,for leaving a Kennedy camp worker,Mary Jo K,to drown.....after a party,where no ''wives'' were invited.

At the very least,I suggest,it is ''abandonment of a woman in need'',which is at the heart of this.

If the Zodiac..perhaps ''deep seated'' clues emerging,to his ''core'' motive [?].

Richard

9/29/2019 03:21:09 pm

On May 20th 1974, three days prior to the Richard Nixon White House threat, FBI received an anonymous phone call from a male stating that he had observed two individuals that closely resembled William T. Harris and his wife, Emily Harris (two SLA members) in a white Ford panel truck by 5400 block of Mac Arthur Boulevard, Washington D.C. 5400 block on Mac Arthur Boulevard is only 5 miles from the White House lawn. At its most eastern edge, Mac Arthur Boulevard is only 2.2 miles from the White House (as the crow flies). I normally wouldn't pay much attention to anonymous calls, but bearing in mind that threatening Nixon letter only three days after the sighting of SLA members on the verge of the White House lawn, is certainly an interesting correlation. When the observer was clocked staring at them, they abandoned their position outside a liquor store and drove off. Hearnap 4, page 19.

Richard

9/29/2019 03:22:04 pm

Here is a map showing proximity

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+White+House,+1600+Pennsylvania+Ave+NW,+Washington,+DC+20500,+USA/Mac+Arthur+Blvd+NW,+Washington,+DC+20016,+USA/@38.8946399,-77.0607032,12.75z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b7bce1485b19:0x9fc7bf09fd5d9daf!2m2!1d-77.0365739!2d38.8976633!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b5fdda36f431:0x78577d7ebecdd220!2m2!1d-77.104606!2d38.9289624!3e0

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 04:09:43 pm

Sounds a fascinating story,and shall look it up.Thanks.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 07:32:56 pm

Just on ''up to the minute news'' Richard.

A 1970's Burger Chief promotional hoax has emerged at zodiackiller.com ....and posted by ''one'' Balloon Captain 66.

This,thanks to the diligent Zodiac internet contributor,'' Blaise Starr ''.

The ''Greetings from Ireland'' hoax was allowed ''anonymous'' posting,at zodiackillermystery.freeforums,net [....albeit,''one'' Balloon Captain 66 ...],on account of the ''public'' nature of that site.

However,the site manager and owner of zodiackiller,com ,is presumed to have control of his membership....and appears to have allowed ''a'' Balloon Captain 66,membership.

This action might be considered,mere ''horse play'',but for the fact that the Burger Chief promotion,harks back to 1978,when 4 Burger Chief employees were abducted and murdered,In Indiana.

Sadly,that makes this recent hoax,one of potentially serious extortion....and I see no option,other than to inform the appropriate authorities,again.

If anyone from zodiackiller,com happens to be reading this...could they inform Mr.Voigt,that he has 24 hours to sort out his back yard [?].

I have posted,similarly,elsewhere.

Thank you,Richard.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/29/2019 10:32:47 pm

I've just had another look,at the Burger Chef promotion hoax.

Whoever is responsible,is ''very sick'' indeed.

Refer : ''something else ?'' thread,at zodiackiller.com

Refer : Burger Chef murders at Wiki

''Someone'' seems hellbent on more trouble,with the law [?].

SpartyWilly

9/29/2019 11:35:11 pm

Refer: Jackass

Rubislaw 32 link

9/30/2019 06:00:42 am

Well put,SpartyWilly.

I note that the poster ''Tom Voigt'',among a number of monikers,is presently employing the name ''Bayareaasshole'',also.

Surely,an insult to the good people of the Bay area [?].Given also,that the poster ''Tom Voigt'' acually hails from Portand,Oregon.

Richard

9/30/2019 03:23:19 am

You had Patricia Nixon and Julie Nixon, who were 28 years and 25 years respectively. The threat towards Richard Nixon's daughter could have been either or specific. Patricia Nixon was obviously the namesake of Patricia Hearst, so that could have been the inspiration behind the threat, using a parallel between the names. She lived in the suburbs of New York in 74. Julie Nixon grew up more in the public eye and during his administration she worked as Assistant Managing Editor of the The Saturday Evening Post while holding the unofficial title of "First Daughter."

It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely circulated and influential magazines for the American middle class, with fiction, non-fiction, cartoons and features that reached millions of homes every week. The magazine declined in readership through the 1960s, and in 1969 The Saturday Evening Post folded for two years before being revived as a quarterly publication with an emphasis on medical articles in 1971.

So my guess, is the postcard could have been directed at either. The namesake is the simplest - but to target either by scouting around the White House, would be logistically unrealistic and doomed to failure. If they were in Mac Arthur Boulevard, Washington D.C., then an attack in the nearby vicinity may have added validity to the impending postcard. But it was likely an idle threat with nothing to back it up. Unless they were just scouting the area for information. I wonder if any other threats were mailed and received in Washington D.C. about the same time as the postcard.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/30/2019 05:38:54 am

These are good points,Richard...and viewed by the authorities,one might think that the ''Patricia'' link,might ''nominate'' 'Tricia,specifically.

Of extra interest,perhaps....there is a possibility that the Zodiac might have ''liked'' Ike Eisenhower....with use of postage stamps,and extortionists,like the Ted Kennedy ''hater'',employing the ''I like Ike'' and refering to the ''no trouble'',with ''8 years of Ike''.

Well...Eisenhower's nephew.David,married 'Tricia.I'm just about to find out when,precisely.

Richard

9/30/2019 06:05:14 am

Here is Nixon's itinerary May 16 through May 31.

https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/virtuallibrary/documents/PDD/1974/124%20May%2016-31%201974.pdf

Richard

9/30/2019 06:14:55 am

May 9, 1974

House Judiciary Committee starts impeachment proceedings against Nixon.

Julie Nixon refuses to talk about Watergate Scandal.

May 23, 1974 threat.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/30/2019 06:37:19 am

This is good...and getting closer to reasoning why an extortionist [Zodiac [?]],might have been motivated to target Nixon,and piggy back ride,as an SLA sympathiser....at that specific time.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/30/2019 09:31:39 am

All a bit at ''6 and 7's'' Richard,today....with my cipher ''clinic'' for those who have been banned or deleted,by a certain Mr.Vogt,in the past.

But,did want to lay down a correction :

David Eisenhower,grandson of Dwight Eisenhower,married Julie Nixon,eldest daughter of Richard and Patricia Nixon,on December 22nd 1968.

So,unlikely to have anything to do with the Oregon postcard.

But,information that might crop up,at some point....a ''close fit'' to LHR,for example.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/30/2019 09:46:55 am

Tricia Nixon married Edward Cox,June 12th 1971.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/30/2019 12:04:44 pm

I think you have found,to all intents and purposes,the motivation,behind the Oregon postcard,Richard.

In April 1974,Nixon was forced to make public,some tapes,by a senate judiciary committee.So,by the time of the postcard,the public had heard the tapes,and an impeachment,was underway.

The extortionist was rubbing salt into Nixon's wound,by diverting his attention back to considerations,of his family.With considerations,by the public,at that time,for how Randolph Hearst might be affected,by his daughter's abduction,also.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/30/2019 12:30:44 pm

What were the Zodiac's work and home circumstances,at that time ?

It would depend on ''personal preferences'',with perhaps,suspects in mind.

Personally,I believe that he was no longer residing in the Bay area,and Vallejo,in particular.This,on the basis of him being involved in the Benicia Refinery construction project,which was over,by circa 1972.

Zodiac's home base,was Greater L.A.,in my mind,which gave him opportunities to do a lot of his ''passionate'' road cruising,at that first half of 1974 time.....and facilitate his extortion activities,by mailing correspondence,from seemingly random places.

And,assume additional roles,other than the Zodiac.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/30/2019 12:46:55 pm

Perhaps,the beginning of 1974 saw the Zodiac ''testing the waters'',with regard the sort of response he might receive,at decaring,or at least inferring,that he was back.

It does look likely though,that he met stiff resistance from the FBI's counter intelligence....who ''messed'' with his letters,''good and proper''.

Being other monikers,was less hassle [?].

Richard

9/30/2019 02:38:13 pm

You know my opinion on Zodiac returning in 1974 Rubislaw. I doubt we will ever agree on this one. Regardless, the 1974 is an extremely interesting addition to the story and worth considering. As for Zodiac living in Los Angeles and commuting in for his murders, I certainly wouldn't rule out. His perceived intelligence may have required a strategy of distancing himself from his murders.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/30/2019 05:45:00 pm

Interesting Richard.....and not sure that we are too far apart,on 1974 [?].

Is it just the Exorcist letter,for you ?

It think that the SLA could be fake....and ''A Citizen'' is a false signature added.''Jury'' a bit out,on the Count Marco letter....but do think that the Zodiac had had ''words '' with Marco,anticipating Marco would be as ''matey'' as Avery.

''Rejection'' was big with the Zodiac....as I believe will become apparent,if he is brought to justice.

Interesting also,with the known murders....those that were,in essence,planned....which is all but BRS....were done so,with a return to his primary home base,shortly afterwards...I believe.

So..that he wasn't around,in the immediate aftermath of police ''doing the rounds'' of general checking [?].

Richard

10/1/2019 02:07:24 pm

[1] On May 20th 1974, three days prior to the Richard Nixon White House threat, FBI received an anonymous phone call from a male stating that he had observed two individuals that closely resembled William T. Harris and his wife, Emily Harris (two SLA members) in a white Ford panel truck by 5400 block of Mac Arthur Boulevard, Washington D.C. 5400 block on Mac Arthur Boulevard is only 5 miles from the White House lawn. At its most eastern edge, Mac Arthur Boulevard is only 2.2 miles from the White House (as the crow flies). I normally wouldn't pay much attention to anonymous calls, but bearing in mind that threatening Nixon letter only three days after the sighting of SLA members on the verge of the White House lawn,

[2] May 27th 1974: A man while fishing observed one white male and two white females fishing on Crooked Creek, near Chppewa Bay, off Route 12, near Alexander Bay, New York State. He said they were sort of suspicious as they kept to themselves, but he had not thought much about it until he went home and read an article on the SLA. He felt the male he previously observed with the two women resembled Harris, as he had a moustache. Additionally, one of the females had short blond hair and generally fit the description of Hearst. They were fishing in an army coloured boat.

[3] May 29th 1974: A person while purchasing gas at a service station in Chesapeake, Va. observed an individual whom he thought was Patricia Hearst. He advised that the female was travelling with another white male and white female in a dark coloured automobile bearing Pennsylvania license plate. Described one male with moustache. Service Station attendant interviewed and recalled two w/f and two w/m who stated they were enroute home after camping at Nags Head North Carolina. He furnished the same description as the other guy, and recalled a vague resemblance to Patty Hearst and one of the white men to William Harris.

May 20th, 27th and 29th: with multiple possible sightings and all straddling across Washington D.C. The Richard Nixon threat May 23rd 1974. What was afoot on the east coast of America. Here is a map showing the relevant locations and their grouping. All sit on major routes.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Chesapeake,+VA,+USA/Chippewa+Bay,+NY+13646,+USA/Nags+Head,+NC,+USA/@42.7886403,-80.1761538,4.25z/data=!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x89baa57a802f6d99:0x4c7b1b1790710b79!2m2!1d-76.2874927!2d36.7682088!1m5!1m1!1s0x4ccd179df00f92bd:0xe9850e216424f3ae!2m2!1d-75.7569034!2d44.4420021!1m5!1m1!1s0x89a4e37f150554e7:0xf3e158c0a55f7781!2m2!1d-75.6240619!2d35.9573922!3e0

Rubislaw 32 link

10/1/2019 05:08:58 pm

Something extra,Richard,that has occurred to me.

We know that names/expressions,like ''A friend'',''A Citizen'' and ''Concerned Citizen''....were not too unusual,as ''comradery'' terms employed,at that time.

In addition,we know that the FBI's counter intelligence used those terms,in fabricating letters,to create disorder among subversive factions,they regarded as ''enemies of the state'' [...refer Black Extremist FBI files...].

Now...if,for example,the Zodiac was not responsible for the SLA letter and the ''Badlands'' letter.Or,he was responsible...but the FBI had played with,at least,the signatures,then.....

The Zodiac would have not been aware of the SLA or ''Badlands'' letters,as a ''public disclosure'',by May 23rd 1974.

The Zodiac ''might'' have,or only have,been aware of the ''Concened Citizen'' letter.....going back to 1969,as a possible term of reference that,the FBI had been playing with his letters.

Hence....the May 23rd 1974 postard,being signed ''A Concerned Citizen for Freedom ! ''....might have been the Zodiac,''playing'' on the term ''Concerned Citizen'',as a means of telling the FBI,that he had sussed the sort of tactics that they were up to....and ''doubling up'' with a ''cavalier'' threat to Nixon and his daughter.

Gob

10/1/2019 07:05:44 pm

This is good sleuthing. ZODIAC had to have sent that SLA card because it was sent on 2/3 & Patty wasn't kidnapped 'til 2/4/1974. You forgot another infamous crime letter that was signed "a friend" and that was in 1947 (transposing 1974) by the Black Dahlia Avenger. BDA sent that "werewolf" letter on 1/29/1947...ZODIAC sent a letter on 1/29/1974...the Exorcist Letter. He has a Mikado reference in the middle about a suicide and allegedly, the BDA killed himself at Venice beach in 3/1947. He left a letter saying he was doing the Dutch because he killed Dahlia. No body was ever found but his clothes and the letter stuffed in his shoe were found.

Hmmm...maybe ZODIAC was inspired by BDA? BDA taunted Hearst newspapers in 1947. Many believe that BDA also killed "The Flying Nurse" Jeanne French (who had the same surname as Elizabeth Short's San Diego pal Dorothy French) on 2/10/1947...The Hearst family letter (replete with misspellings like old ZODIAC!) was dated 2/10/1974...transposition again! Cheri Jo Bates' birthday also happened to be the day Patty Hearst was kidnapped on...but she was born in 1948.

So much in common...ZODIAC and BDA!

Rubislaw 32 link

10/1/2019 09:10:38 pm

Thanks for the tip,on possible links with the Black Dahlia Avenger,Gob.

BDA is someone I have yet to look at,in any detail.

Jack The Ripper,or at least,the extortionist using the Ripper's name,is someone,for whom,was a more than persuasive influence,on the Zodiac.

So indeed,BDA more than likely,another influence.

Someone else,who might be,is the [now] little known,''Jack Sheppard '' [ 1702 - 1724 ].Sheppard was a thief and Scallywag.with his particularly unusual penchant,for slashing his victims,after had robbed them....as a sort of ''marker'' left behind.He only failed to avoid the hangman,when an apple knife,concealed on him,broke,as he was being led to the gallows.

History may have all but forgotten him,but for a debut piece written about Sheppard,by a young journalist called Daniel Defoe....who went on to write ''Robinson Crusoe''

It seems apparent that the Zodiac certainly had an appetite for the ''Ripping Yarns'' genre,of old.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/1/2019 09:29:46 pm

.......yes,just checking...it was Jack Sheppard who was the influence for ''Macheath'',in the ''Beggar's Opera''.And hence,the derivation of ''Jack-knife'' in the song,''Mack the Knife''.

Roger

10/2/2019 08:21:02 pm

SLA probably could not have cared less if they had been mistakenly associated with the Zodiac. In fact if they had known about it, they probably would have enjoyed the thrill and notoriety of any such association. But evidently they were just as clueless as the public back then. Perhaps someone in the FBI may have wondered if the two were related, based on a vague similarity in handwriting. The whole idea that the Zodiac had given up his career as a deranged serial killer in order to become a SLA member seems rather far-fetched, but I guess anything is possible. One year he is "tit-willow" insane, sending spooky Halloween card to journalists, a few years later and he is robbing banks. The only consistent thing is the desire to commit acts of extortion. The 60s and 70s were turbulent times filled with all manner of crazy freaks following obscure causes. Not a lot of what happened back then makes much sense to people today. But still, I hesitate to believe in any such a connection because the Zodiac never professed to following any "causes". He was solely interested in killing and he could do that on his own. He did not need to operate as a member of a group in order to fulfill his fantasies, and we have no proof that he had mercenary inclinations. There is ample proof that Zodiac was a "lone wolf" psychopath. He would not have had any need for SLA or any other organization. His agenda was singular and simple: "to kill". Unlike SLA's aims and objectives, which were diverse and socially/politically complex.

Richard

10/3/2019 12:13:27 am

Couldn't agree more. There is no evidence linking Zodiac to the SLA, but there is very strong reasoning in the form of communications to question a Zodiac return in 1974. Even though the SLA killed Marcus Foster under a mistaken notion, or bystanders in a bank robbery failing to abide by instruction according to them, there is no evidence of wanting to target random boys, girls and children - and Zodiac is not a good fit for SLA ideals.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/3/2019 04:01:43 am

I see that the 2011 Halloween Card,to Robert Graysmith,is receiving air time at zodiackillersite again,Richard.

I had not realized that,it was so relatively recent [2011].Does anyone know the circumstances,by which,Robert Graysmith...or indeed the FBI,released the card,into the public domain ?

It seems that its release,came only two years after Graysmith received.

Looking at it again,I am personally convinced of its authenticity.There is one sheet,devoted to Count Marco.It is the ''Marco'' part,which gives suspicion to ''female input''....but believe,to be the presumed Zodiac's imagination,at work.

The handwriting and elements of what the author conveys resonates with me.Anyone else,have opinions on this Halloween card ?

Richard

10/3/2019 06:37:21 am

I have believed for a long time the July 8th 1974 letter was authored by a woman, with an outside chance of the Confession Letter also. I'm not convinced Zodiac was alive in 2011, so ascertaining its authenticity is practically impossible. If the handwriting matched it would be argued as a copycat, and if the handwriting looked totally different it would be equally argued as a poor copycat and dismissed. I don't suppose you can win either way with handwriting, especially after 42 years. I highly doubt Zodiac wrote it, but stranger things have happened.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/3/2019 07:30:10 am

Thanks...I just wonder how it ''materialized'',since there appears to have been no comment,from Graysmith,himself.

Perhaps a bit cynical of me to say,but....I do notice that some of the ''later'' unconfirmed correspondences seem to receive less attention,on account of those that more usually ''pour over'' any potential correspondence....tend to have suspects who,are either dead or in prison,by then [?].

Rubislaw 32 link

10/3/2019 09:55:23 am

Further information :

On November 1st 2011,crime reporter for the SF Chronicle,Kevin Fagan,invited Zodiac internet contributors,Sandy Betts and Zamantha,for lunch at the newspaper's offices.

[....so,a public relations exercise...]

It was on that day,that Ms.Betts and ''Zamantha'' received a copy of Robert Graysmith's Halloween Card,with three extra sheets of handwriting.

This correspondence was mailed on October 27th 2010,from San Bernardino,which is about six miles from Riverside.

Hence,the inferred intention,of the sender,''might'' be,to mark the 40th anniversary of the Zodiac's Halloween Card,sent to Paul Avery.

Again,and as in the case of the 2001 New Years Card...no extra information,forthcoming,from Mr.Fagan,who is also an employee of The Hearst Corporation.

Roger

10/3/2019 04:15:35 pm

Any copies of the 2010 letter online Rubislaw? I tried Googling, but found nothing.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/3/2019 04:28:47 pm

Yes Roger....just look up ''Another possible Z communication'',at the top of the ''New Topic'' section of Unconfirmed letters,at zodiackillersite .

Or,''Sandy's section'',at zodiackillermystery.freeforums.net

A lot there,to read through,and consider.

Roger

10/3/2019 05:27:19 pm

Thanks Rubislaw. Found it!

My first thought is someone mentally ill and/or someone who is just trying to play mind games with Graysmith.

As the old saying goes, "If you plant trees, don't be surprised when the rest of nature follows."

Rubislaw 32 link

10/3/2019 06:25:09 pm

Yes,and interesting collection of thoughts in those pieces,Roger....and am going to study them a bit more,now.

My first impressions are,of no real anger or resentment...certainly ''reflective''.One almost feels that Graysmith was a substitute for Avery,for the writer [?].But now,a possible Zodiac is acknowledging Graysmith's part,in light of his diaries,which ''elevated'' interest in the case.

Of further interest,perhaps is,that Paul Avery died,December 10th 2000.And then,just three weeks later,came the [now] purported 2001 New Years Card.

It has never really struck me,that those pieces,that constitute Graysmith's Halloween card,are by the hand of a woman.And,Ms.Betts is adamant that they are from a male Zodiac.

FBI FILES: THE ZODIAC KILLER, SLA AND KENNEDY THREATS

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