FIFTY YEARS UNSOLVED

12/18/2018

We are nearly upon the 50th anniversary of the brutal murder of David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen aside Lake Herman Road on December 20th 1968. This crime was not featured in the 2007 David Fincher movie 'Zodiac', primarily because nobody knows for sure exactly how the crime unfolded. The widely held narrative, is of a killer who pulled up alongside the Rambler of the courting couple, exited his vehicle, and fired at least two shots into the Rambler to force them out onto the turnout. He immediately proceeded to shoot David Faraday at near point blank range in the head, then fired five shots into the back of Betty Lou Jensen as she fled across the turnout in a westerly direction. He then got back in his vehicle and headed off into the night. Had the David Fincher movie shown this version, it would have been pure fiction.

James Owen was the last eyewitness before the murders and saw two vehicles parked alongside each other. He claimed "He did not see anyone in the cars or around them".
The only moving vehicle James Owen saw that night passed him by the Borges Ranch heading towards Vallejo. He saw no vehicle in front of him on Lake Herman Road as he traveled towards Benicia, and saw no vehicle entering the turnout from the other end as he headed towards it. He would have had an unobstructed view of the headlights and taillights of another vehicle amounting to at least 30 seconds traveling in either direction, before it entered the turnout. Therefore, when he passed the turnout, the vehicle parked only 10 feet to the right of the Rambler had been there for at least 30 seconds, but could have been sitting alongside the Rambler for a maximum of 8 minutes. This is explained in more detail in the article 'The Impasse on Lake Herman Road'.

The two raccoon hunters, Frank Gasser and Robert Connelly, exited the area at about 11:05 pm, with James Owen passing the turnout sometime between 11:10 and 11:14 pm, giving the Zodiac Killer a window of approximately 4-8 minutes to park in the turnout. The earlier he arrived, the longer his vehicle sat alongside the Rambler with no murder. The idea that the Zodiac Killer, having already forced the couple from the Rambler, then noticed James Owen approaching and hid David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen behind one of the vehicles, is extremely flawed. Why didn't James Owen hear the shots fired at the Rambler if he was close enough to the turnout for the Zodiac to notice him approaching? James Owen mentioned no doors open on either vehicle, and never saw "anyone in the cars or around them". This would leave the Zodiac Killer having to close both vehicle doors before James Owen arrived, and then reopen the Rambler door before he left, as this was how it was found by responding law enforcement. It would also require Zodiac 'escorting' the couple back to the original position they exited the Rambler, before shooting them - because this is where the bullet casings were grouped. It is these bullet casings that gave rise to the notion they were killed immediately upon exiting the vehicle.

How long the vehicle sat beside the Rambler before James Owen arrived is unknown. If it was a few minutes, then we have to question the whole narrative of a killer pulling alongside the Rambler, immediately exiting his vehicle, and firing upon the young couple.

James Owen may have noticed both vehicles, but failed to notice the occupants. This would again rely on both Zodiac doing nothing the moment he parked alongside the Rambler, and David Faraday doing nothing for at least 30 seconds, when an unknown vehicle parked just 10 feet to his right in a dark lonely turnout. This is not the picture painted for the last 50 years. Had both vehicles been parked next to each other for several minutes before James Owen arrived, could we conclude that David Faraday knew the occupant/s of the second vehicle and therefore wasn't initially alarmed? Or were David Faraday, Betty Lou Jensen and the occupant/s of the second vehicle even in the turnout at this point in time? Either way, the narrative of a Zodiac Killer immediately acting upon his arrival at the turnout doesn't hold water. The double murder at Lake Herman Road on December 20th 1968 will probably remain the most puzzling of all the four Zodiac attacks, testimony to the brutality shown that night, and ultimately beginning a search that hasn't ended nearly a half-century later.

Shawn

12/18/2018 02:42:51 pm

What sticks out to me with this crime is the certain death dealt by Zodiac.

At LHR he left no question he was out to kill Faraday with a shot to the head (behind the ear) and several shots in Mary Lou's back.

At BRS and LB he seem to not care if both died or not.

At PH he made a definitive Kill with a shot to the head (behind the ear), to close the book of confirmed killings.

Richard

12/18/2018 03:02:28 pm

Why get so close to Faraday when he had a pencil flashlight (according to him). He could easily have shot both from distance. Yes, he could easily have killed all his victims, but clearly they were just the conduit to publicity. The statement of "All I had to do was spray them as if it was a water hose; there was no need to use the gun sights", along with the contact wound to David Faraday has always made me wonder whether a second person was securing David Faraday - particularly because that bullet cannot be definitively linked to the other seven, and of course the missing casing. I've never advocated two killers, but it always leaves me unanswered questions.

KayElleSF

12/20/2018 11:44:23 pm

My feeling is that Zodiac pulled a robbery ruse on David and Betty Lou similar to what he did at Lake Berryessa. After commandeering both teenagers out of the car at gunpoint, Zodiac made them each turn around and face the vehicle promising not to hurt them if they gave up their valuables. While David was preoccupied with removing his ring, Zodiac took the opportunity to shoot him point blank from behind. That is why the ring was still in David's hand when he hit the ground. David didn't need restraining because he was attempting to comply with the "robber" so he and Betty Lou could get home safely.

Rubislaw 32 link

12/18/2018 03:44:12 pm

It's always intrigued me that David was found,with his gold ring,trapped between two fingers.

The more sentimental observers,have tended to suggest that,he was in the process of offering it,as an ''eternity'' gesture,to Betty Lou.

Unlikely [?].

It was the couple's first full date,and,from all accounts,preceding their use of the car park,David had just been in an altercation with an ex school associate,dealing marijuana at the Pancake House.

For which,David was nursing a punch,to his face.The inference,then,is that couple were using the car park,so that David,could ''cool off''.

Hardly,the ideal ''climate'' then,for David to make such a gesture,to Betty Lou [?].

The more likely scenario,I would suggest is,that David had elected to remove his ring....since he had already reasoned,that the ring,was the only thing of value,that he could offer ''Zodiac''.

This,perhaps,gives understanding,of the circumstances that David and Betty Lou,had found themselves in.....the declaration,by ''Zodiac'',that '' This is a robbery''.

KayElleSF

12/18/2018 04:59:15 pm

I wish Fincher had put Betty Lou and David in the film - even with the limited facts as we know them. We know that the couple were out with friends earlier that evening, we know that at LHR the two were sitting close to each other in the Rambler, we know that they were both shot in specific ways and we know that for a few tragic minutes, they lay dying alone in the blackness on that frigid gravely ground.

It's always been a sore spot with me that Fincher's "Zodiac" began with BRS. There are still questions about the details of exactly how Paul Stine was killed, yet the director felt comfortable filling in the gaps there. I'm confident that Fincher, in all his brilliance, could have figured out a way to include the first canonical Zodiac murders without compromising the facts of the case.

Betty Lou and David deserved better.

Rubislaw 32 link

12/19/2018 02:17:09 am

I certainly understand where you are coming from,on that viewpoint,KayElleSF.

An opening 5 minute segment of LHR,without any explanation,would have added intrigue,and ''darkness'',to the proceedings....with the viewer resolving its mystery,later on in the film.

But,all things considered,the Fincher film has been of benefit,to the profile of the case.Zodiac followers mostly,understand that,apart from a few semi-decent documentaries,Fincher's film is the only portrayal that can hold a light up to the case,with dignity.

Technically,Berryessa was Zodiac's first attack,in his ''role'' as the Zodiac.Perhaps that gave Fincher,the right to ''artistic licence'' [?].

The four attacks,involving the spillage of blood,hold equal importance in the case,and an ''outing'' of the Zodiac,in some shape or form,will at least,provide moral justice.

To-morrow will be a particularly poignant reminder,of these attacks,by a truly enigmatic criminal,with David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen,at the forefront,of our thoughts.

KayElleSF

12/19/2018 06:31:02 pm

Rubi, I love the film for the most part, and the opening sequences are some of the most dazzling in cinema history. Each of the murder scenes were crafted to perfection (for lack of a better word). I'm not crazy about how the film ventured off into a sort of surrealism but that's just me.

Maybe Fincher could have inserted Betty and David's experience later in the film as a sort of flashback. He could have spent a few minutes focused on their young lives and the days leading up to their deaths. To me, "Zodiac" will always seem unfinished for this reason, as amazing as it is.

And yes, we will never forget Betty Lou and David - two sweet kids just starting out their lives. I pray some day they (and all the victims) get the justice they deserve.

Rubislaw 32 link

12/20/2018 12:17:56 am

Yes KayElleSF,it was a pretty good ''stab'',from ''Hollywood'',in that they didn't mess it up,too much,with all their resources [?].

I thought its strengths,were the relationships,between Toschi and Armstrong...and the one between,Graysmith and Avery.

But,it did tail off,a bit,with Graysmith's pursuit of ALA [?].

At the end,Graysmith's reasoning,for ALA's guilt,was ''woeful''...and even Toschi,was no longer convinced [!].

Didn't anyone tell Graysmith that the FBI and CA DOJ,had already established ALA's innocence,by 2003 [?].

At least ''we'',the public,got the ''Eureka'' card,out of it,as a symbolic gesture,by the authorities,to thank ''Hollywood''.

The SF Chronicle offices....a ''broom cupboard'',unearthing the little gem,of a Christmas card,to ''Secret Pal'' ??

''Pull the other one - its got bells attached''.

Judith

12/19/2018 07:09:06 am

These poor kids. Lake Herman Road is where Zodiac begins. We have to take into consideration all possibilities including that Zodiac could have been hunting in the field that night with his vehicle parked elsewhere. Close range killing Shows an emotional attachment to the person murdered. Lots of various possibilities here. Eyewitness testimony is frequently flawed as in what James Owens tells us. Furthermore he was moving along the road when he passed the scene making it even more difficult to correctly identify what was going on. With regards to different ballistics, I frequently saw Peter carrying more than one weapon on his person. Lake Herman Road offers the Perfect Crime no fingerprints no DNA no eyewitnesses no tire tracks.It almost seems like someone who is knowledgeable on police techniques killed these kids. We would never have known who did this except for that Zodiac took credit for it in his letters to the newspapers.
What a sad and cold and horrid night for all those involved. Merry Christmas.

Rubislaw 32 link

12/19/2018 06:11:03 pm

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the murders of David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen,Richard,I offer your readers ''Birthday greetings'',from a known Zodiac suspect,to ''A friend'',in celebration of his 55th birthday :

A note accompanying a book,about Albert Einstein :

'' I heard this was a smart guy,so I guess he had some good thoughts ! ! ''.

The Birthday card message :

''Try not to think about it.....and the speed limit is '55' ! ! !

I will be seeing you !

All the best . ''.

[...Generosity comes in all forms [?]....]

Carl Krash link

12/19/2018 09:27:20 pm

Possible the young couple was laying down entwined on the bench seat, 'heavy petting' as they used to say then, and so didn't hear or see the other car pull up beside them. Then when James Owen passes by, Zodiac ducks down in his seat, seeing his headlights approaching. For this reason it appears to Owen that no one is sitting in either car. After a minute or so, Z completely surprises the couple with the shots. Thinking that maybe it was someone (drug dealers perhaps) driving by shooting at them, they fix themselves up, exit the car to check, not realizing they're still in danger. And bang they are quickly dispatched by someone they barely have time to notice. May they rest in Peace.

Tom1

12/22/2018 01:03:55 pm

Very plausible scenario. Assuming that the Zman was familiar with the area and LHR, he may have been observing the turnout from a hiding spot and was not riding around hoping to run across possible victims. He could then pull in to the turnout when no other vehicles were traveling on the road and ambush the couple. Even at that the timeline is obviously very tight.

Richard

12/20/2018 12:02:36 pm

For this to have happened, we would have to assume Zodiac just pulled into the turnout before James Owen got a visual on it, then in the instant he parked alongside the couple he noticed James Owen coming along the road from behind him, and the couple didn't react to Zodiac's engine or headlights, they remained in the vehicle smooching oblivious to the vehicle parked 10 feet away for 30 seconds +, then after James Owen passed the turnout, Zodiac didn't fire at the vehicle and the couple remained oblivious to the other vehicle for a further 30 seconds until James Owen 'thought he heard a shot'. David Faraday according to Peggy Your reacted when her vehicle passed by placing his hands on the steering wheel, so we would have to state the case for David Faraday not reacting to a vehicle parked alongside for at least one minute until Zodiac started firing, in addition to not reacting to James Owen's vehicle illuminating the turnout either. While not impossible, there is a lot of explaining away to do in respect to three people in the turnout not doing anything for one minute at the least. If the unknown vehicle was there for several minutes you can but wonder.

12/20/2018 07:17:33 pm

On this 50 year Dali-day I will point out the fact that Richard has not only discovered this 13 moon-th connection
back over four years ago but has kept his powder dry for even longer. I think you are amazing. The patience demonstrated by you Richard is truly inspiring. Sincerely, I don't know how you put up with all the nonsense.
But, here it is 50 years and the only progress Ive witnessed is here on your site - Namely from you. Here is what I have learned in the year that I have followed the case. Should I dare to lay it all out there to see. I have given each suspect a fair shake. And I have found each one to have a lot of circumstantial evidence that made me take interest until the leads dried up and left me looking around for more. Klein, Sullivan, Plante, Allen, Grant, Tarrence, Houghton, LRH, and the Manson cults. All are suspicious. And of course this is just a few of the most popular. But the guy that I seem to keep coming back to is GSP. It seems that more Zodiologists have more to say about the Penn than any other guy.
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From Wikipedia
Gareth Sewell Penn (born 1941) is an American true crime author and amateur detective known for being among the first non-journalists to write about the Zodiac Killer case. He published a theory about the killer's motives, publicly accused a noted UC Berkeley public policy professor of the crimes, and labeled himself a one-time suspect.

Reviewing the 2007 David Fincher film Zodiac for the Las Vegas Weekly, Mike D'Angelo wrote, "I think the movie erred in selecting author Robert Graysmith as its source and nominal protagonist. Zodiac buffs know well that the true obsessive is a fellow named Gareth Penn.

Penn graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in Germanic languages and again in 1965 with a Master of Arts (MA) in Medieval Germanic languages. He received a Master of Library Science (MLS) from U.C. Berkeley in 1971.

In 1965, Penn entered the United States Army in Berlin, Germany and received basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He received artillery survey training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he became an Artillery Surveyor Instructor. He received the National Defense Service Medal and the designation of Expert Rifle Marksman. In 1967, Penn moved back to Berkeley, California, where he was transferred to the Army reserves. He was honorably discharged in 1971
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Sorry I haven't written, but I just washed my Penn.
The Penn light was a small flash light that he taped to the barrel of his pistol so that it would act as a crude Lazar on the target at night.
Is Gareth Penn The Zodiac Killer? YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNvZKdhuDXQ
Genius is an understatement. Is the Zodiac an evil genius.
Gareth Sewell Penn says he is. Penn is not only a member of the genius club Mensa.
He's also a member of the very secretive elite genius club "Prometheus" along with his friend Edward E. Rehmus June 1929 – March 2004. Both spoke fluent German. Penn was an avid member of these social clubs. The Sierra Club seems to be a possible club The Zodiac was a member of. It organizes outdoor adventures. As you told us Richard - Harvey Hines went out hiking and said " I learned the club was not called the Sierra Club. It was named the Claire Tappan Lodge and it was a private club for Sierra Club members only."

https://www.sierraclub.org/angeles/sierra-peaks/mountaineers-list

Mountain hikers are obsessed with "the peak". It is a triangle/eye of providence. The popular symbols for secret groups are eyes and triangles. Along with eyes symbolizing intelligence. Penn it seems has connections to groups, such as the I.Q. Club Mensa. The Seirra Club is perfect for outdoor types though. It provides a place for social meetings. GSP was an artillery surveyor in the army and had to do a lot of hiking. This seems to point to Gareth Sewell Penn DOB 1-1-1941 [1+1+1+9+4+1=17] His book is titled Times 17. The sign of the zodiac - Capricorn (Dec.23-Jan.20) is an earth sign symbolized by a Mountain Sea-Goat. Which is based on Enki, the Sumerian primordial god of wisdom and waters. He has the head and upper body of a mountain goat, and the lower body and tail of a fish. Most compatible are the water signs are Capricorns even though they are an earth sign.

OPORD Analytical Internal Research, Sources and Methods. This intelligence group unofficially discovered the Zodiac to be GSP in 2006 and finished the report and published June 11, 2007.
https://studylib.net/doc/8412276/to-the-pdf---zodiac-killer-records
The Christopher J Farmer's Theory on the Zodiac Killer is the most official yet non official answer we have so far. It is a 68 page report that names Gareth Penn as The Zodiac.

Penn fits the Profile and there are a lot of sites that get into his suspicious world. Penn is an expert in math and languages as the Zodiac would have to be. He postulated the radian theory, and he is a genius as the Zodiac wo

Rubislaw 32 link

12/21/2018 12:51:41 am

Thanks for keeping this site,''real'' and open,Richard.

At anniversaries,such as the 50th,of LHR,it is human nature to wonder what,other parts of the ''Zodiac community'' are discussing....for this subject matter,is our focus,and the sites are primarily designed for visual and open ''written chat''.

What do I find ?

More,and more,the predilection,to disguised observation,and opinion,and active encouragement to use newer ''tools'',to create ''inner sanctums'',within sites,that already provide a privacy to members.

The site where I regularly post,the members section is designed,only,to provide a facility,for ''private squabbling''.The ''goal'',always,is to make public,any new or uncovered information.

It is certainly sad to see that,potentially important new information,is seen as a ''commodity'',that can be used to benefit an individual's ''pocket'',or withheld by a few,who believe that it can bolster,their personal profile.

These individuals tend to be,of course,the ones whose pet theories were blown out of the water,a long time ago,and simply hang on to the wreckage of their guesses.

But no humility,in sight.Expressions like the ''DNA Exclusion Zone'',and ''I want him stopped - now ! '' come to mind,as declarations of self importance,from these ''self-chosen few''.

It is certainly sad to see....that they have lost the real plot.And,all that is left for them,is to keep their profile high,but hide from true engagement,and the bother,of sharing anything with newer sleuths.

Thanks again,for keeping it ''real''.

Rubislaw 32 link

12/21/2018 01:00:56 am

.....and may I add,''Hood and Garcia'' are finally on my radar,as victims,nine and ten,believing I have ''figgured it out''.I will,of course be sharing this,when I do....win,loose or draw.

Tom1

12/21/2018 06:51:51 am

I have been studying this case everyday for a year also. Richard has done a great job with this site, and I am forever gratefull for that. It is not his fault that I go to bed a little confused each night. I am an oulde, so there is a brain cell issue involved. Cheers everybody. I am off to shop for a Christmas present for the Boss.

Judith

12/21/2018 07:11:41 am

Put out the light and then put out the light.

I was hoping that last summer was going to be the summer of Justice on so many levels but it appears we had to suffer longer. I'm praying the new year will bring us news and finally some kind of resolution to the Zodiac mystery.
Thank you Richard for all you have done this year and giving me a space to express myself.

Peter Plante " I'll snuff you out like a bug". A bag full of Christmas threats.

zodiac was short and fat

12/21/2018 07:47:47 am

I tend to believe that the very name "zodaic" may have been borrowed from the Jewish term for the pagan enemies of the Jews in the pre-establishment of christianity Judea, when some groups of pagans of varrying descents had set in Judea and were known as "worshippers of stars and astrology", it seems plausible the zodiac was aware of the Hebrew calender as he attacked/murdered on Lake Berryessa on the first night of Sukkot.

Richard

12/21/2018 07:57:22 am

Thanks everybody for your support and generosity this year. It's sad to see another year tick over with little progress, particularly with the DNA possibilities reported in the newspapers back in May. That looks a little jaded right now, but we'll reconvene in the new year with renewed hope. I would like to wish everybody a great Christmas and Happy New Year. See you all soon. Richard.

Shawn

12/22/2018 06:14:39 am

"It's sad to see another year tick over with little progress,"

All the years of progress, little or great, will eventually add up to a final resolution of guilt. IMO

Would LE tell us if they have a viable DNA profile? Are they in the process checking Gedmatch with DNA they found? Is LE backtracking a genealogy match from the DNA of a great great grandfather found from a database? Who knows. LE?

Rubislaw 32 link

12/22/2018 07:46:19 pm

It will be all alright,in the end.The case will be resolved.

It's just a matter of when.And,this is completely in the hands of Departments of Justice.

But they are like ''Black Holes''.Any pertinent information,gets sucked in,and nothing gets ''spewed out'',until their ''say so''.And,this can take months and years.

Politicians give them the funding,and then are entirely dependent on their skills,to prosecute and convict criminals.

Police forces are largely answerable,to them,and often ''beholden'' to them also....particularly when those forces fail,to deliver,on evidence.

The case of the Zodiac Killer,certainly comes to mind [?].

All this ''gossip'' over the lack of DNA,and sufficient forensic evidence...is nonsense.Law Enforcement have sufficient direct evidence.And,they didn't need to go down the ''tenuous'' genealogy route,to find it.

But,they do need to construct a ''water tight'' prosecution,for judicial success.One whereby,a defence council,representing the Zodiac,will be inclined to ''throw in the towel''.

This could prove difficult.

I last contacted a politician,over this case,two years ago.It's time to go back.

Departments of Justice have no heart,nor soul.And,because they become adept,at answering to no one....manage to procure a ''God like'' sense of themselves.

''Public Servants'' officially.....but the reality is,that we the public,become servants to the Judiciary's needs.

More fool,''us'' ?

Time to find a politician,with no party allegiances.....and ''worth their salt''.

Could prove difficult.

Rubislaw 32 link

12/23/2018 01:35:23 am

And,if I may add,I already have the politician,in mind.

An ''ex-copper'',who has flitted between ''Independence'' and The Green Party.One who has sat on Justice Committees,for the last four years,largely ''bewildered'' at the mystifying prevarication,constituting a perceived ''cover up'',by the police and judiciary.

I intend to untangle that ''bewilderment'' for him,if he has the patience,to hear me out.

And,of course,part of the reason,Richard,that I am taking the liberty of using your site,to state this,is....

Because I hope that someone,from ''LE'' will read this,and understand,that they have taken me,to the ends of my limits.

''Moral Ransom'',naturally,another string in the Judiciary's bow of contemptible ''dirty tricks''.

My words.

Thank you,Richard.

Tom1

12/23/2018 06:00:54 am

The counter to that is that the case will be prosecuted at the local level. Every DA out there would love to bask in the glow of their “fifteen minutes of fame” by pressing charges in this matter.

Rubislaw 32 link

12/23/2018 07:20:12 am

Could be,Tom 1....but what I suspect is,that focus,at local level,will be on the ''Armada'' of private lawsuits,launched on an ''unsuspecting'' CA DOJ,by the families of the victims.Enough to keep the CA DOJ ''busy'',for another 50 years [?].

The ''glory'' will be hijacked,at Federal level.Even the President,himself,might see it as a fortuitous ''opportunity''.

Tom1

12/23/2018 04:33:25 pm

Rubi, I am pretty well versed in legal and political matters. On what grounds could the victims families sue the DOJ?Help me out on this.
Thanks again, TM

Rubislaw 32 link

12/23/2018 05:45:58 pm

Well Tom1,and perhaps expressing as a generalisation....the sheer litany of mistakes made,and can be identified,that could have stopped the Zodiac,in his tracks.

Not least,what exactly have ''official investigations'' been up to,since 2003.The inference of procrastination,and pacing out ''time'',on the case.

This,I suggest,will include post Bay Area crimes,for it appears unlikely that ''Bay Area'' was the end of the ''Zodiac's'' murderous ways.Not though,in a ''continuous'' sense,for he was a ''stop,start'' killer,with 1968/1969,one such ''stream'' of activity.

As far as I am able to see,the best chance of an initial conviction,is from a later crime....and possibly,only one murder,in particular.This certainly looks like the strategy,for the ''house of cards'',to collapse.

But,once the whole truth starts to emerge,then the lawyers will appear,eager to make a name for themselves,and happy to work on a ''pro rata'' percentage basis.

Judith

12/23/2018 07:10:56 pm

Speaking of local jurisdictions solving this case, I just read on Tom Voigt's site, a reference to a UPI article, 50 years since the zodiac. Apparently there was a slip-up And the reporter has stated that Sacramento County turned in Zodiac DNA to GEDmatch. Says results are pending. Much flailing about insued. Article is stating that it is from a crime scene however Tom Voigt is now mentioning the confirmation of a Zodiac DMV letter as well. So let us face it, law enforcement has withheld information about these murders for 50 years now. It may finally be something that will help solve this case. They're intimating this is confirmed Zodiac crime scene DNA. Out of Sacramento.

Richard

12/24/2018 06:39:29 am

Sorry Rex, for some unknown reason your message went into spam in my inbox. ie: "Vallejo Police Detective Terry Poyser said his team has resubmitted two Zodiac envelopes to a lab for new analysis, hoping to test the results against an expanded pool of samples used in genealogy research. Sacramento County investigators also submitted a DNA sample from one of the crimes to GEDmatch, a public database of genetic genealogy people use to track down blood relatives".

The article seems like a regurgitation of previous articles with numerous errors. Sacramento featured in many of the FBI files regarding evidence and documents in the Zodiac case, so I don't believe there is any direct correlation regarding Sacramento to the DNA from a crime perspective, such as Bennallack. The DNA topic regarding Zodiac featured heavily in the newspapers last May, but according with the facts, began in 2017 before the GSK affair. We are therefore looking at more than a year to identify viable DNA, magnify it and cross check for familial links. I cannot understand why such a process would require 12 months or more to facilitate such a process. The crime, I'm guessing, they are stating produced DNA, would have to logically be the bindings at Berryessa, a well trodden path. Unfortunately, too much time has elapsed since last year for me to now consider any likelihood that they found any viable DNA, and tend to fall on the side of Mike Rodelli, that they simply cannot generate a viable sample. Why does it take a year to swab a viable DNA sample, implement PCR to magnify the sample and run it through an open source genealogy website. The first two steps are simple tasks (if DNA exists), and although the hard work begins during the lineage/family tree exploration, is it reasonable to believe this process takes a year. I couldn't say for certain, but I have rather given up hope regarding any reasonable expectation of a conclusion to this case.

Rubislaw 32 link

12/24/2018 10:35:12 am

Certainly understandable,Richard....your scepticism over this whole ''DNA business''.

But,that would be allowing,for us to take Mr.Voigt's best friend,and ''VPD's finest'',Terry Poyser's word,as ''Gospel''.

It's a load of ''manure'',not even fortified by the Zodiac's favoured choice of fertiliser,and essential ingredient of Fireworks,''Magnesium Nitrate'' [ Mag.N ].

''Dig it'' [?].

Perhaps one question,with all respect.to your readers :

''What is it,that ties the four Bay Area blood letting attacks together,officially ? ''

A piece of string ?

Flippancy apart,their are good reasons,to be cheerful.

I am about to post a ''new found'' solution to,the ''My name is ---'' cipher,at ''ZKM''.

And with it,an uncovered ''extra'' title,for the Zodiac :

'' Hijo del Grande Califa'' - '' Son of the Mighty Caliph ''.

Everything is coming up roses....and,with additional ''Magnesium Nitrate''.

A Merry Christmas,to you all.

Richard

12/24/2018 12:24:15 pm

The only tenuous link between the four attacks we often see argued are the letters or should I say handwriting, which can be circumvented by a whole host of different propositions, regardless of handwriting subjectivity. Nobody can unequivocally tie all four crimes together on the evidence we have available, however, a cogent argument can be made for them being connected. The claims made by a certain individual of a hoax is easily debunked using his own words - but the problem with the conspiracy theorist, is it's an ever evolving story. When you debunk an argument, it will often metamorphosize around the roadblock. That is why, if DNA is found on the July 31st letters and excludes certain suspects, which is more likely [A] The person says I was wrong and so was my entire book, or [2] I shall attempt to make a case to circumnavigate the DNA to keep my suspect in the frame. Not everybody, but I hazard a guess, most will opt for [2]. There is no way to 100% claim the four crimes are connected, but this is neither evidence that they weren't, nor evidence they were a hoax. The inability to connect them definitively is not possible, however, we could argue the preponderance of the evidence points that way as opposed to the contrary. I tend to believe the four canonical crimes are Zodiac, but certainly wouldn't close the book on an alternative, just not the elaborate multi- conspiratorial hoax instigated by numerous perpetrators through several jurisdictions.

Carl Karas link

12/24/2018 01:08:41 pm

If the letters are the solid link between the 4 canonical crimes as you say Richard then the entire proof that it's all the work of Zodiac rests with a single piece of evidence: the bloody fragment of Paul Stine's shirt. Alternate ideas about how it got to its recipient just don't hold water in my opinion, only blood- (sorry couldn't resist). It's the crux of the entire case in my mind. Happy Holidays to all!

Richard

12/24/2018 01:49:03 pm

The handwriting is often dissected and questioned Carl. While I believe the majority are from Zodiac, I know people often question the validity of handwriting analysis. I certainly have no doubt the shirt piece was mailed by the killer in the Stine murder. It's just whether you believe the author of the Stine letter wrote the others (primarily the July 31st letters). I do, but I know that some don't. Merry Christmas Carl and a great 2019 hopefully,

12/24/2018 01:51:28 pm

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTVoNdyv0ZE&feature=youtu.be

this is funny stuff - merry christ mass

Richard

12/24/2018 02:16:39 pm

Happy Christmas everybody.

KayElleSF

12/24/2018 07:44:32 pm

Merry Christmas to you, Richard!

Thanks for all your hard work on this excellent site.

Shawn

12/24/2018 09:14:14 pm

This might add some hope...

"Vallejo Police Detective Terry Poyser said his team has resubmitted two Zodiac envelopes to a lab for new analysis, hoping to test the results against an expanded pool of samples used in genealogy research. Sacramento County investigators also submitted a DNA sample from one of the crimes to GEDmatch, a public database of genetic genealogy people use to track down blood relatives."

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2018/12/20/50-years-after-first-case-Zodiac-Killer-still-taunts-Bay-Area-investigators/2581545102478/#ixzz5aYpO1MPe

Maybe the Sacramento sample is from the Nancy Bennallack murder. (suspected Zodiac Victim). They have a full DNA profile of the killer.

Judith

12/24/2018 10:11:09 pm

Merry Christmas to you all.

Judith

12/30/2018 12:12:00 pm

They are doubling down. Three unpublished Zodiac letters to Sacramento. One taking credit for a Sacramento murder. Confirmed Zodiac Sacramento murder. Testing of Nancy Bennallack's killer's DNA. So the question is "Was the person who killed Nancy the Zodiac?" Happy New Year.

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