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Richard Grinell, Coventry, England
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HALLOWEEN 1987 MURDER

8/1/2013

 
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The Zodiac Killer or a copycat, mailed a letter to the Vallejo Times-Herald on Wednesday October 28th 1987 claiming he would be driving around on Halloween night in his "death machine" looking for some "kiddies" to run over and that "cars make nice weapons". He also made reference to the movie The Car, directed by Elliot Silverstein and released in 1977, about a satanic, driverless car that embarks on a series of hit and run deaths. Here is a review of The Car.

The Zodiac modus operandi, if any can really be established,  involved attacks where he tended to seek out couple's in cars, the only deviation being the Presidio Heights slaying of taxicab driver Paul Stine on October 11th 1969, yet still a vehicle was integral to the crime. In searching for crimes based upon the threats outlined in the 1987 letter, where the author had used his car as a potential weapon, we shall examine the murder of a young girl in Wichita on October 31st 1987. But first, we will take a look at the brutal attack on a lone woman in Marin County who had a terrifying encounter one dark night in 1972

Isobel Watson (33) had just got off the bus on the evening of April 7th 1972 and was walking home along Pine Hill Road, Tamalpais Valley, Marin County at 9:00 pm, when a light colored vehicle veered towards her, knocking her to the ground. The driver exited his vehicle offering to take her home but after she had refused his offer of apparent help a second time, the concerned citizen suddenly became enraged, pulling out a knife and stabbing the woman in the neck and shoulder. ​Her screams alerted the neighborhood, forcing the assailant into a hasty retreat from the scene. She was treated at Marin General Hospital and fortunately survived the brutal attack.

Her description of the man alerted investigators to a possible Zodiac connection - that of a man with heavy-rimmed black glasses, in his early 40s, 5' 9" in height and short brown hair. It was not overlooked by police that the killer had attempted to lure the woman into his vehicle, not dissimilar to the method employed in the Modesto abduction of Kathleen Johns. Napa County homicide detective Kenneth Narlow believed in a greater than 50-50 chance of a Zodiac connection, bearing in mind the description given by Isobel Watson - and that April 7th 1972 once again fell on a Friday. ​The Zodiac crimes of Lake Herman Road, Blue Rock Springs Park, Lake Berryessa and Presidio Heights were on Friday, Friday, Saturday and Saturday respectively.

The October 28th 1987 letter is questionable as to whether it was authored by the Zodiac Killer, but did anything occur on Halloween night 1987 that would substantiate anything the author alludes to in the letter.
On October 31st 1987, three days after the mailing of this correspondence, Shannon Olson (15) disappeared from the South East Wichita area after she had decided to venture out with friends on All Hallows Eve. Within hours she was found floating in a pond by two fishermen in an industrial area by the now I-35 and K-96 in North Wichita. Shannon Olson had been repeatedly stabbed over forty times, discovered with her hands bound behind her back by her own bra. It was presumed that her body had been dumped there, having been abducted from a secondary location. The letter and the murder were within days of each other, with the crime occurring on Halloween night.

The killer could have used his car to temporarily disable the young girl before whisking her away to the area of her murder - which may have been the malicious intent of the perpetrator of the Tamalpais Valley attack on Isobel Watson .
 
Shannon Olsen, in the eyes of somebody like the Zodiac Killer would have been viewed as a kid, as she was only 15-years-old. She was bound and brutally stabbed in what can only be described as a frenzied attack consisting of over 40 knife wounds. There are loose similarities to the attacks at Lake Berryessa, the Hood/Garcia murders and the Domingos/Edwards slayings - all discovered near water. October 31st 1987 was also a Saturday, in alignment with the Zodiac's four confirmed attacks at Lake Herman Road, Blue Rock Springs Park, Lake Berryessa and Presidio Heights which all took place on a Friday or Saturday.
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It is believed by some that the Zodiac Killer murders and correspondence were part influenced by an occultist theme. The Church of Satan was founded by author and occultist Anton Szandor LaVey, almost to the day, six months prior to All Hallows Eve on April 30th 1966 at the Black House, 6114 California Street, San  Francisco, California, close to the Presidio Heights district where Paul Stine was killed on October 11th 1969.  The building has since been demolished (in 2001). It was also exactly six months later that Cheri Jo Bates was murdered outside the Riverside City College library on October 30th 1966. The San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times ran articles on Anton LaVey calling him "The Black Pope". Anton LaVey knew the Tamalpais Valley area well, having attended Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley until the age of 16. He died on October 29th 1997 but curiously his death certificate stated his passing on Halloween morning. 

Was the Zodiac Killer an integral member of the Church of Satan, or was he part influenced by the Anton LaVey movement and the resulting press coverage? In a television interview, reporter Paul Avery, who had become the subject of the Zodiac Killer's Halloween card received a phone call from Anton LaVey stating that he thought the Zodiac Killer may have attempted to become one of his parishioners, subsequently providing Paul Avery with some material. This created a comical response from Paul Avery who stated that the "Zodiac was so bad even the Church of Satan didn't want him". As stated earlier, the Zodiac Killer mentioned the 1977 film The Car, about a satanically possessed vehicle that embarks on a murderous rampage, Anton LaVey was awarded  the title of Creative Consultant in the movies credits with a quote from his Satanic Bible.

The murder of Shannon Olson may be unlikely a Zodiac crime - with many people suggesting the BTK Killer, Dennis Rader as the possible murderer - as his crimes were committed in the area of Wichita, Kansas between 1974 and 1991 where he claimed 10 victims. However, the majority of his murders involved strangulation or suffocation, with only one of his victims, Kathryn Bright, having been stabbed. Dennis Rader has never confessed to the murder of Shannon Olson and the case remains unsolved to this day. 

sandy betts link
12/8/2016 11:07:59 am

Did you know that there were two 1987 letters sent? One to VTH and the other to SF Chron.? I still believe that all "three" of the letters the 86 and 87's were from Zodiac. I never did like the so call "experts" opinions, none were very good except Sherwood Morrill. The others would disagree with Morrill. They never could agree on many of the Z letters. Then when one would change his mind the others would follow , what a joke!

Richard
12/9/2016 02:57:32 am

I lean towards the letters being genuine Zodiac material, in particular the 1986 letter, where he actually refers to the Saechao/Salee Murders. The MO of these murders is Zodiac like, in the sense the assailant used small calibre fire, through the window of the vehicle, similar to Lake Herman and Blue Rock Springs. The report said the couple had pulled over to the hard shoulder to take a rest, but as they were not that far from home in Yuba, only about 45 minutes, it is equally plausible they could have been summoned over by another vehicle, as in the Kathleen Johns abduction. Everything in the letter matches these murders, even when the author mentions 2 weeks ago, the fact there was more than one victim, the location of Sacramento and the mention of a freeway. The Zodiac could have claimed these murders, but not actually committed them, so it doesn't discount the validity of the letter. Sacramento itself is a perfect through route from either Vallejo/Bay Area or South Bird Road near Modesto to South Lake Tahoe, so any crime committed here by Zodiac would not be surprising.

Richard
12/9/2016 03:21:38 am

Here is the entire breakdown
http://www.zodiacciphers.com/zodiac-news/sacramento-cold-case-contact

I contacted the Sacramento cold case unit with this information, because there is an outside chance the ballistics in the 1986 murders could provide a match to the Zodiac case, however unlikely, as Zodiac always seemed to change weapon. I also contacted the San Francisco Chronicle, as this letter was sent to them, hoping they might cover the murders of the couple in relation to Zodiac. Unfortunately, but as expected, neither has even bothered to reply to date, which I suppose tells you all you need to know about their urgency to clear up any cold cases. Like the Zodiac case, it won't be solved by law enforcement. The only hope will be privately funded amateurs is my guess.

sandy betts link
12/9/2016 10:17:39 am

I agree Richard. To add to this case in Sacramento. Two yrs from that date on April 22 1988 a female from Antioch Ca. who lived a couple of blocks from me and who was also a waitress. Drove the same highway 4 that I did to get home from work late at night. She was forced off of that road in Pittsburg Ca.and when she landed in a ditch, the killer went to her car and stabbed her multiple times. This was during the same time that my suspect was trying to force me off of that same highway many times.The victim was Theresa Collen Brown, her sister believed she was killed by the Zodiac! There were more than 12 other females killed around that time and the Killer called the Pittsburg PD and sent notes saying he was Zodiac, but they felt it was a hoax ! It was thought that Theresa was a over kill, so she must have known her killer???? Cecelia Shepard was a over kill, she didn't know her killer. This mad man over kills most of his victims! When you sent your letter to the SF Chron, did you send it to Kevin Fagan? He is the one who writes about Zodiac for that paper.But he has to get the ok from the editor to do it.He gets many people writing to him about Zodiac so hopefully he didn't over look your letter? Perhaps send another letter and show the connection of Theresa Brown and the Sacramento victims, that could get his attention.

Richard
12/9/2016 11:20:57 am

Have you any pictures of the note/s sent to Pittsburgh PD Sandy.
I can't recall who I sent the information to at the Chronicle, but it wasn't Kevin Fagan. I may try again. Thanks for the info. Females being forced off the road is very relevant, bearing in mind the notes, along with the 'alleged 1987 letter' and the death machine/The Car reference.

sandy betts link
12/9/2016 12:13:48 pm

Richard, The PI who told me about a person claiming to be Zodiac didn't have any copies of the notes/letters. I would sure like to see them. Back in the 80's 90's there was also a man that could have been be the same man, who was driving on Marsh Creek Rd and Vasco rd in Contra Costa / Alameda counties at night. He would look for women driving alone and would flash his lights at them, I don't know if he also honked his horn or not? But these women did report it to the police.He drove a green car, one of my suspects had a green car among the many he drove. That plate was either VLT 885 or VLT 855? It looked like a old Lincoln. Of course I couldn't help but think Zodiac and Kathleen Johns. My suspect didn't do that to me on the road, he would drive up fast to my bumper to scare me, I touched my breaks one of those times and caused him to spin out LOL. Same Highway 4 at Theresa Brown.

sandy betts link
12/17/2019 10:15:32 am

Richard, I may not have mentioned that the killer of the girls in Antioch/ Pittsburg Ca. during the 80's and 90's, phoned the police to tell them where he put my daughters friends body and then told them he is the Zodiac. Even though he told the truth to where Andrea Ingersol's body was, they didn't want to believe he could be Zodiac. Sense then, Pittsburg PD are very interested in my Honcho suspect as the killer! I am happy about that, even if I can't prove he is Zodiac, he will be caught for the other murders.Kevin Fagan did a story about the murders of all the girls in Pittsburg /Antioch. Kevin is a excellent investigative reporter.

Richard
12/17/2019 11:45:57 am

It's a step forward Sandy in your search. I just contacted Kevin Fagan asking if he had a copy of the 2001 card with the Zodiac signature at the bottom, but unfortunately he couldn't help. Great strides have been made in respect to this communication in recent days, ably assisted and with great help from Cragle. The articles that inspired the 2001 card are now known. Thought you may find it pertinent to your suspect.

sandy betts link
9/23/2017 08:53:14 pm

Not sure if I mentioned that my POI gave me a map of his murders or not? On his map of over 70 victims, he listed 3 in Sacramento. It is my understanding that Nancy Bennallack murdered in her Sacramento Apt. on Oct 25th 1970 was one of them. That being said Judith Hakari who was last seen 3-7-70, lived one block away from Nancy.Zodiac sent a letter on 4-20-70 and another right after Judith's body was found. The letter was sent 3 days later on 4-28-70.Zodiac sent his secret pal letter 2 days after Nancy was murdered.The timing if these murders and the sending of letters, is Zodiac's MO. The Mo changed some when he killed inside of an apt. But then Zodiac did say he would change.The map has victims that I doubt he actually did. He claimed all of the Santa Rosa murders. Seven victims in San Francisco, 7 in Antioch, 4 in Santa Cruz.I wish I would have written the date I received the map, my guess was before the 12 he claimed in Pittsburg, because he has only 3 listed in Pittsburg.He drew the flange symbol for Mt Diablo.

Anne Onimus
12/17/2019 09:34:23 am

Authorities know who killed Olson. It wasn't Zodiac. It wasn't BTK. They have the identity but cannot prosecute. He's dead.

Richard
12/17/2019 11:48:21 am

Yes, I never believed it was BTK and have since found a more likely inspiration for the 1987 letter. Thanks Anne.

Ingabot Horray
1/27/2020 08:11:31 pm

How do you know this? The family of Olsen was my 2nd family growing up. Olsen's younger sister and i was like sister's and Olsen was like a sister to me. The entire family was my family we was so close. I remember the day i found out at school wearing olsen's cheerleading uniform for my Halloween costume standing at the 2nd platform on the payphone in school and collapsed to my knees in disbelief as to what was just told to me. There was all kinds if speculation of who, what and why it happened. I heard they had an idea but not enough evidence to make a charge and still uncertainty of whom the evil evil soul was that took a beautiful soul away from all of us. As far as i knew its still unsolved. R.I.P. Shannon i miss you still so much to this day and not a day goes by that i don't think about you and the rest of your family i lost behind your senseless murder 😢😢 I love you sis 💙💙💙 Rest In Heaven my beautiful angel we shall meet again one day.

sandy betts link
12/17/2019 07:52:57 pm

Thanks Richard, I am looking forward to reading what Cragle found.
Darlene's sister Pam received a Halloween card back in the 1990's. I have not seen that one, but she did show me some of the things that were sent to her from our suspect. Strange Barbie doll with a candle in her navel, Odd writings on her apt. He wrote 187 on her garage door with the initials T R or TD and his logo. 187 of course is the penal code for murder.

sandy betts link
12/17/2019 07:57:49 pm

My mistake, Pam received her Halloween card about the same time that VPD received theirs. The police told her it had to be a copycat.
I think both were from Zodiac.


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    The Zodiac Killer may have given us the answer almost word-for-word when he wrote PS. The Mt. Diablo Code concerns Radians & # inches along the radians. The code solution identified was Estimate: Four Radians and Five Inches To read more, click the image.
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