In the aftermath of the Cheri Jo Bates murder in Riverside on October 30th 1966 a library reconstruction was performed on November 13th 1966, with fingerprints and hair samples taken from the attendees to compare to crime scene evidence. How many college students and personnel were ultimately screened can only be speculated, but it was likely extensive. But who on the fringes of Riverside City College slipped through the net. Riverside College was undergoing extensive renovation at the time and was likely a hub of activity, that included contractors employed for this very task. Who could travel unhindered around the college campus, with access to buildings usually considered off limits? The murder was committed at the end of October, with the Bates letters mailed on April 30th 1967. We are looking at a period of 6 months, before the Zodiac Killer disappeared and apparently resurfaced in Benicia just over one and a half years later. If the Zodiac Killer was responsible for the events in Riverside, then it is conceivable that if he worked around or within the Riverside City College campus, he took his profession with him when he resumed his murderous activities in northern California. The focus of our killer seemed to centralize around the Riverside College campus. We shall therefore look at some key bullet points.
In the side corridor of the library annex. Conditions were so congested at the RCC Library (then located in the Quadrangle’s room 144) that the adjoining northern corridor of the Quad was enclosed and turned into a study room to somewhat alleviate overcrowding. This area remained enclosed until the 1980s when it was returned to its original look. Not believed to be Cheri Jo Bates.in the photograph. Click the image for enhanced look at the woman in the photograph. #1. Cheri Jo Bates arrived at the campus shortly after 6:00 pm, but screams were heard from the alleyway circa 10:30 pm. What happened during this time period is unknown, but the killer specifically targeted Cheri Jo Bates Volkswagen Beetle and may have remained on site for upwards of four hours. Does this suggest he was comfortable in these surroundings and could travel around the campus largely unnoticed? Did the killer have access to a building in the vicinity of the library annex? Was he able to approach Cheri Jo Bates, only because he was familiar to her, yet he wasn't a close friend or fellow student?
#2. The two buildings either side of the crime scene were unoccupied. Would a killer lure a woman into this particular alleyway and commit a brutal attack, lasting possibly a minute or more, if he thought that these dwellings were inhabited by potential eyewitnesses - or even park his vehicle nearby? This goes to the very heart of whether this perpetrator knew the status of these two buildings and the area he was operating in. Knowing in advance that nobody was overlooking the crime scene was seemingly fundamental to his escape from justice.
#3. A Timex watch was ripped from the murderer's wrist during the struggle. It carried white flecks of paint. Did this belong to a worker, or somebody who was involved in the renovation of the campus facilities.
#4. Here is a little background on the Riverside City College library: "The library is located on the Terracina Avenue side of the Quadrangle. Its collection included more than 35,000 books, 400 current periodicals and newspapers, 1,950 reels of microfilm and 2,000 pamphlets. Its indoor and outdoor facilities could accommodate 225 students. The library staff, included five professional librarians, who offered students and faculty individual assistance. The services of the College Library were available to students and residents of the area without charge. Students had free access to any of the books and magazines in the collection and were encouraged to use the library for their recreational reading as well as for academic pursuits. The circulation period was flexible and was determined by the demand for the material in question. Usual loans were for three weeks, but shorter periods may have been required for assigned reading in limited materials. Longer loans could be made upon request. Borrowers were held responsible for any library materials which were lost or damaged while in their care. Hours of service were: Monday through Thursday 7:45 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Friday 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 1:00 - 5:00; 6:00 - 9:00 p.m".
#2. The two buildings either side of the crime scene were unoccupied. Would a killer lure a woman into this particular alleyway and commit a brutal attack, lasting possibly a minute or more, if he thought that these dwellings were inhabited by potential eyewitnesses - or even park his vehicle nearby? This goes to the very heart of whether this perpetrator knew the status of these two buildings and the area he was operating in. Knowing in advance that nobody was overlooking the crime scene was seemingly fundamental to his escape from justice.
#3. A Timex watch was ripped from the murderer's wrist during the struggle. It carried white flecks of paint. Did this belong to a worker, or somebody who was involved in the renovation of the campus facilities.
#4. Here is a little background on the Riverside City College library: "The library is located on the Terracina Avenue side of the Quadrangle. Its collection included more than 35,000 books, 400 current periodicals and newspapers, 1,950 reels of microfilm and 2,000 pamphlets. Its indoor and outdoor facilities could accommodate 225 students. The library staff, included five professional librarians, who offered students and faculty individual assistance. The services of the College Library were available to students and residents of the area without charge. Students had free access to any of the books and magazines in the collection and were encouraged to use the library for their recreational reading as well as for academic pursuits. The circulation period was flexible and was determined by the demand for the material in question. Usual loans were for three weeks, but shorter periods may have been required for assigned reading in limited materials. Longer loans could be made upon request. Borrowers were held responsible for any library materials which were lost or damaged while in their care. Hours of service were: Monday through Thursday 7:45 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Friday 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 1:00 - 5:00; 6:00 - 9:00 p.m".
Did the killer have access to the library facilities outside of hours - somewhere he could write unhindered on the library desktop, without fear that his unsavory poem could link him back to any murderous deeds he may commit? If the Riverside Desktop Poem was a precursor to the murder of Cheri Jo Bates, then an absence of onlookers would be preferential.
#5. The murderer of Cheri Jo Bates may equally have used other facilities from the library. The 'Confession' letters mailed by the killer on November 29th 1966 were several generation copies: "A photocopying machine, where students could secure 8 1/2 X 11 inch black and white copy of printed or typed material, was available at the library for ten cents".
Photocopying an admission of murder in public may have been perilous, unless you could access a machine in relative obscurity, such as a library during closing times.
#6. The photocopying machine would have been acquired by the college library in respect to the paper likely used by the college, staff and students alike. The three Bates letters mailed on April 30th 1967 measured 8 1/2 X 11 inches, identical to the size offered by the photocopier in the library.
#5. The murderer of Cheri Jo Bates may equally have used other facilities from the library. The 'Confession' letters mailed by the killer on November 29th 1966 were several generation copies: "A photocopying machine, where students could secure 8 1/2 X 11 inch black and white copy of printed or typed material, was available at the library for ten cents".
Photocopying an admission of murder in public may have been perilous, unless you could access a machine in relative obscurity, such as a library during closing times.
#6. The photocopying machine would have been acquired by the college library in respect to the paper likely used by the college, staff and students alike. The three Bates letters mailed on April 30th 1967 measured 8 1/2 X 11 inches, identical to the size offered by the photocopier in the library.
#7. "An unrelenting search had been in progress for the murder weapon, and that Tuesday detectives used a metal detector in shrubbery adjacent to the murder scene in an effort to find the knife used by the slayer. Captain Cross revealed to the news media that the autopsy showed that the murder weapon was probably a pocket knife with a 3 inch blade or less. The broadcast and published information about the knife caused the police switchboard to be flooded with calls reporting knives of similar description being found all over the city of Riverside."
On November 14th 1966, one day after the highly publicized library reconstruction, the police did get a call from a Riverside City College gardener: "That he had unearthed a hunting knife with his rake. The knife had apparently been buried near the murder scene. Detectives hurried to the campus and turned over the knife to the homicide detail. However, examination failed to show any evidence of dried blood on the knife blade. Also, its width did not compare with the incisions made by the stab wounds". Did the killer plant this knife to play games with the police - possibly observing them from the campus grounds as a casual onlooker? Was the murderer familiar with the routine of the college gardener, knowing he would eventually unearth the knife, or did he make a call to police, something that was withheld from the newspapers?
#8. The 'Confession' letter stated "She was young and beautiful but now she is battered and dead. She is not the first and she will not be the last. I lay awake at night thinking about my next victim. May'be she will be the beautiful blond that babysits near the little store and walks down the dark alley each evening about seven. Or may'be she will be the shapely brownette that said no when I asked her for a date in high school. But may'be it will not be either". Was the killer referring to the alleyway where Cheri Jo Bates was murdered? Could he have been present on the Riverside College campus throughout this period - perfectly visible - yet at the same time inconspicuous because of his connection to the college. What, if anything, was significant about the month delay in claiming the crime in the 'Confession' letter? Was this indicative of how close he was to the college - or was the author a hoaxer, simply reading the newspaper reports and leading us on a merry Danse Macabre.
On November 14th 1966, one day after the highly publicized library reconstruction, the police did get a call from a Riverside City College gardener: "That he had unearthed a hunting knife with his rake. The knife had apparently been buried near the murder scene. Detectives hurried to the campus and turned over the knife to the homicide detail. However, examination failed to show any evidence of dried blood on the knife blade. Also, its width did not compare with the incisions made by the stab wounds". Did the killer plant this knife to play games with the police - possibly observing them from the campus grounds as a casual onlooker? Was the murderer familiar with the routine of the college gardener, knowing he would eventually unearth the knife, or did he make a call to police, something that was withheld from the newspapers?
#8. The 'Confession' letter stated "She was young and beautiful but now she is battered and dead. She is not the first and she will not be the last. I lay awake at night thinking about my next victim. May'be she will be the beautiful blond that babysits near the little store and walks down the dark alley each evening about seven. Or may'be she will be the shapely brownette that said no when I asked her for a date in high school. But may'be it will not be either". Was the killer referring to the alleyway where Cheri Jo Bates was murdered? Could he have been present on the Riverside College campus throughout this period - perfectly visible - yet at the same time inconspicuous because of his connection to the college. What, if anything, was significant about the month delay in claiming the crime in the 'Confession' letter? Was this indicative of how close he was to the college - or was the author a hoaxer, simply reading the newspaper reports and leading us on a merry Danse Macabre.
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