A representation of the 1956 White Karmann Ghia with the Zodiac signature. This is a follow up to the article 'Lake Berryessa-North of the Crime Scene,' analyzing the sighting of an individual by Dr Clifton Rayfield and his son David. This is what Napa County Sheriff's Department detective Ken Narlow said "Dr. Clifton Rayfield, an ophthalmologist, and his son, David, had parked their car four-fifths of a mile further up the road from Hartnell’s Karmann Ghia. Rayfield reported to me that at approximately 6:30 P.M. he and his son had parked their vehicle north of Park Headquarters . . . in the general area of the crime scene and walked down toward the beach. While en route Rayfield observed a WMA described as five feet ten inches, heavy build, wearing dark trousers and a long-sleeved dark shirt with red coloring. Rayfield and his son both stated that they had not observed a vehicle parked in the area of their car,” He continued “I think their time was off a little bit ’cause I think Rayfield actually saw the Zodiac killer just prior to him going south four-fifths of a mile to where Shephard and Hartnell had their car parked. It sure looks like he stumbled on them and had not followed them. I’m convinced that Zodiac was just stalking any singular parked cars along the route. And that’s why he stopped when he saw Rayfield’s car there. When he saw the father and son and they saw him, he decided to go back up to his car. Then he drove down the road a little ways and saw the white Karmann Ghia. Then he came down here and saw a boy and a girl laying on this blanket under this oak tree, and this is what his game was, to kill the boy and the girl. This is why he struck here and not further up the road.” http://www.zodiackiller.com/LBReport6.html
Many observers believe this could be Zodiac, but what is the likelihood.
The 6.30 pm time stated by Dr Rayfield and his son could be argued. Had this 'mystery man' been Zodiac, he would have had to return up the hill, get in his vehicle and drive 0.8 miles south to where Bryan Hartnell's Karmann Ghia was located. The time would be now approximately 6.33 pm. The walk to the crime scene location is a quarter of a mile. The average walking speed is 3.1 mph (1 mile taking approximately 20 minutes). Therefore the journey down to the location where Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were lying, considering the terrain, would be likely above 5 minutes, but we will go with this figure. The time is now 6.38 pm. He hides behind a tree and prepares for his attack (6.39 pm). The Zodiac then entered into a fairly long dialogue with the couple, proceeded to secure them with bindings and then stabbed them multiple times. The minimum estimation is 10 minutes, taking us to 6.49 pm. Returning up the hill and writing on the car door, a minimum of 6 minutes. This would be now be 6.55 pm. The journey time for the 27 mile trip to the 1231 Main St, Napa payphone is estimated at 45 minutes. This would place Zodiac at the payphone at 7.40 pm, the exact time of the call. This timeline however is very optimistic, and does not tally exactly with the time of the attack, written on the car door by Zodiac, as 6.30 pm, but is nevertheless within 10 minutes.
Many observers believe this could be Zodiac, but what is the likelihood.
The 6.30 pm time stated by Dr Rayfield and his son could be argued. Had this 'mystery man' been Zodiac, he would have had to return up the hill, get in his vehicle and drive 0.8 miles south to where Bryan Hartnell's Karmann Ghia was located. The time would be now approximately 6.33 pm. The walk to the crime scene location is a quarter of a mile. The average walking speed is 3.1 mph (1 mile taking approximately 20 minutes). Therefore the journey down to the location where Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were lying, considering the terrain, would be likely above 5 minutes, but we will go with this figure. The time is now 6.38 pm. He hides behind a tree and prepares for his attack (6.39 pm). The Zodiac then entered into a fairly long dialogue with the couple, proceeded to secure them with bindings and then stabbed them multiple times. The minimum estimation is 10 minutes, taking us to 6.49 pm. Returning up the hill and writing on the car door, a minimum of 6 minutes. This would be now be 6.55 pm. The journey time for the 27 mile trip to the 1231 Main St, Napa payphone is estimated at 45 minutes. This would place Zodiac at the payphone at 7.40 pm, the exact time of the call. This timeline however is very optimistic, and does not tally exactly with the time of the attack, written on the car door by Zodiac, as 6.30 pm, but is nevertheless within 10 minutes.
According to page 11 of the police report 'Miss Marilyn Denise, a student at Pacific Union College, stated that about 5.15 pm Saturday 9/27/69 she was in the Lake Berryessa area with a male companion. She stated at this time they were parked on the Knoxville Road approximately one mile south of the Lake Berryessa Marina. She stated shortly after they parked the vehicle they observed the victims who were known to them, Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard, driving south on Knoxville Road in Bryan's white Karmann Ghia. She stated as the Hartnell vehicle drove by, Bryan waved out of the window and said "Hi John", referring to her companion.'
Let us assume then, that Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard arrived and parked up the Karmann Ghia around 5.30 pm.
Dr Clifton Rayfield had reported that he had parked up four-fifths of a mile further north at 6.30 pm, likely one hour after Bryan Hartnell had arrived. So Detective Ken Narlow's assumption that Zodiac was probably "stalking any singular parked cars along the route." would be unlikely, as Zodiac would certainly have stumbled across the Karmann Ghia first, not Dr Rayfield's vehicle. This could lend credence to the idea that Dr Rayfield and his son saw the killer after the stabbing of the couple, hence the observation of a man wearing a "long-sleeved dark shirt with red coloring," that may have been blood. This however has a massive stumbling block. If the Zodiac Killer had discovered the Karmann Ghia first and parked alongside it, why would he be wandering around a hillside 0.8 miles north. He would simply have entered his vehicle and driven south towards Napa.
Let us assume then, that Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard arrived and parked up the Karmann Ghia around 5.30 pm.
Dr Clifton Rayfield had reported that he had parked up four-fifths of a mile further north at 6.30 pm, likely one hour after Bryan Hartnell had arrived. So Detective Ken Narlow's assumption that Zodiac was probably "stalking any singular parked cars along the route." would be unlikely, as Zodiac would certainly have stumbled across the Karmann Ghia first, not Dr Rayfield's vehicle. This could lend credence to the idea that Dr Rayfield and his son saw the killer after the stabbing of the couple, hence the observation of a man wearing a "long-sleeved dark shirt with red coloring," that may have been blood. This however has a massive stumbling block. If the Zodiac Killer had discovered the Karmann Ghia first and parked alongside it, why would he be wandering around a hillside 0.8 miles north. He would simply have entered his vehicle and driven south towards Napa.
Click to enter Google maps In a previous article it was considered that the killer may have been searching for victims on foot, traveling along the hillside, scanning for single vehicles and likely prey. Simply wandering the area, rather than continually moving his vehicle. If this were the case, and the Zodiac Killer had written on the Karmann Ghia at 6.30 pm, then the journey on foot 0.8 miles north, using caution, would have taken 20-25 minutes, arriving at his vehicle at 6.50-6.55 pm, This again, considering a 45 minute journey to the Napa payphone, places him making the call to police dispatcher Dave Slaight at exactly 7.40 pm.
This would mean Dr Clifton Rayfield and his son saw Zodiac roughly 20 minutes after they parked their vehicle, as opposed to just after 6.30 pm. Or the actual time they arrived at the lake was nearer 6.50 pm. If this were Zodiac, it may explain the "red coloring."
Dr Clifton Rayfield had driven from Cypress Way, Los Gatos, California, so he would have traveled northwards along Knoxville Road. Had Zodiac's vehicle been parked further north, out of view, this would explain why Dr Rayfied and son had claimed they "had not observed a vehicle parked in the area of their car." But this would have put greater pressure on the already strained timeline of Zodiac leaving this area and committing any subsequent attack on Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard south of this location. This coupled with the fact Zodiac wrote 6.30 pm on the Karmann Ghia, strengthens Dr Rayfield's initial assumption, when he stated, "I didn’t realize 'Zodiac' came upon us just before he stabbed the young couple. I sort of assumed I saw him making his getaway." If this was the Zodiac, then he was likely making his getaway, and therefore never parked alongside the Karmann Ghia of Bryan Hartnell. If it wasn't Zodiac, then what you have just read is inconsequential.
LAKE BERRYESSA-NORTH OF THE CRIME SCENE [PT1]
This would mean Dr Clifton Rayfield and his son saw Zodiac roughly 20 minutes after they parked their vehicle, as opposed to just after 6.30 pm. Or the actual time they arrived at the lake was nearer 6.50 pm. If this were Zodiac, it may explain the "red coloring."
Dr Clifton Rayfield had driven from Cypress Way, Los Gatos, California, so he would have traveled northwards along Knoxville Road. Had Zodiac's vehicle been parked further north, out of view, this would explain why Dr Rayfied and son had claimed they "had not observed a vehicle parked in the area of their car." But this would have put greater pressure on the already strained timeline of Zodiac leaving this area and committing any subsequent attack on Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard south of this location. This coupled with the fact Zodiac wrote 6.30 pm on the Karmann Ghia, strengthens Dr Rayfield's initial assumption, when he stated, "I didn’t realize 'Zodiac' came upon us just before he stabbed the young couple. I sort of assumed I saw him making his getaway." If this was the Zodiac, then he was likely making his getaway, and therefore never parked alongside the Karmann Ghia of Bryan Hartnell. If it wasn't Zodiac, then what you have just read is inconsequential.
LAKE BERRYESSA-NORTH OF THE CRIME SCENE [PT1]
