The following timeline is my interpretation of events regarding the Presidio Heights murder of Paul Stine on October 11th 1969. It has been created using eyewitness accounts and the science of time and distance. It is however not the only possible scenario of events in the aftermath of Zodiac's perceived final attack.
This is not necessarily the time the taxicab of Paul Stine drew up to the intersection of Washington and Cherry. This is the time the three teenagers first noticed what they believed to be some sort of altercation within the taxicab, documented as 9.55 pm in the police report. The Zodiac Killer actually exited the taxicab at 9.56 pm to make good his escape north on Cherry Street. We know it was 9.56 pm from the testimony of Donald Fouke, one of the first responding officers that night.
His identification has been challenged, as possibly being a different subject, based on differences in weight, hair color and age compared the the description given by the teenagers. However, there are also similarities in the description. The timeline of a subject leaving the taxicab at a normal walking speed of 3.1 mph, traveling north on Cherry St and east on Jackson St, matches perfectly with the sighting of Donald Fouke's timeline from when he received the first police broadcast. In addition, Zodiac specifically highlighted in his 'Bus Bomb' correspondence on November 9th 1969 that he ran into two cops who "pulled a goof." The movement of the patrol car occupied by Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms was never disclosed in the newspapers, but was known to the letter writer, and the timeline fits perfectly.
His identification has been challenged, as possibly being a different subject, based on differences in weight, hair color and age compared the the description given by the teenagers. However, there are also similarities in the description. The timeline of a subject leaving the taxicab at a normal walking speed of 3.1 mph, traveling north on Cherry St and east on Jackson St, matches perfectly with the sighting of Donald Fouke's timeline from when he received the first police broadcast. In addition, Zodiac specifically highlighted in his 'Bus Bomb' correspondence on November 9th 1969 that he ran into two cops who "pulled a goof." The movement of the patrol car occupied by Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms was never disclosed in the newspapers, but was known to the letter writer, and the timeline fits perfectly.
This is the approximate time of the initial broadcast given to Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms as they were traveling northbound on Presidio Avenue, having just passed Washington Street. At the exact time, officers Armond Pelissetti and Frank Peda traveling on Washington St would receive the same broadcast. Donald Fouke reported seeing a white male adult approaching the intersection of Jackson and Maple Street as he approached in his patrol car, just as Zodiac would allude to in the 'Bus Bomb' letter. This 'meeting' fits the known timeline. The distance from the intersection of Presidio Avenue and Washington St to the intersection of Jackson and Maple is 862 meters, indicating that Donald Fouke traveling between 30-40 mph, would arrive here at 9.59 pm. Zodiac stated he approached the police 'about 3 min after he left the cab.' This journey from the taxicab at 9.56 pm, walking at the average speed of 3.1 mph, takes approximately 3 minutes - indicating he would arrive at this point at 9.59 pm, matching the timeline of Donald Fouke.
Although people point to discrepancies in the eyewitness identification, what we do know is that the initial sketch of the suspect was given by the three teenagers recollection - and at no time to my knowledge did Donald Fouke view this sketch and state that this wasn't the man he observed. The facial features in the second sketch were virtually identical to the original, only marginally older. If Donald Fouke had spotted a totally different subject, he would surely have said so.
Donald Fouke, in his original statement, stated he saw the subject turn into the northern section of Maple Street, however, there is no direct access from here into the park without negotiating bushes and a retaining wall, which at night may have appeared a dead end to the murderer. This drives to the heart of the killer's knowledge of the area. He may well have known the area fairly well - but to anybody other than the occupants of the residence at the top of Maple Street - why should the responsible be aware of a possible route through, when to all intense and purpose, the area looks like a blind alley. The Zodiac may simply have turned into Maple as a ruse to get out of sight, before continuing on down Jackson Street.
Although people point to discrepancies in the eyewitness identification, what we do know is that the initial sketch of the suspect was given by the three teenagers recollection - and at no time to my knowledge did Donald Fouke view this sketch and state that this wasn't the man he observed. The facial features in the second sketch were virtually identical to the original, only marginally older. If Donald Fouke had spotted a totally different subject, he would surely have said so.
Donald Fouke, in his original statement, stated he saw the subject turn into the northern section of Maple Street, however, there is no direct access from here into the park without negotiating bushes and a retaining wall, which at night may have appeared a dead end to the murderer. This drives to the heart of the killer's knowledge of the area. He may well have known the area fairly well - but to anybody other than the occupants of the residence at the top of Maple Street - why should the responsible be aware of a possible route through, when to all intense and purpose, the area looks like a blind alley. The Zodiac may simply have turned into Maple as a ruse to get out of sight, before continuing on down Jackson Street.
The Zodiac described that after his meeting with Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms "the cops peeled rubber + went around the corner as I directed them + I disappeared into the park a block + a half away never to be seen again". This is where the Zodiac gives us a heads up on his exact movements that night. It has been suggested that the Zodiac Killer was a liar, and we should disregard his claims in the 'Bus Bomb' letter - but any reference to his directional movements in and around the park that night, is of little evidentiary value to law enforcement one month after the fact, and independent to his ridicule of the police. Additionally, his explicit detail may have served the purpose to focus the police investigation within the Presidio Heights or San Francisco region, particularly if he was a non-resident of the locale.
If the Zodiac disappeared into the park one and a half blocks from his 'meeting' with Donald Fouke, he would then arrive at Spruce Street at approximately 10.01 pm. For Zodiac, the journey eastwards to Spruce Street from just past the intersection of Jackson and Maple Street is 180 meters (0.112 miles), so if we assume he picked up his walking speed to 4 mph after giving Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms the runaround, he would arrive somewhere in the vicinity of the Jackson and Spruce intersection in 1 minute 45 seconds. The time would be approaching 10.01 pm. This is where the October 12th 1969 San Francisco Chronicle article makes perfect sense from the standpoint of our third set of eyewitnesses. They describe a man with traits very similar to the characteristics described by Donald Fouke - a man about 40 years, with a blond crew-cut, wearing glasses, with dark clothing. It was 10.01 pm at night, with curtains likely drawn, so how did it come about that 'neighbors' described by Robert Graysmith in his book, noticed the suspect man and were able to give a fairly detailed description? We probably have Donald Fouke to thank for that.
If we go on memory, then what Donald Fouke stated in the 1989 'Crime of the Century' documentary is likely more accurate than his differing claims in the 2007 Zodiac documentary. In the 1989 documentary, he said after passing the subject on Jackson St: "We proceeded on Jackson Street towards Arguello continuing our search, as we arrived at Arguello Street the description of the suspect was changed to a white male adult, believing this suspect was possibly the one involved in the shooting we entered the Presidio of San Francisco and conducted a search on West Pacific Avenue, the opposite side of the wall and the last direction we observed the suspect going, we did not find the suspect."
This tends to give credence to Zodiac's claims that he spoke to and directed the police - bearing in mind Donald Fouke was traveling towards Arguello Boulevard and away from a crime scene he should have been approaching. When he received the update to a white male, he naturally may have realized the man he had just encountered may have been the killer. Having last seen the subject enter the top part of Maple, it is understandable that he would have believed the man may have entered the Presidio park over the retaining wall. After passing Zodiac, the journey westwards for Donald Fouke to Arguello Boulevard and eastwards along West Pacific Avenue to Julius Khan playground is 810 meters (1/2 mile), taking approximately 1 minute traveling at 30 mph. However, he is obviously scouring the roadway and dense undergrowth bordering West Pacific Avenue, so his journey time to Julius Khan Playground likely took nearer to 90 seconds. This places Donald Fouke's patrol car, red light and siren, reaching the area adjacent to Spruce Street at 10.00:30 pm - just slightly before Zodiac also arrives at Spruce Street. At this point Donald Fouke finds nothing, but his patrol car has ultimately alerted the neighbors, who understandably have looked out of their windows in the area of Spruce Street. Donald Fouke begins to turn his vehicle around as Zodiac approaches (who obviously remains out of sight until Donald Fouke departs back up West Pacific Avenue). Zodiac then makes haste into the park to gain some cover from the upcoming police search. What he doesn't realize though, is that the neighbors are still looking out of their windows and notice Zodiac as he makes haste into the park. Their description is the one given in the October 12th 1969 San Francisco Chronicle article.
If the Zodiac disappeared into the park one and a half blocks from his 'meeting' with Donald Fouke, he would then arrive at Spruce Street at approximately 10.01 pm. For Zodiac, the journey eastwards to Spruce Street from just past the intersection of Jackson and Maple Street is 180 meters (0.112 miles), so if we assume he picked up his walking speed to 4 mph after giving Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms the runaround, he would arrive somewhere in the vicinity of the Jackson and Spruce intersection in 1 minute 45 seconds. The time would be approaching 10.01 pm. This is where the October 12th 1969 San Francisco Chronicle article makes perfect sense from the standpoint of our third set of eyewitnesses. They describe a man with traits very similar to the characteristics described by Donald Fouke - a man about 40 years, with a blond crew-cut, wearing glasses, with dark clothing. It was 10.01 pm at night, with curtains likely drawn, so how did it come about that 'neighbors' described by Robert Graysmith in his book, noticed the suspect man and were able to give a fairly detailed description? We probably have Donald Fouke to thank for that.
If we go on memory, then what Donald Fouke stated in the 1989 'Crime of the Century' documentary is likely more accurate than his differing claims in the 2007 Zodiac documentary. In the 1989 documentary, he said after passing the subject on Jackson St: "We proceeded on Jackson Street towards Arguello continuing our search, as we arrived at Arguello Street the description of the suspect was changed to a white male adult, believing this suspect was possibly the one involved in the shooting we entered the Presidio of San Francisco and conducted a search on West Pacific Avenue, the opposite side of the wall and the last direction we observed the suspect going, we did not find the suspect."
This tends to give credence to Zodiac's claims that he spoke to and directed the police - bearing in mind Donald Fouke was traveling towards Arguello Boulevard and away from a crime scene he should have been approaching. When he received the update to a white male, he naturally may have realized the man he had just encountered may have been the killer. Having last seen the subject enter the top part of Maple, it is understandable that he would have believed the man may have entered the Presidio park over the retaining wall. After passing Zodiac, the journey westwards for Donald Fouke to Arguello Boulevard and eastwards along West Pacific Avenue to Julius Khan playground is 810 meters (1/2 mile), taking approximately 1 minute traveling at 30 mph. However, he is obviously scouring the roadway and dense undergrowth bordering West Pacific Avenue, so his journey time to Julius Khan Playground likely took nearer to 90 seconds. This places Donald Fouke's patrol car, red light and siren, reaching the area adjacent to Spruce Street at 10.00:30 pm - just slightly before Zodiac also arrives at Spruce Street. At this point Donald Fouke finds nothing, but his patrol car has ultimately alerted the neighbors, who understandably have looked out of their windows in the area of Spruce Street. Donald Fouke begins to turn his vehicle around as Zodiac approaches (who obviously remains out of sight until Donald Fouke departs back up West Pacific Avenue). Zodiac then makes haste into the park to gain some cover from the upcoming police search. What he doesn't realize though, is that the neighbors are still looking out of their windows and notice Zodiac as he makes haste into the park. Their description is the one given in the October 12th 1969 San Francisco Chronicle article.
The search dogs have not yet been deployed, so the Zodiac would naturally head towards either his residence or his waiting vehicle. If he was a resident of Vallejo or Benicia, his obvious escape route would be towards Cow Hollow on the eastern fringes of the park. Dave Toschi also believed this was his likely exit route from the park, as described in Robert Graysmith's book: "The detectives heard from neighbors that a stocky figure was seen dashing across Julius Khan playground and into the dense undergrowth of the Presidio. The dog patrol units, seven of the best search dogs in the country, gathered at the front entrance of the Presidio and were deployed one at a time in various directions. Armstrong and Toschi considered the possibilities. Had the killer gone quickly through the dark woods and emerged from the Presidio at Richardson Avenue, and taken Highway 101 past Fort Point onto the Golden Gate Bridge and vanished into Marin County."
Richardson Avenue is situated right by Highway 101, and provides easy access to the Golden Gate Bridge back to the Vallejo area, forming an immediate separation from San Francisco within minutes of the crime.
However, Zodiac is still by Julius Khan playground, therefore his next move eastwards is telling. He describes this in the November 9th 1969 'Bus Bomb' letter, stating "I enjoy needling the blue pigs. Hey blue pig I was in the park -- you were useing fire trucks to mask the sound of your cruzeing prowl cars. The dogs never came with in 2 blocks of me, they were to the west". This suggests the Zodiac was likely just over two blocks east of Julius Khan playground. We know this because the sniffer dogs had assembled at this location, as well as Arguello Boulevard, to sweep across the park in dragnet style. The Zodiac Killer had only one option to avoid capture - head east. Fortunately for him, he had already taken this option. The journey time by road to the mid-section of Laurel and Walnut Street (just over 2 blocks) is approximately 5 minutes, likely nearer 6 minutes via the park. His next point of cover is shown by the map here, situated by dense undergrowth. The time is now 10.07 pm, and the motorcycles and police cars are circling the park. He may at this point have been intending to ride it out until the coast was clear, but he likely hadn't banked on the sniffer dogs being deployed at around 10.10 pm, as detailed in the police report. Faced with reducing options the Zodiac Killer continued eastwards through the undergrowth towards Presidio Boulevard, shown here on the map.
Richardson Avenue is situated right by Highway 101, and provides easy access to the Golden Gate Bridge back to the Vallejo area, forming an immediate separation from San Francisco within minutes of the crime.
However, Zodiac is still by Julius Khan playground, therefore his next move eastwards is telling. He describes this in the November 9th 1969 'Bus Bomb' letter, stating "I enjoy needling the blue pigs. Hey blue pig I was in the park -- you were useing fire trucks to mask the sound of your cruzeing prowl cars. The dogs never came with in 2 blocks of me, they were to the west". This suggests the Zodiac was likely just over two blocks east of Julius Khan playground. We know this because the sniffer dogs had assembled at this location, as well as Arguello Boulevard, to sweep across the park in dragnet style. The Zodiac Killer had only one option to avoid capture - head east. Fortunately for him, he had already taken this option. The journey time by road to the mid-section of Laurel and Walnut Street (just over 2 blocks) is approximately 5 minutes, likely nearer 6 minutes via the park. His next point of cover is shown by the map here, situated by dense undergrowth. The time is now 10.07 pm, and the motorcycles and police cars are circling the park. He may at this point have been intending to ride it out until the coast was clear, but he likely hadn't banked on the sniffer dogs being deployed at around 10.10 pm, as detailed in the police report. Faced with reducing options the Zodiac Killer continued eastwards through the undergrowth towards Presidio Boulevard, shown here on the map.
The journey time to Presidio Boulevard via road is approximately 4 minutes, but the killer is traveling through the park with dogs heading his way and motorcycles circling the park. He has to finely balance keeping up his pace, yet applying caution to avoid being spotted from the road to the south. This would likely take his journey time closer to 5 minutes, placing Zodiac at the edge of the park at 10.15 pm. It is extremely likely he is now hidden in the dense foliage bordering Presidio Boulevard, waiting for an opportune moment to escape the park into Cow Hollow. He alludes to this in the 'Bus Bomb' letter: "there was only 2 groups of parking about 10 min apart then the motor cicles went by about 150 ft away going from south to north west". The only possible location he could be present 150 feet from a road, which travels from south to north west, is if he is sheltering in the trees on the western edge of Presidio Boulevard. It can be seen here on Google maps that Presidio Boulevard heads from the south before veering northwest. Ironically, the road situated close to Presidio Boulevard on the south-eastern fringe of the park is called Lover's Lane.
The Zodiac Killer made this apparent only two days after the crime, on October 13th 1969, when he mailed the first Stine letter: "The S.F. Police could have caught me last night if they had searched the park properly instead of holding road races with their motorcicles seeing who could make the most noise. The car drivers should have just parked their cars and sat there quietly waiting for me to come out of cover". That cover was probably on the south-eastern corner of the park. The Zodiac Killer waited for his opportunity until the coast was clear and made good his escape shortly after 10.15 pm. If his vehicle is parked somewhere near to Highway 101 in Cow Hollow, then he is across the Golden Gate Bridge in as little as 8 minutes. His escape is complete.
The Zodiac Killer made this apparent only two days after the crime, on October 13th 1969, when he mailed the first Stine letter: "The S.F. Police could have caught me last night if they had searched the park properly instead of holding road races with their motorcicles seeing who could make the most noise. The car drivers should have just parked their cars and sat there quietly waiting for me to come out of cover". That cover was probably on the south-eastern corner of the park. The Zodiac Killer waited for his opportunity until the coast was clear and made good his escape shortly after 10.15 pm. If his vehicle is parked somewhere near to Highway 101 in Cow Hollow, then he is across the Golden Gate Bridge in as little as 8 minutes. His escape is complete.
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