STILL DRIVING AROUND IN 1987 [PART TWO]

4/22/2020

The 1969 Vallejo Times-Herald envelope

Every confirmed correspondence of the Zodiac Killer to the San Francisco Chronicle was addressed in a particular way. The envelopes were either addressed S.F. Chronicle or San Fran. Chronicle. That is ten consecutive communications mailed throughout 1969 and 1970 to the San Francisco Chronicle, all of which used full stops in the name of the newspaper. If you include the Exorcist letter mailed to the Chronicle on January 29th 1974, that is eleven consecutive communications that followed this pattern. The following three communications to the San Francisco Chronicle, dubbed the SLA letter, Citizen card and Red Phantom letter, all broke with this pattern. They were addressed San Francisco Chronicle, SF Chronicle and San Francisco Chronicle respectively. Not only did these three 1974 communications use an address style never before used by the Zodiac Killer, but suddenly the author had discovered the ability to spell, making not one single spelling error in any of these three communications, which included words such as Symbionese, consternation, evidenced, glorification, deplorable, justifiable, sensibilities, psychological and anonymously.

In his letter to the San Francisco Examiner on July 31st 1969, he addressed the envelope to S.F. Examiner. In his letter to Melvin Belli he addressed the envelope to Mr. Melvin M. Belli, using dots after abbreviations in the addressee. His letter to the Los Angeles Times again abbreviated the addressee to L.A. Times. The only exception from July 31st 1969 to January 29th 1974 was the envelope addressed to the Vallejo Times-Herald on July 31st 1969. It was addressed in full, using Vallejo Times Herold rather than V.T. Herald, or Vallejo Times (as he used in two of the July 31st letters). The envelope to the Vallejo Times-Herald (confirmed as Zodiac) was the only communication out of 15, from July 31st 1969 to January 29th 1974, that did not abbreviate the addressee and include full stops. In fact, the letter to the Vallejo Times Herald was the only time up to the Exorcist letter that Zodiac ever used the full name of the newspaper he was addressing.

This should give you extreme pause of thought when you consider the previously debunked October 28th 1987 Halloween letter (click link). This communication not only carried the full address of Vallejo Times Herald, just like the 1969 envelope, but both contained no full stops or commas, both carried the "Please Rush To Editor" phrase twice, both contained the same exact 13 words, both used "Calif" for "California" and both contained extremely excessive postage. The postal rate in 1969 was 6c, but the Zodiac placed 24c on his Vallejo Times-Herald envelope (an excess of 18c). The postal rate in 1987 was 22c, but the author affixed 44c worth of stamps (an excess of 22c). These were by far the most excessive postage used in any Zodiac or suspected Zodiac communications. When you consider the fact that a copycat would never have seen the 1969 Vallejo Times-Herald envelope in 1987, he did a remarkable job imitating the real killer in all of the above, not withstanding the fact that the handwriting looked eerily similar. The author would have had handwriting available to him from published Zodiac letters and the Dripping Pen card envelope published in the November 16th 1970 San Francisco Chronicle, but how on earth does he use this to mimic the July 31st 1969 envelope so perfectly in 1987. The author of the 1987 envelope could have designed it in a multitude of different ways, yet he just happened to choose the exact wording from an envelope in 1969 to which he should have had no knowledge of if he was a hoaxer. The October 28th 1987 envelope (shown below) is the best available image we have currently.

The October 28th 1987 envelope, with the 1969 envelope inset at top left

This should allay any doubts to the authenticity of the October 28th 1987 Halloween letter. This was the Zodiac Killer. If the eyewitnesses at Presidio Heights were correct in describing the killer as "in his early forties", "about 40" and "35 to 45" (averaging 40), then the Zodiac Killer would have been approximately 58 years of age when he authored the 1987 letter. He would have been 72 years of age when the 2001 Happy New Year card arrived, stating "What happened with the white people drivers we once had, are they all retired on welfare or at Laguna Honda". He would currently stand at 91 years of age today, assuming he is still alive. One thing we can be sure of, is if the author of the 1987 letter is the Zodiac Killer, then Ross Sullivan and Earl Van Best Jr. cannot be the Bay Area murderer. The book would be finally closed on these two individuals.

It is also my belief that the July 31st 1969 envelope, October 28th 1987 envelope and September 25th 1990 Celebrity Cypher postcard were all addressed misspelling the word "Herald" to "Herold". The July 31st 1969 and September 25th 1990 communications most certainly were. If I am able to secure a clearer image of the October 28th 1987 envelope and it reads "Herold", then we can almost certainly link the Zodiac Killer to three communications spanning four decades.

1986 AND 1987 LETTERS - ONE HAND

23 Comments

Rubislaw 32 link

4/22/2020 05:36:37 pm

Nice effort on the envelope , Richard .

One does see distortions , like stretching and warping , in a photograph or photocopy , sometimes . The Celebrity Cipher , another case in point .I think you are correct about the '' two and only '' postage stamps , from a 1985 issue .

It must be the scanning that causes the distortion ( ? ) .

The varying angles of consecutive '' V's '' alone , are enough to attract attention of similarities in handwriting .

Most unlikely that it is two different scribes , unless the copycat is the FBI , themselves ( ? ) .

Rubislaw 32 link

4/22/2020 05:47:29 pm

I spent a week in San Francisco , in 2003 , and either walked or took taxis , with pleasant Spring weather . One evening a taxi driver took a work friend and I to a Vietnamese restaurant .The taxi driver was a white man , and ex-Vietnam War veteran .

Apart from that one ride , all the rest of the taxis , were driven by middle- Asians . Usually of Indian descent .

A hotel chauffeur who gave us a free ride , near the end of our stay , told us that the Asian community had , more or less , taken over the city taxi businesses , as the Vietnam War Vets started to retire from work , as taxi drivers .

~Bill

4/22/2020 06:35:35 pm

Richard, my first observation is that there is that these two writing styles are generally "dissimilar". Zodiac letter has low "midline" focus but the '87 letter is much "too" low. Also i'm not sure if I recall another of what is considered "authentic" correspondence to contain a "capital letter" separation in the word "Calif". On the '87 letter, the writer crosses his lower case "t" consistently too "high" throughout. Authentic Zodiac writing tends to have a center or lower "horizontal crossing" on his lower case "t". The "E" comparison in the word "editor" look very unlike each other. Zodiac "E" is spot on "straight and neat" while the '87 letter, even though distorted, you can make out some type of small curves. Zodiac also tends to have a slight back-stroke on his "f". Weighing all these together, in addition to the "different" stamping style, I would at first conclude that these were "different" authors. It is just my "opinion".

~Bill

~Bill

Rubislaw 32 link

4/22/2020 06:43:57 pm

And taken Bill , in the articulated manner , in which you have expressed yourself .

How do you feel about the small matter , perhaps ( ? ) ,of an 18 year gap , between the letters , on any possible evolution of a scribe's handwriting ? Given that we have witnessed varying styles from a scribe ( the Zodiac ) confirmed as that same scribe , by handwriting experts , who may or may not have the benefit of forensics to establish , beyond reasonable doubt that the scribe is one and the same person ?

~Bill

4/22/2020 06:52:17 pm

I believe the Zodiac writer has, in effect, used a sort of camouflage, or "steganism" in his established correspondence, switching style, switching tone, however, there are subtle consistencies that appear through that camouflage and remain "consistent" whether he is disguising his writing, or not. The '87 Letter, upon first observation, does not appear to contain these "consistencies". I would think, it being so different, and with no similar writing to contrast to, would have to put aside to the "possible" but not at all "probable" category. It is just an opinion.

~Bill

Richard

4/22/2020 11:44:51 pm

Your points regarding the handwriting are well taken Bill, and handwriting is always a contentious subject. There is obviously no way from our computers to visually state with certainty that the handwriting was Zodiac or not. This is why I stress that the analysis must be focused primarily on content and structure. We have to remember that these were the only two communications ever mailed to the VTH as of October 28th 1987. The 1969 envelope was to my knowledge never released, along with many of the Zodiac envelopes pre-internet. Even Graysmith's book only had two. That means that the author of the 1987 envelope used the identical wording to that of the 1969 author, in particular the full address of Vallejo Times Herald, which was also used in 1969. This is relevant, because a copycat would only have available the July 31st 1969 letters, which only addressed the newspaper as Vallejo Times. Both authors also refrained from using any punctuation, which no other confirmed Zodiac envelopes ever displayed. The V's are extremely distinctive (as pointed out by Rubislaw) bearing in mind the 18 year gap and no reference point in respect to the 1969 envelope. So in effect, it isn't the handwriting I am concentrating on, rather the composition. After 18 years I would expect some dissimilarities. I remember the argument given in the newspapers in 1987, that it looked like this letter had been copied from the 1978 letter. A comparison that shows little deviation often dismissed as copy, simulation or trace. When a letter has arrived bearing no resemblance to its predecessors, it is dismissed as looking nothing like a Zodiac letter. A case of damned if you do, damned if you don't. That is why I have concentrated primarily on the content, while only making a passing comment on the handwriting. The problem with concentrating on handwriting ably testified by the numerous handwriting experts who cannot agree on a consensus, as shown by Sherwood Morrill and the 1978 letter (which I will tackle next). Handwriting analysis, particularly via computer with nth grade copies is always fraught with danger. I have just got a reply from the Vallejo Times-Herald today and the editor has promised to look for the original envelope - so fingers crossed. That would be a massive help. I certainly do not dismiss your reservations Bill and thanks for the analysis. I certainly don't expect consensus on this matter.

Richard

4/23/2020 12:02:26 am

I believe, as does Rubislaw, that the 1969 envelope is spelt "Herold". The 1990 Celebrity Cypher is also written as "Herold". If the 1987 letter is written "Herold", then we only have 3 known "Zodiac" communications ever written to the Vallejo Times-Herald, and all 3 would have been incorrectly addressed as "Herold". When we factor this in to the composition on the envelope, and consider also, that this author also wrote the 1986 letter, we can logically dismiss the "fly by night" one time Zodiac hoaxer.

Bill

4/23/2020 05:01:10 am

Richard,
All excellent points, and I like the "approach" that you and Rubislaw32 take to rolling up this information. You are able to allow for what has not yet been “dis-proven” as a possibility, instead of, jumping strictly from “dot to dot”. It is fantastic. Another thing that bothers me with this letter, however, is the stamps. I believe, just from what I have observed, that the Zodiac letter writer was attached to symbolism, and was well organized, as well as "spatially" artistic and self-aware. I think his envelope and stamp design is part of his "spatial" creativity. I believe he "loved" his stamps, and he was an organized, “categorical” thinker. I believe that the traits that the Zodiac has exhibited in his typical correspondence might suggest he would tend not to space and slant his postage like this. Rolling up all of the probabilities, I just favor "setting aside for now" of this letter envelope as hard evidence. In my opinion, this one is not "concrete" to build a solid "base" from. This is just for the envelope. I have not looked at the actual body of the letter, or it's construct. I believe there is much information in this case to be "gleaned" from another set of eyes looking at this information a bit more abstractly. I'm not sure if this has been done for the majority of these case files, or the degree of skill of the "reductionist". If we all work together, I think we can make much progress! You guys keep up the good work!

Best regards,

~Bill

Rubislaw 32 link

4/22/2020 06:35:50 pm

My guess , only of course , is that the 1987 letter's envelope was presented in an '' out of focus '' form , to hide the postmark .

I have seen examples of postmarks representing American towns or cities , albeit more than likely , deliberately obscured from ascertaining a specific town or city , with certainly .Or the obscuring of a code number , related to a zip code , that might give the viewer certainty of a particular area of a very large city .

So .it could be clues that the letter , was first processed overseas .

My personal guess , would be somewhere , such as Singapore .

Rubislaw 32 link

4/23/2020 12:15:19 am

Well Richard , that sounds like a chink of optimism , with the editor of the VTH ( ? ) .

I have carried annoyance with the SF Chronicle for so long , that I am not inclined to trust the '' major three '' in general .

But , '' hope springs eternal '' .

Richard

4/23/2020 12:55:43 am

Let's hope so Rubislaw.

Richard

4/23/2020 01:10:15 am

Also, we have to consider the year these communications were mailed. With the 1978, 1986 and 1987 letters there is an immediate negativity around them because they were mailed so distant from previous authenticated Zodiac communications. When the 1987 letter arrived, the immediate response would be scepticism and "this is likely a copycat", rather than a completely neutral approach. Ask yourself this question Bill - if the Vallejo Times-Herald letter and envelope had arrived on August 30th 1969 (one month after the 1969 letter), as opposed to October 28th 1987, do you believe this letter would have been approached in the same way. Do you think they would have looked at both envelopes and said "they look extremely similar", or do you believe they would have said "they look nothing like each other, it must be a copycat"? I think their approach to the same letter and envelope would be governed and influenced by the year it was mailed. An in built negativity exists toward the later communications, less so than the early letters. I have no doubt the Melvin Belli letter would have been dismissed had it been mailed in 1987 minus the shirt piece.

~Bill

4/23/2020 05:25:09 am

Richard, I do believe anything anything outside the spectrum of what was deemed to be "scope" of the case is usually dismissed as "skeptical at best". In this particular observation, the inconsistencies attached to this envelope weigh it down enough that if i were rolling up all probabilities into a singular author, i would not view it to "lean" favorably as authentic. RG's book publication in '86 may have inspired renewed interest and copycat may have appeared, I can't be certain. I do think that the author of the, what I will describe as the original writings, did write again to the media. I believe examining the actual construct and tone/mannerisms of the letter would be able to further this conclusion, Thank you for all the hard work that you and Rubislaw32 do to remain objective to information, and most of all, thank you for not giving up on justice.

~Bill

Rubislaw 32 link

4/23/2020 07:27:32 am

Thanks for your kind words Bill , and hope you will stick around .

The ''phenomenon '' of the New York Zodiac is of interest , in ruminating on copycat theories .Bearing in mind that Graysmith's first book emerged at the beginning of 1986 . With the N.Y.Zodiac , Heriberto Seda , known to have been a big fan , at the age of 22/23 .

Seda , albeit a handsome young Hispanic man , never had a job or girlfriend . He was known to steal money from public phone booths , and lived with his mother and half-sister , whom he was believed to have become infatuated with .Seda started attacking homeless people in 1990 , and was finally exposed and arrested in 1996 .

Seda's writing , that the FBI have published , and laid claim as being , is small in quantity , isn't really similar to anything confirmed or unconfirmed , related to the (real) Zodiac ,.And , apart from a few vague references to the signs of the zodiac ,shows no sign of an ''inventiveness '' displayed by the ( real) Zodiac .In addition , that there remains no proof , that Seda ever acquired a talent of any sort , for cipher making .

But , Seda was ''big'' on Graysmith's book , unquestionably , so there is that !986 - 1996 period , to consider on rivalry . Plus , of course , an initial reaction , in general , to Graysmith's book encouraging more Zodiac '' kooks '' .

~Bill

4/23/2020 09:25:32 am

Rubislaw32,that is a good point. I believe that Graysmith's '86 book did influence a "shift" of this case, especially in the perception of the general public. There are those who are easily influenced, almost to the point of obsession (even with "stimuli" as seemingly harmless as this book),, which i believe then turns to compulsion. I believe the Zodiac may have been inclined to this, but from what i see, he exhibits much "more". Seda, strikes me as the "attention seeker" as opposed to the "game player". The Zodiac, after the '86 Graysmith phenomenon, probably would have "watched" for a while, as to any progress. Once he was sure that the leads were going nowhere, i believe he would want some of that attention "back". This is where i feel he would re-establish communication and play his "game". It is just an opinion, and is not an assessment of "physical evidence". It is just a quick interpretation of traits as i see them, and completely my opinion.

~Bill

~Bill

4/23/2020 09:30:25 am

Rubislaw32, thank you all for having me! I will try to stay for a while :)

~Bill

~Bill

4/23/2020 10:06:05 am

Maybe a better way of explaining it is that I believe Zeda was "reactive" to the introduction of the '86 book. Zodiac, who is much more of the "engineer" is completely independent of this book's "reaction", and can choose not to act on impulse if it is to his benefit. I believe him to be very "quiet and observant" when he needs to be. This exhibits great willpower of restraint and allows him to go unnoticed, as evidenced by the 50 year discussion. He is VERY clever in a "way" that most of the public, including initial investigators, were not prepared or capable to handle. After '86, and '87 and Zeda, and all the whirlwind of public interest and speculation die down, we see an an "unusual occurrence" of what i believe i can delineate as "positively weighted as authentic" communication: "The Eureka" card. It is an independent observation, and just my opinion.

Regards,

~Bill

Rubislaw 32 link

4/23/2020 10:11:37 am

Yes Bill , it does seem that Graysmith's book ushered in a new dawn of interest in the Zodiac case which , had largely petered out following the Toschi fan mail scandal (...overblown , by half...) and the Husted Report scandal , behind the scene , from law enforcement perspective . Thereafter , the CA DOJ were not inclined to trust the Bay area police , with any real responsibility and , so to speak , the case '' moved indoors '' .

Seda , it appears , was a previously '' un-diagnosed '' schizophrenic whom , was only trouble to his family , if his sister brought home a boyfriend . As he slipped into adulthood , he seems to have spent good weather days socialising with fellow city park frequenters , until enough of them realised that there was something wrong with him , and started to avoid his company .

The Zodiac probably had bi-polar problems , he largely kept concealed . But , almost certainly was afflicted with Anti - Social Personality Disorder ( a sociopath ) , and may well have been an actual psychopath .

~Bill

4/23/2020 10:37:45 am

Rubislaw32, it is very reasonable to come to this conclusion. It is my personal belief that this individual is "well above average" intellect and has some sort of understanding of abstract thought. Not to sound conceited or narcissistic, but he "knows" that many investigators will "think" a certain way by the communication style and language he uses. He is "self-aware" that he can do things mentally that others can't. I suspect, probably his whole life, he has been sort of "shoved" to the bottom tier of society and never "heard" for his individual ideas and "expression". I believe this started in early childhood, and was greatly influenced by his environmental stimuli throughout his life. I see elements of PTSD here, as well as elements of OCD, and another "personality disorder" which I haven't completely classified at this time (not to mentioned I do not have the credentials). I am no expert, however, i think Schizophrenics tend to venture to parts of the abstract where they become so immersed with self projected stimuli that they cannot escape. They get "stuck" in their own creation, if that makes sense.The "Zodiac" may be borderline Schizophrenic, however, I not believe he is lost "deeply" in this state. if he is partially affected by a type of condition such as this, and is conscious of this state, and has the ability to "switch it off" for self-preservation when needed, then that is something that could be entirely possible. This is just my opinion, and is not worked completely through yet.

Regards,

~Bill

Rubislaw 32 link

4/23/2020 01:26:50 pm

Yes ,I certainly go along with what you say about the Zodiac's thought processes , Bill .

And particularly , your reference to his abstract thinking .

He always seemed to be able to present something in a duplicitous way . More specifically , more than one way of interpretation and , often more than two ways .

Why kill two birds , with one stone , when you can kill one bird with many stones ( ? ) - as a means to confuse and show off , at the same time .

~Bill

4/23/2020 01:45:36 pm

Absolutely! I believe this is his cerebral "game" and he is very clever! He is a "chameleon" and a "puppeteer". But, just maybe, there is enough information left to extract to make meaningful connection to the perpetrator of these crimes.

~Bill
~now i'm off to mow the yard :)

sulatlalaki link

6/13/2024 01:09:33 pm

The Zodiac surely had felt "forgotten" until Graysmith's book reawakened general awareness and interest in the case in other hardcore sleuths. Let's admit it, between the mid '70's and when Zodiac came out in '87 the luster and mystique of the case had dimmed. Imagine his delight when Graysmith's book hit the stands! Why NOT cease the opportunity to write to the papers and say, "I've always been here" or "I'm back with you"? What better way to keep law enforcement doing his "bussy work?"

sulatlalaki link

6/18/2024 10:14:09 am

I've been saying for years that Donna Lass was NOT a Zodiac victim. The GIANT leap to the notion that she was has never been even remotely convincing; and lo and behold, just last year, 2023, Ms. Lass's skull was found and her remains have been positively IDed, confirming she was NOT a Zodiac victim. How foolish many have proven to be, perpetuating the falsehood that the Lake Tahoe nurse was a Zodiac victim. MANY so-called experts have, for years, as if authoritatively, stated, unequivocally, that she was. Nope. Here are a couple of news stories, in case you missed this HUGE fact:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/skull-found-california-mountains-idd-woman-vanished-1970-rcna131395

https://mynews4.com/news/local/remains-found-in-south-lake-tahoe-in-1986-identified-as-woman-missing-since-1971

STILL DRIVING AROUND IN 1987 [PART TWO]

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