ZODIAC CIPHERS
Richard Grinell, Coventry, England
  • Home
    • Search This Site With Google
    • My Interview on the Zodiac Killer Channel
    • The Mount Diablo Map and Code Solution
  • Zodiac News
    • Zodiac News Archives
    • Santa Barbara Attack
    • Cheri Jo Bates
    • The Confession
    • Riverside Desktop Poem
    • Bates Letter
    • The Forgotten Victims
    • Zodiac RSS Feed
    • Welsh Chappie - Zodiac News
  • Lake Herman Murders
    • Blue Rock Springs Attack
    • Vallejo Times Letter
    • Examiner Letter
    • Chronicle Letter
    • Complete 408 Cipher
    • Vallejo and Benicia Map
    • Kathie Snoozy and Debra Furlong Murders
    • Debut of Zodiac Letter
  • Lake Berryessa Attack
    • Presidio Heights Attack
    • Call to Chat Show
  • 340 Cipher
    • Bus Bomb Letter
    • Betsy Aardsma Murder
    • The Fairfield Letter
    • Melvin Belli Letter
    • Santa Barbara Murders 1970
    • Modesto Attack
    • My Name is Cipher
    • Dragon Card and Button Letter >
      • Phillips Road Map
    • The Sleeping Bag Murders
    • The Little List Letter
  • The Halloween Card
    • Lake Tahoe Disappearance
    • Los Angeles Times Letter
    • The Monticello Card
    • The Exorcist Letter
  • SLA Letter
    • Red Phantom Letter/American Greetings Card
    • The 1978 Letter
    • Zodiac Letters Real or Fake
    • Zodiac Documentary
    • Zodiac Killer Net Forum - Hot Topics
    • Unsolved Mysteries
    • The Colonial Parkway Murders
  • Suspects
    • Arthur Leigh Allen
    • Rick Marshall
    • Lawrence Kane
    • Theodore Kaczynski
    • Richard Gaikowski
    • Gareth Penn
    • Jack Tarrance

THE 7/19/78 LETTER [PART TWO]

7/14/2019

 
On July 19th 1978 a typewritten letter from Los Angeles arrived at the San Francisco Chronicle stating: "I am the ZODIAC and I am in control of all things. I am going to tell you a secret. I like friction tape. I like to have it around in case I need to truss someone up in a hurry....I have my real name on a small metallic tape. You see, while you have it in your possession, I want you to know it belongs to me and you think I may have left it accidentally. I am athletic. It could be swim fins, or a piece of scuba gear. But maybe you play chess with me. I have several cheap sets in closets all over. I have my name on the bottom of the lid with the scotch tape....My tape is waiting for me all over California. Do you know me? I am the ZODIAC and I am in control". ​
PictureInspector David Toschi
In the previous article on this topic we discussed how this letter may have been a sarcastic dig at David Toschi, who had been demoted from homicide detail to pawn detail after revelations of his possible authorship of the April 24th 1978 letter. The phrase "but maybe you play chess with me" a reference to his misfortune of ending up in the pawn section. Quicktrader, from Zodiac Killer Site forum, explained how the author of this letter may have given us a clue to his name Paul, which featured at the bottom of the lid on a well known brand of Scotch tape. In fact, the majority of the letter implicitly focuses on tape, beginning with "friction tape" to bind his victims, then "small metallic tape" which he didn't leave somewhere accidentally, and finally, the "scotch tape" which we've already covered.  

Regarding the tape - twice he mentioned his name in accompaniment. The author stated "I have my real name on a small metallic tape" and  "I have my name on the bottom of the lid with the scotch tape". If we are to discover what the Zodiac Killer (if the author) meant by "small metallic tape" we need to travel back to a murder where his name featured, at or close to the attack site, and where it was deliberately left. Fortunately we don't have to go back too far.

On Sunday November 2nd 1975, a man walked up to a couple's vehicle on Monte Cresta Drive, Belmont, California and shot 17-year-old Carlmont High School student Anthony Vincent Bruno Jr to death. "According to Police Captain George Stephenson, Bruno and his girlfriend (16 years) had been parked on Monte Cresta Drive, above Barclay Way in an isolated area of western hills when a man opened the driver's side door and apparently without saying anything fired the shotgun. The girl, who was not identified by police, pushed Bruno's body aside and drove the car to her home from where police were notified. She described the assailant as white, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 140 pounds and wearing an Army green parka with hood, according to police. Stephenson said also that a late model brown pick-up truck, possibly a Dodge or Chevrolet, had been seen in the area at about the time of the shooting." San Mateo Times.

​
The description doesn't sound much like the Zodiac Killer, but often he would lay claim to murders he never committed. This may have been the case here, when on the following day (possibly having read or heard about the murder) placed something interesting in a phone booth. 
​Mike Morford stated, in reference to a San Mateo news article, dated November 14th 1975 "The reporter, a man named Bob Foster, mentions that on the night of November 3, 1975, the 11 pm TV news on channel KGO, ran a story about a Zodiac letter being found in a phone booth. This is pretty interesting to me for a couple reasons regarding the timing. First of all because, the night before, on 11/2/75, a young man and his girlfriend were attacked on a lovers lane by a gun wielding man. The male victim, Vincent Bruno was killed, but his girlfriend survived. If I recall correctly, there may have been a letter & cassette tape found the same night in a phone booth not far from the attack site, from someone claiming to be Zodiac. Also, I will try to find it again, but in one of the FBI files, there IS mention of a letter & casette tape found together". Here is a previous article covering this topic. 

Picture
This is an extract from Wikipedia about cassette tapes: At about the same time chromium dioxide (CrO2) tape, later designated Type II, was introduced by DuPont, the inventor of the particle, and BASF, the inventor and longtime manufacturer of magnetic recording tape. Next, coatings using magnetite (Fe3O4) such as TDK's Audua were produced in an attempt to approach or exceed the sound quality of vinyl records. Cobalt-absorbed iron oxide (Avilyn) was introduced by TDK in 1974 and proved very successful. Here is a timeline regarding the history of cassette tapes.

The author of the July 19th 1978 letter may have been referring to this (small metallic) tape, left in the phone booth on November 3rd 1975 alongside the letter claiming to be Zodiac. The author stated "I want you to know it belongs to me and you think I may have left it accidentally". Obviously the tape couldn't have held an audio message from Zodiac, because the author of the 1978 letter wouldn't have stated "I want you to know it belongs to me". But he wanted the San Francisco Chronicle to know it had been left there deliberately. So what could have been recorded on the tape, in keeping with the games of the Zodiac Killer - that also contained his name on the small metallic tape? Maybe something like this?  

Picture
Richard
7/14/2019 12:49:54 pm

"I have my real name on a small metallic tape" (singular). So whatever it was, it was one. Left at the scene deliberately, and now the cops have it in their possession.

Rubislaw 32 link
7/14/2019 02:03:59 pm

40 years on,all these tapes are still used,and availale,I see.

The ''friction'' tape,yet to gain a mention.A rubber based cloth adhesive,mostly used to protect one from an electric shock,with electrical appliances.

The ''apparent'' Zodiac,informs us that likes friction tape,and he likes to have it handy,to truss someone up,in a hurry.

This reference,is a bit vague [?].

Perhaps,to dampen the spirits of those who become a bit lively [?].

''Victims[?]....or excitable individuals,like Mr.Avery...it's difficult to say.

Richard
7/14/2019 03:49:17 pm

friction tape scuba diving

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dWI8e8rVbJ0C&pg=SA5-PA23&lpg=SA5-PA23&dq=friction+tape+scuba+diving&source=bl&ots=kv1_8ix-y7&sig=ACfU3U0EB0e3pSz-DHQS0fhQdIO40RfxMg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYoKLBvrXjAhUTecAKHbXsAZwQ6AEwBHoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=friction%20tape%20scuba%20diving&f=false

Rubislaw 32 link
7/15/2019 01:47:15 am

Thanks for the possible friction tape and scuba diving link,Richard.

It has occurred to me,that ''cheap sets'' can sometimes be a loose expression,for ladies costume jewellery.More in keeping with the ''pawn'' link.''Necklace and earings'',for example.

''That'' could be also,a ''blame palm'' on Larry Kane...as a diving reference,could be to Arthur Leigh Allen.

''Scorpion'' does tend to subliminally ''present'' Ted K's name,in his cipher's cipher text.

This ''blame game'' in general,seems to have ''traction''.

Rubislaw 32 link
7/15/2019 01:57:41 am

...and,the thing about ''cheap sets'' is that it can be a misleading expression.

Some ladies ''cheap sets'' are actually quite valuable because,for example,they have antique value....like,from the Art Deco period.

''cheap sets'' are referred as such,because their ''intrinsic'' value is not high.

So,some ''cheap sets'' are valuable,and a thief would be inclined to hide them away in ''closets'',out of view.

...yes,''pawn detail'',also.

Rubislaw 32 link
7/15/2019 02:24:54 am

'' My tape is waiting for me,all over California ''

This,on the surface,suggests that presumed Zodiac,is ''about'' to embark on a ''nefarious spree'' of mayhem,in California...but has yet to really start.

If we were to buy in to the May 1978 letter [Channel 9],then it suggests that he had been somewhere else in the world,and was returning to his original ''haunt'' [..California..],to pick up,from where he left off.

The ''real'' second coming of the Zodiac [?]....in the Zodiac's mind.

In addition,that the phrase,''My tape is waiting for me,all over California''....could be construed as ''proof positive'' that his employment of the term ''tape'',has multiple interpretations.

Rubislaw 32 link
7/15/2019 04:22:51 am

I like it,more and more...

''But maybe you play chess with me.I have several cheap sets in closets all over.''

Translation :

''Now..maybe you play mind games with me ? Though you can only nab me,as a thief of costume jewellry....as opposed to a murderer and extortionist.''

That must be a goad at Toschi [?].

I think that,in the early days,it was ''beneath'' the Zodiac to ''personalise'' the cops.They were just ''pigs'' and ''Blue meanies''.The FBI ''might'' have had the accolade ''Eggmen'' bestowed upon them [San Jose cryptogram]....but really,the Zodiac only saw them as ''The Collective Enemy''.

Jump forward to 1978....time moves on,and individual cops like Toschi,start to emerge,from the unsolved case...and the Zodiac,in a position of ''self satisfied superiority'',feels qualified to ''gloat''...particularly when ''one'' among the ranks of the ''failed'',falls from a seemingly lofty height of ''celebrity''.

Detetective Inspector Dave Toschi.

Rubislaw 32 link
7/15/2019 05:12:53 am

Without official confirmation,on certain correspondences,it can be a struggle to find compelling reasons for ''credulity''.

But,we know that the April 1978 letter represents a ''watershed'' for Law Enforcement's willingness,to engage with the public again,on matters of verifcation.

So,we as sleuths are,to an extent,''out on our own'',as examiners of documents,that might be attributible to the Zodiac.

It seems to me that,when the Zodiac was in the ''right'' mood,he could be a ''crafty f**ker''.Take,for example,the possible ''Eggmen'' reference,to the FBI,in the San Jose Cryptogram and letter,of November 1969.....perhaps,a ''baptism of fire'' for the FBI's first personal engagement with the Zodiac.

If,as they should have done,realised that the Zodiac was referring to them,as ''Eggmen''....then they would know that,not only did the Zodiac regard them,as ''Pigs'' and ''Meannies''.......

But also,as ''similarly suited'' sexual deviants.

Richard
7/15/2019 06:06:38 am

The best way to authenticate these letters is tie them together. When you have two unpublished letters not presented for public consumption, such as the Monticello card and 148 character cipher both mailed in 1971. The Zodiac's last official victim count was 17+ in 1971 and if the Exorcist letter was Zodiac, then 37. So, it's pretty obvious that two letters both with a victim count of 21, both of which were never released to the newspapers, were both mailed by the same author. They could be a hoaxer, however, when you can show them to be a part of a pattern, through multiple letters and cards dating back to 1969, then the case becomes more compelling. As for law enforcement or FBI, and what they are or are not releasing to the public, I don't really care. These current investigators know very little about the Zodiac case, because they only get handed it from time to time - somebody probably just walks up to them and says have a look at this cold case. Unless they had a prior interest in it, then there is no way they can begin with a sound footing. By the time they've acquainted themselves with the case after several years (because that is what it would take regarding the Zodiac case) they have likely been moved on. This has been the case for years, so I don't really concern myself with the politics of the hierarchy. It hasn't changed in 50 years, and I'm too old to worry about it now. I just enjoy analyzing the cards, letters and crimes and hope to shed some additional light on them, however incremental. Whether people agree with my analyses I couldn't attest, but if I didn't enjoy true crime, I wouldn't do it.

Richard
7/15/2019 06:14:02 am

Oh, and when I say I enjoy true crime, I mean the aspect of the unknown, not the despicable crimes within.

Rubislaw 32 link
7/15/2019 03:20:30 pm

From what I am reading,Richard...and in a sense.''technicalities'',in order to assess what might be available,on interpretation,with regard to ''friction tape'',is....

That friction tape is the same,or similar,to ''sealing tape''.....which is often used,with diving equipment and diving suits....as a sealant,often pre-ironed on.

Sealing tape's advantages are that it is waterproof,and resistant to the corrosive affects of salt water.

So...on the ''practical' side,the reference to ''friction tape'' may be either the diver's sealant...or combatting an electrical shock.

But of course,''friction'' in a figurative sense usually refers to the clash of wills and temperaments,with ''belligerence'' the predictable result.

Rubislaw 32 link
7/15/2019 03:31:53 pm

'' I like friction tape.I like to have it around in case I need to truss someone up in a hurry...''

Perhaps,this is a generalization of the teasing and goading,that he then goes on to illustrate,with his ''chess/cheap sets'' remarks,appearing to be directed at Dave Toschi.

Rubislaw 32 link
7/15/2019 04:50:50 pm

I note that to-day,July 16th,is the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's launch,in order to put the first man on the moon,four days later,with its fiftieth anniversary,this coming Saturday July 20th.

The countdown has begun.How will patiotic Americans celebrate ?

Last week,President Trump signed multi-billion dollar deals,with the Emir of Qatar.The two men appeared like ''best buddies''.

A strange coincidence [?].

Just ''saying''.

Rubislaw 32 link
7/16/2019 04:35:05 am

''I am athletic.I could be swim fins or a piece of scuba gear''

''Swim fins'',though not exclusively,are usually what we more commonly call ''Flippers''.Largely to assist a diver's speed of movement.

Slightly ambiguous,perhaps,is the technical case that,''Swim fins'' are also regarded,as a ''piece of scuba gear''.

The more common ''other'' pieces of scuba gear,are :

Mask,Wetsuit,Gloves,Tank,Regulator,Computer,Buoyancy Compensator,Snorkel and Camera.

I will keep digging,on the diving link [s],Richard,and post anything found,further.

Richard
7/16/2019 06:04:06 am

Won't be posting for a while, computer gone conkers.


Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    All
    13 Hole Postcard
    148 Character Cipher
    1978 Letter
    1986 Letter
    1987 Letter
    2001 Happy New Year Card
    Albany Letter
    Allan/Peyton Murders
    Arthur Leigh Allen
    Atlanta Letter
    Betsy Aardsma
    Blue Rock Springs Attack
    Bus Bomb Letter
    Button Letter
    Call To Chat Show
    Carol Beth Hilburn
    Channel 9 Letter
    Cheri Jo Bates
    Cipher Theories
    Citizen Card
    Concerned Citizen Card
    Confession Letter
    Daniel Williams Poisoning
    Debut Of Zodiac Letter
    Deep Real Estate Ad
    DMV Letter
    Domingos/Edwards Murders
    Donald Lee Bujok
    Donna Lass
    Dragon Card
    Earl Van Best Jr
    Eureka Card
    Exorcist Letter
    Fairfield Letter
    Fingerprint Evidence
    Forecast For Cancer
    Forecast For Leo
    Gareth Penn
    General News Articles
    Gilbert And Sullivan
    Good Citizen Letter
    Halloween Card
    Hood/Garcia Murders
    Internet Articles
    Joan Webster
    Judith Hakari
    Kevin Robert Brooks
    Lake Berryessa Attack
    Lake Herman Road Murders
    Lake Tahoe Disappearance
    Larry Kane
    Leona Roberts Murder
    Los Angeles Letter
    Melvin Belli Letter
    Mike Morford (Morf13)
    Modesto Attack
    Molina/Rodriguez Murders
    Monticello Card
    My Name Is Letter
    Nancy Bennallack
    New Canaan Letters
    Novato Letter
    Oakland A's Letter
    Pines Card
    Possible Zodiac Attacks
    Possible Zodiac Letters
    Presidio Heights Murder
    Radians
    Red Phantom Letter
    Richard Gaikowski
    Riverside Desktop Poem
    Robert Salem Murder
    Ross Sullivan
    Saechao/Saelee Murders
    San Jose Code Letter
    Santa Claus Card
    Scotch Tape Letter
    Sla Letter
    Tamalpais Valley Attack
    Ted Kaczynski
    Telegraph Avenue Incident
    The 340 Cipher
    The 408 Cipher
    The Celebrity Cypher
    The Little List
    The Mikado
    Thomas Horan
    You Are Next Letter
    Zodiac Letters Poll
    Zodiac Postage
    Zodiac Theories

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    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.
    Picture
    Picture
    The Zodiac Atlas: The Zodiac Killer Enigma by Randall Scott Clemons. Click image for details.
    Picture
    The Zodiac Killer Map: Part of the Zodiac Killer Enigma by Randall Scott Clemons. Click image for color version
    For black and white issue..
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    January 2012

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Photos used under Creative Commons from Marcin Wichary, zAppledot, vyusseem, Alex Barth, Alan Cleaver, jocelynsart, Richard Perry, taberandrew, eschipul, MrJamesAckerley