THE "AMBLER TOURS" LETTER

10/21/2019

Although there is extremely limited information on this communication, it is essentially the only communication in the FBI files not covered on this site. There is little to glean from the details provided in the FBI document, but nevertheless, it completes the whole picture regarding even the weakest of Zodiac material.

Described as being postmarked twice from Los Angeles, with March 7th 1986 and March 12th 1986, this envelope bore the hand printed address of "(Redacted) Ambler Tours 101 2ND AVE. Suite 1900 SAN DieGo, CA. 92101". Accompanying was a hand printed letter beginning "Hi ......., We Are...". If written in this fashion, using upper and lower case lettering inappropriately, then it bore similarities to the second McDonald's Letter mailed on February 8th 1988, also sent to a business residence (and also incorrectly written). The two McDonald's letters purportedly claimed to be from the Zodiac Killer, whereas nothing in the FBI file below carries his pseudonym, other than an "O" sign and "ZODiAC KiLLER" written above Q1. Whether this was sampled writing and part of the communication itself, or added as a notation by investigators, I cannot say for sure. But again, it is a blend of upper and lower casing. If you take a look at Q2 in the McDonald's Letter here, it too has a circle (belatedly added on the FBI file) between "the" and "Zodiac", suggesting it may have formed part of the original message. But is this enough to suggest a connection between the two sets of communications, separated by approximately two years.

Ambler Tours & Travel Service were a family business formed in 1953 by Frank and Ginny Ambler, one of the oldest travel agencies in San Diego. The company attracted business solely by word-of-mouth becoming very successful over several decades, with Dale Ambler holding the position of vice-president. They were still operating in 2008, as shown by this newsletter. So why did the Zodiac Killer, or somebody purporting to be the Zodiac Killer have reason to mail a communication to Ambler Tours? Could the letter have began "Hi Frank" or "Hi Ginny"? Here is some recent information I found.

Ambler Travel: 1010 2nd Ave , San-Diego-CA 92101 (now closed).
Ambler Tours & Travel Service Inc is a privately held company in San Diego, CA and is a single location business. Categorized under Tourist Agency Arranging Transport, Lodging and Car Rental. Our records show it was established in 1953 and incorporated in California. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of 740,000 and employs a staff of approximately four.

The 1986 Letter. Click image to enlarge.

When we consider whether any communication this distant from the Zodiac crimes is genuine or not, we have to look for other potential Zodiac Killer communications in and around the time period in question, in order to determine if this was an isolated occurrence by a misguided individual, or whether a pattern exists. Apart from the two McDonald's letters in February 1988, can we find anything closer to March 1986? Just two months after the Ambler Tours Letter, another purported Zodiac letter was mailed to the San Francisco Chronicle on May 6th 1986, stating that the author had shot two people in a car about "two weeks ago", by a freeway in Sacramento. Exactly two weeks prior to May 6th 1986, on April 22nd 1986, Koy Ien Saechao (48) and Choy Fow Salee (40) were gunned down by a hail of gunfire through the driver side window of their vehicle while parked along Highway 99 and Interstate 5, extremely similar in fashion to the first two Zodiac attacks. The only other loose connection to anything remotely Zodiac, is the location of 1010 2nd Ave, San Diego - situated 5.5 miles from Ocean Beach and the murder of John and Joyce Swindle on Wednesday February 5th 1964. These are slim pickings, but worth mentioning in relation to the location and timeline.

37 Comments

Rubislaw 32 link

10/21/2019 10:34:06 am

If Ambler Tours are a small family tours business...then one wonders if the presumed Zodiac is,in effect,thanking them for having set him up,with a nice holiday package arrangement,in Los Angeles [?].

And,if it is the case that the presumed Zodiac,has employed the services of a small San Diego travel firm,to set him up for a Los Angeles holiday....then,one might presume that the Zodiac is,at the time,with home residence outside the State of California,at the very least.Possibly,even from ''abroad'' [?].

In addition,the presumed Zodiac refers to ''we''.So,more than likely,Zodiac with a partner....or Zodiac with partner,and children...as a family.

There are some ''bells'' ringing,for me,with regard to a suspect,that I am aware of.

This is the precisely accurate intro to a postcard,from a suspected Zodiac,with wife and family,from a holiday resort,on April 24th 1991 :

'' Hi Everyone....This place is nice - we only wish we could stay longer.This is a ''one-stop'' resort....''

So,from what little information that we have been given...it seems as if the Zodiac is in a party of at least two,entering the State of California,from outside,to holiday in the Los Angeles vicinity [...900 [?]....]....and thanking the small tour operators,who reside in San Diego....whom the Zodiac had probably employed before,in order to assist him,on a previous holiday arrangement.

Richard

10/21/2019 11:08:21 am

They did many tours down the Baja Peninsula. The letter was postmarked Los Angeles, so being a small firm who operated on word-of-mouth to advertise themselves, suggests to me the author only knew of their travel services by being resident in San Diego/Los Angeles. The letter could have began "Hi -----, We are going to murder everyone at your business", or any number of options (including Zodiac inferring he was married, or travelled as a pair). Can you remind me of the April 24th 1991 postcard - is that the one you got off a postcard site. Do you think the "Zodiac Killer" written on the FBI document was a sample of the author's writing, or was added by the FBI? Twice they added circles next to Zodiac.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/21/2019 02:47:47 pm

Yes...I think that the ''Zodiac Killer'' written on the FBI document,was added.

And indeed,I suspect that,a small travel company,operating in San Diego,would be specializing in fascilitating American citizens,to holiday in Mexico.

The postcard that you refer to,is owned by me,and refers to a suspected ''Zodiac'' who was holidaying in the Far East,and sending good wishes to his in-laws.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/21/2019 10:50:21 am

This '' CA 900 23B '',Richard.

Are you able to find,with confidence,where the letter might have been posted ?

It seems to me...somewhere,close to Beverly Hills.

Richard

10/21/2019 11:16:16 am

Boyle Heights is an example of 90023 zip code. 45 miles west of Riverside,

Richard

10/21/2019 11:20:24 am

http://www.laalmanac.com/communications/cm02a90001-90899.php

Richard

10/21/2019 11:23:05 am

Beverly Hills about 11 miles away by crow.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Beverly+Hills,+California,+USA/Boyle+Heights,+Los+Angeles,+CA,+USA/@34.0208297,-118.3112192,11.5z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2bc04d6d147ab:0xd6c7c379fd081ed1!2m2!1d-118.4003563!2d34.0736204!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2c6029c9a59e9:0xec9ea70c76393a94!2m2!1d-118.2117257!2d34.0297895!3e0

Richard

10/21/2019 11:29:16 am

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_10_in_California#Exit_list

Go to Alhambra, east Los Angeles.
23B Garfield Avenue – Alhambra

Richard

10/21/2019 11:31:34 am

Probably not the meaning of 23B, but your looking at east Los Angeles for the location of the mailing.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/21/2019 02:37:42 pm

Thanks Richard....so,we are in the general correct ''ballpark'' [?].

It could be then,that the Zodiac had,years earlier,spent some time in San Diego,and employed this small travel firm,for a holiday,with satisfaction.

Then,as someone that lived away from California,in 1986,and deciding that he wished to take a holiday,in Greater Los Angeles,used that same travel firm [...Amber...],in San Diego,to make the arrangements,for his holiday,with at least one companion,in Greater L.A.

Hence,the Zodiac thought it would be a friendly gesture,to let Amber Travel know,that those arrangements had translated into a satisfactory holiday....with the possibility that,the letter accompanied a payment to Amber Travel,in lieu of further fees,due.

So,its possible that the Zodiac had previous familiarity,with San Diego,and Amber Travel.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/21/2019 03:00:25 pm

On a speculative note,the ''San Diego'' angle,does raise a little interest,in the claim that ''someone'' would bring Darlene presents from ''Mexico''....which,if true,could have easily been somewhere still on American soil,like San Diego.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/21/2019 06:32:22 pm

Yes...I think that if we are dealing with the real Zodiac,here...that ''we'' is potentially significant,in that,by 1986,there is a good chance that the Zodiac had a partner or wife.

Although it does seem that his Bay area days [...Vallejo..] were largely lived out,as a single man,we should not jump to the conclusion,that he was ''single''.There are grounds for believing that the Zodiac may have spent only about half his total time,in the Bay area....when he did actually have residence,there.

So,perhaps a family....elsewhere [?].

Back to his presumed holiday,in the eastern sector of L.A. :

He refers to the collective ''we''.And we know that Amber Tours,was essentially,Frank and Ginny,and their two sons.A small family business.The Zodiac may have felt that he wanted his letter,to sound ''inclusive''.

Hence, '' Hi Everyone,We Are....'' is certainly possible.

Richard

10/22/2019 11:35:33 pm

I have many times referred to myself as "we" when writing an article, although I am one - used as an inclusive term to engage the reader, so the author of this correspondence may not necessarily be indicating he has a family. If he is addressing Ambler Tours as the Zodiac Killer, I tend to consider it's not a polite and cordial correspondence stating how much he enjoyed his recent holiday with them. If we go by his previous correspondences with the likes of Edward Adams, Paul Avery and possibly the McDonald's Letter, then one would expect a sinister element to the contact. Enough so, that Q1 and Q2 were compared to the National Fraudulent Check File. The fact that this letter found itself in the Zodiac files as opposed to the SLA files, or just some random threat by A.N. Other, bolsters the idea that the pseudonym of Zodiac may have been part of the message. In other FBI files they have often taking Zodiac handwriting and incorporated it onto a typed document, which led me to consider whether the "Zodiac Killer" written on the document above was the actual handwriting of the author - particularly bearing in mind the upper and lower case 'confusion' exhibited in the McDonald's Letter two years later, and exhibited by Zodiac in some of his communications of yesteryear. The author of the letter may very well have resided in Los Angeles, but was clearly familiar with this travel firm in San Diego, who were 'word-of-mouth' rather than serial advertisers. If he threatened this travel agency, then it is likely by beginning "Hi - - - - -", he is addressing an individual, which may (but not certainly) indicate his ire was directed at a family member of Ambler Tours rather than the company itself. Could this be a business issue regarding this person, or a personal issue? Either way, that suggests a connection - unless of course, one believes the Zodiac Killer (or somebody impersonating him) just plucked this business out of Yellow Pages for absolutely no reason whatsoever. If nothing else, this communication (if you believe it was Zodiac) has him above ground in 1986. If the Zodiac Killer really was responsible for these outlier letters, then he certainly got around - Atlanta in 1981, Los Angeles in 1986, back in San Francisco to write the 'Freeay Letter' two months later, and Chattanooga in 1988. The idea of a travelling salesman rather than a house-hopper with children possibly a more viable avenue to explore. And a salesman who dealt with businesses.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/23/2019 06:13:10 am

Certainly take on board,the range of possibiities,Richard.

Guessing the arrogance of the Zodiac,the use of '' The Royal We'',is always possible.

Just such a shame that the FBI are up to their ''stingy'' best,on what little information,is offered [?].

I tend to think,at the very least,that a cheque was enclosed,with the letter,in lieu of fees owed,for services rendered.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/21/2019 06:45:22 pm

Sorry about ''Amber'' instead of ''Ambler''.

My eyesight needs a rest,from laptops.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/23/2019 06:31:54 am

Anyone remember Margaret Thatcher ?

'' We are a grandmother.''

[....anything doing,on Dan B.Page , Richard ?...]

Richard

10/23/2019 07:15:13 am

You'll be the first to know in a few days. Will contact Sandy over the weekend. She mailed me something, but need to get her permission to place it in comments - that's only fair.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/23/2019 09:26:54 am

Thanks for that , Richard.

What are the similarities ,between Margaret Thatcher and a one pound coin ?

Answer : They are bold , brassy , and think that they are a sovereign.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/23/2019 03:34:36 pm

Hi Richard.

Just thought that I would tip you off,about a site called :

tomdillardlasvegas.com

At the site,there is an article,written by a journalist called Stephen Barket.

The article concerns the 1987 suspected letter,which throws in a lot of cliched Zodiac terms,like ''crackproof'' and ''death machine''.

I have never been happy about that letter,being authentic Zodiac.Not least,with the contradictory term ''death macine'' referring to a car....when,originally,the Zodiac had used the term,for a bomb.

Blaine Blaine claims that the letter was written by Richard Gaikowski,whom he believed to be the Zodiac.

Now,given that the FBI have already exposed Blaine Blaine as a hoaxer and Zodiac kook.....perhaps,Blaine Blaine,himself,is responsible for that 1987 letter.

Has anyone established,how and when,that letter,first emerged,on the Zodiac related scene ?

Richard

10/23/2019 03:55:21 pm

No Rubislaw, I don't know how the 1987 letter came to provenance, but as you know, I have long believed this letter to be genuine because of the extremely subtle reference to the kids being run over in San Jose. On September 12th 1987, Jose Santo Bugarin (26) and Rodolfo Alvaro (31) were traveling on King Road, San Jose, California when their car slammed into four children playing on the front lawn of a residence, killing three and injuring one. Then this letter arrived on October 28th 1987 (just 1 1/2 months later) stating "cars make nice weapons". People may disagree with my thought process, but the continuation of the San Jose theme, the idea of Zodiac being an avid newspaper reader and the subtlety employed by the letter, possibly referencing these children being run over, seems consistent with the Zodiac Killer. I certainly don't believe Goldcatcher would have drew these parallels.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/23/2019 04:07:46 pm

Ok Richard....and thanks for the reminder.

So,it would only be Blaine Blaine claiming it to be the work of Gaikowski,when the letter emerged in public.Whereas,it could simply have been the real Zodiac....and not Gaikowski,since he has never been an official Zodiac suspect.

Yes...it is just this ''contradiction'' over the term ''death machine'',for me.But,that could have been the real Zodiac's memory lapsing,seventeen years on.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/23/2019 04:22:43 pm

.....and,of course,I now note that the 1987 letter,would have followed the 1986 letter,that you feature in this topic....by one year.

Not so dissimilar handwriting ( ? ).

Both,a bit ''spidery''.

Richard

10/23/2019 04:40:25 pm

I am sure most people think the 1987 letter is fraudulent, but I tend to give credence to the 1986. and 1987 letters now, much more so than the 1974 letters. But I accept the negativity surrounding them. The author of the 1987 did use "death machine" to refer to a vehicle, as opposed to the bomb in his basement, but had he brought up bombs again in the 1987 letter in accompaniment to "death machine", we would probably accuse the author of mimicking too much, and then attribute the letter to a hoaxer. Mimic a coomunication and you are a copycat hoaxer. Make a card completely different and your accused of not having the same literary MO so to speak, and again dismissed as fraudulent. Damned if you do, damned if you dont. When the rationale for deciding whether a communication is Zodiac or not often relies on flawed logic. The best way, I believe, for determining a communication is Zodiac or not, is to link it to earlier confirmed and accepted correspondence.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/23/2019 08:14:08 pm

Some sound philosophy....on a seemingly constant ''were they,weren't they'' dilemma for some us that are continually looking at the whole correspondence aspect to the case.

One could look at the contoversy over the April 1978 letter,and conclude that it represented a watershed....for thereafter,the FBI/CA DOJ never confirmed another correspondence.

But in examining November and December 1969,leading up to the Belli letter...one feels that surely the authorities knew that the Zodiac had been in touch ( ? ).Particularly,the Fairfield letters.

Then,as you have pointed out,Richard,there is much to feel,at least,untrusting about the three ''confirmed'' letters,in 1974,following the Exocist letter,in January of that year.

My general feeling is to firstly ''accept'' all letters that have come to light...and then make considerations on rejection.

At least,that way,one forces oneself to become ''accustomed'' to them,and try to understand them....with often very little assistance,in clues,from the ''beastly'' authorities.

Richard

10/24/2019 09:20:06 am

This may interest you Rubislaw. Zodiac Killer Insights has managed to get Gareth Penn on the phone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HClPX6WxaiE

Rubislaw 32 link

10/24/2019 03:52:18 pm

Thanks for the Penn reference,Richard.I'm just away to check it out.

Particularly,in light of the Joan Webster link...always trying to figure out,how Penn really came across this murder,as a Zodiac possible...and from what the FBI indicate,they also have never really got to the bottom of this.

Yes...Ms.Webster,at present,is the only Zodiac murder,on American soil,post Bay area attacks,for me.And,still convinced that the 1988 New Canaan letters are genuine Zodiac,writing to George Webster,father of Joan.

Much of the New Canaan letters,is about ''self-cliche'',as I see it...The Zodiac offering up,his ''Greatest Hits'',as such.

So,you reminding me of the children,and the reasons why you believe in that 1987 letter,has placed me,at least,''half-sold'' again,on that 1987 letter.For,despite the single contadiction,the letter does,like the New Canaan letters...tend to throw in a lot of cliched words and expressions.Again...another re-introduction of himself,with ''Greatest Hits'' thrown in,to remind the reader.

And,of course,as you intimate....not that likely that a ''fly by night'' hoaxer,would be telegraphing a serious crime,such as that,which befell four children.

The Zodiac...proud of possessing a ''Black Heart'' ( ? ),

Rubislaw 32 link

10/24/2019 08:56:01 pm

Well...I stayed the course,up to the point that Penn put down the phone.

The man who runs that series should have no reason to complain....Penn was very patient with someone,that turned out,to be a complete ''Pratt''.

It is documented that Penn had agreed to assist investigators,with their enquiries.And,as Penn explained,the authorities have any forensics,from Penn,that they require.

Surely,it must be the end of ''Zodiac Killer Insight'',as a viable youtube series ( ? ).

Joe

11/14/2019 05:02:25 pm

Rubislaw 32,

My name is Joe, and I'm the man you call a "Pratt."

The truth of the matter is I'm, in fact, Portuguese. But of course, you would know that.

The reason being that you're just another one in a long list of wannabees and moronic buffoons that decide to comment on things they know nothing about the Zodiac case and other matters (who I am as an example). This cancerous symptom is well documented and recognized amongst many Zodiac case commentators. Had you watched some of my videos you'd be aware that in them I reveal many aspects of my life experiences in Mozambique (where I was born,) in South Africa (where we resided for 17 years after being told we had 24 hrs. to leave the country,) and now in Australia (where I live with my wife and daughter.)

But you see, you, and the likes are one of the reasons why I'm so caustic and vitriolic in my series. I don't know you from a bar of soap, I've never had the displeasure of contacting or addressing you. However, in your infinite moronic petulant wisdom, you deemed entitlement to bad mouth me, my series, and direct me in such a disparaging way. Why, sir? Why are you so uncouth and believe entitlement to such unsavory garbage?

Had we perhaps crossed paths in the past, and held each other's throats, I could and would accept your diatribe. However, to come out the why you have and call me a "Pratt" without knowing a single think about me, my life, my experiences, and my intention regarding the Zodiac case, is darn right, and excuse me for saying, insignifiCUNT!

As I've mentioned in the past, particularly to idiots like you who try to lock horns with me over on YouTube, I have more intelligence pertaining the Zodiac case, and other matters, of course, in the tip of my little toe, than you have in your entire mortal and cancerous body. Your entitlement to 2 seconds of fame is evident by the disparaging comments you place regarding a person you know nothing about.

Now, having just recently begun communicating with Richard, I told him that deep down inside, I'm not the ogre that I make myself out to be in many of my videos, and comments. I'm the best friend you'll ever have. However, how can I adhere to those standards when more times than not I have to deal with idiots like you whose best interests in life are to critique and lambaste people you've never crossed paths with?

You're better than this. I don't even know you, Rubislaw 32. But I still know that you are way better than this. If nothing else, you are someone's son. Maybe even someone's father or husband or big brother.

I had a mother once, Rubislaw 32. I miss her dearly.

I hope you find a great cause or project to devote yourself to, Rubislaw 32 — one that allows you to channel your passion, anger, and hatred and do something positive with it. Even if that means trying to get Trump re-elected. But you're not going to create any change in the world by acting like a coward and sending out hate-filled comments to people whom you've never met or had contact with from the safety of some darkroom in your shit-stained sweatpants eating day-old Dominoes.
Make a difference, Rubislaw 32, and I hope whatever hurt you so profoundly gets healed.

You deserve love, Rubislaw 32. We all do.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/26/2019 08:40:59 am

Perhaps a pertinent comment a Zodiac contributor has made,is the irony of this phone call,in relation to reported lengths,that Gareth Penn made,at one time,to bother Michael O'Hare,whom Penn believed was the Zodiac.

Older....and wiser,though ( ? ).

As a correction,I have yet to see been made....the man phoning is South African....and not Australian.

Richard

10/26/2019 09:46:11 am

It's difficult to have any sympathy for Gareth Penn after the treatment he dished out on Michael O' Hare. If you give it, you've got to be prepared to take it. I have to give credit to the Zodiac Killer Insight guy for achieving a good scoop, even though we don't share the same ideas. I used to do plenty of these number or gematric articles back in 2013, 2014 and 2015, but have now deleted them all. Regardless, at least this guy gets off his backside and is prepared to put his money where his mouth is.

Joe

11/14/2019 05:16:47 pm

Thanks, Richard. And I apologize for having resorted to such an unsavory reply to Rubislaw 32. It's true when you state "why can't people constructively critique other people's work without it ending in tears." Be mindful of the fact that I'm here defending my integrity which was attacked by someone I've never met or had contact with before.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/26/2019 07:12:08 pm

As far as I recall,Richard,this accusation made against ''one time'' Harvard lecturer,Michael O'Hare,culminated in a radio show,where Penn and O'Hare agreed to participate.

It seems that O'Hare really took Penn to task,over Penn's accusations that O'Hare was the Zodiac.

That seems to be the end of Penn's involvement,as an active Zodiac case contributor.

Do you know any further details about this radio show,and if it is still available,for access ?

Richard

10/27/2019 01:54:25 am

I don't know about the radio show offhand Rubislaw, but Penn certainly vanished off the radar soon afterwards. He is an extremely intelligent individual, so this number game he played seems a little strange, in accompaniment to stating Paul Stine parked next to a fire hydrant in a vain attempt to argue the water connection. All a little bit of a stretch.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/27/2019 02:20:19 am

The radio show may not have been recorded....but I have seen reportage,in print,about it....and will post a reference,if I find it,again.

Although not wishing to be quoted on this....I believe that there were rumours,at least,that O'Hare was quite a ''ladies man'',as a young lecturer.So,part of the rumours,by jealous male colleagues [...like Penn,even...],may have contributed to accusations,in the academic community.

Rubislaw 32 link

10/26/2019 07:42:04 pm

Just as a brief introduction,for any of your readers,not that well versed on the Zodiac contributor,Gareth Penn....then ''Gareth Penn on The Zodiac Killer'',running at just under 5 minutes,might fit the bill.( Youtube ),

I think that we can forgive Mr.Butterworth for referring to Penn,as '' Derek Penn ''.

Richard

10/27/2019 03:35:32 am

Here is a little on the radio interview

https://zodiackillerfacts.com/zodiac-theories/the-accused-the-accusers/gareth-penn-michael-ohare/

Joe

11/14/2019 07:51:09 pm

Rubislaw 32,

As I stated earlier, and I quote, "you're just another one in a long list of wannabees and moronic buffoons that decide to comment on things they know nothing about the Zodiac case and other matters (who I am as an example)." end quote.

If you were, in fact, an assiduous or resolute Zodiac researcher/commentator, you would know that the radio show in question was commissioned by none other than talk show host Anthony J. Hilder, and the entire radio conversation is available for your listening pleasure over at Michael Butterfield's website.

However, your knowledge regarding fundamental revelations pertaining the Zodiac case, by and Gareth Penn, is akin to Trump's knowledge of racism and fascism. In other words, hallucinatory!

THE "AMBLER TOURS" LETTER

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