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Richard Grinell, Coventry, England
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THE BOMB THREAT TO INGLESIDE POLICE STATION ON JUNE 26TH 1970

3/27/2020

 
PictureApril 20th 1970 Bus Bomb Diagram
On April 20th 1970 the Zodiac Killer mailed a letter to the San Francisco Chronicle with three key components. [1] The Zodiac Killer stated "I hope you do not think that I was the one who wiped out that blue meannie with a bomb at the cop station.  Even though I talked about killing school children with one. It just wouldn't doo to move in on someone else's teritory". The Zodiac Killer was referencing the murder of San Francisco police officer Brian McDonnell on February 16th 1970, who suffered devastating and sadly fatal injuries two months earlier, when a bomb packed with fence staples exploded on an outside ledge of Park Police Station in the Upper Haight neighborhood. He continued [2] "But there is more glory in killing a cop than a cid because a cop can shoot back". [3] The Bay Area murderer also included a bus bomb diagram, with a school bus traveling south in the morning and the sun rising to the east. The bomb was positioned on a steep embankment.

It therefore shouldn't be any surprise that his next letter on June 26th 1970 contained all three of these components in its design: [1] He claimed he had set a bomb by Ingleside Police Station, [2] claimed his "glory" by insinuating his involvement in the shooting death of Officer Richard Radetich and [3] his bus bomb diagram matched perfectly the bomb to be set by Ingleside Police Station. 

In the June 26th 1970 Button letter he stated "The Map coupled with the code will tell you where the bomb is set*. It is clear the bomb was to be set in San Francisco, the target for the majority of his communications and ire toward police. The code provided the inches and radians value, and the map was to provide the magnetic north value of 17 degrees in 1970 (to be set at Mag. N" - magnetic north - from his zero point clockwise). This was plainly evident when he provided the extra two clues in the following Little List letter on July 26th 1970.

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The first clue was the first set of crosshairs, where he placed the bold, black circle at 4 radians and magnetic north (246 degrees} around the circumference. This was to be placed over the Mount Diablo map of San Francisco & Vicinity, centered over Mount Diablo to give us the radian value. The second crosshairs on the Little List letter contained the inches value - where he placed the hashtag and arrow for the number 5 to be inserted. Therefore, we had to travel approximately 5 inches along a line subtended at 246 degrees from Mount Diablo. This is why he used the phrase "The map coupled with the code will tell you where the bomb is set". The code supplied the 4 radians and 5 inches, to be coupled with magnetic north from the map.

The bomb was to be set close to Ingleside Police Station, which to a high degree of accuracy fell extremely close to 4 radians and magnetic north, and five inches from Mount Diablo. The inches subtended from Mount Diablo at 246 degrees couldn't be more or less than 5, because a bomb (set at 4 or 6 inches) would have fell into the sea on the east and west side of San Francisco. The bold, black circle (above right) with SFPD next to it, should be evidence enough that the target was squarely focused on the San Francisco Police Department. Not withstanding the fact, that the geography of San Francisco is such, that 4 radians and 5 inches are the only measurements capable of falling within San Francisco. The Zodiac Killer gave us a zero pointer (facing north) on his Mount Diablo map, to be set to Magnetic North of 17 degrees, with a clock face around the circumference. This clearly indicated that the radians were to be measured in a clockwise fashion - and therefore no surprise that the bold, black circle was positioned at exactly 4 radians and magnetic north (see below).

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The positioning of the bomb had to meet certain criteria. With a high degree of accuracy, Ingleside Police Station was situated 4 radians and magnetic north, and 5 inches from Mount Diablo. Even a line subtended from Mount Diablo passing over the neighborhood of Ingleside in San Francisco, when considered alongside the addition of SFPD=0, should have told us that the target for the bomb was likely the San Francisco Police Department in Ingleside. No other police station in San Francisco comes close to 4 radians and magnetic north, and 5 inches along the radians. The next task was looking for the exact location for the bomb to be buried. It most likely would have been set in the vicinity of the police station, just distant enough not to be observed.
 
The bus bomb diagram in the April 20th 1970 letter (shown above) depicted a school bus traveling from north to south in the morning, next to a steep embankment, with the sun rising to the east. This location is just 230 feet from Ingleside Police Station. School buses traveling from the northern and eastern edge of San Francisco to St.Thomas More Catholic School would travel the Southern Freeway, passing only 210 feet from Ingleside Police Station. From this location the bus would be traveling south in the morning to begin classes for the day, the sun would be rising from the east, and this location has a steep embankment mirroring exactly his bus bomb diagram of April 20th 1970. This portion of the Southern Freeway is flanked by the parking lot at the City College of San Francisco. This parking lot is the ideal location to access the embankment without parking on the freeway.        
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Every criteria has now been met. The school bus, the route of the school bus on a freeway, the southerly direction, the steep embankment, the target of SFPD (San Francisco Police Department) and the 4 radians and magnetic north, coupled with 5 inches. The 32 character code wasn't the complete solution, because the Zodiac Killer explicitly stated "the map coupled with the code will tell you where the bomb is set". We had to add magnetic north.  A bomb set here would have had maximum impact, striking a school bus as Zodiac had promised, but more importantly, right under the noses of the San Francisco Police Department for acute embarrassment. The location of a proposed bomb on the Southern Freeway by Ingleside Police Station, matches both the Mount Diablo map and code of 4 radians set to magnetic north, along with 5 inches along that 4th radian. The location also matches perfectly the bus bomb diagram within the April 20th 1970 letter.
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Sgt Richard P. Radetich (25) was murdered on June 19th at 5:25 am, gunned down by three shots from a .38 caliber revolver at point blank range through the driver side window of his vehicle while in the process of serving a parking ticket. He was sat in his police car near 643 Waller Street, San Francisco in the Lower Haight District. Numerous magazine and newspaper articles covered his brutal execution and gave a background of the young officer's life. Officer Richard Radetich attended Balboa High School in San Francisco, before attending a criminology course at the City College of San Francisco with the express intention of joining the San Francisco Police Department. His first assignment was at Ingleside Police Station, before transferring to the Accident Investigation Bureau.  

The Zodiac Killer was an avid reader of the newspapers and had previously mentioned the murder of Officer Brian McDonnell on February 16th 1970, killed by a bomb placed on the ledge of Park Police Station. In the June 26th 1970 Button letter, the Zodiac Killer claimed his involvement in the murder of Richard Radetich, while giving us a location for the bomb that bisected Ingleside Police Station and the City College of San Francisco - two of the places Officer Richard Radetich attended prior to his murder, while serving in the Accident Investigation Bureau. Had the Zodiac Killer read about the murder of the young officer, and cynically positioned his claimed bomb on the Mount Diablo map at a location pertinent to Officer Radetich's life. Exactly between Ingleside Police Station and the City College of San Francisco? And the design of the bus bomb diagram was just a fortunate coincidence to this location.

The April 20th 1970 bus bomb diagram was penned two months before the murder of Officer Richard Radetich, so if this location was deliberately earmarked well in advance of his murder, it is unlikely the Zodiac Killer chose it because of the history of the young officer in the newspapers subsequent to June 19th 1970. But it wouldn't rule out the deliberate targeting of an officer connected in some fashion to Ingleside Police Station or an advance knowledge of their history, however implausible this may seem. Whatever the case, the primary focus of Ingleside Police Station and an attack on an officer, because "there is more glory in killing a cop" is a viable one. The location of a proposed bomb on the Southern Freeway by Ingleside Police Station, matches both the Mount Diablo map and code of 4 radians set to magnetic north, and 5 inches along the 4th radian. The location also matches perfectly the bus bomb diagram within the April 20th 1970 letter. These still stand, irrespective of any connection to Officer Richard Radetich, which may have no bearing whatsoever. 

The Ingleside Police District encompasses the area south of Cesar Chavez Street to the San Mateo County line and west from Highway 101 to Faxon Avenue. It is  home to the San Francisco City College campus and many diverse residential neighborhoods including Sherwood Forest, Mt. Davidson, Glen Park-Sunnyside, Diamond Heights, Bernal Heights, Upper Noe, Mission Corridor, the Excelsior and St. Francis Wood, St. Mary's Park, Visitacion Valley, Precita Park, Cayuga, Outer Mission and Holly Park.

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Carl Karas link
3/27/2020 08:43:52 pm

There's a school even closer to the police station. A Seventh Day Adventist Elementary School. 'Kiddies'. I bet they use school buses. The Adventists keep popping up.

Richard
3/28/2020 01:41:38 am

Was it there in 1970 Carl? If so, another possibility.

Robyne
3/28/2020 11:27:35 am

Was it ever looked if the zodiac was a worker in an astronomical observatory in the San Francisco Bay Area? "Zodi" is an astronomical measurement unit.

Richard
3/28/2020 11:57:15 am

Not that I have ever read Robyne. I think we are looking for a man in a regular 9-5, Monday to Friday job. But what the hell that was is anybody's guess.

Robyne
3/28/2020 04:39:45 pm

Seems like he indeed can be more than a postman, he's into radians and description of directions ("Betty Lou Jensen was with her feet to West", etc.). At first I thought he was a SF Chronicle's janitor or such who worked in a school with hatred for happy kids since he was single at ~40 or a mechanic or logistics person, or any other menial job; then I began to suspect he may have been in the Post Office enjoying inserting his letters into the mail cycle; when encountering the Robert Tarbox story I began to suspect he may had been a Merchant Mariner, but this will be difficult since he seems to be reading the newspapers all the time; later I suspected he may have been a failed newspaper journalist (due to the ";" in the back of an envelope from the first chain of 3 letters), now I tend to believe he was in this sphere. He was surely out of shape, he was beefy not ripped.

Rubislaw 32 link
3/31/2020 07:25:14 am

Having read your comments at zodiackillersite.com , Richard , I think it an entirely plausible notion , that the man Fouke encountered , was not the Zodiac .

Examining the map of Presidio Heights , and taking a decent guess that '' Washington & Maple '' had always been the Zodiac's desired stop , in Stine's cab....then it is not difficult to surmise that having to exit the crime scene , using Cherry street , was a minor '' plan B '' shift , from the Zodiac exiting down Maple street .

The object of the exercise was always , surely ( ? ) , to initially find cover of trees ,in the park , and away from any residential housing where , the Zodiac might be spotted by any number of residents , from their windows .

If I had been the Zodiac exiting down Cherry street , it would make sense , surely ( ? ) , to just cross Jackson , and carry on through to West Pacific Avenue , with a view to entering the park , at first opportunity ( ? ) .

Richard
3/31/2020 10:33:19 am

That being the case, we have to assume multiple things. Zodiac knew of the 2 cops in their patrol car, despite it never being published before November 9th. The time Fouke spotted the WMA at 9:59 pm (assuming the 1st broadcast was 9:58 pm), matches with a crime committed at 9:55 pm, and an exit from the crime scene at 9:56 pm. The three teenagers description in the police report matches the one given by Fouke and the witnesses at Spruce. We would have to assume the description of a man running into Julius Khan playground (matching all the other eyewitness descriptions) was just coincidence. We would have to assume Donald Fouke headed away from the crime scene he was supposed to be approaching for no reason. Also, to anybody not close up and familiar with those residences at the northernmost edge of Cherry, would have no idea of an exit route through. That area is blanketed by shrubbery. The odds of the man being spotted by Fouke not being Zodiac is virtually zero in my humble opinion. I am sure others will disagree. But I can guarantee you one thing Rubislaw - there is only one truth, whatever that may be.

Rubislaw 32 link
3/31/2020 12:05:13 pm

Thanks for your take . Presumably , the definitive answer will not be found , now , unless the Zodiac himself speaks up , as a man convicted of his crimes , and serving out the rest of his life in prison .

Even then , frustratingly , one has to wonder to what extent he will be allowed transparency , on the basis of any judicial deals made ( ? ) . And , of course that he is still alive to speak up .. For , we aren't going to get any more out of law enforcement , one presumes .

It does seem that the housing residency inclines quite sharply on to the park and , it may have been the case that , if the Zodiac had got ''down'' to West Pacific Avenue , and had started to make his way , in the direction of the play ground , then he might have witnessed snippets of some of the commotion starting to come about ( ? ) .

It certainly looks like , examining a map that , the Lyons Street Steps would have been his immediate destination , as a pedestrian fleeing from the mayhem of his doing .

Richard
3/31/2020 12:53:56 pm

If Zodiac is still alive today Rubislaw (and it's a big if) and if he is ever captured, expect a rerun of Joseph DeAngelo. A man who happily and mercilessly killed innumerable people without a shred of sympathy, who then attempts to invoke meekness and frailty as he is wheeled into court. It's pathetic. Stand up like a man/monster and face the consequences head on. But unfortunately Joseph DeAngelo is the archetypal serial killer - a pathetic coward who picks on the weak and defenceless, usually armed to the teeth. These people would never enter into an equal fight because they are insufferable wimps. Somebody who seeks fame from the misery of others is weak. Unfortunately, you would never know the Zodiac if he was your next door neighbour. He would be an insignificant nobody that sadly justice has arrived too late for.

Rubislaw 32 link
3/31/2020 01:20:33 pm

Certainly sage observations on DeAngelo , Richard .This is when , part of one at least , is inclined to think : '' Is he really worth saving ? '' .

With GSK , it just seems to be a slow judicial road , to an obvious outcome of guilty with , DeAngelo more than likely , never answering in court for what he has , so plainy committed .

This is where the death penalty can have its '' uses '' , if only existing on the statute books . As a threat to facilitate admission . And , I think , the '' BTK '' outcome is what most Zodiac followers would wish for the Zodiac...that he admits to his crimes , and apologises to the families of his victims .

I do find , based really on his Bay area terror that , there is an apparent enigma , in that he appears to have been a hoaxer and compulsive letter writer who , suddenly decided to '' up his ante '' by murdering in cold blood...then , almost as suddenly , went back to the letters and hoaxing .

Had it not been for his real killing , there are ''saving graces '' ( ? ) .But , apart from being a manic depressive , it does seem that the Zodiac was a clinical psychopath....frontal lobe damage and , therefore always '' capable '' of anything .

Richard
3/31/2020 02:16:43 pm

Watch this space Rubislaw. DeAngelo will take a plea deal. He will take the offer of plead guilty and life in prison, in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table. Coward to the end. These killers lack the part of the brain that feels empathy and compassion for others. Psychopaths are everywhere, even in politics. People who would rather profit over the lives of people are inherently psychopathic. You don't have to kill to be a psychopath, you just have to complicit in killing.

Rubislaw 32 link
3/31/2020 03:52:03 pm

Absolutely agreed , Richard , on both DeAngelo and psychopaths , in general . They are a parasitic scourge and never seem to give up , in trying to get their way .

Some statistics indicate as many as 3 in 100 men , and 1 in 100 women . The general consensus among psychologists tends to be that , if a psychopath is fortunate to have a loving and conventional upbringing , then they will tend to stay out of trouble , into adult life .

But , their potential to behave and act in a way that is '' foreign '' to most others , always exists....and , they often get themselves into minor scrapes , because of their limited capacity to experience normally fundamental human feelings .

One can only try to be aware enough to recognise them , and give them a '' wide berth '' ( ? ) .

With the Zodiac , I feel that he bangs on about Christmas and Halloween , because these events represent happier times , before a certain '' awareness '' was made apparent to him .

Then his world collapsed inside of him and , try as he might , he couldn't go for long periods without thoughts pertaining to that awareness continually coming back to haunt him .

He needed '' praise '' and lots of it , to be the antidote for his negative thoughts . Well , he was struggling to even find one friend that he could call a mate - so it was always going to be difficult , and he would tend to take '' rejection '' very badly indeed .

John Corbin link
5/19/2020 05:06:43 pm

Wow. Interesting. And to think the Zodiac's crosshairs, here, with that big, fat "zero" means something else entirely :-)


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    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.
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    The Zodiac Killer Map: Part of the Zodiac Killer Enigma by Randall Scott Clemons. Click image for color version
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