THE BULLET IN THE STINE LETTER?

8/31/2018

Just over a year ago we ran an article outlining the missing evidence at Lake Herman Road. Not only did a shell casing go missing from the crime scene to the submitted items at the Department of Justice, but a bullet was also missing from both the police report and the Department of Justice records.
Ten shots were fired that night- 5 shots to the back of Betty Lou Jensen, 1 shot into David Faraday, 2 shots into the Rambler and 2 were unaccounted for, believed to have missed their intended target. Betty Lou Jensen had five entry wounds and three exit wounds, however, only two bullets were ever recovered from outside the body of Betty Lou Jensen. These were noted in the police report and Department of Justice files below. In total, only seven bullets were ever retrieved. One bullet is missing from the record.

BB, a regular contributor to this site, pointed me in the direction of a 1995 'Great Crimes and Trials' video about the 'Zodiac Killers' which included the statement below.
As with many Zodiac documentaries it contained a fair degree of elementary mistakes, but one such statement in the documentary had a ring of truth about it. At the very least - bearing in mind the missing bullet - this statement caught the attention. It is not unusual to see errors reported about the Zodiac case, however, in this instance, the narrator seemingly conjured up an entirely new 'fact' about the October 13th 1969 Paul Stine letter never heard before.
The documentary stated:

"But any doubts about the killer's identity were dispelled the next day when a letter from Zodiac arrived at the San Francisco Chronicle. With it was a bloodstained piece of the driver's shirt and a bullet from the same pistol that had killed Jensen and Faraday."
Had the Zodiac Killer walked towards the stricken Betty Lou Jensen to check on her status and retrieved a bullet from the turnout floor for 'future use"? This may explain why only two of the three exit wound bullets were recovered from Betty Lou Jensen at the crime scene.
The police reporting of Presidio Heights was less than transparent in the aftermath of the Paul Stine murder. It wasn't too difficult to confirm that the bloodstained piece of shirt came from the corpse of the taxicab driver, but if a bullet had also been mailed with the letter, this would require interdepartmental cooperation from police involved with the murder of Jensen and Faraday to run a ballistics check. This may be the reason the details of the bullet were withheld from the newspapers until confirmation was acquired, or left out altogether. The police have openly admitted some evidence has been withheld from the public domain.

The October 13th 1969 letter was only the second time the killer had announced himself as the 'Zodiac', so despite linking himself with the Stine murder using the swatch of shirt, he may have wanted to leave no doubt in the mind of investigators that he was also the "same man who did in the people in the north bay area." In effect, bringing all four crimes under the banner of the Zodiac Killer.
Tom Voigt made a good point regarding the Lake Berryessa attack on the Zodiackiller.com message board, stating "I've always felt that Zodiac might have written a letter regarding the Berryessa attack, perhaps to the Napa newspaper, and since it wasn't printed (for whatever reason) he decided to include physical evidence in future letters."
When Vallejo Police Chief Jack Stiltz asked the Zodiac Killer for more proof that the letter writer and killer were the same person in the August 3rd 1969 Sunday Examiner & Chronicle, the Zodiac Killer could have supplied the bullet at this juncture, but as we know, the Zodiac Killer didn't always play by the rules. This may point to the fact that the killer had a broader agenda and always intended to kill in San Francisco.
There had been a spate of taxicab robberies in San Francisco in the months prior to the Paul Stine murder, so by inserting a bullet from the murder of Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday into the October 13th 1969 letter, this notion or connection would be completely dispelled.
The narrator in the 1995 'Great Crimes and Trials' documentary may have made a gross error in statement, but, to add to the Stine letter "a bullet from the same pistol that had killed Jensen and Faraday" from thin air, considering the missing bullet at Lake Herman Road, begs the question nonetheless.

38 Comments

Judith

8/31/2018 07:02:48 am

And there for, ipso facto. Zodiac did kill Paul Stine.
And he looks like the composite sketch and has the same physical description.
The original description, not the one altered by "Those who know better."
Fabulous work.
We're getting closer now to the resolution.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/31/2018 11:58:27 am

Hi Judith.

Did Peter have a significant scar,on the palm side of his right index finger ?

Judith

8/31/2018 12:56:11 pm

Not that I can recall specifically but he was covered in many many scars

8/31/2018 01:24:50 pm

Look at this thumbnail of the Model pistol most probably used by the killer in the LHR murders, and see if you recognize it.

https://www.shootersforum.com/trading-post/84944-wanted-jc-higgins-model-80-magazine.html

Tahoe27

9/1/2018 04:23:55 pm

A bullet in an envelope though? Possible, I just think there would have been signs. It's an interesting thought--just seems like we'd have heard about that before.

Tom

9/2/2018 06:57:07 am

Speculation adds to the confusion ,but it seems way more likely that Mr Z would have included a spent cartridge in the mail rather that a fired projectile. Not sure he could have found a bullet in the dark at an outdoor location.

9/2/2018 08:41:30 am

Hi Tom
The empty shells were accounted for. It was one of the bullets which were missing in evidence. The rounds in evidence have curtain characteristics which can be used as identification specific to a particular weapon. Law Enforcement specifically Ballistics are able to look up the serial numbers to these weapons (the JC Higgins model 80)

https://www.shootersforum.com/trading-post/84944-wanted-jc-higgins-model-80-magazine.html

and of course computers these days can do this in a nano-second (match up to registered owners and follow that paper trail back to LHR). Because they will be able to link it to those bullets they have in evidence. We now have technology they did not have back when I was in kindergarten 1969. Ballistics will be able to link these rounds to other crime scenes as well. It will be very interesting to find if the 1963 attack was also Zodiac since that was also a California lovers lane sort of murder where the couple were also shot in the back by a coward with Super X .22 caliber ammo.

Judith

9/1/2018 05:01:18 pm

Hi BB, I do not recognize that hand gun. I married Peter in 1978 when I was 19 years old. At that point in time he owned 2 handguns and 2 rifles. Many years later he would buy another handgun from an old friend which was "hot". He also had free access to his father's guns which were 2 rifles as I recall and only one hand gun which I believe was a snubnose .38.
We would go target shooting in the woods of Lake Shasta where Peter spent his summers growing up and where his parents eventually bought a vacation home.
One of the rifles was a .22 which was my most favorite to shoot, because it was easier than the hand guns which had a kick and the other rifle was large too.
The night before I fled from Peter, he called me out into the darkness of the woods at Lake Shasta. He wanted to show me something. He had taped a pen light to the barrel of the .22 rifle.
It created a circle of light with a dark spot in the middle. He pointed it at the pine trees. "If you ever need to shoot something in the dark, just do this and then just point at the spot in the circle and shoot." You might want to review the original LHR Police report.

These weapons were confiscated by the Pinole Police department and the released to a friend of Peter's who is still alive.

9/1/2018 06:08:47 pm

If ballistics link those rounds to any of his friends weapons we have a game set match, and Peter is the Zodiac.

Tom

9/2/2018 06:13:58 pm

The report above lists 9 casings recovered.

Tom

9/2/2018 06:29:53 pm

My bad, the investigating agencies misplaced the 10th casing.

Carl Krash link

9/2/2018 08:46:30 am

I have the same doubts as Tahoe27. I think (and likely Z would have) the bullet would tear thru the envelope during handling

OCinAZ

9/2/2018 09:43:05 am

Unless the bullet were wrapped in the piece of blood shirt I agree it would not survive handling through the mail. I had an auto dealership try to mail me a spare key once & all that arrived was an empty envelope with a tear in the corner.

9/2/2018 09:45:38 am

The .22 round/bullet/lead projectile is very small and light. When spent it typically is flattened - as the soft lead gets squished upon impact. To see for yourself you can break off a pencil eraser and squeeze it. The remaining shell was expelled and left at the scene. Which tells of a rim fired pattern - the rest of the evidence which together with the round says that the weapon used in all probability was a JC Higgins model 80. They now are able to look at who purchased one of these modern looking pistols with a long barrel for extreme accuracy. And, of course they would use a computer because it would take a person years to collate and, be able to cross check all the info to link a suspect to the crime scene.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/3/2018 08:23:59 am

Fascinating information,BB,for which I am largely ignorant.

Given the probability of a ''JC Higgins model 80'' used,is it likely they can trace ownership,going back 50 years ?

Apparently ''Rolls Royce'' have records of ownership,on every car that they ever made.

Is there any chance,with reputable makes of firearms ?

OCinAZ

9/3/2018 03:29:19 pm

As long as all sales were done through liscensed gun dealers there would be a paper trail. The main problems you run into are sales that don't require this ie: private sales, gun show sales etc..or (not in this case) if a gun is not required to be registered, example: antique guns.

9/3/2018 05:20:28 pm

Whether the ballistics trace back to LHR through Registrations, sales records, police records, serial numbers, or word of mouth, they just have to do it. Because, many people have suffered - and fifty years is enough.

And, handwriting seems too subjective. Same with witness testimony.

With that said the finger print and DNA approach ain't working either.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/3/2018 09:20:56 am

....this is really confirmation of what you have intimated.

If so,one has to wonder why they haven't done this before [?].

9/3/2018 10:14:56 am

Absolutely...
Thanks... But, Richard steered me to this months ago - it just took me a while to catch-on.
Absolutely to both of your comments.
But, it is Richard who deserves praise - I'm just astounded by all the amazing things I learn in this place he has created.
I am very curious - and I find learning fun. But, the uncertainty won't let my head stop spinning.
It is a challenge to me. To find out who or what is the Zodiac.
I don't care - who or what. I don't give a dam!
I just have to know.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/3/2018 05:28:31 pm

Hi BB and OCinAZ.

If I can just quote Zodiac,''Bus Bomb'' letter,page 2 :

''My killing tools have been boughten through the mail order outfits [outlets] before the ban went into efect,except one and it was bought out of the state.''

Any thoughts would be good [?].

Any knowledge of the ban,or new legislation,at the time [?].

[...if indeed,it applied to firearms...]

9/3/2018 05:49:56 pm

Wow!

That ban is mentioned here by HarryS.

https://www.shootersforum.com/trading-post/84944-wanted-jc-higgins-model-80-magazine.html

Rubislaw 32 link

9/3/2018 06:15:41 pm

Nice reference.

So,I see that ''Sears'' farmed out the manufacturing contract to a number of small companies,on the basis that they all put ''JC Higgins'' on the gun.

The gun would have been manufactured between 1957 and 1961,and would be normally only available,though mail order.

Then,the 1968 Gun Control Act,effectively,put ''Sears'' out of business,since mail order was their main form of sales.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/3/2018 06:30:04 pm

Am I being too pessimistic in thinking that the investigating police,will never trace that gun ?

I note that a ''JC Higgins model 80'',is worth about $800,now

Pretty pricey,for what was considered a ''cheap target pistol'' [?].

OCinAZ

9/3/2018 07:50:05 pm

That's actually good that a .22 is worth so much now. Worth more/possibly more collectable may be easier to find. Providing Z didn't destroy/permanently dispose of the guns after use. I go back & forth on what I think he may have done with them & either is just a guess, so who knows...
California is my home state & the gun laws are MUCH stricter there than Arizona where I am now. In order to start any history of a CA gun you have to assume it was registered to begin with.

9/4/2018 09:34:46 am

''My killing tools have been boughten through the mail order outfits before the ban went into efect,except one and it was bought out of the state.''

Rubislaw 32 - Are you thinking when the Zodiac said this - he was talking about that Higgins 80 being the one killing tool bought out of state.

Tom

9/4/2018 06:45:41 am

Hi Standard produced the .22 caliber for Sears.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/3/2018 07:46:49 pm

Hey,I'm not too despondent.

Some might disagree,but I think we may have got a ''result'' of a sort [?].

And,''JC Higgins model 80'' might prove magic words,in terms of knowledge.

I'm even thinking,that,not only was Paul Stine the last man,that Zodiac killed,but the last time that Zodiac used a gun,on anyone.

He may have considered that ''Ballistics'' would eventually catch him,if ''Forensics'' didn't [?].

From now on,it would be,by other means,and he may have been thinking,''by knife''.

Personally,I believe that he did kill again,but it ended up,as ''strangulation'' and ''blunt force trauma''.

Whatever the means,he ''did'' kill again.

Judith

9/3/2018 09:08:52 pm

I reported my knowledge of Peter's weapons to the Vallejo Police Department sometime around 2005. This is what they told me, "Even if we were able to get a warrant to get the weapons, it's been so long ago, how would we ever prove who was actually shooting them." I also understand that it would be nearly impossible to determine ballistics from Lake Herman Road because the barrel of the gun had been treated in some special manner. I'm not sure about the ballistics of Blue Rock Springs or San Francisco.

We will have to wait on the DNA results. They featured the DNA researcher who solved the Golden State killer case recently on our local news. She said she had to search through 1,000 ancestor Records before they boiled it down to six men. She knew from his DNA he had blue eyes. I also noticed she had written down Italian and Aggressive. They asked the California DMV to pull up the six suspected men's identification.
D'Angelo was the only one with blue eyes.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/4/2018 12:30:30 pm

Yes Judith,I sympathise with you.....''Even if we were able to get a warrant......''

The classic ''lame'' excuse for electing to not do anything,or that orders have come,from ''up above'',not to proceed further.

There are countless cases of individuals,that are sent to prison,for having found to have harboured guns,that were found to have been used in a serious crime,such as ''armed robbery''.or murder.

These individuals may well have been innocent of the serious crime,but are,nevertheless,found to be in the possession of a particular weapon....with the cops saying,in effect : ''Well,if you won't speak up,we'll do you for ''possession''.''.And,the cops knowing full well that the person in possession,would be killed by ''hoods'',if they did speak up.''

So,when it suits the cops,to ''exercise muscle'',they can do so....and when it doesn't suit them,they won't.

Tom

9/4/2018 07:58:23 pm

We could go on forever about bueracratic malaise, but I don’t think it quite fits here.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/4/2018 10:47:05 am

Hi BB.

When Zodiac talked about ''killing tools'' [plural],we can't be certain that he was talking exclusively about ''guns''.

My inclinations are that the ''JC Higgins model 80'' was acquired,via mail order,which,on a basis of high probability,''should'' be the case.

So,then we have to assess the possibility,that Zodiac owned a second gun....which,unlike the ''Higgins'',''may'' be traceable.

The best thing,I believe,is to go through official reports on LHR,BRS,and Paul Stine's murder,to see if we fully understand ''transparency'',on weapons ''purportedly'' employed.

If anyone has confirmed knowledge,could they please speak up,now ?

Rubislaw 32 link

9/5/2018 12:33:10 am

Well Tom,I believe the point is that,a ''paper trail'' might always be found,if there is the will,to do so.

Without the willingness,there is no hope.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/4/2018 11:54:52 pm

Just something extra,that your readers might like to think about....

I've always thought that,it was Zodiac's car,at a given time,that was ''bought out of the state''.I believe that his car was mainly selected,to be possibly mistaken for someone else's...then he added false licence plates,for the whole impersonation.

Zodiac just had to make sure,that he was never stopped,by the cops,to the extent,that they gave his car,a ''proper going over''.

''That'',was probably,part of the thrill for Zodiac,as a motorist,and the games he appeared to have played,with the Highway Police.

That the ''JC Higgins model 80'' has come up,for discussion,is really a ''success'',and this is the best ''inroads'' into ''My killing tools have been boughten....'',to date.

Richard

9/5/2018 01:17:46 am

The Department of Justice report stated that the submitted items corresponded with the use of a J C Higgins 80 pistol, "although it must not be assumed that the exhibits must have been fired in such a weapon."
The J C Higgins 80 is just one possibility, but corresponded is just that- we cannot fully determine the identity of the weapon used by Zodiac. Not to mention that 'All bullets submitted were Western copper coated .22 long rifle bullets, although some were damaged, it was possible to determine ALL but Item [1] had 6 right hand groove class characteristics.'
Leaving open the possibility of a second weapon. What I find interesting regarding the 'bullet in the mail' idea, is why didn't Zodiac simply use the same weapon in all his gun attacks. He went to extraordinary lengths with shirt pieces, writing on the car door and sending in details only he and the police knew, when he could easily have just used the same weapon on each occasion. The idea he needs to immediately dispose of the gun because the risks were too high, are completely negated by the extraordinary risks he took at Lake Berryessa and Presidio Heights. Concealing his weapon under the floorboards of his house until needed or burying the weapon in a wood until required is hardly close to the risk he took in perpetrating his crimes. I doubt highly that any weapon he used could ever be traced with a paper trail. Buying guns in America on the black market is hardly difficult.

9/5/2018 12:02:50 pm

The police take note of all weapon's # 's after picking them up and before disposal.
These records must be collated to track the psychopaths down.
I hear your frustration. Many days I feel like I will give up hope.
We must fight with ourselves. Get mad Richard.
'Rage, rage against the dying of the light'.
We need you. We obviously can't go it alone.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/5/2018 12:50:23 pm

Stirring stuff,not least the words of Dylan Thomas,which is arguably the most passionate line,ever written,in the history of the English Language.

That's the key....passion.

If we throw 20 ideas,up in the air,and only one sticks....then its worth it.

Keep walking around that four-legged table,looking for weakness.Check one leg,for a while,then move on....until we collapse the whole table.

It's the ''de-constructivists'',I can't abide.Just an excuse for an unwillingness,to put in the work.

In the last week,I have written e-mails to a journalist scholar from Boston,an ex-leader of The Black Panther Party,and the Editor of an internationally renowned newspaper.

Two of them have blanked me...but,I am currently exchanging ideas with one of them.

That's a ''result'',in my book.

The Zodiac's downfall is going to happen.It's just a case of ''when'',and not ''if''.

We must keep the passion.

Judith

9/5/2018 04:54:06 pm

It sounds to me like there has been progress with the DNA this summer. This case will be solved. Anyone with a suspect should have a family member submit their DNA a major company like ancestry.com and then submit the raw DNA results to GEDmatch. This is your best chance.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/5/2018 07:58:40 pm

That's interesting,Judith,your interpretation,on current purported events.

And granted,we are,to an extent,''shooting the breeze''on this subject,with my passion,more about understanding what ''that monster'' got up to.

What sticks a bit,on the whole Poyser/Vallejo Police statement,was :

''Currently,we are not close to identifying a suspect,nor do we anticipate developing that information,at any time in the near future.''

Well,''blow me over with a feather''....why did Poyser and the V.P.D.come out with ''private lab,et al'',in the first place [?].

I believe ''they'' already have their man,via Sacramento,Washington,and ''other places''.It's really a case,of being able to convert,into conviction.

The ''answer'' to my last post was ''Editor'',by the way.An unexpected ''perk'' was being able to mail extra details,contained in an envelope,for which I was able to justifiably write :

''Please rush to Editor''

Could that be construed as ''positive extortion'' ?

THE BULLET IN THE STINE LETTER?

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