THE BURIALS BY THE LAKES

8/17/2019

Judith Hakari

Cragle, a conrtributor to the Zodiac Killer Site forum, brought up an extremely valid connection to the Lake of the Pines development in Auburn, Placer County with respect to the Boise Cascade Company. He stated "As we know Donna Lass was taken from Lake Tahoe, a card was then sent implying that she was buried at Incline Village on the north shore of the lake. Also a Christmas card was received with the quote 'St Donna & Guardian of the Pines'. Now what is the connection, Judith Hakari was abducted and then found near Weimar, CA. Weimar is next to Lake of the Pines. At the time Lake of the Pines was a brand new housing development which was still in the process of being finished. The developers of Lake of the Pines were the very same company that was responsible for Incline Village".

Western Lake Properties purchased three large ranches to create Lake of the Pines, including the Henry Pilliard spread, which was originally settled in 1860 on 1200 acres, and still had descendants running cattle on it well into the middle of the 20th century. Bulldozers carved into a natural basin of meadows and pasture land rimmed by pine forests and oak woodlands to cut out the imprint of the lake. The reservoir's dam was completed in 1966 and the 230-acre reservoir filled by April of the following year. In 1969, the Boise Cascade development company purchased the project, marketing the lots to older workers in the Bay Area and Southern California. While the developer continued construction on the common amenities, contractors were busy constructing spec houses aimed at retirees who were scaling down, and building custom vacation homes for buyers planning to use them as weekend getaways or future retirement villas. link.

On March 22nd 1971, the Zodiac Killer mailed a postcard insinuating his involvement in the disappearance and likely murder of Donna Lass in South Lake Tahoe on September 6th 1970. A newspaper report in March 1971 stated "the site depicted on the 'Pines Card' was from an advertisement published last Sunday by several newspapers. It was an artist's rendition of houses among the trees at a Boise Cascade Company project at Incline Village, where construction has just begun on the development. While much of the Sierra area is under several feet of snow, Incline Village has only two feet on the ground. Police went to the area to determine if a search is possible'. Chief Lauritzen added "There's no point to a search at this time. It's unlikely a victim would be uncovered before spring".
The body of Donna Lass was never recovered in the location of Incline Village despite an extensive search. However, the forum thread created by Cragle may have opened the door to another possibility regarding the Boise Cascade Company.

Police discover Judith Hakari's shallow grave

The similarity between the cases of Donna Lass and Judith Hakari cannot be overlooked, despite the fact the Zodiac Killer was likely responsible for neither. But that doesn't preclude him from claiming his involvement in both, through a link to the Boise Cascade Company. Choosing an advertisement from the newspapers about condominiums, appears a rather banal choice by the Zodiac Killer when we consider the flamboyant Halloween card that preceded it. If it wasn't chosen for the location of Incline Village as the burial site of Donna Lass, then was it chosen to supply a connection to a previous victim, thereby hinting he was responsible for both? If the newspapers could make the connection from Donna Lass to the murder of Judith Hakari, abducted from the Markston Apartments in Sacramento on March 7th 1970, then the Zodiac Killer was certainly not averse to pushing investigators down the same train of thought.

Both Lass and Hakari were nurses, abducted shortly after finishing their shift at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel and Sutter Hospital respectively. How long they were kept alive from the moment they were snatched is unknown, but the suspicious phone calls after the disappearance of Donna Lass stating she had been called out of town due to a family illness, may have served the purpose of buying time by her abductor. If the same perpetrator was responsible for both, could he have traveled Interstate 80 from Lake Tahoe to Sacramento, and therefore was familiar with forest regions spanning both. Judith Hakari's body was eventually discovered nearly two months after her disappearance (April 25th 1970) buried in a shallow grave aside Ponderosa Way. Could her killer have disposed of Donna Lass somewhere in this region?

The July 13th 1971 Monticello Card contained extremely similar pasted phrases to the March 22nd 1971 Pines Card, stating "Near Monticello Shought Victims 21 ...... In The Woods Dies April". The postcard was referring to the April 11th 1971 murder of Kathy Bilek in the Villa Montalvo woods, near the neighborhood of Monticello in San Jose. The Zodiac Killer chose Monticello for one reason alone - it sat alongside the burial location of one of his previously claimed victims, Kathy Snoozy. He had claimed her murder under the month of "Aug" in the November 8th 1969 'Dripping Pen' Card, killed in San Jose on August 3rd 1969 along with her friend Deborah Furlong. The funeral services and burial of Kathy Snoozy were held at Oak Hill Memorial Park at 300 Curtner Avenue, right next to the neighborhood of Monticello. This is why the Zodiac Killer chose "near Monticello" rather than any other location closer to Villa Montalvo. He was not only pinpointing this location to suggest he had a hand in the murder of the San Jose teenagers, but specifically chose the area by the gravesite of Kathy Snoozy because her forename was identical to that of Kathy Bilek. Not only was Kathy Bilek murdered in April, in the woods, near Monticello - but her name could be inferred in the Monticello card from the Oak Hill Memorial Park burial site of her namesake. The Pines Card may have served a similar function through the choice of Boise Cascade. It was discovered that by placing the Sierra Club phrase over the Sierra Club of Clair Tappaan Lodge (just west of Lake Tahoe), the punch-hole fell over the Donner Memorial State Park.

Car chase scene from Vanishing Point

The March 13th 1971 'Los Angeles' Letter was mailed nine days prior to the Donna Lass Pines Card, so it was equally interesting to find a loose connection in this communication also.

The Vanishing Point film, which previewed in the January of 1971, had the usual trailers, and was released to the general public on March 13th 1971, the exact mailing date of the Los Angeles letter, presumably authored by the Zodiac Killer. Here is some of the wording from the trailer: "They want to get him and put him away, but there'll have to catch him first". The author of the Los Angeles letter stated "If the Blue Meannies are evere going to catch me, they had best get off their fat asses + do something". The trailer of the film continued with a radio host from KOW reporting the chase "And there goes the Challenger being chased by the Blue, Blue Meanies on wheels". So, was the Vanishing Point trailer the inspiration for the March 13th 1971 Los Angeles letter, with its mailing date deliberately manufactured to marry up with the release date of the film? The Los Angeles letter arrived six months after the disappearance of Donna Ann Lass, who vanished close to the end of her shift at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel & Casino, never to be seen again.

The final scene in the Vanishing Point movie was filmed in Cisco, Utah, but in the film it was portrayed as Cisco, California. This is the location that the film's main character, Kowalski, met his death. Cisco, California is 11.7 miles west of Clair Tappaan Lodge, the Sierra Club identified by former detective Harvey Hines as the location depicted on the Pines Card. Cisco was 15 miles west of the Donner Memorial State Park. In another strange quirk of fate, the officer overseeing the conclusion to Kowalski's death after he ran his 1970 Dodge Challenger into the roadblock of bulldozers, was the character Deputy Collins played by Robert Donner.

The Zodiac Killer linked the Monticello Card to a victim he had previously claimed (Kathy Snoozy) by choosing the location of Monticello - so had he done the same using the location of the Boise Cascade Company developments situated at Incline Village and Lake of the Pines? The Boise Cascade development at Lake of the Pines were marketing the lots to older workers in the Bay Area, which may have come to the attention of the Zodiac Killer from the newspaper coverage - and why he ultimately chose this particular advertisement regarding Incline Village. Lake of the Pines is situated just 4.4 miles west of the burial site of Judith Hakari alongside Ponderosa Way. Was the Zodiac Killer inferring a link to another victim through this advertisement, bearing in mind he had already been linked to the Hakari murder by the newspapers - or is it just a case of finding faces in the clouds?

DESIGNING THE MONTICELLO CARD

THE STORY OF SAN JOSE

Rubislaw 32 link

8/17/2019 12:43:20 pm

''Hate to be a bore'',as the expression goes,Richard...but thought it worth chipping in,that William Grant's luxury chalet,and weekend retreat,was at Weimar.

Only ''heaven knows'',if there is a realistic link there....but there is certainly ''evidence'',that the Zodiac ''may'' have been impersonating Grant,at times.

Thanks for the article..just never realised Weimar's proximity to Judith Hakri's murder,before....and will examine the set of events,in more detail,now.

Richard

8/17/2019 02:44:25 pm

I am not prepared to comment on William Grant in respect to Zodiac, because I simply cannot add anything to the conversation. You know my stance on William Grant Rubislaw, so I will leave it to others to reply.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/17/2019 03:57:13 pm

There is a fairly comprehensive article about Judith Hakari's murder,at a site called ''Pretty Death Seller'',from one year ago.

It seems that Judith Hakari's murder has re-surfaced,as suspected more in keeping with the deeds of The Golden State Killer...as opposed to The Zodiac.

It appears that Ms.Hakari was sexually assaulted,beaten,and then strangled.Her body uncovered in a shallow grave,close to an old mine entrance.

As it transpires,the landowner recalls that six days following Ms.Hakari's disappearance,three men turned up,digging in the vicinity of,what turned out to be,where Judith's body was discovered.They told the landowner that they were searching for antique bottles.

The landowner was able to give a detailed description of one of the men.....and it was this man's description,that formed the composite of the ''wanted'' poster.

Though there had been a vague description given,of a man enquiring about Judith,at the hospital,where she worked.

Also,a suspect remains,as her fiance,Raymond Willis,who first reported her missing.The suggestion has been made,by the press,that Willis didn't seem to be dealt with,by the investigating police,as rigorously as might be expected,as in similar murder cases.

Richard

8/17/2019 11:48:48 pm

Absolutely, I tend to believe neither murder was Zodiac (although wouldn't rule out totally), but am trying to understand the meaning behind the cards with respect to his claiming of victims and why in this particular instance he decided to choose such an advertisement. The Zodiac Killer may not be the murderer but he may have connections to the area, so the choice of Boise Cascade and the selling of vacation areas could be specific to Zodiac. The article you reference does a very good job in covering the Hakari murder extensively, so it doesn't require me to parrot over the details, yet the Zodiac Killer was linked to many crimes but chose to interject himself into certain ones only. The Donna Lass case particularly fascinates because of his retrospective total of 12 (in my opinion) harking back to the relevant time period of her stay and departure from the Letterman General Hospital. This location, in alliance to the Sahara Tahoe Hotel nurses station, the Sutter Hospital and Albany Medical Center "shift change" threat, is a thread that permeated through 4 years, so on that basis it could tell us something about our killer, even if he wasn't the perpetrator in either of the crimes mentioned above. A personal connection to Lake Tahoe and vacation homes being one specific avenue. The so-called MO of Zodiac is tenuous and although his crimes in the Bay Area seemed to have no sexual component, this doesn't necessarily rule him out of sexual crimes in the future. Serial killers can evolve and change with time, so for me, this is not the overarching aspect of the Hakari murder that precludes the Zodiac as the perpetrator, just like the massive deviation in Zodiac's third and fourth attack wasn't evidence of his absence in both these slayings.
As you say, three men were suspiciously claiming to be digging up bottles on a stretch of land near where her body was found, along with the man asking for Judith at the hospital, but these leads led nowhere - so we are left with the crime scene, that clearly suggests she was abducted as she pulled into the parking lot of the Markston Apartments. Of course, there is always the possibility of the random attacker, who just happened to be in the area as she pulled in, but in the vast majority of murder cases the murderer is known to the victim and so this by statistics alone is the most likely answer. It is apparent she was removed from the vicinity by vehicle, so the killer or killers either trailed her from the hospital or lay in wait by the Markston Apartment complex. This to me, speaks of a planned attack by somebody who was known to Hakari, either through the hospital or the area where she resided, and targeted her specifically. They equally were likely familiar with the Weimar area and knew in advance the location where they were to dispose of her body. A killer will usually choose a dump site they have experience with, knowing such things as passing traffic, local residences, and an area where they can park up their vehicle for an extended period without it drawing unwanted attention. If this murder was pre-planned, which it appears it was, then the location he was going to hide the body was also likely preselected. The burial of the body is certainly not necessary from the standpoint of a random serial killer whose prime objective is to put as much distance between him and the victim, once the murder has been committed. In this case, why not park up in the location of where her body was ultimately found and throw the body from the vehicle and leave. The act of increased risk of detection by spending time to conceal the body, indicates a requirement to perform such an action. This is usually done by somebody who doesn't want the murder victim found, thereby not wanting a murder investigation initiated, where family, friends and acquaintances of the victim are usually the first port of call for police. The question in relation to Zodiac, is did he have a loose connection to the Letterman or Sutter Hospitals, thereby making him a realistic suspect in either case?

Richard

8/18/2019 12:21:14 am

The picture of the location of where her body was found is particularly relevant. It is noticeable there are buildings in the background. Choosing this specific area rather than a more wooded area devoid of buildings seems a rather telling choice. To spend any great length of time digging a grave near to buildings you have no familiarity with, and unaware of any occupied and related residences nearby, doesn't appear the obvious choice for somebody unfamiliar with the area. This person was confident he had enough time to bury Judith without the likelihood of intrusion or being disturbed, no matter what time this action was performed. Burying a body at night and illuminated by your own vehicle, near to shacks or buildings carries an obvious risk, but one the perpetrator had factored in beforehand with confidence. This confidence belies a person who knew this specific location. If I were interviewing potential suspects, it would be appropriate to question people who know the suspect with respect to their knowledge of that specific location on Ponderosa Way. The people who discovered the body gave their reason to be in that area - I believe they "remembered the old mine and abandoned cabin he’d previously explored in the area. He persuaded Reed to make a short detour to look at the abandoned mine before heading home". If they were in that particular area for that particular reason, then the killer may have previously been in that area for the very same reason - and why he knew, that despite the buildings present, he had little worry of detection. A killer known or familiar of Judith Hakari, who frequented that area of Weimar previously, who may have had knowledge of the abandoned mine, would be somebody who would peak my interest. Such people, I would guess, could possibly have photographs of their exploits in this area of Weimar or the old mine. I have little doubt the murderer of Judith had previous and quite possibly extensive knowledge of this specific location, where the buildings in the background can be clearly noted.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 12:30:57 am

Indeed Richard...and as you so pertinently point out,regarding the Zodiac :

''.....was linked to many crimes,but chose to interject himself into certain ones only.''

We are always ''looking for clues''....and they may equally come from what are actually,unrelated cases.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 12:56:33 am

I agree that ''those'' or a person responsible,must have had some prior knowledge of the area,where Judith was buried.

One can't help feeling,that the old mine,itself,had been earmarked,as a candidate place,to conceal her body [?].

But,then it was found that the mine's entrance was blocked.

Richard

8/18/2019 02:00:49 am

That is entirely plausible Rubislaw, as old mine shafts are in effect ready made graves, particularly ones of a descending nature and inaccessible to "tourism" or adventurers. This one maybe more accessible, but certainly a possibility. The question arises as to how long each victim, Lass and Hakari, were kept alive before being murdered. If they were targeted by the same individual, then he was likely familiar with the Sahara Tahoe Hotel and Sutter Hospital through both victims. Was this his simple MO, of trailing or stalking vulnerable nurses tired after a long shift, particularly the graveyard shift with near to no eyewitnesses.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 02:23:58 am

Certainly food for thought,Richard.

Since investigating police ''went'' with the composite,of one of the three men ''bottle hunting'',then one feels that the police felt that this was their best chance of solving the case.A ''factual'' body,in a ''factual'' place found.

So,that gives rise to the possibility that a gang of three,may have been,on the prowl,with nefarious intent,targetting such establishments,as hospitals.

More realistic,perhaps,is the scenario where one person is culpable....but succeeeds in persuading two associates,to assist him in disposing of a body.

Like Judith,her perpetrator was a ''townie''....but then went ''out of town'',to dispose of her.

Richard

8/18/2019 04:38:03 am

In the article on prettydeathseller.com is states "Detectives told The Bee that Hakari’s body was buried in a white canvas laundry bag manufactured specifically for the San Joaquin school district". San Joaquin County has the county seat of Stockton, where on October 27th 1970 Phyllis O'Brien Carson (32). a young mother of four children, was last seen after a night out at the Francis Truck Stop, French Camp, San Joaquin County, California. She had vanished without a trace, that is until family members received the heartbreaking news, just over three weeks later on November 21st 1970, that her body had been discovered laying down an embankment near to Yettner Road, only five miles from the family residence. San Joaquin County also incorporates Tracy, California where Kathleen Johns was abducted. If this white canvas bag was made specifically for the San Joaquin school district, then this bag could obviously have some connection to her abductor and murderer, used to transport her body in the back of the vehicle. San Joaquin is only 20 miles from Sacramento.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 05:37:34 am

Yes,this possible connection to the San Joaquin school district,at least,asks a question,with a possible answer to be found [?].

I'm going to try to look for more,on the case.Personally,I think that Raymond Willis,must be the No.1 suspect,with two ''obliging friends''.

Richard

8/18/2019 06:18:33 am

They usually are the first port of call in most police investigations, but if he was responsible (which I doubt) then he has to murder her body and co-opt close friends into helping him conceal her body approaching midnight. If they immediately disposed of her body at the location she was found, then it's a 90 minutes, plus at least 30 minute burial time (2 hrs total) to arrive back home from Ponderosa Way and phone police. She arrived home around 11:40 pm. That would leave him just 20 minutes to kill her and to drag friends out of their house nearing midnight. If they didn't bury her in that location, then you have to make the case for her being stored temporarily at a second location. He also has to stage her car how it was found if he murdered her in the apartment - he certainly wouldn't ring police with her body there - so has to somehow cajole a friend or friends to help him take her from the apartment to vehicle for transit. All extremely unlikely in a 2-hr window.
The medical examiner concluded she had been sexually assaulted, with her bra ripped in half and underwear beneath her body. If she arrived home around 11:40 pm, then her boyfriend has to immediately get angry enough to do all this, ring friends gullible enough to help him nearing midnight and get these fools to take her body away temporarily, until such time they can all drive to Weimar to dispose of her body. The whole scenario doesn't work for me. A simple abduction in the car park is far more likely.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 06:57:45 am

I see your point.

But two hours before Willis called anyone,after speaking with Judith,about to return home,from work.

Willis claims,that after speaking with Judith,he made plans to go to bed.Was Judith planning on returning home,and immediately going to bed [?].

Judith was self-sufficient,life in order.Willis was still living with his parents,and appeared to have little going for him,at the time....except Judith.Wills appeared to be a ''mummy's boy''.

Could be,an argument over him wanting sex,on her return....and he sussed that she was considering breaking off their engagement,and ditching him.He just didn't realize how angry he was capable,of becoming [?].

Willis may have had,up to one and a half hours to transport her body to a ''safe'' primary location,and return to Judith's flat [?].Then 4-5 days later,approaches two other ''mummy's boy'' friends.

Willis could have been,quite a manipulative person [?].He certainly looked ''angelic'' in his High School photo.

Perhaps it is terrible of me,to asses,so quickly [?]

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 08:05:29 am

This site,Richard,that has been our intitial source of information,seems as if it is a hobby,of a journalist at the Sacramento Bee [?].

It is very well laid out,but quite ''minimalist''....just sicking with stories of personal interest....with the largest proportion,tending to have links to GSK.

The site owner,also,obviously shares my suspicions about Willis.But,it is that person,that has presented Judith's case,with that slight ''bias'',perhaps [?].

I might think up some comments to offer,and see if it gets me anywhere,with more information.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 09:18:27 am

Judith Hakari went missing on March 7th 1970.Just over one year on,the Zodiac's ''Peek through the Pines''card is mailed,March 22nd 1971.

Judith's body was recovered,from a shallow grave,near 226 Ponderosa Way,Weimar.About 800 metres,directly west,of The Sierra Sun Cloud Inn.The Sierra Sun Cloud Inn is a beautiful hotel retreat,surrounded by pine trees.

Could there be a suggestive link,to the ''Sierra Club'',as labelled,on the ''Peek through the Pines'' postcard ?

If one accesses The Sierra Sun Cloud Inn,Weimar ....via Google,there is offered a nice collection of photos of the property,and its pines surround setting.

Worth a look.

Richard

8/18/2019 09:47:21 am

Don't take 226 Ponderosa Way as the exact area of her burial site Rubislaw - that was approximately the end point of Ponderosa Way, closest to the lake. I don't know the exact location, but I will look. I had to place the red pointer on Google maps to highlight the road, otherwise it wouldn't have been visible.

Richard

8/18/2019 09:50:33 am

"Lake of the Pines is situated just 4.4 miles west of the burial site of Judith Hakari alongside Ponderosa Way". I should have rephrased it to "Lake of the Pines is situated just 4.4 miles west of Ponderosa Way, the burial site of Judith Hakari". Sorry for any misunderstanding.

Richard

8/18/2019 10:01:48 am

I think the mine is very slightly east.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 09:33:18 am

William Grant's luxury chalet at Weimar,was actually owned by his wife,Marian.But she didn't take to the mountain air,as much as ''Bill'',and he was often there,on his own,for weekends.

Apart from the summer months,when she would encourage friends up there,for large Bar-B-Q's.This would include Lyndon and Yvonee Lafferty.Lafferty went,under ''sufferance'',since he couldn't stand Grant's company,but made the journey,for his wife's sake.

Lafferty claims,that he always ''packed a weapon''....just in case.

In case of what [?]...one might wonder.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 10:24:40 am

Just quite exciting,Richard,of another possible suggestive link,to the ''Pines'' postcard.

The Sierra Sun Cloud Inn.

Richard

8/18/2019 10:43:31 am

It would take a lot to usurp the Clair Tappaan "Sierra Club", as this was directly referenced, regardless, this crime is certainly worthy of a greater look, even if Zodiac had nothing to do with it, of which I highly suspect.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 02:16:30 pm

Yes,I have the impression that,the Clair Tappaan Lodge was where some of the Sierra Club ''bigwigs'' socialized,while their younger relations actually went out on mountain treks.

The Grants had an ''in'' on that social clique,through Marian being the legal secretary of Judge Raymond Sherwin.But,probably in the ''lower pecking order'' [?].

Marian was really,considered quite ''high society'' in her own right,with family wealth.She didn't seem to have had to work for a living,but chose to,''Bill'' married ''above his station'',socially,as was considered,in those days.

Locally,Marian was universally well liked....whereas ''Bill'' was considered ''prickly'',and a loner...but admired as a public speaker.

I will see if I can find out anything on the history of the Sierra Sun Cloud Inn.Maybe has links to the Sierra Club,itself [?].

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 02:37:13 pm

One might ruminate on whether the ''Pines'' card,if authentic Zodiac,represented a ''mocking'' of a ''peek through the pines'' to a shallow grave [?].Then establishing what,exactly,the cards ''basis'' was for.

Judith Hakrari,as a ''known'' victim of someone unknown,for example.And,of course locally,in the Vallejo/Benicia/Fairfield area,tongues would have wagged,in the knowledge that Bill Grant ''was'',or had been,a suspect in the Zodiac case.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 03:22:29 pm

Just on the ''tourist'' angle...

The Sierra Sun Cloud Inn - 685 Coyote Hill Rd.,Colefax CA 95713

A lodge atop a pretty wooded hill,with views of the Sierra Foothills.Recommended,to watch sunsets.A place of beauty.

Shawn

8/18/2019 06:28:13 pm

Here is a nice article about the Judith Hakari case.

Bride to be Murder: Who killed Judith Hakari

https://prettydeathseller.com/2018/08/26/who-killed-judith-hakari/

Rubislaw 32 link

8/18/2019 10:54:14 pm

Here is where I'm at :

The building that constitutes the Sierra Sun Cloud Inn,was built in 1989.

But,looking at the grounds,and its vistas,the site does appear to be long established.[Sacramento Valley - 360 degrees].

I have e-mailed the Colfax Area Historical Society,requesting any information,prior to 1989.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/19/2019 10:15:54 pm

Had the ''Peek through the Pines'' card been constructed,much earlier,than its 22nd March 1971 date,and actually referred to ''real'' shallow grave victim,Judith Hakari ? And,had nothing to do with Donna Lass' disappearance,6th September 1970 [?].

The ''Pines'' card,sent on 22nd March 1971,was the 1st anniversary,of the [...fabled [?]...] Kathleen Johns abduction.

The ''Pines'' card suggested ''12th victim sought''.Donna Lass went missing on 6th September 1970....and yet,on 26th June 1970,with the Zodiac's Button Letter,the Zodiac was claiming 12 victims already accomplished.

12 victims already accomplished,26th June 1970
Donna Lass missing,6th September 1970

If the ''Pines'' card is authentic Zodiac,with ''12th victim sought'',then it had to have been constructed,''before'' 26th June 1970...and therefore,more than two months ''before'' the disappearance of Donna Lass.

In addition,the Pre Stamped Envelope Card,depicting Lincoln,is a ''1962'' issue.Something from the Zodiac's collection of stamps and covers....and could have constructed the ''Pines'' card,''at any time''.

Was the ''Pines'' card,something ''held back'' by the Zodiac,with ''inspiration'' from Judith Hakari's makeshift grave discovery [?]....with the Zodiac deciding on the ''imprudence'' of sending it,at a given time....but,then using the ''Pines'' card,as a ''teaser'',much later on,in his series of extortion related correspondences.

Richard

8/19/2019 11:26:53 pm

I believe that the Pines Card was written by Zodiac effectively reminiscing that he sought Donna Lass prior to the Button letter in San Francisco, hence the past tense of sought. I too thought the Pines Card could have been prepared at an earlier time, until I saw the newspaper article in March 1971, stating "'the site depicted on the 'Pines Card' was from an advertisement published last Sunday by several newspapers. It was an artist's rendition of houses among the trees at a Boise Cascade Company project at Incline Village, where construction has just begun on the development. While much of the Sierra area is under several feet of snow, Incline Village has only two feet on the ground. Police went to the area to determine if a search is possible". This is shown on Tom Voigt's site dated as 27th March 1971. http://zodiackiller.com/LassArticles.html

Last Sunday in an article published on the 27th was the 21st March 1971, suggesting that the Zodiac Killer saw the rendition on the 21st March, cut and pasted it almost immediately.
If the site depicted on the Pines Card was taken exclusively from an article published last Sunday (on March 21st 71), then the Pines Card couldn't have been created sometime in mid 1970.

http://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4/9/7/1/4971630/peekthrough_orig.jpg

I have just taken another look at the original advertisement and I am very curious as to why an advertisement was ran in the newspapers for "forest pines at Incline" and stated at the bottom of the adverisement that "the attractive tree trunk gray buildings, which barely 'peek through the pines' will be open for the first time". The operative words here being "first time". The following line states "Preview Opening: Friday, Feb. 12". There was a Friday February 12th in 1971, but not in 1970 (which was a Thursday), so the Pines card couldn't have been prepared in 1970.
But why would an advertisement run in the newspapers on March 21st 1971, featuring a preview opening for February 12th 1971. That is a bit pointless and negates the whole purpose of the article. This needs explaining. One possibility, is that this advertisement was created days or months in advance of February 12th 1971 to advertise the preview opening. However, it doesn't explain why it would appear, effectively 6 weeks out of date on March 21st 1971.

Richard

8/20/2019 12:04:25 am

Because the advertisement doesn't specify a year, then Fri, Feb, 12 has to be February 12th 1971. This means that the advertisement was likely prepared by its designers in either January or early February 1971. That means Zodiac could have prepared the Pines Card earlier than March 21st 1971, to be postmarked on March 22nd 1971. I would assume therefore that this advertisement must have ran prior to February 12th, otherwise how could people know to attend the preview opening.

Richard

8/20/2019 12:27:00 am

The Chronicle article is actually the 26th March 1971, but it states in full "'the site depicted on the 'Pines Card' was from an advertisement published last Sunday by several newspapers. It was an artist's rendition of houses among the trees at a Boise Cascade Company project at Incline Village, where construction has just begun on the development. While much of the Sierra area is under several feet of snow, Incline Village has only two feet on the ground. Police went to the area to determine if a search is possible'. Chief Lauritzen added "There's no point to a search at this time. It's unlikely a victim would be uncovered before spring".

Chief Lauritzen is talking about the fact it's "unlikely a victim would be uncovered before spring". But this article was published on March 26th 1971 and Spring was already here. That means these quotes by Chief Lauritzen had been stated at a previous time (likely in January or February 1971, just before Spring). Hence, the advertisement that featured in several newspapers last Sunday, also has to be a Sunday in January or February that year - but crucially before February 12th, so as to make the advertisement some meaning. Therefore, Zodiac cut the advertisement from the newspapers either in January or early February, but didn't post the card until March 21st or 22nd of 1971.

Richard

8/20/2019 12:38:04 am

When I say these quotes by Chief Lauritzen had been stated at a previous time (likely in January or February 1971), obviously that cannot mean the first part of the quote referencing the Pines Card, just the final quote of "There's no point to a search at this time. It's unlikely a victim would be uncovered before spring". This older quote has effectively been tagged onto the newspaper article from a previous time.

Richard

8/20/2019 01:38:51 am

Or Zodiac used this advertisement from the Chronicle on the 19th March 1971, because this adverisement now says that the site is NOW OPEN, without any date attribution .

http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/14/97/36/88/peekth10.jpg

http://zodiackillersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=10

This is the answer finally I believe. The Zodiac Killer used the San Francisco Chronicle advertisement on March 19th 1971, then prepared his postcard for mailing on the 21st or 22nd March 1971. But the bottom line is, it couldn't have been constructed in 1970.

Richard

8/20/2019 03:47:57 am

The reason the Zodiac used the March 19th 1971 advertisement in the Chronicle as opposed to the one with Feb 12 on, is the Chronicle has "Peek" in capital form making "Peek through the pines" on his postcard, whereas the Feb 12 advertisement had "peek" uncapitalized in lower case.

Richard

8/20/2019 03:56:40 am

Compare the two.

http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/14/97/36/88/peek_t10.jpg

http://i67.servimg.com/u/f67/14/97/36/88/peekth10.jpg

Rubislaw 32 link

8/19/2019 11:26:45 pm

Perhaps an interesting time,with a police officer,from Tahoe,having recently produced a photograph,of a middle-aged woman from the 1980's showing a [....remarkable [?]...] resemblance to Donna Lass.

Is Donna Lass,''Auntie Leslie from Sacramento'' ?

It would be nice to see the story followed up,to a satisfactory conclusion.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/20/2019 05:35:22 am

You bring up some fascinating points,with regard to the ''Pines'' card,Richard....and I'm going to read through your points,a few more times.

Last night I was trying to make sense of it all,checking dates of 1970 ''confirmed'' Zodiac letters,with ''victim claims''...and in a couple of letters,''no victim claims,at all''.

As a general take,it just seems that the FBI's counter intelligence unit,were much busier,with the Zodiac correspondences,than perhaps previously thought [?].And,probably had the SF Chronicle,in particular,''in their pocket'',as part of a ''legitimate'' conspiracy.

Here is four Letters,from 1970,as an example :

June 24th,Little List Letter - 13 victims claimed
June 26th,Button Letter - 12 victims claimed
October 5th - 13 Hole Card - 13 victims implied [...uncomfirmed..]
October 27th - Halloween Card - 13 victims implied,14th to come.

And,then we have to cope with the ''Pines'' card...which I agree with you,is ''probably'' the real Zodiac...but with an ''in effect'' claim of 11 victims...but not materializing until March 1971.

Richard

8/20/2019 06:17:11 am

The 13 Hole Postcard, Halloween Card, Pines Card and Monticello Card I have near-zero doubt were Zodiac. There are just too many interconnections between them, including the Los Angeles Letter and Little List Letter etc. I have long gone above suspicion, to 99.99% certainty Rubislaw.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/20/2019 07:21:22 am

Me too...and that is part of the reason why I doubt that the FBI will ever let us see the Monticello Card,in full.

It gives too much away,and will confirm some of our already held suspicions.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/20/2019 07:13:00 am

Of course,of course...[?].

The ''1962'' issue of the ''Pre Stamped Envelope Card'' aspect,to the ''Pines'' card.is probably a ''giveaway'',of a sort....

It ''probably'' wasn't the Zodiac,who was ''holding back'' his ''Pines'' card,until March 22nd 1971.

It was the FBI holding back the Zodiac's Pine card,until ''that'' March 22nd 1971 date...and the 1st anniversary of Ms.John's ''claimed'' Zodiac related abduction.

Although we can't be sure,when exactly,the Zodiac did send his ''Pines'' card,it does tend to suggest that....

The FBI were using the Zodiac's ''Pines'' card,to at least,''compound'' the lie that they [LE] believed Ms.John's account,of her abduction.

By employing a 1962 Pre Stamped Envelope Card,the Zodiac was ''handing'' the FBI,something [the Pines Card],to use,just whenever it suited them.

''Basic mistake'' from the Zodiac....and taught him a lesson,''not'' to fall back on delving into his stamp and covers collection,to use as a ''then'' contemporary correspondence [?].

Richard

8/20/2019 07:51:25 am

The card was engineered by the Zodiac Killer sometime between March 19th 1971 and March 21st 1971, and mailed on the Sunday or Monday.
We can ascertain that the March 19th 1971 Chronicle was the advertisement Zodiac used for the Pines Card because "Peek through the pines" began with a capital letter, whereas the adverisements for "Forest Pines at Incline" displayed on other websites carry "peek through the pines" without the capital letter. The Zodiac Killer's postcard contained the capitalized version.
Therefore the FBI couldn't have held it back.

Shawn

8/20/2019 07:11:15 pm

Yes, I agree he probably used the Chronicle March 21st, 1971 version of the advert.

I wonder why he punched the all the shark bite type partial holes around the edge of the card.

Kinda looks he was making mailing stamp like perforations.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/20/2019 08:31:14 am

Logged,Richard.....and not wishing to split hairs...but this ''business'',with the ''Incline advert'' [?].

The graphic employed for that advert,goes back ''aways'',and is not new,in itself.

Is it possible that counter intelligence are responsible for the advert [?].

''Only asking''.

Richard

8/20/2019 09:30:46 am

"The graphic employed for that advert, goes back ''aways'',and is not new,in itself". Yes very true, we know the "Peek through the pines" phrase was cut in one continuous section and the advertisement is the obvious place Zodiac cut it from. This phrase wasn't cut from that Feb 12 advertisement because it was lower case. What we are left with, is the March 19th 1971 Chronicle advertisement with the lower case version. The March 27th 1971 Sacramento Union stated "'the site depicted on the 'Pines Card' was from an advertisement published last Sunday by several newspapers." That would have been Sunday 21st. So Zodiac could have taken it from the March 19th Chronicle or from the several newspapers on Sunday 21st.

This is why the statement of Chief Lauritzen is so out of kilter in the Sacramento Union paper dated March 27th. It stated "'the site depicted on the 'Pines Card' was from an advertisement published last Sunday by several newspapers. It was an artist's rendition of houses among the trees at a Boise Cascade Company project at Incline Village, where construction has just begun on the development. While much of the Sierra area is under several feet of snow, Incline Village has only two feet on the ground. Police went to the area to determine if a search is possible". Chief Lauritzen added "There's no point to a search at this time. It's unlikely a victim would be uncovered before spring".
So if this this quote by Chief Lauritzen was after the Pines Card had arrived, why was he saying "There's no point to a search at this time (meaning Incline Village). It's unlikely a victim would be uncovered before spring". But it already was Spring. The statement makes no sense, unless it was made in January, February or early March. However, if the statement was made in January, February or early March, the Pines Card wouldn't have arrived and this newspaper article wouldn't have existed. There is either something I'm missing or something is badly wrong.
There could be earlier newspaper advertisements than the one with Feb.12 on (not used by Zodiac) but we would have to find them.

I cannot reconcile the Sacramento Union stating "While much of the Sierra area is under several feet of snow, Incline Village has only two feet on the ground. Police went to the area to determine if a search is possible'. Chief Lauritzen added "There's no point to a search at this time. It's unlikely a victim would be uncovered before spring".
You would only be searching Incline Village specifically if the Pines Card had arrived. But why would you need to say there is no point in a search at this time and wait for Spring, when the Sacramento Union publication was March 27th and the Pines Card was March 22nd. Spring was approximately March 19/20th. Strange indeed.

Richard

8/20/2019 09:40:46 am

It is perfectly feasible to interpret from all of this, that the Pines Card was mailed before the date that it was actually claimed to have been postmarked. I'm sure the FBI files state March 22nd 1971. I need to look into this further. Unless Chief Lauritzen just misquoted.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/20/2019 09:40:57 am

Thinking about it...I'm going back to ''re-tread the treads'' on ''Pines'' card.

But it does seem possible,that counter intelligence could have ''sold a lie'',as an ''ensembe'',that included the ''Incline advert''.

One then wonders,if the FBI would have had to acquire permission,from those,with ''business interests'' [?].

It could also be that the SF Chronicle have ''traditionally'' gone along with most things,that the FBI have ''threwn at them'' [?].

To be ''part of the story'' and ''part of the action''.

Hence,my suspicions,over the recent ''2001 New Years Card''.

''No signature required'' [?].It's an insult to any interested person's intelligence.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/20/2019 11:05:15 am

Gosh,Richard...I didn't realize that the ''Incline advert'' went out to a number of newspapers [....could have been ''encourged'' to maximize the chances of the Zodiac getting the message that his acts of extortion,could be manipulated,at will,by counter intelligence...].''That'' for example,he was still going to be ''labelled'' with Ms.Johns' abduction,even though he was now ''re-acting'' against it,by for example,sending an intimidating Halloween card to Ms.Johns [?].

If true,I reckon that ''business interests'' were given assurances,and wouldn't have to pay a penny.

Free advertising.

Rubislaw 32 link

8/20/2019 02:13:29 pm

Hey Richard....I have just heard from the Colfax Historical Society.It didn't take them long [?].

They have asked me questions,myself,about the site,that houses the Sierra Sun Cloud Inn.So,it seems that they are not immediately knowledgeable about it.

But,optimistic news anyway....and will post to you,here,if they find that they know more about it.

It's all coming up roses.....maybe [?].

Richard

8/20/2019 02:35:00 pm

Every little bit helps Rubislaw. Should ask them the exact address of the mine on Ponderosa Way, along with any information they have on it.

Shawn

8/21/2019 05:09:55 am

Below are two links to articles regarding the finding of Hakari's body.

First one is a interview with the one of the two people that originally found her body, Leonard Theis. He was panning for gold and looking over places to fish. So it appears Hakari was found close to the American Canyon River off Ponderosa way.

https://ibb.co/qWyL7FK

https://ibb.co/zV9NfVn

LE thinks the murderer used Hakari's stockings to strangle her. Patricia King was also strangled with her stockings on 3/5/1970 at Mount Diablo Valley college football stadium.

Richard

8/21/2019 07:15:23 am

Thanks for the links Shawn - most helpful.

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