Shortly after the first two attacks at Lake Herman Road and Blue Rock Springs Park the 'Debut of Zodiac' letter arrived with the now infamous crosshairs. The origin of this symbol has often given rise to many theories such as the Zodiac watch, a gun-sight or a film leader used in motion picture reels. However is it possible the origin of the symbol was born from the origin of the Zodiac Killer, from where he began his murderous assault, the area of Riverside County. The 'Los Angeles' letter mailed on March 13th 1971 would concede the Riverside connection and the murder of Cheri Jo Bates on Sunday October 30th 1966, stating "I do have to give them credit for stumbling across my riverside activity, but they are only finding the easy ones, there are a hell of a lot more down there." A connection was forged through correspondence sent by the alleged killer in Riverside, in particular three letters sent to Joseph Bates, Riverside Press Enterprise and Riverside Police, bearing what looked like a letter Z signing off the letters. But was the area of Riverside the inspiration behind the infamous crossed circle and the inception of his murderous beginnings.
Cheri Jo Bates was brutally attacked in the alleyway close to the Riverside Library annex. Two key pieces of evidence were retrieved, heel prints made from a heel manufactured for military and other government agencies, and a Timex watch ripped from the assailant, found just ten feet from the body and bearing white paint splashes.
It was suggested that had Cheri Jo Bates' killer been a stranger or somebody not connected to the Riverside City College Library, her obvious choice after being unable to start her Volkswagen Beetle, would have been to return to the library to seek assistance, it was after all only a minute's walk away. On reaching the alleyway, the killer realizing his opportunity was slipping away, dragged her into the upper reaches of the alleyway and began his savage attack, hence her body being found so close to Terracina Drive. Cheri Jo Bates may not have known her killer, or known of him but didn't feel comfortable around him. Somebody however that knew of her, knew her address and possibly knew her father, such as a friend or work colleague of Joseph Bates. A person that could easily have trailed her from her 4195 Via San Jose residence to the Riverside library and was fully aware of the vehicle she drove.
Cheri Jo Bates was brutally attacked in the alleyway close to the Riverside Library annex. Two key pieces of evidence were retrieved, heel prints made from a heel manufactured for military and other government agencies, and a Timex watch ripped from the assailant, found just ten feet from the body and bearing white paint splashes.
It was suggested that had Cheri Jo Bates' killer been a stranger or somebody not connected to the Riverside City College Library, her obvious choice after being unable to start her Volkswagen Beetle, would have been to return to the library to seek assistance, it was after all only a minute's walk away. On reaching the alleyway, the killer realizing his opportunity was slipping away, dragged her into the upper reaches of the alleyway and began his savage attack, hence her body being found so close to Terracina Drive. Cheri Jo Bates may not have known her killer, or known of him but didn't feel comfortable around him. Somebody however that knew of her, knew her address and possibly knew her father, such as a friend or work colleague of Joseph Bates. A person that could easily have trailed her from her 4195 Via San Jose residence to the Riverside library and was fully aware of the vehicle she drove.
The birthplace of Zodiac ? Click to enter Google Maps. Joseph Bates worked as a machinist at the Corona Naval Ordnance Laboratory.
Corona, California is situated in Riverside County, only 15 miles south west of central Riverside, a relatively short journey of 17 minutes by car.
Was the murderer of Cheri Jo Bates connected to the Corona Naval Laboratory, did he own military style footwear and were the paint flecks found on the watch somehow derived from this facility, possibly while machining or other contact.
Corona used to hold car racing around its city center in the early 1900's, on account of it's unique layout incorporating Main Street, East Grand Boulevard and West Grand Boulevard, forming a perfect circle. It was originally called South Riverside and is widely known as 'Circle City'
Main Street was a straight north-south thoroughfare until it was redesigned in recent years, adding a deviation around its east-west 6th Street crossover point.
This image on Google Maps shows the layout of Corona now, whereas in this following image on Hemmings Daily we see the perfect crosshairs of the 'Circled City.'
If the connection between the Bay Area murderer and Riverside exists, then this may have been the very inception of our killer, a man on the very fringes of Cheri Jo Bates' life, a man on the very fringes of Riverside and a crossed circle born from the 'Circled City' of Corona.
"I do have to give them credit for stumbling a-cross my riverside activity."
Corona, California is situated in Riverside County, only 15 miles south west of central Riverside, a relatively short journey of 17 minutes by car.
Was the murderer of Cheri Jo Bates connected to the Corona Naval Laboratory, did he own military style footwear and were the paint flecks found on the watch somehow derived from this facility, possibly while machining or other contact.
Corona used to hold car racing around its city center in the early 1900's, on account of it's unique layout incorporating Main Street, East Grand Boulevard and West Grand Boulevard, forming a perfect circle. It was originally called South Riverside and is widely known as 'Circle City'
Main Street was a straight north-south thoroughfare until it was redesigned in recent years, adding a deviation around its east-west 6th Street crossover point.
This image on Google Maps shows the layout of Corona now, whereas in this following image on Hemmings Daily we see the perfect crosshairs of the 'Circled City.'
If the connection between the Bay Area murderer and Riverside exists, then this may have been the very inception of our killer, a man on the very fringes of Cheri Jo Bates' life, a man on the very fringes of Riverside and a crossed circle born from the 'Circled City' of Corona.
"I do have to give them credit for stumbling a-cross my riverside activity."
