ZODIAC CIPHERS
RICHARD GRINELL, COVENTRY, ENGLAND
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THE EQUINOX LETTER

11/1/2017

 
In 1975, an FBI document detailed a possible Zodiac correspondence which has become known as the 'Equinox' letter. The slip of paper was yellow in color and the message was largely handwritten in blue felt tip pen. The style of the writing has more in common with the Zodiac Red Phantom letter rather than his copious other earlier communications, nevertheless, it is interesting for a number of reasons, other than the obvious astrology connection.

A man from Fresno, California, handed it in to law enforcement and stated that "over the July 4th 1975 weekend he had visited his brother-in-law at his residence in Oakland, California. During the visit his brother-in-law had showed him a 1968 Datsun 1600 sports car bearing California license plates, which he said had been given to him a week before by a co-employee. The car had not been driven for some time and had no 1975 registration tags. In the front floorboard of the vehicle he found the enclosed note among some newspapers and other discarded papers. He said he read a good deal about the Zodiac murder case and feels this note may have been written by Zodiac. He advised he further suspects that his brother-in-law may be involved because of his hippy-type life style and because his brother-in-law once told him he was at the scene of the taxicab driver murder in San Francisco the night it occurred and made very discouraging remarks about the police investigation into the matter. He advised he reported this to the Fresno Police Department but did not feel that anything was done with the information, and he, therefore, contacted the FBI with his present information".   
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The note began with EQUINOX 3:33 p.m.
The note appeared to be almost three years old, based on the date of September 22nd 1972, which was offered on the next line. A quick check of the September 22nd Equinox in 1972 for Oakland, gives us a Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) of 15:32 or 3:32 pm, which almost matches the exact time displayed on the Equinox letter.

At the foot of the note the author has highlighted in bold capitals FULL ARIES MOON. September 22nd 1972 was a full moon. September 22nd is the final day of Virgo in the horoscope calendar. The 14th April (4/14/41) falls under the ARIES sign, but there was no full moon in 1941 for this date. It was a full moon on April 11th 1941 in Aries. It was a new moon on October 11th 1969 when Paul Stine was murdered in San Francisco. Seemingly Phil G was an Aries and September 22nd 1972 was a full moon.

The note began with "Equinox 3:33 p.m. Can't make it Sat. Nite but the spell is broken & I hope I'll see you more than ever?"

Just under three months prior to this letter, Edward J Salmina, sports editor of the Novato Advance received a hand-printed 'death note' signed Zodiac. The newspaper article of June 30th 1972 read The hand-printed letter said: "If you leave your house past 3:13:47 on the next ten Saturdays, you will be killed". In the lower left corner under the heading "message" were a series of symbols. Salmina of 25 Crescent Lane told police he didn't know who or why anyone would send him such a letter". Crescent Lane is situated in Novato, Marin County, approximately thirty miles from Oakland (where the brother-in-law lived).

The two similarities between the Equinox note and the Death note sent to Edward J Salmina, were the time presented on each correspondence. The first note, sent just prior to June 30th 1972 stated a time of 3:13:47, the second note on September 22nd 1972, a time of 3:33 p.m. - only 19 minutes difference. The second similarity was the mention of Saturday in both notes. Incidentally, ten Saturdays from the date of the Death note would have been September 2nd 1972, twenty days before the Equinox note. 

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The third event in this 30 mile radius was the attempted murder of Isobel Watson. Isobel Watson (33) had just got off the bus on the evening of April 7th 1972, and was walking home along Pine Hill Road, Tamalpais Valley, Marin County at 9:00 pm, when a light colored vehicle veered towards her, knocking her to the ground. [view on google maps]. The driver exited his vehicle offering to take her home, but after she had refused his offer of apparent help a second time, the concerned citizen suddenly became enraged, pulling out a knife and stabbing the woman in the neck and shoulder. ​Her screams alerted the neighborhood, forcing the assailant into a hasty retreat from the scene.

She was treated at Marin General Hospital and fortunately survived the brutal attack. Her description of the man alerted investigators to a possible Zodiac connection, that of a man with heavy rimmed black glasses, in his early 40s, 5'9" in height and short brown hair. It was not overlooked by police that the killer had attempted to lure the woman into his vehicle, not dissimilar to the method employed in the Modesto abduction of Kathleen Johns. These are three unlikely Zodiac connections, however, all three occurred in relatively close proximity to one another within a six month period. 

Subsequent to writing this article the identity of the author of the Equinox letter has been named as Phillip Gordon Gietzen. Thanks to Mike Morford.

Lemonboy
11/1/2017 07:25:55 am

Has this letter been compared to the zodiac letters?Great work as I have never seen nor heard of this letter before.

Richard
11/1/2017 07:39:43 am

I'm sure it has been examined, but by whom and what conclusion they came to, is anyone's guess.

Rubislaw 32 link
11/1/2017 09:34:01 am

Good to see the Equinox note,looking at its best,Richard.

The yellow background,sets it off well.

As you might have guessed,I am a follower of the religion,according to Sherwood Morrill [!].

This ''unconfirmed'',however,is one of the few that I don't believe in.

Zodiac was ''big'' on anniversaries,and I believed that he took an interest in Astronomy.But I do think that,any Astrology side has been ''hyped up'',to an extent.

His ''times'' after all,was the height of the ''Space Race'',and many intelligent people,were looking ''skyward'' [?].

This note,and the ''Draftboard sketches'',just don't float my boat,as Zodiac related.

But,nice to see,and interesting article,from you.

Richard
11/1/2017 02:32:26 pm

Mike Morford reliably tells me Phillip Gordon Gietzen is the likely author http://zodiackillersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=170&p=275&hilit=gietzen#p275.

Toots
12/2/2018 08:34:22 pm

Richard,
If you could take a look at this online comment written by my suspect in 2012. This is the same suspect that is currently being investigated (dna analysis by Sacramento police). Look at the 3rd comment by Connelly.

http://www.gendisasters.com/california/11659/sacramento-ca-jet-crashes-ice-cream-parlor-sep-1972

I believe Connelly wrote the Equinox letter several years after this airplane "accident", as a clue to his involvement in the plane malfunctioning and crashing. A 2nd plane crash happened within months of this one, to the same person that Connelly wrote the letter to...William Penn Patrick. What are the odds of 2 vintage fighter planes crashing within months of each other, owned by the same person?? The same person that my suspect had a grudge against.

Richard
12/2/2018 09:57:31 pm

I suppose one can argue that vintage planes do crash, and occasionally owned by the same person. Some people get struck by lightning on multiple occasions despite the odds being astronomical. Would somebody murder 22 innocent people to get at one? For me, when I saw Mike Morford state Phillip Gordon Gietzen wrote the Equinox letter, the handwriting (along with other things) convinced me this was likely true. Unfortunately Toots I couldn't possibly ascertain anymore than you have on this person of interest, whether it be the plane crashes or his involvement further afield. You probably know my stance on suspects and ciphers Toots, I usually avoid commenting on them like the plague, because I know how they generate heated debate. I wish you well in your search, but I doubt I could add anything to what you already know. Additionally, this person is still alive, under investigation, so it's dodgy ground when discussing such individuals.

Toots
12/5/2018 08:03:02 pm

Richard,
Suspect died 2 years ago.

M.
1/27/2019 03:10:38 am

The Equinox letter was most certainly written by Phil Gietzen. That's his printing. Same birthdate. He was my tenant in SF in the 80's and I got to know him quite well. In fact, we met for drinks frequently for about a year. He drank quite a bit and had a raging, hateful temper that surfaced over time, once even threatening to kill me because I laughed at him when he talked about violence toward straight couples and others. He was a weak, obese, pale, wire haired, balding, often drunk red-head. Slight southern accent. Talked about Johnson City Tennessee and a city in North Carolina I don't remember. He also made jokes about how effective the Klan was in Tennessee. Just gross getting to know him, really. His boyfriend masqueraded as a food critic to get good tables and service. Phil called the kid his "consort", and compared himself to royalty, when in fact the "consort" should have stood for Con-Escort. Phil pretty much made me sick, and he was quite ugly at a time when SF and the Castro district was filled with much more handsome people than Phil. I was then, and still am, quietly masculine. Certainly gay but a man's man. When Phil moved in my boyfriend and I gifted Phil a nice Weller Pottery planter. It suited Phil's decorating style. Older stuff. Antiques. Lots of wood. Anyway, once I smirked at Phil when he talked of harming others and he threatened to literally kill me or hurt "someone close to me". All that did was piss me off. I told Phil I'd gut his fat ass if he ever threatened me again, and soon thereafter he decided to move elsewhere. I never saw him again, but did hear he had launched an architectural office, hiring drinking draftsmen and keeping gallon jugs of cheap wine next to each drafting table. There's much more. I saw photos of young Phil in his apartment. With the glasses and crew cut, he looked quite a bit like one of the drawings of the Zodiac assailant. I understand Phil died some years ago. His memory lives on. What a jerk.

Toots
7/23/2019 12:47:08 pm

So the only thing you've established is that Phil G. was a jerk and that 4/14/41 was his DOB and that looks like his handwriting. Why on earth would someone write their own DOB after their own name? And why would an architect write a coded note? Doesnt make sense. Sounds like who ever wrote that note was trying to get back at a jerk...Phil G.

Brian
11/13/2017 10:36:05 am

This note was not written by the Zodiak

Toots
4/8/2018 08:00:40 am

I have a theory on this Equinox letter that hasn't been raised before that I would like opinions.

I know of POI that owned a plane during the early 70's which he kept at Gnoss Field, Novato CA. This airport/training center was operated by Spectrum Air, which was owned by the William Penn Patrick business empire (Holiday Magic).

POI had a feud with the airport General Mgr, Richard L. Bingham.

POI wrote a letter to Bingham's boss, William Penn Patrick, complaining of Bingham.

9/22/72 - 9/24/72 - Golden West Sport Aviation Air Show (Sacramento, CA Executive Airport)

9/24/72 - Bingham crashed his Sabre Mark 5 jet into Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor after the airshow, 22 fatalities.

Of the 22 fatalities, 9 were in one family, 2 in another, 2 in another, 7 in a group party, 2 in another.

Was POI involved with foul play of airplane? Then wrote the Equinox letter after the crash? Finding the Autumn Equinox date coincidence with the # of parties in the fatality?

NTSB concluded Bingham's crash was pilot error.

Edward Salmina, sports reporter for the Novato Advance received a death note at his residence in Novato.

Salmina seemed to know the Gnoss family.

Was death letter to Salmina a cryptic way of Gnoss field to Z?

6/9/73 - William Patrick died in his own plane crash, 2 died. Foul play again?

What's the probability of 2 vintage planes owned by Patrick crashing within 6 months?

POI lived on Mt. Tam and was also into home building & design.
Did POI know Phillip Gordon Gietzen?


Toots
7/9/2019 12:43:16 pm

Richard,
Rubislaw thought you'd be interested in posting my research on the Equinox letter and Sacramento airplane crash, specifically as it pertains to Salmina and Penn.

Toots
7/22/2019 06:18:11 pm

Richard,
I did some research on 'Full Aries Moon', which occurs 2 days after the Autumn Equinox, so 9/24/1972 the full moon was in Aries. The Full Aries Moon is also called the Harvest Moon.

In Astrology, the Moon takes a little over two days to move through a Zodiac sign. Your Sun sign dictates your zodiac personality, while your Moon sign, the second most important influence in your horoscope chart after the Sun, represents your emotions, your inner mood.

https://www.elitedaily.com/p/the-difference-between-harvest-moon-autumn-equinox-lies-in-their-spiritual-effects-11980219

Yes, Phil G. was born under the Aries horoscope, but I believe this letter is more about a disaster that occurred on 9/24/72, and not written by Phil G.

Richard
7/23/2019 01:54:56 pm

I stopped posting other research a while back Toots, because before you know it, lots of other people want their research published - and I cannot always endorse it. You are of course free to post your findings on any recent post if you want people to find it. As for Penn and Salmina, I have been consistent now for many years in avoiding delving deeply into other people's particular suspects, other than to say I don't subscribe to any of them. [1] I don't think it's possible to link a particular individual to Zodiac with circumstantial evidence because too long has elapsed and [2] It would blinker my impartiality. Linking certain subjects to individual letters such as the Equinox letter is a different matter entirely. Post your material in one of the current articles for better exposure, because these older pages get significantly less views. It doesn't matter if it's off topic.

Mo
8/1/2020 06:36:42 am

Hey Richard,

I feel it’s probably more appropriate to bring my comments about the Equinox Letter here even if only you read it. I am obviously a latecomers to this topic, but I feel it’s importance maybe understated. Here are a few interesting tidbits I gathered from your post, Morford’s website and other comments:

-The coworker of the author of the Equinox Letter said he was present at the Stine murder scene (according to an FBI document).
-The author was a gay architect with a mean-spirited side, including threatening to kill people or hurt their loved ones (according to comments by his landlord).
-He also worked at the SF International Film Festival and was involved in production, broadcasting, etc (according to his resume).
-The number 14 features prominently in the Equinox Letter (as it does in the Halloween Card).
-He definitely fits the SFPD composite sketch.

http://www.zodiackillersite.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=170

Richard
8/1/2020 09:42:08 am

The threat on Ed Salmina also interesting because Phillip Gietzen was a sports editor at the Novato Advance. Phillip Gietzen worked as an architect, but had previously been an editor. I wonder if he crossed paths with Salmina - enough to hold a grudge. The resume certainly indicated an artistic flair. Interesting stuff Mo, that I previously brushed off shortly after writing this article.

Richard
8/1/2020 09:52:20 am

Westinghouse Broadcasting was also well known for two long-running television programs, the Mike Douglas Show and PM Magazine (called Evening Magazine in Group W's core broadcast markets).

Richard
8/1/2020 09:53:50 am

Jarman moved to working behind the scenes. He ran the San Francisco Film Festival for 15 years (1965–1980) and was known for his in-depth retrospectives of movie stars and directors. He was Executive Producer of the music documentary film Fillmore (1972), about rock impresario Bill Graham. He returned to acting with a role on an episode of the television production Centennial (1978). Jarman was a special guest as a past acting award winner at both the 1998 and 2003 Academy Awards Ceremonies.[6] He served as Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of San Francisco. He founded Jarman Travel Inc. in 1986 to serve the travel needs of corporations and executives.


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