This news story is based on articles posted by Zodiac investigator Michael Morford in 2009, regarding several attacks in the Los Angeles area, as well as the murder of Cheri Jo Bates outside the Riverside City College library on October 30th 1966 and the Kathleen Johns abduction along Highway 132, near Modesto, approximately three and one half years later. It is these seemingly motiveless attacks on lone women, sandwiched in between the Bates and Johns timeline, that I would like to concentrate on. Both the Cheri Jo Bates murder and the Kathleen Johns abduction have been linked to the Zodiac Killer, but are far from certain Zodiac crimes, nevertheless, an interesting chapter of events occurred in the area of Los Angeles with certain similarities, throwing open the possibility that the Zodiac Killer may have had a strong connection to this area or possibly commuted through it. Several attacks took place in Los Angeles County in Southern California in 1967, all bearing the hallmarks of the Kathleen Johns incident.
 The first of three occurred in West Valley on Nordhoff Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard, in which a woman became aware of a male driver of a white sports car, who was signaling that the wheel on her car was loose, identical in fashion to Kathleen Johns in Modesto on March 22nd 1970. After successfully navigating the woman and her female companion over to the side of the road, the man checked over her car. He then drove the second female occupant in his vehicle to a gas station on the premise of seeking a tow truck, telling her to wait for an attendant, before returning to the original scene. On his return to the 'stricken' vehicle, he offered to test drive the car, but instead took the woman into a dead end street, threatening to kill her if she screamed. She was then ordered from the vehicle into a nearby field, before he returned to back to Nordhoff Street to return to his own vehicle and make good his escape. |
The second attack occurred along 7200 Ponce Avenue, near Canoga Park. Again, the assailant sounded his horn, beckoning the lone female to pull over due to a supposed loose wheel. When she complied, the man approached her and threatened to kill her, hitting her in the stomach. However, this victim was fortunately able to escape his clutches and make haste to a nearby house and raise the alarm.
The third case, only three days later, was a slight deviation to the previous attacks, with the woman being assaulted in her own driveway after being trailed on the Ventura Freeway, near Winetka Avenue. The 52-year-old woman was grabbed through the open window of her vehicle, but the assailant fled the scene after she screamed.
A fourth attack took place in Long Beach, when another lone female was ushered to a standstill on a deserted stretch of road by a man pointing and gesturing towards the woman's left rear tire. She eventually pulled over, stooping down to check the rear of her vehicle, but when she arose she was faced with a man clutching a tire iron. Unfortunately though, this man was not there to offer assistance. She was later found beaten and robbed in a field. The modus operandi is again very similar to the Kathleen Johns case, although the robbery aspect is out of character from what what we know of the Zodiac crimes, as his attacks and murders appeared devoid of motive.
The third case, only three days later, was a slight deviation to the previous attacks, with the woman being assaulted in her own driveway after being trailed on the Ventura Freeway, near Winetka Avenue. The 52-year-old woman was grabbed through the open window of her vehicle, but the assailant fled the scene after she screamed.
A fourth attack took place in Long Beach, when another lone female was ushered to a standstill on a deserted stretch of road by a man pointing and gesturing towards the woman's left rear tire. She eventually pulled over, stooping down to check the rear of her vehicle, but when she arose she was faced with a man clutching a tire iron. Unfortunately though, this man was not there to offer assistance. She was later found beaten and robbed in a field. The modus operandi is again very similar to the Kathleen Johns case, although the robbery aspect is out of character from what what we know of the Zodiac crimes, as his attacks and murders appeared devoid of motive.
In December 1967, the police considered the possibility of a fifth attack on Anita Shieling (37), when she pulled into a closed gas station situated on White Oak Avenue and Lassen Street, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, California, after being told by a man driving a sedan that her wheel was falling off her car. The man then approached Mrs Shieling on the precursor of test driving her car, but instead punched her in the face, before grabbing her purse and driving away westbound on Lassen Street. Again though, it appears robbery was the primary motive in this crime.
Four of these attacks exhibited the ruse of faulty wheel, similar to the Modesto abduction, but unfortunately they provide little in the way of moving the case forward, other than if these were early Zodiac crimes, an indication of his movements and possible residency. Other crimes have been closely linked to the Zodiac Killer caseload down the years, but where his crimes began and ended has never quite been resolved with any certainty.
Another two possible Zodiac victims are Robin Graham (18), who disappeared in the early hours of November 15th 1970 on the Hollywood Freeway after encountering car problems, and noticed in the company of an unidentified dark haired male driving a pale Chevrolet Corvette. Also, Jeanette Kamahele (20) on April 25th 1972, who was last spotted along Highway 101, Santa Rosa, being aided by a white male driving a light brown Chevrolet pick-up truck.
If we are to believe the Kathleen Johns abduction as a Zodiac crime, then these other attacks have a credible bearing on the case. If not, the further we search into this topic, the further we distance ourselves from the real killer.
Thanks to Michael Morford and his Zodiac Killer forum.
Four of these attacks exhibited the ruse of faulty wheel, similar to the Modesto abduction, but unfortunately they provide little in the way of moving the case forward, other than if these were early Zodiac crimes, an indication of his movements and possible residency. Other crimes have been closely linked to the Zodiac Killer caseload down the years, but where his crimes began and ended has never quite been resolved with any certainty.
Another two possible Zodiac victims are Robin Graham (18), who disappeared in the early hours of November 15th 1970 on the Hollywood Freeway after encountering car problems, and noticed in the company of an unidentified dark haired male driving a pale Chevrolet Corvette. Also, Jeanette Kamahele (20) on April 25th 1972, who was last spotted along Highway 101, Santa Rosa, being aided by a white male driving a light brown Chevrolet pick-up truck.
If we are to believe the Kathleen Johns abduction as a Zodiac crime, then these other attacks have a credible bearing on the case. If not, the further we search into this topic, the further we distance ourselves from the real killer.
Thanks to Michael Morford and his Zodiac Killer forum.
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