Three prominent features about the Riverside killing of Cheri Jo Bates on October 30th 1966 have been put forward in relation to the Zodiac murders. Firstly, the Zodiac Killer all but admitted to the murder in his Los Angeles letter, mailed on March 13th 1971. Secondly, it is claimed the murderer of Cheri Jo Bates mailed three handwritten letters on April 30th 1967, just like the Zodiac Killer did two years later on July 31st 1969, when he constructed a cipher separated into three parts. Thirdly, in his Little List letter mailed on July 26th 1970 the Zodiac Killer used the words "Some I shall tie over ant hills and watch them scream + twich and squirm," extremely similar to the typed Confession letter supposedly sent by the murderer of Cheri Jo Bates, where the author opined "She squirmed and shook as I choaked her, and her lips twiched." If the murderer in Riverside and the Zodiac Killer in the Bay Area are one, then a connection between these two locations, or the Greater Los Angeles Area would certainly aid the search for a likely suspect in both instances.
The closest the Zodiac Killer ever came to capture was on October 11th 1969 after the murder of taxicab driver Paul Stine, not only due to his near miss on Jackson Street, but because he was spotted by four eyewitnesses, likely all resident on Washington Street, overlooking the taxicab murder. Alex Lewis secured the redacted FBI document stating 'Xenophon Lusby Anthony, WMA, DOB 28th February 1931, Resides at 3218 Jackson Street, San Francisco. For Info Ident Division, San Francisco Police Department advised; 8 year old witness in murder of cab driver identified Anthony as possible subject in this matter.'
But it was something Alex Lewis mentioned the other day that prompted a further examination regarding this topic: "There's also the little fact that after Xenophon Anthony is named as possibly being Zodiac, the Zodiac murders abruptly stop." This of course could be merely coincidental, and as yet it can be argued there is nothing definitive in the way of fingerprints or DNA that has pointed directly to any suspect. Also, we have yet to fulliy ascertain whether any of the fingerprints on the Stine taxicab were left by the Zodiac Killer. This fourth eyewitness was crucial - not only because the 8-year-old child actually identified a man by name - but because it was stated he was a 'witness in the murder of the cab driver,' which should have effectively placed him at the scene. Using ancestry records it was possible to identify the owner of 3898 Washington Street on October 11th 1969 as Alexander Henry von Hafften. He had a son of 8 years and 2 months who lived at this residence, and it is likely this is the child mentioned in the FBI document who recognized Xenophon Anthony from his bedroom window that night, directly overlooking the crime scene.
But it was something Alex Lewis mentioned the other day that prompted a further examination regarding this topic: "There's also the little fact that after Xenophon Anthony is named as possibly being Zodiac, the Zodiac murders abruptly stop." This of course could be merely coincidental, and as yet it can be argued there is nothing definitive in the way of fingerprints or DNA that has pointed directly to any suspect. Also, we have yet to fulliy ascertain whether any of the fingerprints on the Stine taxicab were left by the Zodiac Killer. This fourth eyewitness was crucial - not only because the 8-year-old child actually identified a man by name - but because it was stated he was a 'witness in the murder of the cab driver,' which should have effectively placed him at the scene. Using ancestry records it was possible to identify the owner of 3898 Washington Street on October 11th 1969 as Alexander Henry von Hafften. He had a son of 8 years and 2 months who lived at this residence, and it is likely this is the child mentioned in the FBI document who recognized Xenophon Anthony from his bedroom window that night, directly overlooking the crime scene.
The crucial thing here is that the eyewitness didn't just describe the suspect, he actually named him or knew where he lived. He resided at 3218 Jackson Street. The proximity of the two addresses only a few blocks apart and the fact the 8-year-old child was able to put a name to the suspect, could suggest the families of 3898 Washington Street and 3218 Jackson Street knew each other socially to some degree.
Xenophon Anthony was born in 1931, making him 38 years old in 1969, around the correct age range as testified by the three teenagers and Officer Donald Fouke. He was married to Valerie Ann Moore in 1956 in Los Angeles, California. They lived in San Marino, California for ten years, before relocating to San Francisco around 1966. San Marino is situated 50 miles from Riverside. David Oranchak of Zodiackillerciphers.com unearthed that Ancestry.com had a college yearbook entry for his wife, listing her residence in Riverside, CA. Could there be a link to Riverside? Xenophon Anthony would have been 25 years of age in 1966, at about the time of the move. But one must stress that these and the following are simple observations and certainly do not make Anthony the Zodiac Killer, only a subject that was investigated.
Alexander Henry von Hafften, the resident of 3898 Washington Street, was born around 1914, making him 55 years of age in 1969, so it is not inconceivable he and his family may have passed in similar circles to Xenophon Anthony. He graduated from Stanford University, California in 1934. Here is an extract from the Desert Sun newspaper in 1945: "Alexander von Hafften and his lovely bride of 10 days, the former Miss Sebella Harden, have been honeymooning in Palm Springs for the past two weeks and were seen dining and dancing at the Colonial House on several occasions. She is a direct descendant of the Leland Stanford family, founders of Stanford university. She was married at Palo Alto, her home, on December 8." Palm Springs is a desert resort located in Riverside County. Here is a United States tax court legal docket of Alexander von Hafften and his wife Sebelle Harden von Hafften, regarding a property dispute in 1974, concerning the sale of a Los Angeles property they bought for rental. Had they connections in the Los Angeles/Riverside area at an earlier date, possibly when Xenophon Anthony resided there?
Xenophon Anthony was born in 1931, making him 38 years old in 1969, around the correct age range as testified by the three teenagers and Officer Donald Fouke. He was married to Valerie Ann Moore in 1956 in Los Angeles, California. They lived in San Marino, California for ten years, before relocating to San Francisco around 1966. San Marino is situated 50 miles from Riverside. David Oranchak of Zodiackillerciphers.com unearthed that Ancestry.com had a college yearbook entry for his wife, listing her residence in Riverside, CA. Could there be a link to Riverside? Xenophon Anthony would have been 25 years of age in 1966, at about the time of the move. But one must stress that these and the following are simple observations and certainly do not make Anthony the Zodiac Killer, only a subject that was investigated.
Alexander Henry von Hafften, the resident of 3898 Washington Street, was born around 1914, making him 55 years of age in 1969, so it is not inconceivable he and his family may have passed in similar circles to Xenophon Anthony. He graduated from Stanford University, California in 1934. Here is an extract from the Desert Sun newspaper in 1945: "Alexander von Hafften and his lovely bride of 10 days, the former Miss Sebella Harden, have been honeymooning in Palm Springs for the past two weeks and were seen dining and dancing at the Colonial House on several occasions. She is a direct descendant of the Leland Stanford family, founders of Stanford university. She was married at Palo Alto, her home, on December 8." Palm Springs is a desert resort located in Riverside County. Here is a United States tax court legal docket of Alexander von Hafften and his wife Sebelle Harden von Hafften, regarding a property dispute in 1974, concerning the sale of a Los Angeles property they bought for rental. Had they connections in the Los Angeles/Riverside area at an earlier date, possibly when Xenophon Anthony resided there?
Sebelle Harden von Hafften, was the great-grandniece of Leland Stanford, who founded of Stanford University. Born in San Francisco in June 1922, she received her early education from the Dominicans at Mt. St. Mary's Academy in Newburgh, N.Y. She graduated from Stanford University in 1944 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. During World War II, she began volunteering for the Red Cross Motor Corps in Palo Alto. She served on various organizations' boards and committees, including the Stanford Alumni Association and the Fine Arts Auxillary. She loved the opera and was an avid supporter of the San Francisco Opera. Sebelle would have been 47 years of age in 1969, Alexander 55 and Xenophon Anthony 38. If their son recognized Anthony, is it not possible they had likely crossed paths. The Zodiac Killer quoted Gilbert and Sullivan's comedic opera, The Mikado, three times in his correspondences. Sebelle Harden von Hafften, as stated above, loved the opera, making it a possibility this was the passion that connected the two wealthy families.
From Wikipedia: 'The first performance given by San Francisco Opera was La bohème, with Queena Mario and Giovanni Martinelli, on 26 September 1923, in the city's Civic Auditorium and conducted by Merola, whose involvement in opera in the San Francisco Bay Area had been ongoing since his first visit in 1906. By the fall of 1921 he was planning his first season, which was presented at Stanford University's football stadium on 3 June 1922 with a star-studded group of singers, including Giovanni Martinelli in Pagliacci, followed by Carmen and Faust.
Another innovation was "Opera in the Park" which, since 1971, has been an annual free concert in Golden Gate Park on the Sunday following opening night of the Fall Season. It traditionally features artists from the opening weekend in full concert with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. The event is open to the public and draws some 30,000 listeners. The concert is presented in conjunction with the non-profit San Francisco Parks Trust and the San Francisco Chronicle Charities.'
The 8-year-old identified a subject on Washington Street, both families lived in the wealthy district of Presidio Heights, enjoyed fine living and the arts, likely moved in similar circles and may very well have shared a passion for the opera, while at the same time not interacting domestically. The murderer of Paul Stine on October 11th 1969 had entered the taxicab in the theater district of San Francisco by Union Square. His destination on the trip sheet was logged as Washington and Maple, but what caused him the late change to Washington and Cherry? Had he spotted somebody he knew or noticed a pedestrian walking in the area, that forced him on another block westward, only to inadvertently bring the taxicab to a halt outside 3898 Washington Street? A residence, unbeknownst to him, that would contain somebody he had crossed paths with before.
'Xenophon Lusby Anthony, WMA, DOB 28th February 1931. Resides at 3218 Jackson Street, San Francisco. For Info Ident Division, San Francisco Police Department advised; 8 year old witness in murder of cab driver identified Anthony as possible subject in this matter.' The exact address the subject backtracked towards that fateful night. But did he enter 3218 or walk on by? Alex Lewis is correct - after October 11th 1969 it appears "the Zodiac murders abruptly stopped," after previously gaining pace. This murder was nearly his undoing, and he may have known it only too well. Was the identification of Xenophon Anthony by the 8-year-old a simple mistake and he had only viewed an innocent pedestrian that night. If this was the case we could make the argument that the Zodiac Killer may have looked somewhat similar to Xenophon Anthony. However, eyewitness testimony must always be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.
From Wikipedia: 'The first performance given by San Francisco Opera was La bohème, with Queena Mario and Giovanni Martinelli, on 26 September 1923, in the city's Civic Auditorium and conducted by Merola, whose involvement in opera in the San Francisco Bay Area had been ongoing since his first visit in 1906. By the fall of 1921 he was planning his first season, which was presented at Stanford University's football stadium on 3 June 1922 with a star-studded group of singers, including Giovanni Martinelli in Pagliacci, followed by Carmen and Faust.
Another innovation was "Opera in the Park" which, since 1971, has been an annual free concert in Golden Gate Park on the Sunday following opening night of the Fall Season. It traditionally features artists from the opening weekend in full concert with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. The event is open to the public and draws some 30,000 listeners. The concert is presented in conjunction with the non-profit San Francisco Parks Trust and the San Francisco Chronicle Charities.'
The 8-year-old identified a subject on Washington Street, both families lived in the wealthy district of Presidio Heights, enjoyed fine living and the arts, likely moved in similar circles and may very well have shared a passion for the opera, while at the same time not interacting domestically. The murderer of Paul Stine on October 11th 1969 had entered the taxicab in the theater district of San Francisco by Union Square. His destination on the trip sheet was logged as Washington and Maple, but what caused him the late change to Washington and Cherry? Had he spotted somebody he knew or noticed a pedestrian walking in the area, that forced him on another block westward, only to inadvertently bring the taxicab to a halt outside 3898 Washington Street? A residence, unbeknownst to him, that would contain somebody he had crossed paths with before.
'Xenophon Lusby Anthony, WMA, DOB 28th February 1931. Resides at 3218 Jackson Street, San Francisco. For Info Ident Division, San Francisco Police Department advised; 8 year old witness in murder of cab driver identified Anthony as possible subject in this matter.' The exact address the subject backtracked towards that fateful night. But did he enter 3218 or walk on by? Alex Lewis is correct - after October 11th 1969 it appears "the Zodiac murders abruptly stopped," after previously gaining pace. This murder was nearly his undoing, and he may have known it only too well. Was the identification of Xenophon Anthony by the 8-year-old a simple mistake and he had only viewed an innocent pedestrian that night. If this was the case we could make the argument that the Zodiac Killer may have looked somewhat similar to Xenophon Anthony. However, eyewitness testimony must always be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.
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