Click to enlarge The myth of the Zodiac Killer has been thrust back into the limelight in 2023 with the release of a two-part documentary on Peacock featuring Thomas Henry Horan. It is fair to say that the majority of the Zodiac community do not believe in the concept of separate individuals committing the four canonical crimes, with a fictional character called "Zodiac" being sold to the public through a series of communications. However, the myth of the Zodiac Killer that has been shaped by the consensus narrative for over 50 years, can be seen and heard on discussion forums and Youtube videos every single day. Once a falsehood becomes embedded as truth in the Zodiac community, it is practically impossible to derail. When a murder victim is discovered, the injuries viewed in relation to the environment at the crime scene (such as Lake Herman Road) and at autopsy, can tell you a story to better understand how the murder unfolded. If you ignore the findings at autopsy, as detailed in the cases of Cheri Jo Bates, Betty Lou Jensen, Darlene Ferrin, Cecelia Shepard and Paul Stine, you run the risk of misinterpreting the mechanics of the crime.
The five entry wounds on the right side of Betty Lou Jensen's back, extending from the 5th intercostal space (upper back) to the posterior iliac crest (lower back) has led some to believe this relatively tight grouping (bearing in mind Betty Lou Jensen was fleeing from her assailant at night) is indicative of a killer who was proficient with firearms and likely an expert marksman with possible ties to the military or law enforcement. This notion is ill-conceived. The idea that the Zodiac Killer began firing at Betty Lou Jensen when the flat of her back was facing the shooter is rooted in myth and legend, but it is a myth that is practically impossible to eradicate after 54 years of reinforcement by the vast majority of the Zodiac community. It arises because people fail to read the autopsy report, just like the case of Cheri Jo Bates in Riverside, who was stabbed 6-9 times, rather than the excessive double-figure count that is widely perceived. There is no evidence from Lake Herman Road to suggest that the Zodiac Killer was an expert marksman. The upper three entry wounds to the back of Betty Lou Jensen had an extreme right to left trajectory (with accompanying gun shot residue), that indicates these shots were delivered at very, to reasonable, close range. It is no coincidence that all five shots struck the right side of her back, because her right side was predominantly facing the killer when he opened fire.
The five entry wounds on the right side of Betty Lou Jensen's back, extending from the 5th intercostal space (upper back) to the posterior iliac crest (lower back) has led some to believe this relatively tight grouping (bearing in mind Betty Lou Jensen was fleeing from her assailant at night) is indicative of a killer who was proficient with firearms and likely an expert marksman with possible ties to the military or law enforcement. This notion is ill-conceived. The idea that the Zodiac Killer began firing at Betty Lou Jensen when the flat of her back was facing the shooter is rooted in myth and legend, but it is a myth that is practically impossible to eradicate after 54 years of reinforcement by the vast majority of the Zodiac community. It arises because people fail to read the autopsy report, just like the case of Cheri Jo Bates in Riverside, who was stabbed 6-9 times, rather than the excessive double-figure count that is widely perceived. There is no evidence from Lake Herman Road to suggest that the Zodiac Killer was an expert marksman. The upper three entry wounds to the back of Betty Lou Jensen had an extreme right to left trajectory (with accompanying gun shot residue), that indicates these shots were delivered at very, to reasonable, close range. It is no coincidence that all five shots struck the right side of her back, because her right side was predominantly facing the killer when he opened fire.
One bullet at autopsy was described as penetrating "from right to left through both atrium". Further information from the autopsy report of the lungs describes "three through and through bullet wounds, corresponding to the three bullet wounds of entry on the right posterior chest cage and one bullet wound through the left lung, in line with the wound through the heart. They are associated with extensive hemorrhage of both lungs". In other words, the bullet wounds traveled across her body. A further "bullet wound over the posterior iliac crest (5 and 1/2 inches from the midline) penetrates the deep muscles and exits to the right of the umbilicus (3 and 3/4 inches to the right of the naval). This bullet had a narrower trajectory, but still traveled on a right to left trajectory. Look at the entry wounds [1], [2] and [3] in comparison to the two bullet positions in Betty Lou Jensen's body (and one exit wound), shown by the upper three red circles in the diagram. The direction of travel of these three shots (probably the first three fired at Betty Lou that night) show an extreme right to left trajectory.
The cluster of six shell casings on the turnout floor and the final resting position of Betty Lou Jensen, strongly indicates that the young girl ran from east to west, from somewhere close to the open passenger door, when the Zodiac Killer first began targeting her. If the Zodiac Killer had been standing closer to the Rambler than Betty Lou Jensen, then her right side would have been predominantly facing the Zodiac Killer as she fled westwards. The lower two entry wounds on her back exhibiting a narrower right to left trajectory are indicative of the greater distance between shooter and victim as she fled. The cluster of six casings may also indicate that Betty Lou Jensen was fired upon six times, with the Zodiac Killer missing once. Although bullets can be deflected by the internal structures of the body, the extreme trajectory of the uppermost three wounds to her back, with all five wounds exhibiting a right to left trajectory, strongly negates the premise of a killer marksman who fired from a position immediately behind Betty Lou Jensen. The first three shots were delivered at very close range, before Betty Lou Jensen had passed the rear of the Rambler (and possibly its rear door on the right side).
The cluster of six shell casings on the turnout floor and the final resting position of Betty Lou Jensen, strongly indicates that the young girl ran from east to west, from somewhere close to the open passenger door, when the Zodiac Killer first began targeting her. If the Zodiac Killer had been standing closer to the Rambler than Betty Lou Jensen, then her right side would have been predominantly facing the Zodiac Killer as she fled westwards. The lower two entry wounds on her back exhibiting a narrower right to left trajectory are indicative of the greater distance between shooter and victim as she fled. The cluster of six casings may also indicate that Betty Lou Jensen was fired upon six times, with the Zodiac Killer missing once. Although bullets can be deflected by the internal structures of the body, the extreme trajectory of the uppermost three wounds to her back, with all five wounds exhibiting a right to left trajectory, strongly negates the premise of a killer marksman who fired from a position immediately behind Betty Lou Jensen. The first three shots were delivered at very close range, before Betty Lou Jensen had passed the rear of the Rambler (and possibly its rear door on the right side).
Bullet number [5] entered her body "over the crest of the posterior right iliac bone and 5 and 1/2 inches from the midline", struck her right kidney and exited her body "3 and 3/4 inches to the right of the umbilicus". The kidneys are located at the base of the rib cage (12th rib) at the costovertebral angle. This bullet was found in the panties of Betty Lou Jensen at autopsy
One bullet wound (likely the final one fired by the Zodiac Killer) entered by "the tip of the right 12th rib, 3 and 1/2 inches from the midline", penetrated the liver and exited "below the xyphoid process and 1/2 an inch from the midline" (a trajectory from right to left). This is bullet [4] and the exit wound is shown immediately above it in red [E] on the diagram above (and in blue from the front of the body here). There is every chance that Betty Lou Jensen was bent forward at the hips when this bullet struck and it traveled through her body at a fairly acute angle. It is incorrect to believe that the first three shots to her heart and lungs would be immediately fatal. This is not necessarily the case in injuries to such vital organs. Betty Lou Jensen managed to travel 28.5 feet from the rear of the Rambler. For the first four shots she would have been running in an upright position (or very close to upright), before crouching and eventually falling backwards.
RE-EXAMINING THE AUTOPSY REPORT OF CHERI JO BATES [PART ONE]
One bullet wound (likely the final one fired by the Zodiac Killer) entered by "the tip of the right 12th rib, 3 and 1/2 inches from the midline", penetrated the liver and exited "below the xyphoid process and 1/2 an inch from the midline" (a trajectory from right to left). This is bullet [4] and the exit wound is shown immediately above it in red [E] on the diagram above (and in blue from the front of the body here). There is every chance that Betty Lou Jensen was bent forward at the hips when this bullet struck and it traveled through her body at a fairly acute angle. It is incorrect to believe that the first three shots to her heart and lungs would be immediately fatal. This is not necessarily the case in injuries to such vital organs. Betty Lou Jensen managed to travel 28.5 feet from the rear of the Rambler. For the first four shots she would have been running in an upright position (or very close to upright), before crouching and eventually falling backwards.
RE-EXAMINING THE AUTOPSY REPORT OF CHERI JO BATES [PART ONE]
Betty Lou Jensen Autopsy:
There are five bullet wounds of entry on the right side of the back: three on the posterior chest cage and two over the right lower posterior lumbar areas. From up downwards:
[1] The first is located in the 5th intercostal space, 3 and 3/4 inches right of the midline.
[2] The second is in the 8th intercostal space, 5 and 1/2 inches from the midline.
[3] The third is in the 9th intercostal space, 1 and 1/2 inches from the midline.
[4] The fourth in the tip of the right 12th rib, 3 and 1/2 inches from the midline.
[5] The fifth is over the crest of the posterior right iliac bone and 5 and 1/2 inches from the midline.
There are three exit wounds:
[1] The first is over the left interior chest laterally and left margin of the breast, in the 4th intercostal space and 5 and 1/2 inches from the sternum.
[2] The second is in the anterior abdominal wall, below the xyphoid process and 1/2 an inch from the midline.
[3] The third is laterally and 3 and 3/4 inches to the right of the umbilicus.
Heart: A bullet wound penetrates from right to left through both atrium.
Lungs: There are three through and through bullet wounds, corresponding to the three bullet wounds of entry on the right posterior chest cage and one bullet wound through the left lung, in line with the wound through the heart. They are associated with extensive hemorrhage of both lungs.
Abdominal Cavity: A bullet wound penetrates the liver. A bullet wound penetrates the right kidney, the left is normal.
Head: No injuries or skull fractures.
The bullet wound over the posterior iliac crest penetrates the deep muscles and exits to the right of the umbilicus. One bullet is recovered in the subcutaneous tissue of the base of the anterior neck (left side) and the other bullet in the subcutaneous tissue anterior to the right 7th rib, which it penetrated of the sternum. The entry wounds aperture 3/16 inch in diameter. The exit wounds are larger.
There are five bullet wounds of entry on the right side of the back: three on the posterior chest cage and two over the right lower posterior lumbar areas. From up downwards:
[1] The first is located in the 5th intercostal space, 3 and 3/4 inches right of the midline.
[2] The second is in the 8th intercostal space, 5 and 1/2 inches from the midline.
[3] The third is in the 9th intercostal space, 1 and 1/2 inches from the midline.
[4] The fourth in the tip of the right 12th rib, 3 and 1/2 inches from the midline.
[5] The fifth is over the crest of the posterior right iliac bone and 5 and 1/2 inches from the midline.
There are three exit wounds:
[1] The first is over the left interior chest laterally and left margin of the breast, in the 4th intercostal space and 5 and 1/2 inches from the sternum.
[2] The second is in the anterior abdominal wall, below the xyphoid process and 1/2 an inch from the midline.
[3] The third is laterally and 3 and 3/4 inches to the right of the umbilicus.
Heart: A bullet wound penetrates from right to left through both atrium.
Lungs: There are three through and through bullet wounds, corresponding to the three bullet wounds of entry on the right posterior chest cage and one bullet wound through the left lung, in line with the wound through the heart. They are associated with extensive hemorrhage of both lungs.
Abdominal Cavity: A bullet wound penetrates the liver. A bullet wound penetrates the right kidney, the left is normal.
Head: No injuries or skull fractures.
The bullet wound over the posterior iliac crest penetrates the deep muscles and exits to the right of the umbilicus. One bullet is recovered in the subcutaneous tissue of the base of the anterior neck (left side) and the other bullet in the subcutaneous tissue anterior to the right 7th rib, which it penetrated of the sternum. The entry wounds aperture 3/16 inch in diameter. The exit wounds are larger.
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