We have just crept past the 44th anniversary of the brutal events that occurred in the quiet retreat of Lake Berryessa on September 27th 1969, where Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were enjoying life together, before the idyll of an autumn afternoon was cruelly snatched away by a man we have now come to know as the Zodiac Killer. There appears to have been little progress in the case in the intervening years, so is there anything in witness statements and analysis of Zodiac correspondence that can move the tragic events forward, or shed a little more light on the subject, however incrementally small it may seem?
We shall start with eyewitness recollections taken shortly after the brutal attack and the description of a lone male spotted close to the vicinity of the crime, having caught the attention of several key parties.
Earlier that day, three young women, students of Pacific Union College, had parked their vehicle at the A & W Root Beer on Knoxville Road, and within seconds of leaving their vehicle, a white male, driving a silver or light blue Chevrolet 2-door sedan with California license plates, pulled up to the rear of their car, bumper to bumper, yet remained inside his vehicle. This man would come into play later once the girls had relocated to the shores of Lake Berryessa, where it is believed they noticed the same man approximately 50 feet away observing them sunbathing. Each time they looked at him he evaded eye contact, thus drawing suspicion. He was described as being between 28 and 40 years, 200-210 pounds, 6 feet tall, styled black hair, with rounded eyes and thin lips, was good looking, with a muscular or stocky build, wearing dark pants and a dark pullover shirt. He remained observing them, by their accounts, for between 30-45 minutes. But in a curious observation, the girls described a white belt around his back, or possibly a T-shirt hanging out. Another girl stated he was wearing a black short sleeved sweater shirt bunched up at the front, again describing a white T-shirt hanging out the back.
We shall start with eyewitness recollections taken shortly after the brutal attack and the description of a lone male spotted close to the vicinity of the crime, having caught the attention of several key parties.
Earlier that day, three young women, students of Pacific Union College, had parked their vehicle at the A & W Root Beer on Knoxville Road, and within seconds of leaving their vehicle, a white male, driving a silver or light blue Chevrolet 2-door sedan with California license plates, pulled up to the rear of their car, bumper to bumper, yet remained inside his vehicle. This man would come into play later once the girls had relocated to the shores of Lake Berryessa, where it is believed they noticed the same man approximately 50 feet away observing them sunbathing. Each time they looked at him he evaded eye contact, thus drawing suspicion. He was described as being between 28 and 40 years, 200-210 pounds, 6 feet tall, styled black hair, with rounded eyes and thin lips, was good looking, with a muscular or stocky build, wearing dark pants and a dark pullover shirt. He remained observing them, by their accounts, for between 30-45 minutes. But in a curious observation, the girls described a white belt around his back, or possibly a T-shirt hanging out. Another girl stated he was wearing a black short sleeved sweater shirt bunched up at the front, again describing a white T-shirt hanging out the back.
Lake Berryessa sketch derived from the eyewitnesses Did the bunched up sweater shirt hide anything sinister? Bryan Hartnell thought the attacker to be 20-30 years, with dark brown hair visible through the hood, wearing dark blue or black pleated slacks, 5' 8" to 6' 0" tall and 225-250 pounds. He also noticed a knife in a case on the right side of his belt, near the front of his trousers and cut up rope in the suspect's rear pocket. It was the type similar to white plastic clothesline.
Could the descriptions given by two of the girls, describing a white belt around his back or white T-shirt 'hanging out', actually have been the cut lengths of plastic clothesline trailing from his rear pocket in anticipation of a prepared attack on the girls, but for whatever reason got cold feet, changed his mind and turned to Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard approximately two hours later. This is not a new concept but deserves more consideration. In both instances, if indeed this was the Zodiac Killer, he appeared to be observing the potential victims for some time at a distance, possibly waiting for the right moment to don his disguise and ready his attack.
During a later interview with Bryan Hartnell, a transcript revealed that the assailant had apparently stated: "I'm on my way to Mexico, I escaped from Deer Lodge Prison in Montana, Deer Lodge. I need some money to get there", and continued "I killed a couple of guards getting out of prison. And I'm not afraid to kill again". After the senseless attack on the young couple, the Zodiac Killer uses a marker pen and writes the dates of his murders on the car door of Bryan Hartnell's white Karmann Ghia, yet despite dating the attacks of Lake Herman Road, Blue Rock Springs and the current attack, he fails to attribute the apparent murder of these two guards. That is because it is likely fiction, introduced into the conversation with Bryan Hartnell to indicate that he was not to be messed with.
Could the descriptions given by two of the girls, describing a white belt around his back or white T-shirt 'hanging out', actually have been the cut lengths of plastic clothesline trailing from his rear pocket in anticipation of a prepared attack on the girls, but for whatever reason got cold feet, changed his mind and turned to Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard approximately two hours later. This is not a new concept but deserves more consideration. In both instances, if indeed this was the Zodiac Killer, he appeared to be observing the potential victims for some time at a distance, possibly waiting for the right moment to don his disguise and ready his attack.
During a later interview with Bryan Hartnell, a transcript revealed that the assailant had apparently stated: "I'm on my way to Mexico, I escaped from Deer Lodge Prison in Montana, Deer Lodge. I need some money to get there", and continued "I killed a couple of guards getting out of prison. And I'm not afraid to kill again". After the senseless attack on the young couple, the Zodiac Killer uses a marker pen and writes the dates of his murders on the car door of Bryan Hartnell's white Karmann Ghia, yet despite dating the attacks of Lake Herman Road, Blue Rock Springs and the current attack, he fails to attribute the apparent murder of these two guards. That is because it is likely fiction, introduced into the conversation with Bryan Hartnell to indicate that he was not to be messed with.
1231 Main Street. Click image to enter Google maps It has been questioned whether this attack is related to the previous attacks at Lake Herman Road and Blue Rock Springs, as the modus operandi varies dramatically in time, choice of weapon, theatrics and the very personal nature of the crime. The answer may have lain 27 miles away with the hanging receiver at the 1231 Main Street, Napa payphone. In the aftermath of the Blue Rock Springs Park double shooting, the killer placed a call from a payphone at the corner of Springs Road and Tuolumne Street. He later stated in his 'Debut of Zodiac' letter on August 4th 1969, "The man who told police that my car was brown was a negro about 40-45 rather shabbly dressed. I was in this phone booth having some fun with the Vallejo cop when he was walking by. When I hung the phone up the damn thing began to ring & that drew his attention to me + my car" And here lies the answer - he was unwilling to make the same mistake twice.
Was the man the three girls observed on this fateful day, the Zodiac Killer? - where the unusual observation and innocence of a hanging T-shirt may actually unearth the killer's true intentions during the afternoon of September 27th 1969, a day the world sadly cannot forget, yet at the same time should always be remembered.
Descriptions of the eyewitnesses:
#1. "A subject driving a late model silver-blue Chevrolet, 2-door sedan. This subject was described as 6' tall, weighing 200/210 pounds, muscular build, rather nice looking."
#2. "Vehicle described as a 1966 or 1967 light blue Chevrolet with California plates. Witness believes the vehicle was a 2-door sedan and described the headlights as long rather than round."
#3. "Subject was described as approximately 28 years of age, 6'1" to 6'2" tall, 200/225 lbs, black hair possibly styled, with a part on the left, rounded eyes, thin lips, medium nose, straight eyebrows, small ears, well built, rather nice looking."
#4. "Vehicle was described as a late model Chevrolet, sky blue in color. The rear taillights appeared to be long rather than round. She described the subject as 6' tall, stocky build, about 200 lbs, black short-sleeved sweater shirt, dark blue slacks, and straight dark hair neatly combed. She guessed his age at approximately 30 years."
Was the man the three girls observed on this fateful day, the Zodiac Killer? - where the unusual observation and innocence of a hanging T-shirt may actually unearth the killer's true intentions during the afternoon of September 27th 1969, a day the world sadly cannot forget, yet at the same time should always be remembered.
Descriptions of the eyewitnesses:
#1. "A subject driving a late model silver-blue Chevrolet, 2-door sedan. This subject was described as 6' tall, weighing 200/210 pounds, muscular build, rather nice looking."
#2. "Vehicle described as a 1966 or 1967 light blue Chevrolet with California plates. Witness believes the vehicle was a 2-door sedan and described the headlights as long rather than round."
#3. "Subject was described as approximately 28 years of age, 6'1" to 6'2" tall, 200/225 lbs, black hair possibly styled, with a part on the left, rounded eyes, thin lips, medium nose, straight eyebrows, small ears, well built, rather nice looking."
#4. "Vehicle was described as a late model Chevrolet, sky blue in color. The rear taillights appeared to be long rather than round. She described the subject as 6' tall, stocky build, about 200 lbs, black short-sleeved sweater shirt, dark blue slacks, and straight dark hair neatly combed. She guessed his age at approximately 30 years."
