ZODIAC CIPHERS
Richard Grinell, Coventry, England
  • Home
    • Search This Site With Google
    • My Interview on the Zodiac Killer Channel
    • The Mount Diablo Map and Code Solution
  • Zodiac News
    • Zodiac News Archives
    • Santa Barbara Attack
    • Cheri Jo Bates
    • The Confession
    • Riverside Desktop Poem
    • Bates Letter
    • The Forgotten Victims
    • Zodiac RSS Feed
    • Welsh Chappie - Zodiac News
  • Lake Herman Murders
    • Blue Rock Springs Attack
    • Vallejo Times Letter
    • Examiner Letter
    • Chronicle Letter
    • Complete 408 Cipher
    • Vallejo and Benicia Map
    • Kathie Snoozy and Debra Furlong Murders
    • Debut of Zodiac Letter
  • Lake Berryessa Attack
    • Presidio Heights Attack
    • Call to Chat Show
  • 340 Cipher
    • Bus Bomb Letter
    • Betsy Aardsma Murder
    • The Fairfield Letter
    • Melvin Belli Letter
    • Santa Barbara Murders 1970
    • Modesto Attack
    • My Name is Cipher
    • Dragon Card and Button Letter >
      • Phillips Road Map
    • The Sleeping Bag Murders
    • The Little List Letter
  • The Halloween Card
    • Lake Tahoe Disappearance
    • Los Angeles Times Letter
    • The Monticello Card
    • The Exorcist Letter
  • SLA Letter
    • Red Phantom Letter/American Greetings Card
    • The 1978 Letter
    • Zodiac Letters Real or Fake
    • Zodiac Documentary
    • Zodiac Killer Net Forum - Hot Topics
    • Unsolved Mysteries
    • The Colonial Parkway Murders
  • Suspects
    • Arthur Leigh Allen
    • Rick Marshall
    • Lawrence Kane
    • Theodore Kaczynski
    • Richard Gaikowski
    • Gareth Penn
    • Jack Tarrance

THE PRESIDIO HEIGHTS SKETCH

1/14/2016

 
The murder of Paul Stine occurred on October 11th 1969, providing us with the only real face of Zodiac, drawn up in the form of a sketch from the recollection of three teenagers who viewed Zodiac across the street. This sketch was then circulated around the Bay Area. Several days later an amended sketch was drawn up when the eyewitnesses requested it be slightly altered, because they believed it depicted a man younger than the one they initially described. The police department would later authorize a memorandum by Donald Fouke detailing his observations that night. This was released one month after the crime, and the similarities between his description of the Zodiac tally with that of the teenagers, other than Donald Fouke stating the man was a "little older and heavier." But how accurate is this sketch?   
PictureColor sketch of the Zodiac Killer
Had Donald Fouke been asked to provide a sketch independently of the three teenagers, any similarities between them may have carried more weight, as opposed to Donald Fouke simply looking at the sketch drawn up from the three teenagers recollections and then adding his own input as an afterthought. So let us look for answers on how good this likeness may be, starting with the three teenagers.

The first time the teenagers saw the Zodiac Killer, he was in the front of the taxicab, having at no point spotted the subject in the rear of the vehicle. This is what they stated in the police report:
"Saw the suspect in the front seat of the Yellow Cab, mid to passenger side, with the victim slumped partially over his lap. The suspect appeared to be searching the victim's pockets. The suspect then appeared to be wiping on the interior of the cab, leaning over the victim to the driver's compartment. The suspect then exited the cab by the passenger side front door, also wiping with a white rag, possibly a handkerchief. The suspect then walked around the cab to the driver's side and proceeded to wipe the exterior of the left door area. The suspect then fled north on Cherry Street".      

PictureEnhanced sketch
​While the Zodiac was tearing the section of Paul Stine's shirt, he was supposedly looking at the prostrate taxicab driver, his head facing downwards. The Zodiac Killer is presumably unaware of the three teenagers and is not looking directly at them, which suggests that at no point while the Zodiac Killer is inside the taxicab can the three teenagers get a direct line of sight on the assailant's face. He then exits the passenger side door. This is the first time the teenagers will get an unobstructed look at the killer's face, when he is wiping down this door. He then walks to the driver side door with his face visible, front on, for approximately two to three seconds as he rounds the taxicab, before he turns his back and then faces away to wipe the driver side area. He then exits up Cherry Street. We are probably looking at five seconds in total where the teenagers have a direct view of Zodiac's face, but we have to factor in the distance of 50-60 feet and the visibility at 9:58 pm at night, with only street lighting for illumination.

Picture
​Donald Fouke likely passed the Zodiac on Jackson Street. Whether or not he stopped the suspect is down to what you believe, however, on this occasion we will take his version of events that he alluded to in the 2007 Zodiac documentary: "We slowed down as we passed him, still rolling, saw that it was a white male, step on the gas, 5,10,15 seconds tops from first spotting him until passing him." He went on to say "I would like to say he made eye contact with us, but I can't picture it, I remember seeing his eyes, I couldn't tell you what color they were, it was dark enough that his eyes were concealed, but you could sort of say he looked down.....because he was putting his head down when he spotted the police car." 

Again, in relative darkness, with only streetlights for aid and viewing from the driver side of the patrol car, what sort of clear recollection can be harnessed from such a brief encounter. In the memorandum of Donald Fouke on November 12th 1969 it stated "My partner that night was officer E. Zelms of Richmond Station. I do not know if he observed this subject or not." Officer Eric Zelms was on the passenger side, closest to the sidewalk, but little is known regarding his contribution to the final drafting of the sketch, if any at all.  

Eyewitness recollection is notoriously unreliable and any conviction made primarily from such testimony will inevitably be unsafe. It doesn't take much searching on the internet to find plenty of cases where this is the case, often where the suspect is far closer and viewed in broad daylight. Memory simply doesn't function like a video recorder. The problem we have in this case, is not having two sketches drawn up independently of one another - one from the teenagers and one from Donald Fouke. Once Donald Fouke has seen the sketch, he is open to suggestion and will inevitably be influenced by its viewing.   

PictureDave Toschi
Dave Toschi chased the Zodiac for years, but even he was quoted as saying the 1969 sketch was unhelpful in many ways. In the San Francisco Chronicle of 1978 he stated "The sketch is killing me" noting that most of the calls to police were from persons who saw the drawing in Wednesday's Chronicle and think they know somebody who resembles it", adding that the 1969 composite sketch of Zodiac is no longer reliable and should not be the basis for telephone tips to police. He further remarked "It is of no value to me at this point, even in 1969, we didn't know how good it was".

What we are looking at here, are brief eyewitness recollections late at night, one from 50-60 feet away for possibly 5 seconds and one from a moving vehicle for around 10 seconds, if you maintain the Zodiac was not stopped by the two responding officers on Jackson Street. The Zodiac declared "I look like the description passed out only when I do my thing, the rest of the time I look entirle different." The question is, do you believe him or not?

Picture
Alex Lewis
1/14/2016 11:56:57 am

Rich you really should add the 2007 sketch that appears in the documentary where Fouke is recalling . . . And was posted on the wall, He looked similar to the man that I had seen on October 11th."

This one: https://youtu.be/HI0jnsbZwys?t=1h24m24s

Alex Lewis
1/14/2016 12:22:02 pm

This topic is rather like that of beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder in that the suspects age, which of the everal composites etc is the closest to what the guy truly looked like. For me, its the 2007 one. That composite shows the clear and distinct widows peak hairline Fouke had always stated the suspect had. The depicted suspect in the 07 composite look far closer to the '35 to 45 years of age' Fouke has never waivered on. And if we speculate and assume that yes, Eric's widow did suggest that her Late Husband Eric did tell her prior to His death, "We spoke to Him (suspect) face to face" then surely, without question, this drawing is the one that we should pay attention to? No?

Alex Lewis
1/14/2016 12:27:49 pm

Now Mr Pelissetti either doesn't know who the 'Man walking His dog' was, or He does know but just refuses to publicly name Him.

Ok that is up to Him, but if the name is not forthcoming Armond, maybe a clothing description would be? After All, You said Mr Pelissetti, 'He had absolutely no blood on His clothes" and as such, we may assume you paid much attention to what He was wearing. So, Mr P, could you maybe offer us at least this much?

"Navy Zipper Jacket. Wool Pants, and a engineers style of footwear" Mr P??

Richard
1/14/2016 01:18:41 pm

See link at bottom of article.

Richard
1/14/2016 01:46:03 pm

Without glasses http://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4/9/7/1/4971630/7665837_orig.jpg

Alex Lewis
1/14/2016 04:30:53 pm

In regard to the pic you've uploaded, I instinctively asked in my head upon seeing it. . . "What the F *** is that? A Black Male who sorta seems white with hair the same colour as his face and, in all fairness, has every right to kill and kill again in anger for being born looking like one that s unfortunate and just wrong.

I was thinking of the black and white original lol.

Alex
1/15/2016 05:35:35 am

<<<Am thinking Richards 'Enhanced Sketch' looks like a Gentleman who went into some salon and said "This is the Zodiac Speaking.....

I am the sunbed fanatic of the salons which I can't quite grasp the concept of. To prove this, here is my tanned ears and neck, but untouched face!
The pace isn't any slower, It's just one big fuck up.

Me - White Male Adult Face with African American ears. SFPD - Confused to fk!

Richard
1/15/2016 05:44:26 am

Are you taking the piss Mr Welsh, I bet you have changed your mind on the BMA being wrong now. I can definitely see the resemblance. I reckon he must have worn a high neck during the summer months!

Alex
1/15/2016 06:05:12 am

"I bet you have changed your mind on the BMA being wrong now."

Well I'm considering the AMA....or Asian Male Adult theory. It stikes me Richardo that Zero evidence exists to rule His being Oriental out.

"Hawww ya a man wan by flackin and He wave Flackin gun, West Placific, West Placific!....Wun Officer, wun and clatch the flacker!"

Richard
1/15/2016 06:09:29 am

Well he did like the Mikado and did those Exorcist symbols, so it might not be that crazy. Maybe he looked like Charlie Chan..

A Lewis
1/15/2016 07:58:39 am

Speaking of the Crazies, do you get the emails Rich from "Him" telling you in the email RE: This is Zodiac Speaking.....Honestly Now!"

I got one yesterday Rich that never mentioned Z but had a cryptic hint in the form of photograph within which is a clear cross hair. Can I forward to yourself for a second opinion?

A. Lewis
1/15/2016 08:08:06 am

Forwarded you the email, interesting email. Clearly sent by the Zodiac to myself in a non direct cryptic way.

PS: To whom it may Concern.....Email dismissed with Prejudice citing the total lack of acceptable evidence such as ID, (Drivers Licence, Library card, or any other name clad ID), vehicle keys and/or swatch of shirt all having once been the possession of one Stine, Paul Lee.

Richard
1/15/2016 08:58:44 am

All I can see is a building with a light projected onto it.

A.Lewis
1/15/2016 09:36:48 am

To that building left, at the top of the lamp-post and where the electrical cables join to the said post......Cross Hair right in that area.

Richard
1/15/2016 09:50:19 am

Yes see it now, no I haven't received anything like that. It could be anybody. I doubt it's from Zodiac, more likely a halfwit, pretending to be Zodiac.

Alex
1/15/2016 12:40:10 pm

Oh I don't even question whether it is Zodiac Rich because while Yes He did send Cryptic Cipher messages, He never left any doubt as to who the author/sender of them were.

It's not His style to email and drop a hidden little subtle hint by a few sentences talking of LED Flashlights and a strategically placed crosshair symbol.
I would expect a genuine Z email to open with the standard announcement of who it is that is speaking followed by "To prove this...."

But, I do have to feel a certain sorry and/or empathy for them that sit around creating little photographs with Cross-Hairs just to send them on to little ol' me.

Richard
1/15/2016 05:56:16 am

I have changed it now, he's got a good even tan now.

Alex Lewis
1/15/2016 06:08:24 am

Looks a tad more Human now does He.

I only point it out Rich for your own benefit and safety see because if A Certain San Fran Zodiac wandered onto this page and saw His depiction the way you posted it......I would suggest our Secret Pal would become a seriously offended secret one!

Richard
1/15/2016 06:11:29 am

Yes if I looked like that I'd rather be in jail, he definitely needed a mask in daylight.

Alex
1/15/2016 06:13:55 am

And when He reacts by making a comeback blowing the dust off His trusted 9MM and turns up to hold the posting offender to account you see I shall be on han to assist...

"IT ISN'T MY SITE SIR ZODIAC, YOUR MAJISTY! HE DID IT, THAT ONE HO OWNS AND OVERSEES THE SITE IN WHICH IT WAS SLANDEROUSLY POSTED. I TOLD HIM TO TAKE IT OFF DUE TO IT NOT BEING ACCURATE OF THE GREAT ONE WHAT IS BRILLIANT AND YES PLEASE SHOOT HIM AND NOT ME!"

Lol.

Alex
1/15/2016 06:31:42 am

Anyway I am applying to be a contestant on the new series of 'Mastermind.'

". . .And our third contestant is Alex from South Wales. Strange lad this one with specialist subject being, tell us in your world Alex..."

Me: "The life and Times of the San Francisco Zodiac, 1968 - 1974"

Magnus Magnusson: "And your three minutes on the Life and Good Times of San Francisco's Zodiac starts now...."

You don't imagine the shows producers will find it a tad strange Rich do you, opening my application "PLEASE RUSH TO PRODUCER.... IF YOU DO NOT LET ME ON YOUR SHOW I WILL GUN DOWN IT'S PRODUCER. AND IT COULD GET RATHER MESSY IF OTHER CONTESTANTS TRY AND OUTSCORE ME.

ME - 37 CORRECT ANSWERS, NO PASSES AND YOU ARE NOW IN FIRST PLACE!"

Richard
1/15/2016 06:33:11 am

If he was alive I am sure he'd have better things to do than visit this site. But if he is dead he'd be turning in his grave looking at that sketch.

Richard
1/15/2016 06:40:40 am

Magnus Magnusson "I've started so I'll finish"
Zodiac; "The answer is 100+, I haven't finished yet m.....f......"
"I'll be back".

scout69
8/24/2017 02:33:24 pm

yes, is true what ZODIAC KILLER say: looks total different during daytime, do you remember Lee ask about transformed his face and was told look in the library? ok one point, next he DYE his hair at any time he want ,second point, next is; the glasses are in his trophy bag and that night ZODIAC KILLER say: THE BLUE PIGGY try to see ZODIAC KILLER face but the poor light help not to see his face and went in to the house drive way when ZODIAC KILLER saw they pass went back to the street and went in the way........... ZODIAC KILLER say: ZODIAC KILLER GET HURT A LITTLE BE.... HIS LEG GET STUCK WHEN KILL "PAUL" GET HURT BECAUSE DRIVE THE TAXI CAB FROM THE PASSANGER SIDE, REASON WHY WEN IN TO THE HOUSE, ZODIAC SHOW ME HOW HE DID IT NEVER HAVE A HOUSE OR WENT IN TO THE PARK.......CAR WAS NOT AROUND THERE, NEED TIME TO GET AWAY..............the kids was in the top ZODIAC KILLER was sure will not get his face also he saw those kids.... ASK TO SOME ONE WHO IS RELATED AT THIS CASE THIS: TRASH CANS DAMAGE, DOORS CAR DAMAGE OR SCRATCH, DISTANCE DRIVING THE TAXI.......WHERE DO YOU THINK PAUL GET KILL FOR REAL........I DO BELIEVE ZODIAC KILLER TOLD ME THE TRUE, sure I turned in his person? let me know via e-mail and do not involve TOM VOIGT THANKS! P.S. if you involve VOIGT never contact you again


Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    All
    13 Hole Postcard
    148 Character Cipher
    1978 Letter
    1986 Letter
    1987 Letter
    2001 Happy New Year Card
    Albany Letter
    Allan/Peyton Murders
    Arthur Leigh Allen
    Atlanta Letter
    Betsy Aardsma
    Blue Rock Springs Attack
    Bus Bomb Letter
    Button Letter
    Call To Chat Show
    Carol Beth Hilburn
    Channel 9 Letter
    Cheri Jo Bates
    Cipher Theories
    Citizen Card
    Concerned Citizen Card
    Confession Letter
    Daniel Williams Poisoning
    Debut Of Zodiac Letter
    Deep Real Estate Ad
    DMV Letter
    Domingos/Edwards Murders
    Donald Lee Bujok
    Donna Lass
    Dragon Card
    Earl Van Best Jr
    Eureka Card
    Exorcist Letter
    Fairfield Letter
    Fingerprint Evidence
    Forecast For Cancer
    Forecast For Leo
    Gareth Penn
    General News Articles
    Gilbert And Sullivan
    Good Citizen Letter
    Halloween Card
    Hood/Garcia Murders
    Internet Articles
    Joan Webster
    Judith Hakari
    Kevin Robert Brooks
    Lake Berryessa Attack
    Lake Herman Road Murders
    Lake Tahoe Disappearance
    Larry Kane
    Leona Roberts Murder
    Los Angeles Letter
    Melvin Belli Letter
    Mike Morford (Morf13)
    Modesto Attack
    Molina/Rodriguez Murders
    Monticello Card
    My Name Is Letter
    Nancy Bennallack
    New Canaan Letters
    Novato Letter
    Oakland A's Letter
    Pines Card
    Possible Zodiac Attacks
    Possible Zodiac Letters
    Presidio Heights Murder
    Radians
    Red Phantom Letter
    Richard Gaikowski
    Riverside Desktop Poem
    Robert Salem Murder
    Ross Sullivan
    Saechao/Saelee Murders
    San Jose Code Letter
    Santa Claus Card
    Scotch Tape Letter
    Sla Letter
    Tamalpais Valley Attack
    Ted Kaczynski
    Telegraph Avenue Incident
    The 340 Cipher
    The 408 Cipher
    The Celebrity Cypher
    The Little List
    The Mikado
    Thomas Horan
    You Are Next Letter
    Zodiac Letters Poll
    Zodiac Postage
    Zodiac Theories

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    The Zodiac Killer may have given us the answer almost word-for-word when he wrote PS. The Mt. Diablo Code concerns Radians & # inches along the radians. The code solution identified was Estimate: Four Radians and Five Inches To read more, click the image.
    Picture
    Picture
    The Zodiac Atlas: The Zodiac Killer Enigma by Randall Scott Clemons. Click image for details.
    Picture
    The Zodiac Killer Map: Part of the Zodiac Killer Enigma by Randall Scott Clemons. Click image for color version
    For black and white issue..
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    January 2012

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Photos used under Creative Commons from Marcin Wichary, zAppledot, vyusseem, Alex Barth, Alan Cleaver, jocelynsart, Richard Perry, taberandrew, eschipul, MrJamesAckerley