The Zodiac Killer began his series of crimes with the double murder of David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen on December 20th 1968, followed by the Blue Rock Springs attack on July 4th 1969, killing Darlene Ferrin and seriously injuring Michael Mageau. The killer confirmed these murders with details provided in three letters he sent to the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner and Vallejo Times-Herald on July 31st 1969. His next attack would be in the remote region of Lake Berryessa on Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard, but despite no detailed reference to this crime in any of his subsequent correspondence, he wasted no time laying claim to the lakeside attack, writing on Bryan Hartnell's car door within minutes of the crime. His final confirmed murder was that of Paul Stine at Presidio Heights on October 11th 1969, only fourteen days after the Lake Berryessa attack.
One cannot help thinking his focus had turned quickly after his third attack, straight into the planning phase of the Presidio Heights murder, after all, his dramatic costume driven attack and the recollection of surviving witness Bryan Hartnell, had given him all the publicity he could have wished for. Again, after the Presidio Heights murder he wasted no time in contacting the newspapers, writing to the San Francisco Chronicle only two days later. In other words, his first letter immediately after three of the crimes, laid claim to each one of them, with the exception of Lake Berryessa. However, he still laid claim to it, in the form of written communication on the car door. Therefore, although questioned as a Zodiac crime, it made perfect sense to analyze his immediate correspondence after the Modesto abduction of Kathleen Johns and see if this cryptic letter in any way suggested a link to it.
This letter contained the 13-Symbol cipher, mailed to the San Francisco Chronicle on April 20th 1970, just one month after the Kathleen Johns incident on March 22nd 1970.
One cannot help thinking his focus had turned quickly after his third attack, straight into the planning phase of the Presidio Heights murder, after all, his dramatic costume driven attack and the recollection of surviving witness Bryan Hartnell, had given him all the publicity he could have wished for. Again, after the Presidio Heights murder he wasted no time in contacting the newspapers, writing to the San Francisco Chronicle only two days later. In other words, his first letter immediately after three of the crimes, laid claim to each one of them, with the exception of Lake Berryessa. However, he still laid claim to it, in the form of written communication on the car door. Therefore, although questioned as a Zodiac crime, it made perfect sense to analyze his immediate correspondence after the Modesto abduction of Kathleen Johns and see if this cryptic letter in any way suggested a link to it.
This letter contained the 13-Symbol cipher, mailed to the San Francisco Chronicle on April 20th 1970, just one month after the Kathleen Johns incident on March 22nd 1970.
Click the calendar for the entire month of April Technically, a full moon is really only full for an instant in time. As we approach a full moon it is said to be waxing and as it diminishes it is said to be waning. A Waxing Gibbous denotes 95% illumination approaching a full moon and a Waning Gibbous denotes 95% illumination as we leave the full moon, thereby everything in between can be regarded as varying degrees of a full moon.
Therefore, in the calendar above there is one full moon phase in Aries, before the Zodiac sign of Taurus takes over on April 20th, 21st and 22nd. This may explain the 3 to 1 configuration present on the 13-Symbol cipher. We now have seven dates of relevance, March 22nd 1970, April 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd, July 24th 1970 (Johns letter) and March 22nd 1971 (Pines card), but whether any significance can be attributed, remains questionable.
Therefore, in the calendar above there is one full moon phase in Aries, before the Zodiac sign of Taurus takes over on April 20th, 21st and 22nd. This may explain the 3 to 1 configuration present on the 13-Symbol cipher. We now have seven dates of relevance, March 22nd 1970, April 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd, July 24th 1970 (Johns letter) and March 22nd 1971 (Pines card), but whether any significance can be attributed, remains questionable.
It has often been speculated upon, that four of the symbols in this cipher may be interpreted as three circled Taurus symbols (shown in red) and one inverted Aries symbol (shown in blue). But how could these four symbols in any way connect to the Kathleen Johns abduction. The following observation will not claim a solution, just a line of thought to be considered for discussion.
In this letter the Zodiac Killer claimed to have "killed ten people to date". Had he murdered Kathleen Johns and her infant daughter, Jennifer, this total would have read 12.
Kathleen Johns was abducted on March 22nd 1970 and on the following anniversary of this crime, March 22nd 1971, the Pines card was received at the San Francisco Chronicle, claiming to have 'Sought victim 12'.
There are four crucial dates at play here. March 22nd, detailed twice above, April 20th 1970 (the mailing date of the 13-Symbol cipher} and July 24th 1970 (the date of the correspondence the Zodiac Killer mailed, claiming responsibility for the abduction of Kathleen Johns). Bearing in mind the Zodiac horoscope signs, possibly present on the 13-Symbol cipher, were the dates on the Zodiac calendar in any way relevant to these events.
Firstly, April 20th (the 13-Symbol cipher date) is the beginning of Taurus on the Zodiac calendar. The abduction of Kathleen Johns on March 22nd 1970 is one day after the beginning of Aries on the Zodiac calendar. The Kathleen Johns letter on July 24th 1970 is one day after the beginning of Leo on the Zodiac calendar. Three horoscope dates, all within one day of the Zodiac Killer timeline. Four, if you include the Pines Card anniversary.
The 13-Symbol cipher was sent in the April of 1970 to the San Francisco Chronicle, so let us look at at the Moon phases and lunar calendar of San Francisco from the relevant time period. But before we do, it is important to note that the Zodiac Killer circled his three Taurus symbols, and the symbol for a full moon is a white circle.
In this letter the Zodiac Killer claimed to have "killed ten people to date". Had he murdered Kathleen Johns and her infant daughter, Jennifer, this total would have read 12.
Kathleen Johns was abducted on March 22nd 1970 and on the following anniversary of this crime, March 22nd 1971, the Pines card was received at the San Francisco Chronicle, claiming to have 'Sought victim 12'.
There are four crucial dates at play here. March 22nd, detailed twice above, April 20th 1970 (the mailing date of the 13-Symbol cipher} and July 24th 1970 (the date of the correspondence the Zodiac Killer mailed, claiming responsibility for the abduction of Kathleen Johns). Bearing in mind the Zodiac horoscope signs, possibly present on the 13-Symbol cipher, were the dates on the Zodiac calendar in any way relevant to these events.
Firstly, April 20th (the 13-Symbol cipher date) is the beginning of Taurus on the Zodiac calendar. The abduction of Kathleen Johns on March 22nd 1970 is one day after the beginning of Aries on the Zodiac calendar. The Kathleen Johns letter on July 24th 1970 is one day after the beginning of Leo on the Zodiac calendar. Three horoscope dates, all within one day of the Zodiac Killer timeline. Four, if you include the Pines Card anniversary.
The 13-Symbol cipher was sent in the April of 1970 to the San Francisco Chronicle, so let us look at at the Moon phases and lunar calendar of San Francisco from the relevant time period. But before we do, it is important to note that the Zodiac Killer circled his three Taurus symbols, and the symbol for a full moon is a white circle.
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