THE SAN JOSE CRYPTOGRAM

3/27/2018

Butte FBI Office, Montana

On November 21st 1969 a suspected Zodiac letter was received.

The FBI file read: Re Butte tel to Bureau 11/21/69. Enclosed herewith for the FBI laboratory are two copies of the letter received by (redacted) San Jose PD, San Jose, California on this date. As noted, the message reads (redacted). The laboratory is requested to have the Cryptogram Section attempt to immediately decipher the message and furnish the results to the San Francisco Office. For the information of the Bureau and Sacramento, after a cursory analysis, officers of the San Jose, California PD, believe widow in message may be Mrs (redacted), San Jose, California. San Jose PD instituting 24 hour surveillance on Mrs (redacted).

A further page read:
11/24/69 - Copy of handprinted note beginning "There's no doubt I will do my Thing!" and ending with the symbol (drawn crosshairs). Results of examination: The ciphertext portion of Qc33 is not readable using previously recovered key. Its brevity precludes further cryptanalytic examination at this time. The furnished interpretation of "- + 62 + -" as representing "1620" can be neither proved nor disproved analytically. The = between "November" and "8" could represent the number "2". Such interpretation would be based on inferences drawn from the date of the postmark, not from cryptanalytic examination. (see below for FBI files).

The FBI files ponder the idea of "November" and "8" being bridged by the number 2, possibly giving us November 28th, therefore tying in with a presumed threat on a widow from San Jose. Here are some thoughts on Zodiac Killer Site forum.
However, there may be a much simpler explanation, bearing in mind the Zodiac Killer's last two communications on November 8th and 9th of 1969. In particular the Dripping Pen card.

The "November=8" attribution is much more likely claiming that the Zodiac (or copycat) is threatening (or has already claimed) victim number 8, sometime in November.

The Bus Bomb letter mailed on November 9th 1969 had already claimed 7 victims, so we should be looking for a victim between November 9th and November 21st (or a potential target, such as the widow threatened, subsequent to the receipt of the letter}. A future victim in November would have to be murdered between November 21st and November 30th to comply with November=8.

The phrase "There's no doubt I will do my Thing!" seemed to suggest an impending threat - hence the urgency of 24-hour surveillance on the woman and her house. The use of the term "widow" in the FBI file may not carry a sinister connotation of a prior murder.

The Zodiac Killer was certainly looking for a ninth and tenth victim on December 20th 1969 when he mailed a further correspondence to Melvin Belli's residence, so one has to assume an eventual victim was found by the Zodiac Killer, if of course, he was telling the truth. Which I doubt he was.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/27/2018 11:15:53 am

This sounds absolutely fascinating,Richard.

Got to get my head around it,first.

Something I have overlooked,in the past.

Thanks for the article,and focus.

shawn

3/27/2018 02:07:57 pm

Who are the 2 victims in Aug?

Richard

3/27/2018 02:11:17 pm

It is thought Zodiac was attempting to claim Debra Gaye Furlong (14) and Kathie Ann Snoozy (15).

John

3/27/2018 02:29:18 pm

Richard(or anyone else), do you know if the Furlong/Snoozy murders received statewide coverage? The reason I am asking is if they did not and were only reported locally, then it means the Zodiac was an avid reader of different newspapers. Which leads me to my next point: the Zodiac did a job that allowed him to come across different newspapers. There are some people that believe the Zodiac might have been a pilot...which would make sense giving that he knew of crimes that were only reported locally (if that is the case.) He flew to the airport, picked up the local paper(s), and read about what was going on in that area. Anyhow, I am rambling again.....

Shawn

3/27/2018 02:31:18 pm

Hi Richard,

Yea he tried to claim Snoozy and Furlong.

Richard, I do not think you should modify original Zodiac documents to the degree you have above.

The modification looks real and people researching the case might be mislead.

Thanks,

Shawn

Richard

3/27/2018 02:53:06 pm

How's that Shawn.

Shawn

3/27/2018 04:05:13 pm

Hi Richard,

I often do image searches with Google for Zodiac documents. Many times your images show up.

Thanks,

Shawn

Shawn

3/27/2018 05:19:44 pm

I still think it looks too real for people who are just getting started with research and maybe for some conspiracy people.

The disclaimer is not clear.

Ray Jenkins

3/27/2018 07:05:40 pm

Yes indeed Shawn. There are some who occasionally post on this forum who could start to think the CIA is "in on this blog". Cue the theme music from the X-Files! For some it takes only a little spark to create a wildfire.

Ray Jenkins

3/27/2018 03:02:08 pm

Another tiny and therefore highly variable cryptogram. Too small for anyone but the Zodiac to know what it says. If the Zodiac sent this, once again he was just toying with the police. Yet another unsolvable taunt for the fictitious "Bat computer" to "solve".

KayElleSF

3/27/2018 05:03:38 pm

Nice work, Richard! There appears to be a pattern of Zodiac stalking his victim's families. Could the "widow" be Mrs. Stine?

Richard

3/28/2018 01:18:46 am

Trouble is KayElle nobody can place her in San Jose.

Drew

3/27/2018 06:01:31 pm

I've never seen this one Richard. Well I guess I still haven't seen it but if it carries the claim of 8 victims then that is some darn good evidence. The claim of 7 had been in the papers for a couple of weeks but it is still a very good indication of authenticity if you ask me. I am surprised though that investigators interpreting a Zodiac letter wouldn't have come to and presented what we would surely all consider as the most logical conclusion that he was referring to victims in the file. Dropping the Do my Thing phrase in there probably seems a bit forced after the recent Dripping Pen card but Zodiac did tend to repeat certain phrases.

One option I suppose is that he was claiming Gaul and Sharp who were killed on the same day Nov21 in Albany, but I guess that would mean that he wrote 2 letters that day in 2 states.

The "- + 6 2 + -" is pretty strange and curiously symmetrical. I'm going to have think about that before offering an interpretation. Thanks for bringing this one up - I have never even heard about this one.

Ray Jenkins

3/27/2018 07:02:57 pm

I guess if I was forced to provide a possible response, I would suggest that the Zodiac may have been referring, in his typically obscure and vague manner, to a game of chess. According to Wikipedia, and I quote, "the plus sign (+) is used to denote a move that puts the opponent into check. A double plus (++) is sometimes used to denote double check. Combinations of the plus and minus signs are used to evaluate a move (+/−, +/=, =/+, −/+). But is unclear what he could be saying in the context of this cipher, as he simply reverses the minus and plus signs around.

See also: https://www.chess.com/article/view/uncooperative-opponents-amp-computer-symbols

In more literal terms "+-" equates to "more rather than less", "-+" equates to "less rather than more".

In elementary mathematics, it forms a sum: 0-(+6(+2?)+(-0)=+8. In other words he was simply boasting that Z = +8, SFPD = -0

It is possible that he was trying to provide some extra "clue" by way of the number "62", as Richard suggests. Of course it is difficult to rule out if he simply meant 6+2 = 8, being his latest tally?

Ray Jenkins

3/27/2018 07:14:49 pm

Anther thing to consider is target scoring:

http://www.tenxshootingclub.com/2013/09/how-to-serve-on-a-scoring-jury/

Richard

3/28/2018 04:04:32 am

It's virtually impossible Ray- but if somebody can find the new address for the FBI FOIA requests, I will contact them.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/28/2018 03:22:46 am

I had a good look at this,Richard.

Simply not enough information on offer....and then the FBI go and redact that little that we might have had,to go on [!].

Perhaps someone might extend anything I may have found,further [?].

Firstly,I believe that November=8....is simply this,with no strings attached.So,perhaps a body count claim,of some sort [?].

To the ''main event'' [!] :

On the the most simple of code keys....A=1,B=2,C=3...etc.

We have : '' - + 6 2 + - ''.

Now,this is strictly in inverted commas,and ''enclosed'',as such.

We could write it out,with its equivalence as follows :

'' - + 6 2 + - '' ......= '' - + F B + - ''

So,its beginning to look as if '' F B I '' is in the solution.

We extend it further,therefore :

'' - 9 6 2 9 - ''......= '' - I F B I - ''

At this point,we assess possible pertinent six-digit numbers.

None of familiar note.

Therefore,five-digit numbers.Well,there are zip codes and post office boxes.

So,the number 0 [zero],is a good candidate.

Hence :

'' 0 9 6 2 9 0 ''......= '' 0 I F B I 0 ''

Extra information :

Army Post Office 96290 is a zip code in San Francisco.

Post Office Box 96290 is a collection warehouse in Houston,Texas.

Given the redacted wording,could give further clues,we might have,for example :

'' 0 - I , FBI - 0 ''.....as a ''scorecard'',with the first ''0'' equivalent of Zodiac's symbol [?].

Anyone else,feel free to extend the idea.....

Richard

3/28/2018 04:01:34 am

Good thoughts Rubislaw on the limited information we have. The post office box is not out of the question based on 1990. You 'decoded' to
'' - + F B + - '' What about (crosshairs symbol), 8, FBI 0, which is what you virtually said. Although this doesn't strictly tally to the symbols (although they rarely do).

Rubislaw 32 link

3/28/2018 04:28:19 am

Thanks.....the ''FBI'' part,does look quite enticing,for development [?].

And the APO 96290,is not just for military.Can be used for mailing from overseas,by anyone.

Just going ''left field'',the song ''Do you know the way to San Jose ?'',mentions the highway,between Los Angeles and San Jose.

Highway 101.

And Room 101 was the torture chamber,in George Orwell's ''1984''.

Perhaps Zodiac drove that road,many a time.

Zodiac's ''Highway to Paradice'' [?].

Connolly

3/29/2018 12:23:05 pm

George Orwell's ''1984'' is the world we are now living in. Propaganda, lies, control of the media, brain washed masses, torture, war, secrecy.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/29/2018 01:00:40 pm

Your ''healthy cynicism'' is certainly worth considering,Connolly.

Perhaps,CCTV cameras are the only ''saving grace'' [?].To combat urban crime.

Unlikely that Zodiac would ever have ventured into his mischievous and murderous world,if they had been around,then [?].

Ray Jenkins

3/30/2018 08:54:14 pm

Agreed Rubislaw. I suspect this is why we are seeing such a proliferation of gun nuts these days, who are just stepping straight out of their homes or cars and opening fire on innocent civilians or detonate bombs. They try to terrorize by killing as many people as they can in the shortest possible time before being taken down by the police.

"Big Brother" has changed the rules under which terrorists can secretly operate. One could argue that serial killers are a kind of terrorist, especially those that send taunts and threats to the police and media.

These days the Zodiac would not have been able to post his letters without being caught on a hidden camera and then his movements on foot or by car would be tracked. The modern urban environment would be largely out of bounds to these kinds of "old school" or "traditional" serial killers.

The saturation of cameras is less common in country areas, but even there we still find cameras. They are mounted on dashboards in cars and surround many public areas, like parks, and numerous private residences have them too. There are still serial killers around of course, but I notice that they tend to mainly occur in fairly remote locations these days.

Ray Jenkins

3/28/2018 05:54:17 am

Or some kind of encrypted morse. Connect the dots! Or in this case crosses (paradise/slaves)???

-+ = N
-++++ = 6
++--- = 2
+- = A

Co-ordinates???

Bearing: North,
Latitude: 62nd Parallel
Country: Alaska.

Tom

3/28/2018 07:30:57 pm

I got lost at the start. Butte and san jose. I have no clew.

Ray Jenkins

3/29/2018 02:55:41 am

You're correct Tom. There is not enough information. Could be anything. We can only guess... and because of that we would probably be wrong. Too much variability.

I recall when Rader was interviewed relating to one of his ciphers, he said he vaguely recalled what it was about but he could no longer remember the solution. Considering he mostly spoke the truth about his crimes and misdeeds, I do not think he was lying about not recalling the solution to his cipher.

Likewise, I tend to think if the Zodiac is still alive by some slim chance, he would probably not remember the solution to all of his ciphers, unless he had written them down somewhere. So much time has passed.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/29/2018 12:34:53 pm

You make a good point about whether the Furlong/Snoozy murders made statewide news,John.

I don't know the answer....but it could persuade us,or otherwise,if Zodiac was a regular traveller [?].

There is little doubt that Zodiac was an avid newspaper reader.I believe,at least two a day.Possibly a ''local'' one,from where he might be situated,at the time.And,a more general one....perhaps with state or national news.

There has been a body of opinion,that Zodiac corresponded with the SF Chronicle,the most....because he bought and read that newspaper,more than others.But clearly,for example,still read the Times Herald and Examiner,regularly.

Just on a speculative note,regarding ''the widow''....from what you say,Richard,it appears unlikely that it was Claudia Stine.

Then whom ?

All I can add is that Linda DelBuono,formerly Linda Suennen and Darlene Ferrin's older sister,moved to San Jose after her sister's murder.

Though,I don't know how soon...or even if she was a widow.

Tom

3/29/2018 05:22:13 pm

I know I am old and a little slow, but what the heck does Butte Montana have to do with this thing? I keep trying to figure out who and when received this letter. I haven't slept for two days.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/30/2018 03:54:47 am

I sympathise Tom.It can appear confusing.

The case of the Zodiac Killer,was ''ultimately'',the judicial ''ownership'' of the California State Department of Justice.

The CA DOJ would normally have expectations of California Police Districts,to investigate serious crime,with their overseeing,and usual headquarters in Sacramento,the State Capital.

After Darlene Ferrin's murder,it had become apparent that there was probably a serial killer [...mass murderer..],on the loose,in the San Francisco vicinity....and that this particular murderer,also resorted to Extortion.

The FBI were regarded as the specialists in Extortion,and were normally hired for mass murders,since their abilities to cross State borders,and Counties,without the need to seek legal permission.

So,a decision was made,by the CA DOJ to award jurisdiction,''in the field of play'' to the FBI.

For some unknown reason,the Butte office of the FBI,received the San Jose cryptogram,first.

Their first obligation,was to the CA DOJ.

The CA DOJ,in Sacramento,then sent it to the FBI headquarters,in Washington.

The FBI in Washington,then sent information to the FBI branch office,in San Francisco,for the purposes of any field investigations,as a result of the cryptogram.

''Bureaucracy in action''.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/29/2018 07:04:37 pm

With reference to my previous comment,I have found an an article from The San Mateo Times,dated November 17th 1972,regarding a [police] disproved claim,by Darlene's sister Pam Hyman,that Zodiac had phoned her,and told her [Pam],that he had just shot her [other] sister,Linda.

At the time,Linda was ''Mrs Linda Carrier'',from San Jose.

So,at the time of the ''widow'' reference,Linda was ''Linda DelBuono''.

Then,three years later,Linda was ''Linda Carrier''...and,from San Jose.

Anyone able to help further with this ?

If Linda was a widow,she would likely be the ''widow'' referred.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/30/2018 06:18:24 am

Yes,it would be good if someone knows if Linda was widowed,by her marriage to a ''Mr.DelBuono'' [?].

By the time,that San Mateo Times article had gone to print,the cops at checked on Linda....and found her to be alive and well.

It appears that there had been a massive family row...and this was Pam's ''attention seeking'' reaction.

Poor Pam [?].It seems that Darlene was her hero and mentor,as well as sister.And,has never got over her murder.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/31/2018 06:44:00 pm

Have just found that Linda and Steven DelBuono were living at 449 Cedar Street,at the time of Darlene Ferrin's murder.

They were informed of her death,formerly,about six hours,following it.

So,the question is,was Linda widowed,in the four and a half months,after Darlene's murder....to be a candidate,for being the ''widow'' ?

Judith

3/30/2018 06:51:37 am

So apparently he killed some lady's husband. Obviously we don't know who all his victims were. My belief is all victims claimed are real and actual. He would never make that up.

Lemonboy

3/30/2018 07:54:06 pm

I believe this as well it seems like people need a piece of every possible victims blood stained shirt to be a confirmed zodiac murder.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/30/2018 09:38:33 am

As far as I am aware of,Judith,the answer is :

''Not that we know of...''

In effect,that the ''widow'' referred....is just that....a woman,whose marital status is ''widow''.And,not because of anything,that Zodiac may have done,to make it that way.

Tom

3/30/2018 02:21:09 pm

Rubislaw, thanks so much. I feel much better about Butte now. My son always reminds me that, “old people suck”.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/30/2018 02:59:47 pm

Pleasure Tom.....your son doesn't need to trouble himself.....as age ''becomes us'',we know it sucks,anyway [?].

Nothing like a good moan [?].

My current gripe,is all these redactions,in the FBI files.

My theory is that much of it is to cover up for pizza grease and coffee stains.

''They'' are a messy lot,compared to the DOJ's special agents.

Judith

3/31/2018 11:38:44 am

I'm thinking that all ciphers were deliberate and absolutely have a message. How Illuminating that Message is I'm not sure. My suspect was into making STATEMENTS. Sometimes he would merely perform an act, rather than speak what he was thinking. Like when the waiter at the fine restaurant asked him how his meal was, and he crushed the fish on the plate with his bare hands and then washed his fingers in his glass of white wine.

Rubislaw 32 link

3/31/2018 12:07:19 pm

I agree that all ''ciphers'' were deliberate,and had some message,Judith.

Zodiac would not have wasted these opportunities to deliver,in his mind,something that made him feel ''one up''.

No ''voids'' or ''nulls'' as some have suggested,in the past.Every symbol counted for something.

The clue to '' - + 6 2 + - '' is unfortunately behind the redaction.But may well be,the equivalent of '' Zodiac - one , FBI - nil ''.

The FBI had only been in on the investigations,for about 4 months,at that point.It must have been a thrill for Zodiac [?].

An often overlooked misspelling of Zodiac,is '' Ciypher '',when he sent off the ''408'',in three pieces.Can't help thinking,he really was a ''beginner'',then.....but one who learned fast.

After all,he called his cryptograms ''Ciphers'',when ciphers actually refer to ''code keys''....and not,the encryption,itself.

Judith

4/1/2018 10:55:35 am

Perchance a youth then? Someone who still reads comic books? Someone who really is a poor speller, who spelled phonetically partly due to his education, but is also highly, highly intelligent. Someone who still makes model airplanes. Someone who was so immature he thought he would provoke law enforcement until he realized it was a bad idea. Originally a wannabe cop who failed to make the grade. Someone whose mother got him out of going to Vietnam due to psoriasis, a wanna be Soldier.

Rubislaw 32 link

4/1/2018 04:54:59 pm

I think you have precised a general good feel for Zodiac,Judith,in what you have just written.

Just to add,in the matter of misspelling.I think Zodiac started out,on his correspondences,a bit ''lazy'' with his spelling....probably harking back to childhood,when it may have been a weakness [?].

But then he realised it could become part of his ''persona''....a quirkiness that defined him,as different [?].

It is almost as if ''misspelling'' was part of what reminded him of the ''comfort'' of childhood.before it was drummed out of him,by his teachers,at school [?].

This suggests that Zodiac's early life was probably quite happy.

That matters actually started to go wrong for him,closer to adolescence [?].

Ray Jenkins

4/2/2018 10:54:06 pm

Judith, are you describing P.S.P. by any chance? If so, then very interesting indeed!

Allen Leigh provided authorities with a "checklist" of characteristics, a criteria as it were, based on statements the Zodiac gave in his correspondence. But a few things appear to be absent from the "checklist" when applied to Leigh. I am sure there must be other potential suspects who come closer to "ticking all the boxes".

Judith

4/2/2018 06:49:41 pm

Wouldn't that be nice? A lovely childhood? Serial Killers don't have lovey childhoods. So imagine the only child whose parents drink and fight and ask him to take sides. Whose mother as it turns out is a molester of little boys. Now you have the makings of your serial killer and yes he was just an American kid on so many levels, highly influenced by the media and its context for the day. Movies would be seen on the large screen down on San Pablo Dam Road. My suspect was highly influenced by music and movies. He himself so completely intense and dramatic and articulate and profound, that people came to him to get his opinion on what they should do with their lives. If you want to take a ride on my suspect watch these films: Five Easy Pieces with Jack Nicholson . Cape Fear with De Niro. Blue velvet with Dennis Hopper. Anything with a drunken Peter O'Toole. Welcome to who the Zodiac Killer was.

Ray Jenkins

4/2/2018 11:07:59 pm

Or Dennis Hopper in "Speed". Hopper seemed to be channeling the Zodiac in some of the roles he played.

And you say P.P. liked movies like A Clockwork Orange. Well many people do like such movies, who are not serial killers, BUT if he liked such films to the point that he identified himself with the "crazies" in such films, that could suggest he had the right kind of personality for Zodiac. I see the Zodiac as having been hugely influenced by the heroes and villains in pulp fiction, ranging from comic books to popular TV shows to movies.

What were P.P's thoughts on the Dirty Harry franchise? The Zodiac had always said that he wanted to see himself played on the big screen. But I am betting he was a tad confused that he was portrayed in those movies as a wimpy schizophrenic. Moreover, the cop who chased after him had a much bigger gun which consistently blew him away. The concept of good and evil was deliberately muddied in those movies, so perhaps P.P. found himself identifying more with the cop, Callaghan? It is interesting that the Zodiac never commented on the movies about him, unless of course he sent in reviews under pseudonyms and nobody knew they were from him.

Ray Jenkins

4/2/2018 11:12:30 pm

I agree. I think the Zodiac would have had a troubled childhood. He always yearned for normalcy and a better life - something far greater and more perfect than what he had been dealt. You can see this time and time again in the things he wrote and fantasized about.

Judith

4/3/2018 08:07:06 pm

I just remember he and his mother in the kitchen sort of beaming about the Dirty Harry movie mentioning the actor that played the villain was also an actor from her soap opera Ryan's Hope. At the time I would not know why they were so proud of the movie and so that adds another icky layer, that I think his mother knew who he was. I remember them referencing the citizen letter about the Badlands movie in her kitchen too. Something about Peter wrote a letter to the editor. Snickers.

Pittman

6/29/2018 10:56:27 am

Joseph James DeAngelo/GSK..Born November 8th,1945..November 8th, 1969 is also the mailing date of the 340 cipher..Just saying..

Paul

5/21/2019 01:23:48 pm

Is it possible that a murder in Los Gatos (borders on San Jose) in late October 1969 could have been the Zodiacs "8th victim", and that was the reference in cypher? Could also be why it was sent to San Jose PD? Have a look at this archived news report at the murder site, where it is suggested that this could be related to Zodiac killings:

https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/bundles/190094

Paul link

5/22/2019 02:33:48 pm

This murder took place in a vineyard in San Jose/Los Gatos, and the girl was stabbed dozens of times. At the bottom of the video from SF State Archive, there are comments from a relative of the girl that was stabbed over and over until she was dead.... apparently the authorities attributed her death to wild animals, which is so wrong..

Also, to quote the infamous MK-Ultra leader in the Bay Area, George Hunter White, in a letter to his superior Sidney Gottlieb in 1966:

"I toiled wholeheartedly in the Vineyards beacuase it was fun, fun,fun "

Richard

5/22/2019 02:47:58 pm

Absolutely Paul, there is a very real possibility that the Zodiac may have claimed this in his running total as he did the August San Jose murders of Snoozy and Furlong. I have considered the possibility before. I doubt he was responsible for the crime, but he certainly may have claimed an involvement in it.

Paul link

5/22/2019 06:13:52 pm

Richard:

I completely agree with you if one takes the position that the "Zodiac" was a single individual only.

My research has led me to lean toward the conclusion that the "Zodiac" was a collection of at least 2 different people that were involved in the killings, each having their own unique killing methodology, fingerprints, handwriting, and most important of all, had their own instructions and purpose for their handlers/sponsors.

Each event yielded new data for "Doctors and Scientists" whose government-sanctioned programs were funded to test the latest technological breakthrough in behavior modification and the subsequent social effect on the Northern California population, who were a target rich environment to study the reaction of all factions of California's diverse socioeconomic population.

But to be clear, I do not think that all participants in the scientific and medical fields had morbid intentions, as their individual work probably had good altruistic intentions and initial funding for legitimate medical studies that were needed to progress our society. But just like the invention of fire, fire has been used to keep us warm and provide light in the darkness, or it is used to destroy and cause untold pain for those experiencing its immediate effects.

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