THE ZODIAC RIPPER

9/5/2019

Many people have considered whether the Zodiac was inspired by previous serial killers, such as Jack the Ripper. who brought terror to the streets of Whitechapel, London in the latter months of 1888. Both killer's would be accredited with five canonical victims in a comparatively brief reign, and both cases would also be accompanied by letters to the press. The overarching consensus, is of a Zodiac Killer who readily supplied the newspapers with details of his crimes and intentions, in both a wilful and reactionary manner. He was urged by Vallejo Police Chief, Jack E. Stiltz to provide more information to the police, to prove that the murderer and letter writer were one and the same person. The Zodiac Killer duly obliged when he hand delivered the 'Debut of Zodiac' letter to the San Francisco Examiner on August 4th 1969 revealing his pseudonym to the world - the Zodiac Killer was born. If we ever needed to discover the purpose or meaning behind a Zodiac Killer communication, then often we need look no further than the previous months newspaper coverage. Although the Ripper letters were believed to be a concoction by the tabloid press of the day to boost circulation, the ridicule and taunting of the police became the mainstay that connected both Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer, despite being separated by eighty years.

On May 6th 1986, the Zodiac Killer or a hoaxer mailed a letter to the San Francisco Chronicle claiming the April 22nd 1986 murders of Koy Ien Saechao and Choy Fow Salee, who were brutally gunned down in similar fashion to the attack on Michael Mageau and Darlene Ferrin at Blue Rock Springs Park on July 4th 1969. The killer had approached their vehicle from the rear and fired off 15 small-caliber rounds into the vehicle, blowing out both front side windows. The author of the letter wrote "This is the Zodiac speaking. I am still out here an crackproof. I want you to know about my latest slaves that I have collected about two weeks ago up by Sacramento Ca. I will give you clue to help you with the mystry. They were killed by a freeway. The Blue Meannies almost caught me. The body count is growing now 100+ all over the state of Ca and Na". This letter is a complete outlier to the barrage of communications from 1969 to 1971 - so what inspired a lone communication such as this, if not the release of the Robert Graysmith Zodiac book in the January of that year. The 1986 letter would be belatedly followed by another correspondence on October 28th 1987 referencing the movie The Car - and it is this latest letter that would mimic one crucial detail from another outlier communication from 1978.

April 24th 1978 letter

The letter on the right was mailed on April 24th 1978 claiming the Zodiac Killer was back and waiting for a good movie about him. This communication arrived seven years after the 1971 'Los Angeles' letter and four years after the quartet of communications in 1974. So, what drove the Zodiac killer out of the shadows and back into the limelight? (assuming it was him). We know the Zodiac Killer fed off the newspaper coverage of the day, so there must have been a considerable trigger to drive him to communicate with the San Francisco Chronicle once again. The answer may lie in the design of the April 24th 1978 letter.

The letter began with "Dear" and ended with "yours truly" (placed midline), in similar design to the Dear Boss letter, mailed and accredited to Jack the Ripper on September 27th 1888. This may not be wholly convincing on its own, unless we can discover the inspiration for why the Zodiac Killer decided to resurrect his contact with the Chronicle newspaper in 1978, akin to the release of the Zodiac book by Robert Graysmith in 1986. It may have been a newspaper story that he had followed closely over the preceding months or years. But one that inspired the Ripperesque style approach and the desire for his name to be up in lights.

Dubbed the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe terrorized the north of England from 1975 to 1981, finally being arrested on January 2nd 1981 and sentenced to 20 concurrent life sentences, to serve a minimum of 30 years (later given a whole life tariff). He was convicted for the murder of 13 women and the attempted murder of seven more. The investigation was marred by police incompetence and a hoaxer called Wearside Jack. Over the course of a year between March 1978 and the end of June 1979, John Humble sent three letters claiming to be the Yorkshire Ripper. Postmarked from Sunderland, two were addressed to Assistant Chief Constable George Oldfield, a member of the West Yorkshire Police who was heading the Ripper inquiry, and one to the Daily Mirror. However, these letters were not published until 1979, so couldn't have inspired the 1978 Chronicle letter. The Yorkshire Ripper case dominated the headlines in the UK - and it is extremely unlikely (whether or not the Zodiac Killer has British ancestry) that an avid reader such as the Bay Area murderer wouldn't have kept himself informed of world affairs.

On January 21st 1978, the Yorkshire Ripper claimed his seventh victim, that of Yvonne Pearson (21). Peter Sutcliffe repeatedly bludgeoned her about the head with a hammer, then jumped on her chest before stuffing horse-hair into her mouth from a discarded sofa under which he hid her body near Lumb Lane. On January 18th 1978, Helen Rytka (18) was struck on the head five times as she exited his vehicle - and after stripping many of the clothes from her body, he then repeatedly stabbed her in the chest. Her body was found beneath railway arches in the timber-yard to which he had driven her three days later. The body of Yvonne Pearson was not discovered and reported in the newspapers until March 26th 1978. One month later, the Zodiac Killer reappeared and wrote to the San Francisco Chronicle, in a communication bearing hallmarks of the Dear Boss letter of 1888. Did the Zodiac Killer keep abreast of the news from England and resurrect the Ripper for the newsrooms of the San Francisco Chronicle, or was there another reason he resurfaced in the April of 1978?

9 Comments

Rubislaw 32 link

9/5/2019 07:57:06 pm

Certainly worthy of consideration,Richard....and there appears to be little doubt that the Zodiac was,at least in part,inspired by Jack The Ripper.

But I also believe it brings two ''chicken and egg'' scenarios,under consideration,also.

Firstly ''Jack'' himself.On August 31st 1888,he claimed his first official victim,Mary Ann Nichols.This murder took place,two days following the opening stage production of Robert Louis Stevenson's ''Strange case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde'',in London...having premiered,a year prior,on Broadway.

Naturally,there are those who believe that the infamous Whitechapel serial killer,had been inspired by having attended the novella adaptation's London stage debut.

And then,in the case of the Zodiac Killer,the general assumpion is that he was inspired by the acts of the Whitechapel knifeman,to put together the attack at Lake Berryessa,as a project.that saw through to its fruition.

But we can,perhaps go right back to the Desk Top Poem,at Riverside,with its title,''Sick of living / unwilling to die''.This title,now believed by some,to be plagiarised from poetry written by The Earl of Clarendon,Edward Hyde.And hence,an inspiration on work by Robert Louis Stevenson,inspiring the man who became the Zodiac,to consider ''work'' created by Jack The Ripper,as an option,that manifested itself in the planned attack,at Lake Berryessa.

Richard

9/6/2019 12:49:13 am

Whether it be Jack the Ripper or the Zodiac Killer Rubislaw, when they embarked on their serial killings, something from nature and nurture contributed towards the path they chose. The external influences will undoubtedly affect what type of serial killer they become, such as their exposure to violence. It is thought that Jack the Ripper was driven by a hatred for women, which is why he literally tried and achieved in obliterating the woman's identity by disfiguring her face and sexual organs. I have never believed that Zodiac was governed by an increased hatred for the women, because at LHR the male was shot in the head and the woman was shot five times as a consequence of distance. At BRS Michael Mageau was directly struck 4 times, Ferrin 5. At Lake Berryessa, Bryan Hartnell only received less stab wounds because he played dead. At PH no woman was involved. When the Zodiac drove into that turnout on December 20th 1968, had there been three people in the Rambler, are we totally confident that Zodiac would have said "OK, I'll forget it now, they are not a couple". The same could be said of BRS. The fact they were couples more indicative of the locations and what they were frequented for. The Zodiac even admitted in his July 31st letters that he "will cruse around and pick of all stray people or coupples that are alone then move on to kill some more". Whether single or couples, it appeared to take a back seat to the act of killing, as exemplified by the Paul Stine murder. The Zodiac simply knew he needed to murder to achieve his ultimate goal of notoriety and recognition, from which afforded him a period of grace to harness the attention of the newspapers, police and public. If he did decide to not reveal his murders as he claimed in the Bus Bomb letter, then he certainly failed when insinuating his involvement in the Bates, Radetich and Lass cases. Hiding your crimes runs contrary to what got Zodiac got noticed for in the first place. His decision to write copious letters, cards and cryptograms was almost certainly a product of his experiences - with one possibility Jack the Ripper. The volume of material he sent to the newspapers indicative of the notoriety he sought. He certainly wanted to become the modern day equivalent of somebody like Jack the Ripper, and knew that letters and puzzles were far more likely to achieve this goal, rather than endless murder. This is why this case is far higher in profile than many other serial murder cases. Jack the Ripper, with only five canonical murders, cannot be dismissed as the driver to the Zodiac Killer - the modern day equivalent of how press coverage can shape their infamy.

Richard

9/6/2019 01:34:03 am

The Zodiac referenced The Most Dangerous Game (1924), possibly A Game of Death (1945) and The Mikado (1885), so he was prepared to delve back into the past for his inspiration - maybe even his cryptograms. The The Earl of Clarendon, Edward Hyde just another possible connection. So much about this killer, indicates to me, a man more of middle age and maturity, than somebody in their mid twenties. A man certainly capable of spelling correctly had he so chosen.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/6/2019 01:31:34 am

Pertinent and wise words from you,Richard,and go along with them.

''Jack'' 's propensity for hating women,was ''extreme'',to say the least,and would put the Zodiac around a 20%-30% propensity,compared to a 95% one,for Jack.''Homebrew'' philosophy,accepted.

It is difficult to imagine Jack ''not'' being exposed to violence,from an early age.Whereas,I think that the Zodiac's childhood,was reasonably happy.Holidays,such as Christmas and Halloween appear to awaken fond sentiment....and he must have managed plenty of undisturbed time,to do all ''that'' reading [?].

What I find ''novel'' about Lake Berryessa is,that it seems to have been,the only time,that the CA DOJ let down Bay area police badly,by allowing them to waste,up to three days searching for a ''linking'' type of knife,bought at a hardware store....when they first knew,from Cecilia's pathology report,and probably from what Bryan had disclosed,that....''this'' was no ''ordinary'' knife...but a double-edged blade one,such a a sword bayonet.

Richard

9/6/2019 02:09:29 am

Yes, if you take Lake Berryessa as a whole, you have the dramatic executioner's costume and the 12 inch bladed weapon. If ever a swashbuckling entrance was required (akin to Zorro) this was it. He didn't require an elaborate costume - a stocking or balaclava would have sufficed - and far easier to carry and dispose of. Again, the knife required for the task ahead, far in excess of what was required. This was a man wanting to make a grand, theatrical entrance of the kind usually reserved for celebrities and performers. The Zodiac Killer, dripping with narcissism and emboldened by the press coverage he had received, had effectively elevated himself into the guise of a superhero. The care and attention he had taken in the design of his costume, with a uniform and stitched moniker, testament to the fact that this killer had adopted the role as a feared villain, akin to the crime novels he probably read. His purpose on July 31st 1969 was to lay the bedding for his arrival, by providing facts to the police that he was the writer and killer. The deviation at Berryessa required him writing on the car door to prove he was the same man and the further deviation at Presidio Heights required part of the crime scene being taken home with him for future posting. Whether donning the costume, or writing on the car door and mailing pieces of Paul Stine's shirt, this killer had a penchant for the dramatic, shaped by his upbringing and formative years. The modern day innocent equivalent, are people who crave attention through the the possessions they own. Some people need the Armani suit, the Bentley or Rolls Royce with personalized number plate, or the 300,000 dollar Rolex watch. Some people don't need any of this, even when they can afford it. It boils down to the attention they crave - and the more they need to impress others with superficial triviality, is indicative of their insecurity. The Zodiac Killer required attention (or so he led us to believe), which stems from a lack of confidence and insecurity innate within him. Braggarts and boasters are seeking the approval from others, whereas people confident within themselves require no such reinforcement. The Zodiac displayed his penchant for the theatrical in his crimes and letters, which in effect showed his insecurity in equal measure.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/6/2019 02:41:57 am

''On the nail'',with ''theatrics'',Richard.

This guy earned a good education,through being bright enough...but,more relevant to that time...that his family were ''just'' able to chip in enough,to make that tertiary education,affordable for him.

Hard working,''lower-middle'' class parents [?].

But,with that background,would have,at that time,be mixing with young adults,whose background was more ''middle to upper'' class.

''Zodiac'' had to catch up,on the ''sophistication'' stakes...and there would always be a part of him,that knew the difference...and would understand that ''sophistication'' would not be found,with ease.

Richard Nixon and James Callaghan,''straightforward'' cases,in point.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/6/2019 01:53:38 am

I have to admit that I put the Zodiac,as younger than middle age.

But this would probably be,on a personal basis that the Zodiac suffered from lengthy periods,off school,through illness in childhood.''Quiet time'' to do much reading,and hobbies such as model making,perhaps.

And,may have been correspondence ''extorting'',as young as 14,or thereabouts [?].

Yes...the Zodiac could certainly spell correctly,if inclined.Someone pointed out,that misspelling became ''fashionable'' for its time,with banners,on protest marches....which,in themselves,were ''de rigeur'',for that period in history.

Richard

9/6/2019 03:11:30 am

Maybe his artistic and theatrical side set him apart from other kids, who would often bully children they deemed "effeminate", or who had an artistic quality within them. This may have created the isolation that manifested in attention-seeking behaviour in other aspects of his life. I don't usually like psychoanalyzing serial killers, became usually they operate beyond the parameters we are accustomed to. Even the qualified professionals that sit and talk to these killers are constrained by the rationality of an educated mind, attempting to understand something they've never experienced. Often they are duped by the devious mind of psychopaths and sociopaths, who oprerate only to satisfy their own agenda. So, in effect Rubislaw, you could probably ignore everything I have just written. The Green River Killer and BTK Killer two such examples where many investigators of sound mind totally missed the mark. In terms of his age, the only reason I estimate he was around 40, was because of three independent sets of eyewitnesses in a 5 minute period after the Stine shooting. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable, but becomes more reliable with corroboration. I accept, however, that he could easily be older or younger because of variations in the aging process, with education an important element in his writings as you allude.

Rubislaw 32 link

9/6/2019 03:37:43 am

Interesting that you should bring up the Stine murder,Richard.

I now realize that the ''iconic'' double-wanted poster was assimilated,about one week,following the Stine murder.So,one presumes,this poster ''reasonably'' satisfied the investigating police,based in the main,on what transpired at Presidio Heights [?].

Naturally,we will all tend to make cases,for what each of us,has generally extracted from our observations,on what seems to have been documented [?].

It does look likely that the Zodiac had ''blonded up'' and more ''crew-cut-esque'',for the Stine execution [?].Notoriously,a ''look'',difficult to judge age.

In addition,it does seem that the Zodiac had to exercise,more than ''fleet of foot'',in his escape,from the crime scene....and unless a middle-age man,was in pretty good nick,exercise-wise,would have found the ''going'' tough,to say the least.

But...it has to be said that,the effects of self-induced adrenaline,can do wondrous things.

So,a difficult call,on the age factor [?].

THE ZODIAC RIPPER

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