THE ZODIAC "YOU ARE NEXT" POSTCARD

6/2/2018

The following card was postmarked October 17th 1970, but was dated by its author in identical fashion to the '13 Hole' postcard, but on this occasion Oct 12, 1970 (one week later).
The menacing postcard was directed toward Dr. Edward Adams in Orinda, CA, stating
"The Zodiac is going to change the way of committing murders. I shall announce when I shall commit my murders, The Adamses are Next you taught me to Mean it.
ADAMS YOU ARE NEXT. ZODIAC."
Whether the '13 Hole' postcard was a genuine Zodiac communication and this was a copycat, both were crafted by the hands of a hoaxer, or both were authentic Zodiac material, is a matter of opinion.
The Zodiac Killer Site forum has covered this topic extensively, so to read more about this postcard, please visit the link above. Any opinions regarding the 'You are next' and '13 Hole' postcards would be welcome.
I have cleaned and enhanced the postcard for better viewing (see below).

27 Comments

Rubislaw 32 link

6/2/2018 07:23:03 am

Certainly a ''brave'' article,from you,Richard....since there could be many interpretations.

For what its worth,I am currently all over Texas,like a rash,at present.Since,particularly,it appears that ''Donnie Hugh Henley'' is the subject of Zodiac's presumed Albany cryptogram.The lead vocalist of ''The Eagles'',no less.

The number 13 is looking quite prominent,as a result.

''13 miles'',''13 holes'',''one big thirteenth''....and Albany Hill,originally called ''Cerrito de San Antonio'',by the first settlers [1772],from San Antonio,Texas.

What's the connection ?

The Alamo,San Antonio....which was a 13 day siege,never forgotten by Texas.

Just throwing it in the mix....and calling it ''work in progress''.

Richard

6/3/2018 11:14:24 am

I think the whole case is an ongoing work of progress Rubislaw. The number 13 was fairly predominant as you stated, including the 13 stones in the crucifix discovered by Otto Fredericks at an area near Clair Tappaan Lodge, Norden, California, on Sierra Club grounds while out hiking in 1976 and examined by Harvey Hines. Likely a coincidence, however, the 13 Hole postcard did contain a red crucifix. I haven't extensively looked into the Adams postcard, but as Tahoe pointed out, he used some of the newspaper text from the October 12th article. Interesting indeed.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/3/2018 01:00:37 pm

Thanks,Richard,I''ll have a good look into the 13 stones.

Had not realised,till recently,that the Clair Tappan Lodge,was really at the centre of matters,for the mountain purists.....as opposed to Tahoe,which was more about hedonism,for a weekend or more.

I see that Grant had a luxury chalet,at Weimar,which is half way between Sacramento and Norden.It was really his wife's....but he used it much more than her.

Their house,which was more like an extensive bungalow,hidden from the pines,in ample acreage,had seclusion,but unbroken views of the majesty of Mt.Diablo.

For those few that knew Grant.He was a loner,and not popular.But everyone seemed to like his wife,Marion.

Good to keep learning something,ever day.

I am certainly sold on the notion that ''Washington and Laurel'' was Zodiac's intended destination,for his Presidio project.

Thanks for that.

Judith

6/2/2018 09:58:19 am

The use of the word shall here is interesting
This sounds like a very personal threat to the receiver and if it is zodiac it would have been one way to track him down. Personally I know Orinda is very close to El Sobrante. Peter drove me to Orinda frequently for dinners out on the town. On one occasion he became so drunk that I got in my car and left. We called it the back way, take San Pablo Dam Road through El Sobrante, all the way past the reservoir, and you'll end up in Orinda, right before you get to Highway 24. On the flip side over the mountain ridge is Lawrence Labs and then the campus of Cal Berkeley. Peter first drove me on the back of his Harley-Davidson along this road. As the Fog curls Over the Mountain Ridge it's breathtaking.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/2/2018 11:05:26 am

Some interesting geographic references there,Judith.

I think anyone proffering suggestions here,would be struggling if forcefully trying to put across a point of view....not least me....though I certainly have ideas.

If I might just put the Adams card,in historical perspective :

13th Victim Card : 5th October 1970
Adams Card : 17th October 1970
Halloween Card 27th October 1970
Slow Boat to China Letter : Early November 1970
L.A.Times Letter : 13th March 1971
Pines Card : 22nd March 1971

Only the Halloween Card and L.A.Times Letter are ''confirmed''.....but much about the others,give pointers that they could also be Zodiac authentic.

The 13th Victim Card,suggests 13 victims
The Halloween Card suggests 14 victims
The Pines Card suggests 12 victims

In chronological order,are we going ''backwards'' [?].

A final point towards a possible San Antonio link to Zodiac :

''The pace isn't getting any slower.It's just one big thirteenth''....this pasted on the 13th Victim Card.

This taken from a syndicated cartoon,appearing in either,The San Antonio Express,or The Oakland Tribune,both on September 25th 1970.

By examining the wood pulp paper,Law Enforcement investigations will know which newspaper was used.If The San Antonio Express,the some indications could move away from the Bay Area [?].

''The Pace'' = El Paso,''one big thirteenth'' might equal The Alamo.

Edward Adams treated William Grant for Alcoholism and Gambling.

Edward Adams treated Marion Grant for a nervous breakdown.

El Paso and San Antonio represent William Grant's active role in WW2.Both for training as a radio operator and rear gunner,in bombers....and training to be an instructor,in both disciplines.

My ''angle'' here,involves inference that Zodiac was shifting the blame,for his actions,in the direction of William Grant.

And,the Adams letter is almost ''self explanatory'',to that effect.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/2/2018 11:57:10 am

.....I should really explain that last line better.

Merely,that it is yet another example of Zodiac constructing a correspondence,as if he were Grant,himself....hence,incrimination by implied impersonation.

But...we all have our own ideas,and L.E. don't make it any easier,with their seemingly ''inconsistencies'' over official authentication.

Might I suggest that L.E. have been found out to have made decisions on authentication....that didn't actually come down to what the documents experts believed.

This whole business can make one ''mean spirited'' in almost every direction.

Mjw

6/2/2018 09:01:58 pm

I hope the authorities finally end this mystery similar to the Golden State guy. Like many, I have read every police report, and have done years of research. I'm still thinking it's Allen, but who knows it could be like a Dennis Rader type hiding in plain sight. Hopefully DNA family history from genealogy sites can clear this.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/3/2018 03:45:24 pm

Just to make a point here,for consideration :

As documented :

13th Victim Card : October 5th 1970.....suggesting 13 victims.

Pines Card : March 22nd 1971.......suggesting 12 victims.

The Pines card arrives 9 days following the L.A.Times Letter.

The L.A.Times letter is designed to humiliate the ''Blue Meanies'' for eventually all coming round to understand that Zodiac might have had,at least,some involvement in the Bates case.

It appears then,that the Pines Card was employed,to press home that humiliation on the police,by Zodiac.

But,given that the Pines Card suggested 12 victims,then,it looks likely that Zodiac constructed that Pines Card before October 5th 1970.....then decided not to send it.....then changed his mind,almost six months later....finally sending the Pines Card,March 22nd 1971.

It looks like something stopped Zodiac sending it,before the 13th Victim Card.....put it away in a draw....then produced it,following the L.A,Times Letter,of March 13th 1971.

Richard

6/3/2018 04:11:32 pm

If you are relating the Pines Card of 12 victims to when it was constructed, then it had to be before July 26th 1970, because the Little Little proclaimed 13. You may have to take it back to before the Button letter which also claimed 12 victims. If one believes it was constructed before July 26th, then it cannot be about Donna Lass. You know my thoughts on the Pines card, but that is another story entirely.

Richard

6/3/2018 04:14:30 pm

When I said it couldn't be about Donna Lass prior to July 26th, I meant it couldn't be about her abduction and likely murder. However, it could have been created about an impending attack.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/3/2018 06:02:50 pm

I get the general gist here,Richard.....and thanks for bringing up the ''Little List'' claim of 13,also.

I'm really looking to ascertain,when is the earliest date that Zodiac could have created the Pines Card,bearing in mind his ''12 claim'' was in ''honest'' order.

So,the Pines Card could,in theory,have been created before July 26th 1970.....but he decides not to send it....puts the card away.....then produces it 8 months later,March 22nd 1971....to probably employ,as a compounding of the cops' humiliation,at his [Zodiac's] hands.

One scenario,only,of course.

I see the Pines Card as another ''Grant impersonation,by inference'' job.But that is,understandably,a personal opinion.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/3/2018 07:48:24 pm

I suppose,with the Button Letter...and it being ''confirmed'',with the 12 claim,one could start seeing the grounds for believing that there were two Zodiac's....or an authentic Zodiac and an Impostor [?].

Or,just part of Zodiac's ploy,to confuse [?].

Sometimes,if he picked up again,after a break from his terror....he might just have forgotten aspects,from where he left off [?].

If we believe all the ''high profile'' correspondences,inconsistencies do emerge....such as calling a claimed bomb,a ''death machine''.....then 17 years later,referring to his car,as a ''death machine''.

As you make mention,Richard,''Zodiac investigations'' will always be ''work in progress''.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/4/2018 02:46:56 am

Not that much,is known about Edward Adams,but I can put forward something,and perhaps others can add,or challenge the little I do know,about him.

Firstly,he didn't beat about the bush,with this presumed death threat....and handed the presumed Zodiac message,over to the cops,immediately.

Edward Adams had a private practice,as a psychiatrist,but he also worked part of the week,at either a clinic,in Oakland...or something connected to Berkeley University.

If Berkeley,his work probably involved lecturing,as well [?].

Edward Adams,like William Grant and Judge Raymond Sherwin,were members of the Sierra Club.But,the club had huge membership.Worldwide, 2.5 million,even then.The Club was one of the pioneers of conservationism,in the modern world.

What is pertinent,perhaps here,is that Edward Adams and Judge Raymond Sherwin,were part of the elite board members of the Sierra Club.

William Grant ''enters'' as a player,in that his wife Marion,was Raymond Sherwin's legal secretary.Grant obviously rubbed shoulders,and curried favour with the Sierra Club ''big wigs'',through his wife's work connections.

So,Grant probably got his personal treatment,for his alcohol addiction,from Adams.....through the ''Marion and Sherwin'' work connection.

Of course,we know that Marion and Raymond Sherwin ended up,having an affair.

And,we know that Grant was already being suspected as a possible Zodiac,at the time of his wife's affair.

The culmination of the two circumstances came about when Sherwin was beaten up,in a car park,after finding an intruder rifling through the contents of his car's dash board lock up.

Was the intruder Zodiac ? What transpired was that the cops became even keener on Grant,believing that Grant had assaulted Sherwin,on account of uncovering his wife's affair.

That business ended up,in court,behind the guise of the public.....With Grant securing a harassment injunction,against the cops....effectively,that they could never touch him again.

Edward Adams enters the arena again,when Marion succumbs to a nervous breakdown,following information that Grant tells her,after his legal success.

But,at the time of the ''you are next'' message,the possible Grant/Adams connection is that Adams had treated Grant,as a private patient.

So,the question is,why did Zodiac threaten Adams.....and did Grant have anything to do with it.....either as the creator of the message....or,as a ''set up'' victim of Zodiac's persecution.

Drew

6/4/2018 07:51:06 am

Hi Guys, I have been looking at and reading about these cut and paste cards and though I'm still not certain they point to any unknown victims I am pretty much convinced they are from Zodiac as I have learned a couple things that could relate to the date and possible intent of their construction. Because we can't source every element and can't verify whether any of the purported victims even exist there is still much left to mystery.

The Oct 5 70 Pace Card was completed no earlier than September 25 because the 'pace isn't getting any slower' portion came from a comic strip widely circulated (including the Chronicle) on that day. It is very frustrating that we can’t look at the entire Sept25 Chronicle newspaper as there is a good chance the card was entirely sourced from it. Though 13 had already been claimed in July that letter was not published. On one hand that suggests that a hoaxer was unaware that Zodiac had made the claim, but it could also be that Zodiac was upset his July letter wasn’t published and decided to take another shot at getting his claim in the paper. This could explain why Zodiac who had sworn in other letters censored his curse 'Fk Im crackproof' if cursing was his intent with that line. He also mentions the price on his head as Zodiac had in the My Name Is April letter.

The Oct 17 You're Next Card was created largely or entirely from the Oct 12 Chronicle article by Avery that featured the Pace Card.

The Oct 27 Halloween Card sent to 'Averly' may not have been made by the same person but the claim or threat of 14 shows the intention of presenting a continuity with the Pace Card. If this was sent by a hoaxer then Zodiac seemingly was content to allow an imposter to take over his campaign.

The March 13 71 LA Letter seems to be a confirmed and uncontested Zodiac correspondence, claiming 17+, and embraces the term crackproof. He used the word cracked in April but I'm pretty sure crackproof originated in the Pace Card. Like the Halloween card it refers to the articles of Avery (by acknowledging the Riverside connection) and reeinforces the Slaves and Paradice rhetoric. The teasing implication that there are more past victims to learn about in my opinion is a setup for the Pines Card.

The March 22 71 Pines Card features hole punches like the Pace Card, again addresses ‘Averly’, and seems to take up where the LA Letter left off teasing a link to another cold case. “Sought victim 12” has been interpreted as a claim of a current twelth victim from a hoaxer unaware of the 17+ letter sent a week earlier or the 1970 claims but I believe if this is a hoaxer it is the same one who made the other cards and that this was a response to the LA Letter.

Assuming that the Forest Pines ad was the first chosen element of the collage I tried to trace its origin. I found different versions published in the newspaper in February and March. The ad on the Pines page here has telling variations from one on this unizod site that was in the Chronicle March 19 and it almost has to be the source because it includes “Peek through the pines,” in one line whereas other versions have that line set on two lines without starting with the capital P.

If the Pines Card was created only a couple of days before being sent I doubt very much that there is any victim connected with the Clair Tapaan lodge chapter of the Sierra Club. Taken at face value it seems like the sender is saying Zodiac targetted someone at the lodge and killed and buried them in the snow around that area. If it was Zodiac that implies a summer of 70 murder but if it was a hoaxer who also sent the Pace Card then it could suggest the September 70 murder of Donna Lass. I used to see Sierra Club as an allusion to Sahara Hotel until I learned that the Clair Tapaan Lodge is part of the Sierra Club. The Donna Lass abduction scenario has much in common with the outlier cases of Kathleen Johns, Cheri Jo Bates and Robert Salem but remains very far from the confirmed Zodiac cases.

So those are my thoughts of the day. I think the Zodiac sent all of the cut and paste cards except perhaps for the You’re Next Card. Thanks everybody!

Drew

6/4/2018 08:02:31 am

Here is a link to the March 19th 1971 Forest Pines ad from the San Francisco Chronicle. Note "Peek through the pines,"
http://unazod.com/odd/pines.pdf

I also forgot to mention that the LA Letter mentions a disgruntlement about being buried in the back pages by other publications (like the Chronicle who were instructed to stop printing Zodiac letters mid 1970). This seems to jibe with the idea that the Pace Card was written as a secondary attempt to get his claim in the paper.

Richard

6/4/2018 08:24:32 am

Again, can't add anything Drew- a perfect summation of the communications around this period.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/4/2018 09:37:21 am

This is refreshing to hear,Drew.

More specifically,that someone is,close to categorically [?],willing to stand up for the cut and paste cards.

My inclinations are with you.They are a very specific form of correspondence....and the ones we have been privy to,albeit in photocopy form,tend to have persuading aspects,in common.

Just identifying their ''rhymes and reasons'',is the real conundrum....as opposed to their source [?].

Mr.AKWilks is still trying to obtain a copy of ''The Montecello Card''.If the authorities would only give us that one,I am confident that further clues would emerge,for the cut and paste cards,as a ''job lot'',not least the card's own merits.

Richard

6/4/2018 09:48:48 am

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Monticello card will look extremely similar to the Pines card. I have tried to secure this card once, as has Mike Morford. I just cannot understand the mentality of keeping this card under wraps. A pasted card of babble is hardly critical to the case.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/5/2018 04:25:21 am

Hi Richard....talk about ''unconfirmed's'',I've come across another one,courtesy of the late Lyndon Lafferty.

Your recent show of the Christmas card,sent to Mary,sister of Donna Lass....rang a bell,with me...but I couldn't remember where.

The card was Xmas 1974,according to the postage stamps.

Well,Mr.Lafferty looked into the claim,by schoolteacher,Kimberly Lawrence,that she was being stalked by a man,in the Spring of 1974.

Kimberly Lawrence lived at Alamo Drive,Vacaville,near Fairfield.The stalker would follow her home,in his car.....and,when she visited her parents,in El Sobrante.

Lafferty was able to reproduce a letter,that the stalker sent Kimberly,with the aid of tracing paper....and present the reproduction to a handwriting expert.

The verdict : '' Definitely contrived ''.

Anyway,Lafferty displays the letter,on page 251,of his book,''The Silenced Badge''.

I think that the writing is very much like that in the Christmas card to ''Mary''.

Perhaps you might get Tahoe 27 involved,to display,for comparisons [?].She seems to take an interest in that Christmas card.

Rubislaw 32 link

6/5/2018 05:38:02 am

Some extra,on that letter :

The postmark on the envelope is ''Sacramento'',with the date believed to be circa June 1974.

The letter's content :

'' I seen you on Silveyville at that house.I like you and follow you.You live in Vacaville.I watch you there and Dixon and Davis.I watch you alot.I like to watch you and call you dist.I get mad cause your telephone doesnt ring at night now.You better let it ring on.I get to mad and bad things will happen.I tell you once.Let it ring or else.''

Rubislaw 32 link

6/5/2018 06:23:57 am

Kimberly Lawrence's letter,circa June 1974 :

''...You better let it ring on...''

Fairfield Letter,December 16th 1969 :

''.....You better print....''

Albany Letter,August 1973 :

''.....You had better hurry.....''

Richard

6/5/2018 07:08:44 am

Nice find Rubislaw- I haven't read Lyndon Lafferty's book, so I have never heard of this letter. Some nice connections there to Fairfield.
So we haven't got the original letter in its original form, just a traced effort of the original. If so, that is a shame, because it's always advantageous to see the original Found the book on Googlereads entitled "I watch you a lot". I will have a read-thanks.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QbFEBAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Rubislaw 32 link

6/5/2018 07:48:16 am

Thanks Richard.

I believe this letter to Ms.Lawrence needs a general ''airing'' to a wider audience.

And,I believe that Lyndon would feel complimented.Particularly,if it was placed beside the Christmas card to Mary.

Lyndon comments : '' The above note was fading to an unreadable condition.It was traced over with a fountain pen,on 03.01.00.''

So,bearing in mind that the writing might be slightly thicker,than that in the Christmas card,i'd say we are close to a direct match.The capital ''A's'' and ''D's'' are uncannily similar.

The handwriting expert's opinion,was just on ''contrivance''....which suggests a variation,on the author's natural style.

Richard

6/5/2018 09:18:14 am

I may just do that. Not immediately, but I will read up a bit more on it and see if we can run with it. The date is certainly relevant regarding the December 27th 1974 Mary Pilker Xmas card, and as you point out the handwriting. It is extremely difficult separating the real and fake Zodiac correspondence Rubislaw, but this is certainly worth considering .

Rubislaw 32 link

6/5/2018 09:55:30 am

Just a bit of Trivia,while I see it :

The small town of Willows,CA,is home to state government offices of :

California Highway Patrol

California Department of Motor Vehicles

Perhaps Zodiac had a few ''run ins'',and they got on his t*t ?

Rubislaw 32 link

6/6/2018 08:30:01 am

I have just found out,via my old research,that Robert Graysmith acquired a letter from a schoolteacher at Vacaville.He doesn't name her,in his book,''Zodiac'',but he publishes the contents of the letter.

I just can't find a reference on a page number,but certainly appears to be the ''one and only'' Kimberly Lawrence.

Looks like Graysmith got there first,and got ''first pick'' of the letters [?].

Rubislaw 32 link

6/6/2018 09:49:25 am

Ah...I have found it.

Robert Graysmith's ''Zodiac'',Chapter 13,Andrew Todd Walker,page 187.

Of course,''Andrew Todd Walker'' was the name that the press gave William Joseph Grant,after Grant had won his harassment injunction.

The letter,acquired by Graysmith,pre-dates the one acquired by Lafferty,by one month.

The letter's content :

'' I watch you a lot.I saw you in Davis and Silveyville Road in Dixon.I'm pretty angry because your telephone doesn't ring at night.Bad things will happen if you don't let it ring. ''.

Kimberly Lawrence taught at the elementary school,on Cordelia Road.The same road that William and Marion Grant lived on.

She never saw her stalker,in the vicinity of the school.

THE ZODIAC "YOU ARE NEXT" POSTCARD

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