It may be possible to track the Zodiac Killer's movements through Presidio Park on October 11th 1969 by using his wording in the "Bus Bomb" letter mailed on November 9th 1969. This communication, one month after the murder of Paul Stine in San Francisco, stated "Hey blue pig I was in the park -- you were useing fire trucks to mask the sound of your cruzeing prowl cars. The dogs never came with in 2 blocks of me + they were to the west + there was only 2 groups of barking about 10 min apart then the motor cicles went by about 150 ft away going from south to north west".
The Zodiac Killer claimed he entered the park at Spruce Street, that was earlier corroborated by a San Francisco Chronicle newspaper article on October 12th 1969, which mentioned a man matching the killer's description running into Julius Kahn playground. The Zodiac Killer by writing "the dogs never came with in 2 blocks + they were to the west", indicated that once he entered the park he walked in an easterly direction (likely taking path B in the map below). This wording is open to interpretation because he is walking in the wooded park away from Pacific Avenue - and therefore can only reasonably estimate that he is more than two blocks east of the dogs (located at Julius Kahn playground).
Approaching the blue circle on the map, the Zodiac Killer would be in excess of two blocks from the search dogs mentioned in the October 15th 1969 San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, which stated "A large contingent of police with dogs and searchlights scoured the area around Cherry Street, which includes the wooded south boundary of the Presidio and Julius Kahn playground". If the Zodiac Killer was somewhere near this location, he would have been about three blocks from the searchlights and dogs - and probably would have heard the dogs barking from the approximate location he entered the park. This was the obvious place for the police to instigate their search, based upon the eyewitness (or eyewitnesses) testimony at Spruce Street, who saw somebody running into Julius Kahn playground shortly after the murder.
The Zodiac Killer claimed he entered the park at Spruce Street, that was earlier corroborated by a San Francisco Chronicle newspaper article on October 12th 1969, which mentioned a man matching the killer's description running into Julius Kahn playground. The Zodiac Killer by writing "the dogs never came with in 2 blocks + they were to the west", indicated that once he entered the park he walked in an easterly direction (likely taking path B in the map below). This wording is open to interpretation because he is walking in the wooded park away from Pacific Avenue - and therefore can only reasonably estimate that he is more than two blocks east of the dogs (located at Julius Kahn playground).
Approaching the blue circle on the map, the Zodiac Killer would be in excess of two blocks from the search dogs mentioned in the October 15th 1969 San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, which stated "A large contingent of police with dogs and searchlights scoured the area around Cherry Street, which includes the wooded south boundary of the Presidio and Julius Kahn playground". If the Zodiac Killer was somewhere near this location, he would have been about three blocks from the searchlights and dogs - and probably would have heard the dogs barking from the approximate location he entered the park. This was the obvious place for the police to instigate their search, based upon the eyewitness (or eyewitnesses) testimony at Spruce Street, who saw somebody running into Julius Kahn playground shortly after the murder.
His following statement of "the motor cicles went by about 150 ft away going from south to north west" suggested he was walking through the trees beyond the blue circle, heading towards Presidio Boulevard, where motorcycles would have been circling the park, traveling from the south to northwest (shown by the orange circle on the map). If the Zodiac Killer was watching the motorcycles from this location (and he walked at a moderate pace), the time would be about 10:15 pm (19 minutes after he left the crime scene). It was at this approximate time and location that the Zodiac Killer mentioned "there was only 2 groups of barking about 10 min apart". But what did he mean by this statement?
The October 12th 1969 police report stated that "The military police headquarters of the Presidio of S.F. was notified and an intense search of the Julius Kahn area was made by seven dog units, other Richmond and C.P. units - to no avail". It is evident the dog units were deployed from the military police headquarters in Presidio Park - and as previously noted - a contingent of police and dogs were grouped by Julius Kahn playground. These two locations were about 11 minutes walking distance apart in Presidio Park. Therefore, a large grouping of tracker dogs assembled at both the military headquarters and Julius Kahn playground, may explain the wording adopted by the Zodiac Killer, who wrote "there was only 2 groups of barking about 10 min apart" (see below). If he was present by the orange circle on the map, he would have been capable of hearing dogs barking from the southwest and northwest. Was the information about the dogs being deployed from military headquarters available in the newspapers?
The October 12th 1969 police report stated that "The military police headquarters of the Presidio of S.F. was notified and an intense search of the Julius Kahn area was made by seven dog units, other Richmond and C.P. units - to no avail". It is evident the dog units were deployed from the military police headquarters in Presidio Park - and as previously noted - a contingent of police and dogs were grouped by Julius Kahn playground. These two locations were about 11 minutes walking distance apart in Presidio Park. Therefore, a large grouping of tracker dogs assembled at both the military headquarters and Julius Kahn playground, may explain the wording adopted by the Zodiac Killer, who wrote "there was only 2 groups of barking about 10 min apart" (see below). If he was present by the orange circle on the map, he would have been capable of hearing dogs barking from the southwest and northwest. Was the information about the dogs being deployed from military headquarters available in the newspapers?
PRESIDIO PARK [WITH INSET OF MILITARY BASE)
Inspector David Toschi Although Chief Martin Lee dismissed the idea that the Zodiac entered the Presidio Park, it appeared that Inspectors David Toschi and Bill Armstrong were not of the same opinion according to Robert Graysmith, who wrote "The detectives heard from neighbors that a stocky figure was seen dashing across Julius Kahn playground and into the dense undergrowth of the Presidio. The dog patrol units, seven of the best search dogs in the country, gathered at the front entrance of the Presidio and were deployed one at a time in various directions. Armstrong and Toschi considered the possibilities. Had the killer gone quickly through the dark woods and emerged from the Presidio at Richardson Avenue, and taken Highway 101 past Fort Point onto the Golden Gate Bridge and vanished into Marin County".
It is not very likely that the murderer of Paul Stine would have parked a getaway vehicle by Richardson Avenue on the north-eastern edge of Presidio Park. This location was nine blocks north of Presidio Avenue and would have effectively negated the purpose of having a vehicle for a quick escape. There were many better options along Lyon Street much closer to the entrance at Julius Kahn playground. If the Zodiac Killer was watching the motorcycles go by on Presidio Boulevard (by the orange circle), then a vehicle parked at Green Street or Union Street would have been a wiser choice. However, there were far more favorable options to park a getaway vehicle around Presidio Park that day, by a killer who originally planned his murder at the intersection of Washington & Maple streets. His apparent decision to ignore these more obvious (and nearer) choices, could suggest that the Zodiac Killer opted to escape without the use of a vehicle that night by accessing the wooded protection of the park. Especially if he currently lived, or had access to a business on the eastern side of Presidio Park that nullified the need for transport. Leaving a vehicle unattended for a long period of time around the park still carried an element of risk.
The Zodiac Killed seemed extremely irritated by the claims of Chief Martin Lee, firing off a seven page communication to the San Francisco Chronicle on November 9th 1969, in large part berating and mocking the police for telling lies about him. He even highlighted a section of text about his encounter with "two cops who pulled a goof". This turned out to be true. I tend to believe that his description of navigating the park was also true. If the Zodiac Killer walked through the park on October 11th 1969 and made his way to the section of Presidio Boulevard traveling from "south to northwest", then I highly doubt he was heading towards his vehicle that night. There is a good argument to be had that he was heading to his residence (or anchor point) somewhere beyond the eastern wall of Presidio Park. Possibly located in Cow Hollow or the Marina District.
It is not very likely that the murderer of Paul Stine would have parked a getaway vehicle by Richardson Avenue on the north-eastern edge of Presidio Park. This location was nine blocks north of Presidio Avenue and would have effectively negated the purpose of having a vehicle for a quick escape. There were many better options along Lyon Street much closer to the entrance at Julius Kahn playground. If the Zodiac Killer was watching the motorcycles go by on Presidio Boulevard (by the orange circle), then a vehicle parked at Green Street or Union Street would have been a wiser choice. However, there were far more favorable options to park a getaway vehicle around Presidio Park that day, by a killer who originally planned his murder at the intersection of Washington & Maple streets. His apparent decision to ignore these more obvious (and nearer) choices, could suggest that the Zodiac Killer opted to escape without the use of a vehicle that night by accessing the wooded protection of the park. Especially if he currently lived, or had access to a business on the eastern side of Presidio Park that nullified the need for transport. Leaving a vehicle unattended for a long period of time around the park still carried an element of risk.
The Zodiac Killed seemed extremely irritated by the claims of Chief Martin Lee, firing off a seven page communication to the San Francisco Chronicle on November 9th 1969, in large part berating and mocking the police for telling lies about him. He even highlighted a section of text about his encounter with "two cops who pulled a goof". This turned out to be true. I tend to believe that his description of navigating the park was also true. If the Zodiac Killer walked through the park on October 11th 1969 and made his way to the section of Presidio Boulevard traveling from "south to northwest", then I highly doubt he was heading towards his vehicle that night. There is a good argument to be had that he was heading to his residence (or anchor point) somewhere beyond the eastern wall of Presidio Park. Possibly located in Cow Hollow or the Marina District.
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