Sheriff James Webster investigated the murders In 1972 Sheriff John Carpenter of the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Deprtment issued a press release strongly implying that the Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards murders were the work of the Zodiac Killer with "considerable evidence". Quite frankly, the press release is a word salad of very little substance, providing not one piece of evidence linking these two crimes together. Sheriff Carpenter stressed that there were "significant similarities" between the Zodiac and Gaviota murders that investigators "were not at liberty to disclose at this time".
Fifty-two years later, this evidence has failed to materialize. Most people understand the concept of investigators keeping certain information close to their chest so as not to compromise what they are working on, but their failure to produce these compelling links between the Lake Berryessa crime on September 27th 1969 and the Gaviota Beach murders on June 4th 1963 over the past few decades, questions the integrity of these claims. The statement in the press release of "we are not using the notoriety of the Zodiac to dispose of a difficult case" despite the qualifier attached to it, has effectively consequenced the thinking we see in Zodiac forums today, where some cite the Gaviota Beach crime at Canada Del Molino as early Zodiac activity.
Fifty-two years later, this evidence has failed to materialize. Most people understand the concept of investigators keeping certain information close to their chest so as not to compromise what they are working on, but their failure to produce these compelling links between the Lake Berryessa crime on September 27th 1969 and the Gaviota Beach murders on June 4th 1963 over the past few decades, questions the integrity of these claims. The statement in the press release of "we are not using the notoriety of the Zodiac to dispose of a difficult case" despite the qualifier attached to it, has effectively consequenced the thinking we see in Zodiac forums today, where some cite the Gaviota Beach crime at Canada Del Molino as early Zodiac activity.
Four boxes found in shack (three partly filled, one empty) With no evidence presented of any rope being directly involved in the murders of Domingos & Edwards, coupled with the rank speculation of "Linda being forced to tie up Robert with some type of binding", we are left with a couple murdered by .22 caliber Winchester Western Super X long rifle ammunition, the kind used at Lake Herman Road on December 20th 1968, in two apparently motiveless crimes spanning 5 1/2 years. In November 1972, Sheriff's Detective William Baker (in the company of Sheriff John Carpenter) was quoted as saying at a press conference that it has now been established that Zodiac "could have been in this area" at the time of the Domingos & Edwards slayings. This, if true, is the perfect example of saying absolutely nothing. If the Zodiac Killer "could have been in this area", it is equally possible he "could not have been in this area". So if you establish that Zodiac "could" or "couldn't" have been in the area, you have established precisely zero.
Here is a modern day example of having no concrete proof of something ever existing or happening but then using that yet established fact to claim a link between two cases. Tom Voigt wrote "As Edwards was forced to bind Domingos at gunpoint with lengths of narrow rope (probably pre-cut), both victims attempted to flee and were shot numerous times. The bodies were dragged approximately 30 feet to an empty shack occasionally occupied by transients. Edwards was placed face up on top of Domingos and the top of her bathing suit was cut open with a sharp instrument (probably a knife), exposing her breasts".
Here is a modern day example of having no concrete proof of something ever existing or happening but then using that yet established fact to claim a link between two cases. Tom Voigt wrote "As Edwards was forced to bind Domingos at gunpoint with lengths of narrow rope (probably pre-cut), both victims attempted to flee and were shot numerous times. The bodies were dragged approximately 30 feet to an empty shack occasionally occupied by transients. Edwards was placed face up on top of Domingos and the top of her bathing suit was cut open with a sharp instrument (probably a knife), exposing her breasts".
There is no definitive proof that any rope was used by the murderer of Robert and Linda, no proof Edwards was forced to bind Domingos, no proof that several "lengths" of rope were used, no proof that the killer carried a knife and no proof that either victim ran that day. Even the rope is described as "probably pre-cut", which could be interpreted as "possibly not pre-cut". A few sentences later Tom Voigt wrote "The Domingos-Edwards tragedy has Zodiac's fingerprints all over it: The knife, gun, pre-cut rope and the motiveless assault on vulnerable teenagers at a remote location. It is very unlikely this attack and Zodiac's Lake Berryessa attack were the work of separate individuals". It has yet to be fully established that the Gaviota murderer used a knife, let alone any pre-cut lengths of rope, so why are the fingerprints of Zodiac all over this crime?
This is the perfect example of confirmation bias, concluding a strong link between two crimes using a bunch of probables that haven't yet been established. The driving force, like Sheriff Carpenter before him, to forge a link between Lake Berryessa and the Gaviota Beach murders with very little "evidence" and nothing more than a desire to create a fascinating story where one doesn't need to be fashioned. The argued Zodiac connection to the Gaviota Beach murders has undoubtedly kept the 1963 slayings of Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards in the spotlight more than it would have otherwise been, but these claims are an unnecessary distraction that does little to find the killer of Robert and Linda in 1963. The Zodiac Killer could have been responsible for the Gaviota murders, but we have to separate the difference between "a desire to find the truth" from "a desire for something to be true". It is really quite baffling why a 1972 press release would make such bold claims based on so little, unless the objective was an individual's need for self-promotion, or the necessity to reinvigorate a case that had gone significantly cold by using the Zodiac connection as a springboard.
This is the perfect example of confirmation bias, concluding a strong link between two crimes using a bunch of probables that haven't yet been established. The driving force, like Sheriff Carpenter before him, to forge a link between Lake Berryessa and the Gaviota Beach murders with very little "evidence" and nothing more than a desire to create a fascinating story where one doesn't need to be fashioned. The argued Zodiac connection to the Gaviota Beach murders has undoubtedly kept the 1963 slayings of Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards in the spotlight more than it would have otherwise been, but these claims are an unnecessary distraction that does little to find the killer of Robert and Linda in 1963. The Zodiac Killer could have been responsible for the Gaviota murders, but we have to separate the difference between "a desire to find the truth" from "a desire for something to be true". It is really quite baffling why a 1972 press release would make such bold claims based on so little, unless the objective was an individual's need for self-promotion, or the necessity to reinvigorate a case that had gone significantly cold by using the Zodiac connection as a springboard.
Drew Beeson One person whose opinion differs markedly on the Gaviota Beach murders of Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards is Zodiac researcher Ross Geraci of Planet X Filmworks, who has recently released an excellent YouTube video on this subject to accompany his previous offerings on the Cheri Jo Bates mystery in Riverside on October 30th 1966, the Ray Davis taxicab murder in Oceanside on April 10th 1962 and the sniper slayings of Johnny & Joyce Swindle at Ocean Beach on February 5th 1964, Each production includes on scene footage from each case, subtly immersing the viewer into the reality of these four unsolved mysteries from southern California, often linked to the crimes of the Zodiac Killer.
On June 24th 2024 Ross will be making a guest appearance on the Zodcast Channel of Drew Beeson, author of "Sighting in on the Zodiac Killer", to discuss the June 4th 1963 sweetheart murders of the Lompoc High School couple, and whether any connection to the Zodiac Killer exists. Here is a link to the discussion.
On June 24th 2024 Ross will be making a guest appearance on the Zodcast Channel of Drew Beeson, author of "Sighting in on the Zodiac Killer", to discuss the June 4th 1963 sweetheart murders of the Lompoc High School couple, and whether any connection to the Zodiac Killer exists. Here is a link to the discussion.
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