Zodiac Killer Case Study The Zodiac Killer was a serial murderer from northern California who killed at least five and as many as 37 people spanning between december of 1968 and october of 69. Of the confirmed kills, the murders occurred in San Francisco, Benicia, Vallejo, and Lake Berryessa. The zodiac killer received the name because they were known for their cryptograms, in which they left clues, puzzles, and taunted the officers who were constantly on his trail. Of the four cryptograms that they left, only one was definitely solved. As of this day, the killer’s identity still remains unknown.
Various suspects were named both by local police and private investigators, but almost fifty years later, no conclusive evidence has been found. …show more content…
His most detailed letter was also the only one to be deciphered, saying, “"I like killing people because it is so much fun it is more fun than killing wild game in the forrest because man is the most dangeroue anamal of all to kill something gives me the most thrilling experence it is even better than getting your rocks off with a girl the best part of it is thae when I die I will be reborn in paradice and thei have killed will become my slaves I will not give you my name because you will try to sloi down or atop my collectiog of slaves for my afterlife ebeorietemethhpiti" and of the 408- character puzzle, only the last 18 letters have not been determined. These notes were individual evidence because the killer himself sent and signed the letters. These codes were given to the document analyzing unit and they decrypted the ciphers …show more content…
Paul Stine was a taxi driver in San Francisco who was murdered in his taxi at 9:55 p.m. on October 11, 1969. During the killer’s escape, three teenagers watched him tear off a section of the driver’s bloody shirt. The killer then sent that shirt piece in another letter to the police in order to claim his kill, in which the letter stated, “This is the Zodiac speaking. I am the murderer of the taxi driver over by Washington St + Maple St last night, to prove this here is a blood stained piece of his shirt. I am the same man who did in the people in the north bay area.” The reason this evidence was so crucial was because before this, the authorities believed the murder to be a carjacking gone wrong, the letter just proved that the Zodiac Killer had ties to this murder as well. The biology unit took this shirt and easily compared it to the DNA of the body they found to determine if the blood on the shirt matches the victim. If authentic, the fingerprints would be some of the most useful evidence in trying to determine if a suspect was guilty, but the Zodiac was always cautious and made it an effort never to leave behind any evidence and he also made claims that he planted evidence. However, an eyewitness claims to be able to testify and authenticate the fingerprints. If that is the case, then the fingerprinting unit can compare the prints to a suspect and
Various suspects were named both by local police and private investigators, but almost fifty years later, no conclusive evidence has been found. …show more content…
His most detailed letter was also the only one to be deciphered, saying, “"I like killing people because it is so much fun it is more fun than killing wild game in the forrest because man is the most dangeroue anamal of all to kill something gives me the most thrilling experence it is even better than getting your rocks off with a girl the best part of it is thae when I die I will be reborn in paradice and thei have killed will become my slaves I will not give you my name because you will try to sloi down or atop my collectiog of slaves for my afterlife ebeorietemethhpiti" and of the 408- character puzzle, only the last 18 letters have not been determined. These notes were individual evidence because the killer himself sent and signed the letters. These codes were given to the document analyzing unit and they decrypted the ciphers …show more content…
Paul Stine was a taxi driver in San Francisco who was murdered in his taxi at 9:55 p.m. on October 11, 1969. During the killer’s escape, three teenagers watched him tear off a section of the driver’s bloody shirt. The killer then sent that shirt piece in another letter to the police in order to claim his kill, in which the letter stated, “This is the Zodiac speaking. I am the murderer of the taxi driver over by Washington St + Maple St last night, to prove this here is a blood stained piece of his shirt. I am the same man who did in the people in the north bay area.” The reason this evidence was so crucial was because before this, the authorities believed the murder to be a carjacking gone wrong, the letter just proved that the Zodiac Killer had ties to this murder as well. The biology unit took this shirt and easily compared it to the DNA of the body they found to determine if the blood on the shirt matches the victim. If authentic, the fingerprints would be some of the most useful evidence in trying to determine if a suspect was guilty, but the Zodiac was always cautious and made it an effort never to leave behind any evidence and he also made claims that he planted evidence. However, an eyewitness claims to be able to testify and authenticate the fingerprints. If that is the case, then the fingerprinting unit can compare the prints to a suspect and