Zodiac Killer Research Paper

The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in northern California in the 1960s-1970s and his identity still remains unknown. He claimed to have killed 37 victims, seven of which are still indefinite. He sent a series of letters containing four cryptograms to the local media. Out of these four, only one of them was deciphered. His name “The Zodiac Killer” originated from this known cipher. The killer’s history included mostly included killing couples in public areas. Because the identity is still unknown, there is no information on his age, birthplace, childhood, family, and personality.

His first murder took place on December 20, 1968 which was of two high school students, Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday on Lake Herman Road. The

A second car drove into the lot right next to them but almost immediately drove away. 10 minutes later, the car returned and parked behind them. The driver of the second car got out of the car and approached the passenger side door of Ferrin's car. The killer directed a flashlight into Mageau's and Ferrin's eyes before shooting at them five times. Before driving off, the killer walked away from the car but heard Mageau moaning so he returned and shot each victim two more times. Mageau survived the attack but Fernin was pronounced dead. On July 5, 1969, at 12:40 a.m., a man called the Vallejo Police Department and reported and claimed responsibility for both attacks in Lake Herman Road six months prior and the Blue Rock Springs

In these letters, the killer again took credit for the two shootings and each letter also included one-third of the 408-symbol cryptogram, which he claimed revealed his identity. On August 7, 1969, another letter was sent to The San Francisco Examiner, beginning with “Dear Editor This is the Zodiac speaking.” After finally cracking the 408-symbol cryptogram, it basically read that the killer found killing people fun, he was collecting slaves for the afterlife and he would not give away his identity because it would slow down or stop his slave collection. The killings did not stop there. After these letters were sent, there were a number of attacks such as the Lake Berryessa in September of 1969, the Presidio Heights in October of 1969, the Modesto attack in March of 1970, the Riverside attack in October of 1966, the Lake Tahoe disappearance in March of 1971, and the Santa Barbara attack in November of 1972. During and after these attacks, many letters were sent by The Zodiac Killer, in the same form of coding, indicating hints of his identity, and threats of more