Zodiac Killer Serial killer Country: USA

Biography of the Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He is considered one of the most famous and elusive serial killers in the world, as the police were never able to catch him or definitively establish his identity. The stories of serial killers have always captivated readers, and sometimes these maniacs managed to escape justice. One of the most notorious unidentified killers is the Zodiac, who is remembered for a series of taunting messages sent to the local press, accompanied by mysterious ciphers. The killer chose the nickname 'Zodiac' for himself, mentioning it in the series of mocking letters he sent to local newspapers. These letters included cryptograms, which, according to the killer, concealed the secret of his identity. A total of four cryptograms from the Zodiac were received, but only one was successfully deciphered.

In his letters, the Zodiac claimed to have killed 37 people, but officially, he is only linked to seven victims, two of whom managed to escape from the killer. The first victims of the Zodiac were high school students Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday, who went on their first date on December 20, 1968, and fell into the killer's eyes. On July 4, 1969, the unknown assailant shot another couple, Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau. Ferrin died in the hospital, but Mageau survived.

The day after the attack, an unknown person called the local police, taking responsibility for the assault and the deaths of Jensen and Faraday. On August 1, 1969, nearly identical letters were received by three newspapers, claiming to be from the killer of Ferrin, Faraday, and Jensen. Each letter included a third of a cryptic message. The killer demanded that the letters be published, threatening to kill a dozen people over the weekend if they were not. The local police chief immediately issued a statement expressing doubt about the author's involvement in the murders and demanding detailed information about the incidents. On August 7, 1969, another letter arrived at 'The San Francisco Examiner,' starting with the greeting, "Dear Editor, this is the Zodiac speaking." The letter contained the requested details, previously undisclosed, and hinted that the ciphers contained clues necessary for capturing the killer.

On August 8, 1969, one of the cryptograms was deciphered, but it did not reveal the killer's name. On September 27, 1969, the unknown assailant attacked students Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard, this time using a knife instead of a gun. The attacker left a mysterious message on Hartnell's car door, and later called the police to report the crime. The police traced the phone call and even lifted palm prints from the phone, but they were unable to catch the caller. Shepard, who was still alive, and Hartnell were discovered by a father and son who were fishing nearby. Shepard was able to describe what had happened before slipping into a coma from which she never recovered, while Hartnell survived thanks to medical intervention.

On October 11, 1969, the Zodiac killed taxi driver Paul Stine. On October 14, 1969, another letter arrived with a piece of the taxi driver's shirt attached to it. On November 8, 1969, the Zodiac sent another cryptogram, which was not deciphered. On March 22, 1970, the unknown assailant kidnapped Kathleen Johns, who was pregnant, and her 10-year-old daughter. Johns managed to escape from the kidnapper's car with her daughter and hide in a field.

The Zodiac continued to communicate with the police and the press, regularly sending new letters and greeting cards. The killer signed his letters using the familiar name and a trademark symbol in the form of a crossed circle. On March 22, 1971, another card arrived at the 'Chronicle,' containing information about the disappearance of Donna Lass. After this, the killer remained silent for three years.

On January 29, 1974, the Zodiac sent another letter, sharing his impressions of the movie 'The Exorcist' and claiming responsibility for 37 murders. No more letters officially attributed to the Zodiac were received by the press or police, although several questionable messages of dubious authorship were received by various sources for a long time.