I wrote to the woman that I am confident was the intended victim mentioned in this letter I asked her to please call,email,or write me back either way (even if to tell me to screw off),but I did not get a response. I had wanted to see if she had ever been familiar with the letter, ot the threat, and if she ever knew anybody that had lived in CA, specifically in the SF bay area. What a let down

I wonder if Richard Gaikowski ever made a trip back to Albany in the early 1970s to visit former colleagues and friends. "Albany is a nice town" makes the writer sound like he’s just passing through, like he’s new to the place. And he chooses to send his letter and code to the Times Union instead of The Knickerbocker News. Z maybe trying to obscure his "history" with Albany?

I wonder if Richard Gaikowski ever made a trip back to Albany in the early 1970s to visit former colleagues and friends. "Albany is a nice town" makes the writer sound like he’s just passing through, like he’s new to the place. And he chooses to send his letter and code to the Times Union instead of The Knickerbocker News. Z maybe trying to obscure his "history" with Albany?

That would indeed be interesting! I personally feel there’s some sort of connection to Albany, and lean towards the letter being from Z

I have been playing around this letter, and I think this may be a real z letter.

Is there any mention anywhere of the page size of the letter?

Perfect match, nice find…also the ‘next’ or ‘killing’ issue..combined with mentioning future crimes (e.g. school bus, halloween children crossing street, chief piggie etc.). Cipher & Zodiac symbol included.

QT

Hmmm… I see he learned how to spell "victim" correctly.

Is there any mention anywhere of the page size of the letter?

Gotta dig back thru the FBI reports. I have been reluctant to do anything with this letter, due to the poor quality of it. I am thinking about sking the FBI if they have a better quality image. I also think I correctly identified the intended Victim, I posted her name further back in this thread.

The obvious POI was Gaikowski. But I am curious if any other people Darlene met may have had some connections in Albany. Zodiac was absent from letter writing in CA from 1972 to 1974. This possible letter turns up in 1973 in Albany. Could Z have been living there temporarily? Visiting or staying with Family?

I have one strong possiblilty of a hit from the directory. DORANCHAK thought the first name may be CONNIE. Both he and WIER think the last name is likely HENLEY or HENLY.

I found a CONSTANCE HENDRIE. But she is not listed as working at Albany Med Ctr, but rather State Insur Dept (maybe that ties into the Med ctr?)

I think this Woman may have been the intended Victim

This was the only FBI memo I could quickly find, but I think there are more;

Here’s the rest:

Last year I reserached for "young woman" who died in Aug 1973 in the Albany NY area and this is what I found, and as far as my research only ONE "young woman" died in August 1973 in the Albany NY area .

Have no idea were she worked, how she died or wheter she had anything to do with the letter, but just in case I post what I had in my files.

I have found info that she apparently died August 1, 1973, but maybe Seagull could research her further, I have no longer Ancestry membership.
Her name is 11 letters, 12 if she had a middlename, and her last name end with a Y like in the cipher so who knows?:

This was the title of my file:
THE ALBANY ZODIAC LETTER AUG 1973 Z THREATHEN TO KILL AUG 10TH …Nancy Murray ALBANY DEATH BORN 1941 DEAD AUG 1973 31 YEAR OLD AT DEATH !

And this is what I found:

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current
about Nancy Murray
Name: Nancy Murray
SSN: 070-34-5302
Born: 27 Nov 1941
Died: Aug 1973
State (Year) SSN issued: New York (1959-1960)

About Nancy Murray
Nancy Murray was born on November 27, 1941 and died on August 01, 1973 at the age of 31. This person last resided in NY. Nancy Murray was assigned the social security number (SSN) of: 070-34-5302.