Hartnell just wanted to tell his girlfriend about what happened before word got out about the attack.

I think saying it’s "Quite easy to understand what the two had wanted to do" isn’t quite a fair statement. Might be what HE wanted to do.

It does appear (although P.D. reports can be misleading) the items were not in the car, which is what I always thought. Good catch, Curious.

"The vehicle was found to be locked and no signs of attempted entry were observed. The vehicle was then impounded and taken to the Lake Berryessa park headquarters where it was secured in a locked garage. Sgt. Kenneth Narlow then turned over to Reporting Officer the following items of evidence he stated he received from Park Ranger Dennis Land."

http://www.zodiackillerfacts.com/galler … fullsize=1

I would, therefore, agree. While the items are listed together we can assume they are a part of the immediate crime scene, we cannot confirm. Seems Bryan had some guilty feelings, which probably accompanied his intentions, which leads me to believe they were his—a small box of two condoms was probably in the jacket…it is still an assumption (on our part) considering the way it is written.

***
Seagull found a photo from the newspaper of the box of evidence. You can’t see much, but it is still interesting: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1341&p=31052&hilit=condoms#p31052

Hartnell just wanted to tell his girlfriend about what happened before word got out about the attack.

That’s what I was told, but I’ve never seen Hartnell say that about the items and besides, I think it was a little late, his GF knew what was up. That’s not really a detail news media would mention I’d think, that Hartnell had condoms and a dirty joke book in his possession. Not sure it was ever mentioned outside the police report, but I could see him being concerned about it.

I would, therefore, agree. While the items are listed together we can assume they are a part of the immediate crime scene, we cannot confirm. Seems Bryan had some guilty feelings, which probably accompanied his intentions, which leads me to believe they were his—a small box of two condoms was probably in the jacket…it is still an assumption (on our part) considering the way it is written.

Yeah, that everything was piled together, including the clothesline Zodiac brought, brings into question what belonged to the victims and what Zodiac left behind. I’m 99% certain the book and condoms were Hartnell’s, but would like to know for certain as it would be interesting to learn Zodiac had left them. I kind of find the dirty joke book a bit odd. Did Hartnell think dirty jokes would set the mood? Personally I would have tried wine. "Liquor is quicker" as they say.

I believe his GF lived in Oregon. Figured it would hit the news.

Dirty joke book…odd for sure.

I’ve always found Hartnell a bit odd anyway.

Back in the day I intentionally didn’t publish the page detailing the condoms etc, mainly because it had never been made public, but also because I was trying to get Hartnell as a source. Don’t recall if I eventually published it. I do remember documentation that at least one condom had been used. Pretty obvious Hartnell and Shepard had sex at some point before the attack, although Zodiac would have needed to be awfully close to see them in the act. I doubt he did.

Thanks for the info Tom. I always use your site for the police reports. That’s where I saw it, though I think it’s still redacted on one page but it is not on another. Do you know if they ever talked to the couple the three girls saw in the parking lot, in a car with Arizona tags? They’re mentioned but I never saw where they were interviewed and I would think they were.

Back in the day I intentionally didn’t publish the page detailing the condoms etc, mainly because it had never been made public, but also because I was trying to get Hartnell as a source. Don’t recall if I eventually published it. I do remember documentation that at least one condom had been used. Pretty obvious Hartnell and Shepard had sex at some point before the attack, although Zodiac would have needed to be awfully close to see them in the act. I doubt he did.

The report mentioned a sealed box of condoms.

You’re saying there was another page of the report, separate of the other evidence, mentioning a used condom?

Found the police report where it mentions that and it says

One Fourex brand prophylactic box containing two prophylactics sealed

Not clear if that means the box was sealed or just the two condoms were sealed. The Fourex box Quicktrader posted say it contains three.

http://www.zodiackillerfacts.com/galler … fullsize=1

"One Fourex brand prophylactic box containing two prophylactics sealed"

Not that everyone does things typically, but in a typical incident report, the "sealed" would be after "box", and then a comma, if the box had been sealed.

That is a big problem with a lot of these reports…you’re left wondering what they meant. One of the first things they teach you in investigative report writing (nowadays anyway) is how to be clear.

I got a chuckle out of these from my textbook:

"When completely plastered, officers who volunteer will paint the locker room".[/list:u:3jk9r4hb]
"Miami police kill a man with a machete".[/list:u:3jk9r4hb]
"Three cars were reported stolen by the Los Angeles police yesterday".[/list:u:3jk9r4hb]
"Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers".[/list:u:3jk9r4hb]
"Squad helps dog bite victim".[/list:u:3jk9r4hb]

It’s all in the wording.


“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969

 

It’s like they do these things on purpose to confuse us further.

A box of "partially used" condoms is what it said in the report I have. Don’t think I posted it.

Thanks for the info Tom. I always use your site for the police reports. That’s where I saw it, though I think it’s still redacted on one page but it is not on another. Do you know if they ever talked to the couple the three girls saw in the parking lot, in a car with Arizona tags? They’re mentioned but I never saw where they were interviewed and I would think they were.

Not that I know of.

A box of "partially used" condoms is what it said in the report I have. Don’t think I posted it.

I’m parsing hairs here and not trying to be argumentative, I’m just stubborn this way. "partially used" could just mean the box was open and one missing. Did they actually find a used one at the scene? It’s most likely a moot point anyway unless Hartnell confirms they were his. But if he says they weren’t his…

Thanks for the info Tom. I always use your site for the police reports. That’s where I saw it, though I think it’s still redacted on one page but it is not on another. Do you know if they ever talked to the couple the three girls saw in the parking lot, in a car with Arizona tags? They’re mentioned but I never saw where they were interviewed and I would think they were.

Not that I know of.

Interesting. The police knew their names and I’d have to go back and read the report but I think at least one of the three girls knew them. Surely they were interviewed but apparently what they said is being held back.