For a long time, we have wondered how much of the Riverside case, was shared/compared with the Z case, and with the agencies investigating the Z case. Well, the answer may have been there all along, and apparently, Bates Suspects & prints from her case were shared with Zodiac case investigators, and prints were compared to those in the Z case. This may be why Riverside decided the Bates case was not connected to Zodiac, at least, not her murder, as perhaps, there was no print match.
Here’s a segment of a DOJ report detailing that all of the Bates stuff was to be shared & compared with Z stuff
There is more than one way to lose your life to a killer
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Sounds about right, it wouldn’t be the first time the Zodiac laid claim to a murder without providing any unique information not announced by the police.
Considering Riverside P.D. contacted Napa themselves long before Paul Avery made it public, it makes sense.
“…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
The print comparisons were most likely inconclusive. I can’t find the reference source, but I remember hearing about this.
At one point SFPD compared prints from the cab to prints found on the letters, and were unable to find a match. That didn’t mean both sets were not from Z. I think they found one that was very close but since prints taken from a scene are very distorted, it’s much harder to get a match.
Not a deal breaker in my opinion but still think Z wrote the letters and took credit for the murder. That said it doesn’t necessarily have to put Z in Riverside at that time ? Mostly likely read or heard about it and eventually took credit after no one else came forward ?
Maybe we should look objectively and Zodiac had nothing to do with Bates. That said the writing screams out Zodiac and pretty sure he wrote the letters and lets figure out how he knew about the murder!
Also not totally convinced the Desktop poem is even related but that is another topic. I damn sure though I would love to hear the name of the janitor’s real name that is never mentioned in the files! 
Don’t mean to hijack this post but guess I am and sorry. Why is everyone’s name to kingdom come mentioned in this case accept the janitor that found the Desktop Poem ? Is that not odd ? Just referred to as janitor and not the one that found Bates body and his full name was given. What’s up with that ? Being protected ?
The Riverside material was posted locally, IIRC.
So, it’s the same old situation in that regard: Either he was living there at the time (more likely, IMO) or he went there for the sole purpose of posting those letters (less likely, IMO).
Don’t mean to hijack this post but guess I am and sorry. Why is everyone’s name to kingdom come mentioned in this case accept the janitor that found the Desktop Poem ? Is that not odd ? Just referred to as janitor and not the one that found Bates body and his full name was given. What’s up with that ? Being protected ?
The janitor who found Cheri’s body (name in newspaper), I think, was different than the janitor who found her body. I’m not 100% though. I’m vaguely recalling the guy’s name (the one who found the desk) somewhere…I will look.
“…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
Don’t mean to hijack this post but guess I am and sorry. Why is everyone’s name to kingdom come mentioned in this case accept the janitor that found the Desktop Poem ? Is that not odd ? Just referred to as janitor and not the one that found Bates body and his full name was given. What’s up with that ? Being protected ?
The janitor who found Cheri’s body (name in newspaper), I think, was different than the janitor who found her body. I’m not 100% though. I’m vaguely recalling the guy’s name (the one who found the desk) somewhere…I will look.
The Guy that found Cheri’s Body was an old Black man. I have no idea who found the desktop poem.
There is more than one way to lose your life to a killer
http://www.zodiackillersite.com/
http://zodiackillersite.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/Morf13ZKS
