Got to thinking about Cheri’s books or rather the ones checked out from the library. This isn’t without it’s flaws, not least because I’m still not 100% sure what I’m looking at….but please bear with me and have a look yourselves. Could be something or nothing.
In any case…what I was thinking about is the process of simply collecting the books from the library and the physical act of putting them in the car. No doubt there are exceptions but basic human nature I believe would be to stack these books one on top of the other, front cover up, spines to the left, opening to the right. Moreover, if they were different sizes the larger books on the end. smaller on top.
Sit into the car slide over and place them on the passenger seat. The backs ( spines) would face toward the dash and fronts to the back of the seat. However if the books were placed in the car from the passenger side, this would be reversed.
It’s possible that Cheri decided to do this but unlikely…it’s more something one would do with a cumbersome or awkward load. At the same time I could imagine someone else placing the book in the car from the passenger side.
http://www.zodiackiller.com/Riverside2006.html
The only book I’m sure about is the large one on the end. I have a few more thoughts on this but no point in racing ahead. Appreciate if you would take a look and offer your 2 cents..thanks
I see them to be placed exactly how you described Cheri would do it…spines toward the dash.
“…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
Thanks Tahoe…..I blew it up to the last. I thought the large one on the end was the "wrong" way around. Couldn’t make out the middle one because of the shadows. At first I thought the top one was "correct" but looking closer there is a line/defect running right across that area and I wasn’t sure.
We also have witness testimony from another student who thought he saw Cheri at the library around opening time. He relates that he saw her or someone fitting the description writing in a blue notebook. The police thought he had a pretty good memory and I’m assuming that part of that confidence in him may have been because that’s what Cheri had.
There was and still is a question whether she just checked out books ( as per her friends comments….she asked her to go to the library to check out some books…possibly indicating that that’s all she intended to do) or intended to study there also.
Surely the presence of a note book ( it looks like that’s what beneath the books in the photo) is an indication that she intended to study and take notes. Why bring it into the library if you just intend to check out books and leave.
In any case…given that the police themselves don’t seem to know. I am surprised that we have no indication from them that notes were or were not taken from said books.
It is interesting that the books were left in the car…..or were they put there/returned there after she was murdered? I’d have thought she would have taken them with her if she left with someone who was offering help such as a ride home.
It is interesting that the books were left in the car…..or were they put there/returned there after she was murdered? I’d have thought she would have taken them with her if she left with someone who was offering help such as a ride home.
Also consider the windows were down, doors unlocked, door ajar and keys in the ignition, it seems highly unlikely she would have
accepted a ride home and leave her car in that condition.
I woke up thinking about the books for some reason today.
Do we know how the books were checked out? From school newspaper articles there seemed to be some kind of self check out system but Bach the librarian also kept records of nighttime check outs and it wouldn’t make sense to not have someone witness a self check out. The librarian on duty wasn’t sure they saw her which i find odd. Was there some kind of check out punch on them or card filled out?
I realize a lot of people handle books in the library but I wonder if they tried to finger print or dna search the books?
I’m also curious if they could tell from the code on the spine whether the books were checked out from the library or the Harvard annex? Surely the number would have to indicate it was intended to be filed in the annex upon return. If it was the Harvard annex that would be significant.
They surely would have had a record of who checked out which books!
If any of the employees/students are posting here, they will hopefully remember the details on how this process worked.
I have wondered if anyone other than students who were registered there was permitted to use the library (students from other colleges/universities, alums).
