I submitted an FOIA request today for copies of both confession letters & both envelopes. Fingers crossed, guess we will know in a month or so

I got one copy back today of the confession letter, and no copies of either envelope. This is the confession letter I got today

I Got to thinking, ‘IF’, and it’s a big if, Cheri’s killer is really the Author of the Confession letter, and if he really killed her, and if he is telling the truth in the letter, then he disabled her car, and went into the library to wait for her, then followed her out. Being that everybody seems to be accounted for in regards to the reenactment held by police, except for 2 missing People, a girl & heavyset young man with a beard, then that young man with the beard is likely her killer. That or, one of the People that was at the reenactment was her killer.Again, this is all based on the confession letter really being from her killer, and really being truthful about how the murder went down. Seems like he would be taking a chance in revealing that. Here’s the million dollar question, why is there no sketch of the young bearded man?

We have already established that the Police did in fact release info to the newspapers that revealed just how her car was disabled, and stories containing that info were published before the confession letter was mailed.

Here’s the million dollar question, why is there no sketch of the young bearded man?

Never thought about it in those exact terms – but that’s a pertinent question.

The description of this person is at least detailed enough to include "young" and "beard", so you’d think whoever observed him on the night in question would be able to contribute to a sketch of some validity.

They did request information about him through the papers, didn’t they? I seem to recall that. But apparently no sketch accompanied the request.

Confession copy: Nice work!

However, my initial thought would be that this looks more like a transcription than a copy (of the actual document the RPD received). Which means we’re still in the dark to a great extent.

Confession copy: Nice work!

However, my initial thought would be that this looks more like a transcription than a copy (of the actual document the RPD received). Which means we’re still in the dark to a great extent.

I will try to post a better pic of it, I had to take that pic with my phone as opposed to my scanner. I really was hoping to get that envelope copy due to the very interesting discussions we had about it several weeks back

Confession copy: Nice work!

However, my initial thought would be that this looks more like a transcription than a copy (of the actual document the RPD received). Which means we’re still in the dark to a great extent.

I will try to post a better pic of it, I had to take that pic with my phone as opposed to my scanner. I really was hoping to get that envelope copy due to the very interesting discussions we had about it several weeks back

Cool.

I was starting to suspect they’re emailed you a shot of a newspaper with the letter printed in it lol. Black printed border top right and what looks like show through of other type on the reverse on the bottom part of the letter.

Confession copy: Nice work!

However, my initial thought would be that this looks more like a transcription than a copy (of the actual document the RPD received). Which means we’re still in the dark to a great extent.

I have to agree with Norse. Looks like a transcription. No way was this a photo copy of the original which was said to be a fourth or fifth carbon copy. The letters are too crisp.

I Got to thinking, ‘IF’, and it’s a big if, Cheri’s killer is really the Author of the Confession letter, and if he really killed her, and if he is telling the truth in the letter, then he disabled her car, and went into the library to wait for her, then followed her out. Being that everybody seems to be accounted for in regards to the reenactment held by police, except for 2 missing People, a girl & heavyset young man with a beard, then that young man with the beard is likely her killer. That or, one of the People that was at the reenactment was her killer.Again, this is all based on the confession letter really being from her killer, and really being truthful about how the murder went down. Seems like he would be taking a chance in revealing that. Here’s the million dollar question, why is there no sketch of the young bearded man?

We have already established that the Police did in fact release info to the newspapers that revealed just how her car was disabled, and stories containing that info were published before the confession letter was mailed.

Two questions

1. Was Ross at the re-enactment? Bailey said he suddenly disappeared after Cheri was killed.
2. Was it mentioned in the papers that the killer’s knife broke, as the confession letter states?

I don’t think there is evidence the knife broke. Also, other than the police, I don’t think anybody has a list of who was or wasn’t at the re enactment. If Ross wasn’t there, police got an alibi for him supposedly

Hope this is a better copy

I Got to thinking, ‘IF’, and it’s a big if, Cheri’s killer is really the Author of the Confession letter, and if he really killed her, and if he is telling the truth in the letter, then he disabled her car, and went into the library to wait for her, then followed her out. Being that everybody seems to be accounted for in regards to the reenactment held by police, except for 2 missing People, a girl & heavyset young man with a beard, then that young man with the beard is likely her killer. That or, one of the People that was at the reenactment was her killer.Again, this is all based on the confession letter really being from her killer, and really being truthful about how the murder went down. Seems like he would be taking a chance in revealing that. Here’s the million dollar question, why is there no sketch of the young bearded man?

We have already established that the Police did in fact release info to the newspapers that revealed just how her car was disabled, and stories containing that info were published before the confession letter was mailed.

Two questions

1. Was Ross at the re-enactment? Bailey said he suddenly disappeared after Cheri was killed.
2. Was it mentioned in the papers that the killer’s knife broke, as the confession letter states?

Ross wouldn’t need to be at the re-enactment if he weren’t at the library that evening–which I think has yet to be proven.

If the knife broke, apparently only her killer knew that because there was no such mention of it in Cheri’s autopsy report. I think it was just a way to emphasize the brutality of her murder. His knife broke, but not insider her or anything.

I Got to thinking, ‘IF’, and it’s a big if, Cheri’s killer is really the Author of the Confession letter, and if he really killed her, and if he is telling the truth in the letter, then he disabled her car, and went into the library to wait for her, then followed her out. Being that everybody seems to be accounted for in regards to the reenactment held by police, except for 2 missing People, a girl & heavyset young man with a beard, then that young man with the beard is likely her killer. That or, one of the People that was at the reenactment was her killer.Again, this is all based on the confession letter really being from her killer, and really being truthful about how the murder went down. Seems like he would be taking a chance in revealing that. Here’s the million dollar question, why is there no sketch of the young bearded man?

We have already established that the Police did in fact release info to the newspapers that revealed just how her car was disabled, and stories containing that info were published before the confession letter was mailed.

Two questions

1. Was Ross at the re-enactment? Bailey said he suddenly disappeared after Cheri was killed.
2. Was it mentioned in the papers that the killer’s knife broke, as the confession letter states?

Rumors say Ross was on campus that night but also claim he was not seen. It seems likely he was not at the re-enactment, nor working at the library that night. No part of a knife was found or mentioned in the CJB autopsy report.

As for the bearded man, he was described as heavyset, 5’11". It seems logical to assume this man was not local to Riverside. It seems strange that if his plan was to kill Cheri, he sure had no problem allowing his face to be seen in the library, would have used a pretty elaborate ruse to get Cheri to walk a short distance down a street, when he could have killed her by her car (again, showed his face already). He also would have brought a very inconvenient murder weapon in a small pocket knife.

The fact that the confession writer tried to hide the model of typewriter points to a local suspect. The RPD feels very strongly about that and it’s likely the police, once they discovered the model of typewriter used, would have also figured out RCC had that type of typewriter available on campus.

We really don’t know what RPD knows, but they seem to favor a local suspect, and in all likely hood, assume the confession was written on campus weeks later by the killer.

We really don’t know what RPD knows (…)

Quite so.

And people seem to have heard both this and that about what assumptions they’re working from. Some say RPD don’t think the killer wrote the Confession. Others claim the opposite.

Mainly hearsay and speculation, as far as I’m concerned.

But I’m interested in why you think it’s likely they think the letter was written on an RCC typewriter – what’s that based on?

Before it slips my mind (again): The idea that the writer used teletype paper (and carbons) is widespread. Is there another source for this apart from the venerable R. Graysmith?

Sorry Norse, just noticed your question when I came here to post. I believe the answer is yes, although I don’t have a link to provide. I know the actually copies sent out were very blurry and that would seem to show they were not the original "carbon" (or whatever) copies.

***************

Here is a reproduced copy of the Confession letter as shown in the November 1968 edition of Inside Detective. They acknowledge it had been reprinted in the "Riverside Enterprise" (prior to this printing). –Thanks to Seagull.

Here is a copy (thanks to ZodiacKiller.com) of the whole article:

http://www.zodiackiller.com/InsideDetective3.html