Zodiac Discussion Forum

Notifications
Clear all

Zodiac's height based on Lake Herman ballistics

4 Posts
3 Users
0 Reactions
1,507 Views
(@anonymous)
Posts: 1772
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

When Betty Lou Jensen fled for her life on December 20th 1968, the Zodiac Killer fired a volley of five bullets into her back. Only gunshot residue was discovered on the uppermost hole on her dress. Considering she traveled 28 feet before she fell, it is not unreasonable to assume the uppermost injury on her back was therefore sustained first, due to the residue, it is also further away from her vital organs, so was able to continue her dash for freedom. Assuming this must have been either immediately after she started running ie just a few feet.
The average North American height of a woman of European descent is 7.6 times face length. Betty Lou Jensen was 63 inches in height, so her face length was 63 divided by 7.6 = 8.29 inches. Her neck size, to her neck line in the photograph below is not quite half, approximately 3 inches. You will note that the uppermost bullet penetrated her back level with this neckline, which would be 11.29 inches from the top of her head. She was 63 inches in height, so the bullet penetrated almost 52 inches from the ground. A standard light switch in the UK is approximately 52 inches to its center, but if you pick a point on your wall at this height, stand within a foot from it, point as if holding a weapon, the muzzle of the gun is at nipple height and close enough to transfer a speck of residue. If you then hold your arm stationary and move backwards, the muzzle drops below the switch. This is shown better by pointing to the center of a light switch from across the room and keeping your arm steady, walk forward, the muzzle line rises above the switch. This shows that if the Zodiac Killer kept his aim true, as Betty Lou Jensen ran into the distance, the bullet holes would fall down her back as she ran, even if the gun had remained motionless and in near distance to the autopsy report.
Now the average human male head of European descent is 9 inches, to the neck line is 12 inches, but to nipple line, is 18 inches, which is where the gun would have to be aligned to strike Betty Lou Jensen’s upper back at 52 inches in height, within a foot in distance. If we now work backwards and add the 18 inches to the upper gunshot wound of 52 inches, we get 70 inches in height,or 5′ 10" and the approximate height of our killer, the Zodiac.

http://www.femininebeauty.info/head-length-height-attractiveness

 
Posted : July 27, 2014 3:02 pm
(@nachtsider)
Posts: 367
Reputable Member
 

Five foot ten lines up very well with what Fouke and Bryan estimated; good job, Spy.

Poor Betty.

 
Posted : July 27, 2014 9:59 pm
morf13
(@morf13)
Posts: 7527
Member Admin
 

Five foot ten lines up very well with what Fouke and Bryan estimated; good job, Spy.

Poor Betty.

I hate math, and will take your word on all the calculations :)

We were just discussing the other day, in a different thread, that Fouke stated Z may have been as tall as 6ft2, and the girls that saw the mystery guy said he could have been as tall as 6ft2. I don’t think Z was super short, I don’t think he was super tall either.

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

 
Posted : July 28, 2014 8:59 pm
(@anonymous)
Posts: 1772
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

Yes the theory is not totally accurate, it still depends on him having average characteristics, which sort of defeats the object. But the height of the Rambler and bullet hole trajectory through it may be a better route, as it is 57 inches.
It is extremely difficult to reach a definite consensus on Zodiac’s height. The three teenagers are viewing in restricted visibility, as well as from an elevated position and street lights cast shadows, that can deceive observation of weight and height. Donald Fouke was observing from a seated position in a moving vehicle. Michael Mageau again was seated, in near darkness and at Lake Berryessa, the costume probably would have made Zodiac more imposing than he was.
It also depends how an eyewitness is interviewed. If you get 100 people to watch a crime scene, then ask each 50 of them
1. How tall was the killer, or
2. What height was the killer
Question 1 produces higher average results,or
1.Was the car going slow
2.Was the car going fast
I believe the power of suggestion was evident in Bryan Hartnell being led to Deer Lodge, the three teenagers being led to a revised composite and Michael Mageau selecting Arthur Leigh Allen from a photo spread. The only way to get more accurate observation is when both you and the subject are standing on a level field. The only time this occurred was with Bryan Hartnell, but even then he was in a costume, from an incline and Bryan Hartnell even admitted he was a bad judge of height.

 
Posted : July 28, 2014 10:05 pm
Share: