I have been investigating the Zodiac case for about 12 years now. As of right now, I have 3 binders filled with the public case files, letters, ciphers, possible keys, and my own theories. I keep a notebook in my backpack so that I can quickly jot down thoughts or new ideas that could lead to an arrest. My obsession and determination, however, are not due to a peaked interest by a book. The reason that I need to be a part in solving this case is because my older brother is a convicted serial killer who is serving a life sentence. When what my brother did to 5 innocent people came to light, I was too young to really understand the seriousness of it, but when I got to be about 12 or 13, it really hit me – hard. I wanted (and still want) to know why he did the things he did – how he could take lives from people – why he chose to destroy families – why he thought cold-blooded murder was an answer to anything. I gave up on trying to get those answers from the source himself, but I thought that maybe I could get those answers for other victims, victims’ families, and even the perpetrators’ families.
I began researching cold cases, and I stumbled across the Zodiac Killer. Even though I was young, the sketches from the Paul Stine murder and Lake Berryessa attack, the details from the cases, the letters, the ciphers, and the photos didn’t scare me. If anything, they motivated me. I needed to figure out who this monster is/was. So, after a few months of online researching and watching documentaries, I got my grandma to take me to the bookstore, and she bought me Graysmith’s book. I read through it in one night, and I read it so much that the spine is now falling apart. Throughout high school, I started keeping everything I could find in a binder (kind of like a giant case file). The first one filled up, so I moved on to a second one, and now I’m on a third one. When I started looking into colleges, I knew right away what I wanted to study. I got my undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminology, and I did electives in Criminal Justice and Victimology courses. I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could about these people as I could, and I’m still continuing to learn.
The views that I hold could be labeled as controversial, but I believe that because of my brother, I hold an extremely objective view. I refuse to pick a favorite suspect, and I refuse to clear anyone from being a suspect until solid, sound proof is presented. My reasoning behind this is that if my own big brother, if someone I share DNA with, is capable of such horrible things, then so can anyone else. I believe that because of my objectiveness, I have been able to come up with theories that I haven’t seen anywhere else, and possibly even more suspects. I would love to be able to share my theories and suspects with other people, as well as look into some others.
I really do believe that with the combined effort of everyone who wants to see this case solved, it can and it will be solved. I know I will not stop until it is solved.
Hi melissa,
Thanks for joining us and thank you for taking the time to write an introduction. Fascinating and detailed. 
trav
“I don’t know Chief, he’s very smart or very dumb.“
Hi Melissa…and welcome to the board. I hope one day you can share more information about your brother. Sometimes, something good can come from something bad. Maybe your studies will prove this to be true.
After years of looking into cold cases, primarily Zodiac, I too got my undergraduate degree…majoring in Criminal Justice/minor in Psychology, but will probably put in the extra few classes for that as well. Criminal Psychology or Forensics would be my goal, but all those biology and chemistry classes…. 
Onward and upward!
Looking forward to your thoughts and ideas.
“…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
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for coming in and your honesty. I hope you can find more info and understand your brother. Perhaps by looking at other serial killers, you can see how they tick and why they do what they do. My brother was abusive, physically, mentally, and sexually. I always thought he’d go onto become a serial killer but didn’t. He didn’t have a conscience,
didn’t care about right or wrong. He would just “fake” cry if he got caught at doing something bad and get out of it, people thought he was really sorry, when he was really laughing at them.
So I didn’t grow up with any interest in law enforcement or psychology. I did work in IT and fixing computers.
I literally ended up at Napa Police Dept when I was 31, and fixing a computer, the officer told me he had spoken to the Zodiac. I didn’t believe him. But that was Dave Slaight, a Sergeant, and he had taken the call in 1969 in Napa about the Berryessa killing. I learned more about how government works, what police officers actually really do (typing reports and talking with their “customers” – homeless, parolees, repeat offenders, sex offenders).
From my work, I saw the dark side of people, which I knew could exist like my brother. Sexual offenders, download of illegal software, porn, etc. I learned to work in that small statistical group of the bell curve – that 0.1% – of aberrant behavior. “Normal” people didn’t see it, believe it existed, so I couldn’t even talk about it because they’d never believe it.
Sorry for long answer – thank you for yours. I’m new here too. Have read about the Zodiac since meeting Dave Slaight but just starting out here. My work experience gives me some insight, as does yours as well, making it personal.
I don’t know if you’ll find an answer why. For my brother, growing up, there was no why – there was
No substance, no soul, no humanity. I just had anger and tried to escape and minimize the damage.
Thanks,
CathyO
