Zodiac had no intention of taking his car, he didn’t care if he got the keys or not. Hartnell said he told him he wasn’t sure where they were and Zodiac didn’t press the issue because he didn’t want them anyway.

Yes I realize that now that Z didn’t want BH’s car after all said & done but what made it seem even stranger is that Z maybe wouldn’t have asked for his keys. Z only asked for them after Bryan asked him if he was sure that’s all he wanted was money. That’s when Z wanted the keys. He never demanded them on his own account in the beginning. It’s almost like Bryan’s question of uncertainty “reminded” Z about the keys. There was nothing left that BH could offer him but Z seemed to “forget” to ask until reminded ! Sorry if I didn’t get my point across.

I’m pretty sure Hartnell threw Zodiac off his game that day. Hell, Hartnell offered him a check and asked if Zodiac wanted his phone number. I’m pretty sure Zodiac was wondering what was up with this guy. He probably expected Hartnell to shit himself when he first saw him but Hartnell didn’t know who he was and thought it was just a robbery. Zodiac was saying whatever he could think of to get them to do what he wanted, which was to get them tied up so he could stab them.

Someone arrives in that get up and you’d know they were off-their-rocker…

I always thought Bryan tossed his keys down on the blanket and then they were just ignored. The guy certainly didn’t want Bryan’s car or anything in it.

Yeah so true cc and Tahoe. He’s (Z) one sick puppy for sure. LB case really weird

David Fincher consulted Hartnell on the LB attack to make an accurate portrayal in the Zodiac movie. We see Hartnell being incredibly calm throughout a petrifying situation. Must have been pure survival instinct.

for sure

Mysterious?

Yes. If Z had not known Cecilia Shepard.

– Assailant parked near BH/CS’s car (tire tracks, footprints)
– Assailant prepaired the attack (mask, poncho with Z symbol, pre-cut clothesline, pistol, knife)
– Although still before sunset, potentially other people in the area, assailant took the risk of being seen standing there with his camouflage (e.g. boats).
– Assailant demanded money, car keys, however took none of both.
– Assailant took approx. half an hour of tome for his attack, a very long time compared to e.g. BRS and LHR.
– Extended conversation between assailant and his victims (who at that point did not know they were going to be stabbed, yet)
– ‘Overkill’ of Cecilia Shepard (5 stab wounds front, 5 stab wounds back – with a 10-12 inch blade), sexually motivated stabbing (each breast, groin)

"It was a good thing it wasn’t too big of crowd, or maybe the fisherman wouldn’t have seen the young man on the shoreline." (Ranger White)

"..the psychopath knifed her once in each breast, once in the groin and once in the abdomen – forming the pattern of a cross." (Napa Register, Sept. 30, 1969)

"Miss Shepard was visiting PUC over the weekend to collect personal belongings stored in a dormitory last spring. She had been a student at the Angwin college." (Napa Register, Sept. 30, 1969)

Now a different view on the homicide – if Z HAD known Cecilia Shepard:

– CS with ties to the Riverside area, ~500 miles (Loma Linda)
– BH and CS transporting a TV (‘personal belongings’?) previous to the attack (from where? who saw them?)
– Mask & poncho to hide the face of Z (so CS nor BH would be able to recognize the assailant)
– ‘Jealous’ and ‘imposing’ behaviour of Z, talking 1/2 hour with his victims (this crime was important for Z)
– Intense preparation of the crime in advance also knowing CS, at least ANY couple would be there
– No robbery motive
– Sexually intended stabbing of CS (groin, breasts), pattern (hate)
– Less intense ‘elimination’ of her companion BH, declaration of his ‘full’ elimination activity on the car door
– Z following them from the market in Angwin

Personally, I am a 100% sure that Z had known CS.

My main point is the intense preparation of the crime in combination with CS’s ties to Loma Linda, Riverside area (CJB). But also the circumstance that Z had spent plenty of time with his victims this time and did not rob them. Also, he did not stab CS 20 or 30 times or more often. Thus, the stabbing itself was only part of his motivation..others he killed with a gun. However, he stabbed her into the groin, breast area (sexual motivation). For sure, he wanted to kill, eliminate her. In any case, Z did not want to be recognized on that day as it would have destroyed his imposing behaviour against his ‘opponent’ BH or could have lead to CS running away from him immediately (the ‘freak’ arriving there, 500 miles away from where she actualy had known him, warning BH, too).

So far, I am only aware about one person who could fill the gap between Loma Linda and Lake Berryessa: L. Bates.

L. Bates had attended Loma Linda University. Thus, there is a possibility that not only CS was a classmate of L. Bates but also her father could have been his teacher.

Years earlier, the father of L. Bates was a student at PUC, BH’s college. Thus, he still could have had ties to that area. Or is there the possibility that he had followed CS from Loma Linda / Riverside to the Vallejo / Angwin area. Speculation. L. Bates could also have been related to CJB (hypothesis). In any case, L. Bates is a perfect match to the Z sketch.

Of course, other people could represent a link between Loma Linda/Riverside and Vallejo/Angwin. Many people from Seventh Adventist community might have been at Loma Linda and PUC (who else??).

MOTIVE: If Z had just wanted to kill CS and BH, he might have had stabbed them in a few minutes only, then more safely had left the scene. No need for a mask either (as both would die anyway…so why the mask??). No need for any sexually related stabbing. Or, for the stabbings ‘worthness’ going for an overkill and/or sexual actions (impotence, imo). He also could have shot any other couple later somewhere, without any intense preparation. Z also could have had stabbed BH and CS equally (but he did not, he focussed on CS).

No…Z had a motive to kill Cecilia Shepard.

Regardless what motive that was (knowledge about CJB; her father as Z’s teacher; jealousness; impotence; previous brush-offs etc.), it at least shows that Z had known Cecilia. Z had ‘successfully’ killed CJB for her brush-offs (assuming Z to be CJB’s killer), so why shouldn’t he do the same with CS.

QT

Mysterious?

Yes. If Z had not known Cecilia Shepard.

– Assailant parked near BH/CS’s car (tire tracks, footprints)
– Assailant prepaired the attack (mask, poncho with Z symbol, pre-cut clothesline, pistol, knife)
– Although still before sunset, potentially other people in the area, assailant took the risk of being seen standing there with his camouflage (e.g. boats).
– Assailant demanded money, car keys, however took none of both.
– Assailant took approx. half an hour of tome for his attack, a very long time compared to e.g. BRS and LHR.
– Extended conversation between assailant and his victims (who at that point did not know they were going to be stabbed, yet)
– ‘Overkill’ of Cecilia Shepard (5 stab wounds front, 5 stab wounds back – with a 10-12 inch blade), sexually motivated stabbing (each breast, groin)

"It was a good thing it wasn’t too big of crowd, or maybe the fisherman wouldn’t have seen the young man on the shoreline." (Ranger White)

"..the psychopath knifed her once in each breast, once in the groin and once in the abdomen – forming the pattern of a cross." (Napa Register, Sept. 30, 1969)

"Miss Shepard was visiting PUC over the weekend to collect personal belongings stored in a dormitory last spring. She had been a student at the Angwin college." (Napa Register, Sept. 30, 1969)

Now a different view on the homicide – if Z HAD known Cecilia Shepard:

– CS with ties to the Riverside area, ~500 miles (Loma Linda)
– BH and CS transporting a TV (‘personal belongings’?) previous to the attack (from where? who saw them?)
– Mask & poncho to hide the face of Z (so CS nor BH would be able to recognize the assailant)
– ‘Jealous’ and ‘imposing’ behaviour of Z, talking 1/2 hour with his victims (this crime was important for Z)
– Intense preparation of the crime in advance also knowing CS, at least ANY couple would be there
– No robbery motive
– Sexually intended stabbing of CS (groin, breasts), pattern (hate)
– Less intense ‘elimination’ of her companion BH, declaration of his ‘full’ elimination activity on the car door
– Z following them from the market in Angwin

Personally, I am a 100% sure that Z had known CS.

My main point is the intense preparation of the crime in combination with CS’s ties to Loma Linda, Riverside area (CJB). But also the circumstance that Z had spent plenty of time with his victims this time and did not rob them. Also, he did not stab CS 20 or 30 times or more often. Thus, the stabbing itself was only part of his motivation..others he killed with a gun. However, he stabbed her into the groin, breast area (sexual motivation). For sure, he wanted to kill, eliminate her. In any case, Z did not want to be recognized on that day as it would have destroyed his imposing behaviour against his ‘opponent’ BH or could have lead to CS running away from him immediately (the ‘freak’ arriving there, 500 miles away from where she actualy had known him, warning BH, too).

So far, I am only aware about one person who could fill the gap between Loma Linda and Lake Berryessa: L. Bates.

L. Bates had attended Loma Linda University. Thus, there is a possibility that not only CS was a classmate of L. Bates but also her father could have been his teacher.

Years earlier, the father of L. Bates was a student at PUC, BH’s college. Thus, he still could have had ties to that area. Or is there the possibility that he had followed CS from Loma Linda / Riverside to the Vallejo / Angwin area. Speculation. L. Bates could also have been related to CJB (hypothesis). In any case, L. Bates is a perfect match to the Z sketch.

Of course, other people could represent a link between Loma Linda/Riverside and Vallejo/Angwin. Many people from Seventh Adventist community might have been at Loma Linda and PUC (who else??).

MOTIVE: If Z had just wanted to kill CS and BH, he might have had stabbed them in a few minutes only, then more safely had left the scene. No need for a mask either (as both would die anyway…so why the mask??). No need for any sexually related stabbing. Or, for the stabbings ‘worthness’ going for an overkill and/or sexual actions (impotence, imo). He also could have shot any other couple later somewhere, without any intense preparation. Z also could have had stabbed BH and CS equally (but he did not, he focussed on CS).

No…Z had a motive to kill Cecilia Shepard.

Regardless what motive that was (knowledge about CJB; her father as Z’s teacher; jealousness; impotence; previous brush-offs etc.), it at least shows that Z had known Cecilia. Z had ‘successfully’ killed CJB for her brush-offs (assuming Z to be CJB’s killer), so why shouldn’t he do the same with CS.

QT

Great analysis, I totally agree. Also the phone call stating “I want to report a murder, no a double murder”. I honestly think this was a genuine slip up. It implies that he was there for a murder not two. He was there for her, BH was collateral damage.
I also wonder if any of the three female witnesses looked at all like Cecelia. They stated that he kept looking down to his lap and he walked to the beach and then turned back. Could it possibly have been a photo of CS on his lap and he was trying to decide if it has her or not ?

While the Napa Register reported Cecelia being stabbed in a cross pattern, it did not happen. Cecelia was tossing and turning so she got stabbed in various locations. She was certainly more of a challenge because of her body movement.

There is no evidence Bryan and Cecelia were followed.

Cecelia saw the man before he donned his hood and she heard his voice. Never any mention of any recognition.

Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard arrived shortly after 5:15 pm and the attack took place over an hour later. There is absolutely no evidence they were followed and no evidence supporting the notion Cecelia Shepard was targeted by the Zodiac Killer.

@Cragle:
Excellent point..imo the best ‘find’ we have had over the last months. It was too obvious to ‘see’ it: Z had initially reported A murder, not two. A slip of the tongue at its best.

@Richard:
Well, at least Z had left his SIGN on the car door…also identical handwriting (check out e.g. the ‘curly f’, also did he write with felt pen, noted the dates of the other homicides..).

Z could have been observing his victims previous to the attack, possibly starting the attack in the ‘right moment’ (jealousness). Also he had to prepare his outfit well (poncho, mask, gun, clotheslines).

His CAR was parked directly behind the one of CS/BH, which makes me believe that he actually had followed them. I just can’t see him accidentially stopping at any car with e.g. a family of four or two fishermen with knifes by themselves or some people like that.

IMO he targeted a, rather the young couple. Thus, he stopped because the young couple was there. But how did he know that the young couple was there at all? Either because he had followed them directly (i doubt that one, too, but he might have ‘searched’ for CS previously – also looking at the three young girls..we all know how difficult it is to find someone in an open air bath / pic nic area..) OR he had ‘followed’ CS/BH to Lake Berryessa because he had learned that she was there with BH (e.g. a room mate or class mate of BH – or previously at the flea market).

IMO Z had searched for his victims. He also was prepared to tie up not only one but two persons (amount of clothesline). Z was not there to have some picnic. Instead he was walking around being seen by the three witnesses, also walked North some distance being seen by the father with his son. He then ended up driving North (because he couldn’t find her in the Southern part), finally hit their car. He might have known her car, too. Some of this might be rather a theory than a ‘proof’ but imo that is what most likely had happened.

@Tahoe27:
True, no ‘evidence’ but plenty of circumstancial details such as
– Z not having a bag or something with him when walking at the beach side (strolling but at that time already being prepared, thus ‘searching’ for his victims; parking directly behind the victim’s car; later meeting them in a more isolated area).
– Z could have parked his car behind any other car, too. Instead, he parked it behind the one of the young couple.
– We also know that Z’s main area was not Lake Berryessa. His ‘home’ was – besides driving around all the time – Vallejo, Modesto, San Francisco etc. and previously (my 99%) Riverside. The victim WAS from that area (Loma Linda).
– Lynda C. KANES, also a homicide victim, was found less than a mile away from where Hartnell and Shepard had been found. She went to PUC, too. Walter Boyd Williams (‘Willie the Woodcutter’) was convicted mostly because he lived nearby and some people thought they had seen ‘such’ American flag at his home. Not sure if he did that crime, Lynda could also have been Z’s victim #17.
Agree with the cross pattern..don’t know if that came up from the autopsy report or just some media rumors.

QT

We can certainly differ on the whether Zodiac specifically targeted certain individuals, that is obviously down to opinion Quicktrader, but can I just pick up on one point you stated, notably "His CAR was parked directly behind the one of CS/BH". There is actually no evidence to confirm this and I know Tahoe doesn’t believe this to be the case. On page 16 of the police report it states "Reporting Officer observed footprints leading from the foot stile to the passenger side of the Karmann Ghia". http://www.zodiackiller.com/LBReport16.html

There is no reference to these footprints extending beyond the Karmann Ghia passenger door to its rear. Therefore, if the Zodiac Killer had walked to the rear of the Karmann Ghia to get into his vehicle, how did he achieve this without leaving footprints.

We can certainly differ on the whether Zodiac specifically targeted certain individuals, that is obviously down to opinion Quicktrader, but can I just pick up on one point you stated, notably "His CAR was parked directly behind the one of CS/BH". There is actually no evidence to confirm this and I know Tahoe doesn’t believe this to be the case. On page 16 of the police report it states "Reporting Officer observed footprints leading from the foot stile to the passenger side of the Karmann Ghia". http://www.zodiackiller.com/LBReport16.html

There is no reference to these footprints extending beyond the Karmann Ghia passenger door to its rear. Therefore, if the Zodiac Killer had walked to the rear of the Karmann Ghia to get into his vehicle, how did he achieve this without leaving footprints.

So, the footprints end at the rear of the VW? Where did he go then? He had to have walked somewhere. Where do those footprints lead after he wrote on the message on the car door?