@druzer Yeah… but its the phrase: “Additional information was developed…..claimed to be the Zodiac Killer.” That sounds like the same person who admitted to faking the CJB letters also admitted to faking Zodiac communications. So, if he is being truthful, we should know definitively that some are false and if they are on the regular list of possible communications. When I say “we” I mean law enforcement. We have no idea.
(I note that none of this requires Zodiac DNA.The DNA used, as I read it, was from the 2016 apology letter and an individual identified thru genealogy.)
“additional information was developed” was curious and I think misleading phrasing. I am not convinced that they took it upon themselves to involve other agencies to investigate what would seem to be unrelated materials. What would motivate them to do that? Was there a DNA database hit that led them there? If they did anything of the sort I would expect further details. They were so vague about what was tested and how that I don’t put a lot of stock into the claim of additional info.
You’re right that it does sound like the “young teenager” who was found to have written the Bates letters also wrote fake zodiac letters and that he did so not to newspapers for attention but to police agencies “to keep the case alive”, which means at least ten years later. That would be such an extraordinary story that I have to believe more would have been made of the story. Even outside true crime circles that would be incredible.
I can’t help but associate the ‘keep the case alive’ motive they relayed as an allusion to the Toschi rumours of 1974/78 (despite the fact that those questioned missives were sent to newspapers). I think that they were just talking out of turn about the Zodiac case.
@druzer actually it sounded to me like:
1) someone wrote a letter admitting to the handwritten notes of years past; 2) they used DNA and genealogy on that letter to track them down; 3) the person admitted; 4) they subsequently admitted to faking other letters – including Zodiac ones….
@druzer actually it sounded to me like:
1) someone wrote a letter admitting to the handwritten notes of years past; 2) they used DNA and genealogy on that letter to track them down; 3) the person admitted; 4) they subsequently admitted to faking other letters – including Zodiac ones….
That is how I interpreted it as well, I just don’t believe it to be true. Maybe there will be a clarification at some point. It’s certainly possible, I just don’t think it is likely.
RPD said “additional information was developed” about fake Zodiac letters and that someone supposedly copped to writing them. They didn’t say it was the same person who wrote the Bates letters.
RPD could have said, “The DNA of the Bates author was later found to match DNA from a Zodiac letter.” Or, “The author also confessed to writing letters pertaining to be from the Zodiac killer.” Or gone into some rudimentary level of detail. Instead, there’s an abrupt shift in clarity and the Zodiac stuff is basically a footnote.
They don’t tell us which Zodiac letters are being questioned, or how they know they’re fakes. In the sole instance where they stoop to specifics, the language plainly invokes the ghost of Toschi, yet, that’s a pretty wild thing to insinuate in such an offhand manner. Sure, they’re old rumors, but most people don’t believe them.
I mean, when Butterfield interviewed Shumway, Shumway had a print-out of MB’s Usenet remarks on his desk…they have to know how some of us are going to react to this.
