https://people.com/crime/zodiac-killer- … -murderer/
For decades, the infamous Zodiac Killer — who killed at least five people in California in the 1960s and claimed to have killed more than 30 — has never been identified, despite his letters to local media taunting police.
But now, California detectives are hoping to use those letters against the killer by lifting genetic material and utilizing advances in DNA science and genealogy databases.
The Sacramento Bee reports that investigators in Vallejo have sent envelopes used by the suspected killer to a lab for advanced DNA analysis. Authorities plan to run the recovered DNA through online genealogy sites, and will attempt to identify the Zodiac Killer through familial connections.
Detective Terry Poyser of the Vallejo Police told The Bee that DNA from saliva may be recovered from the envelopes. If that happens, and “we get a good profile, then you start tracking back,” Poyser said. “It really comes down to DNA. Without it, you have nothing. It’s a 50-years-old case.”
Results from the DNA analysis are expected back in the coming weeks.
First, they have to find DNA.
Exactly right – plus the People article simply references the announcement from last May – bad journalism.
So where are the long overdue promised results??? It has been more than many weeks and more like many years!
First, they have to find DNA.
First they have to find the letters..
QT
*ZODIACHRONOLOGY*
This should be on all of the threads about DNA, especially touch DNA on fifty year-old over handled evidence:
"The problem with DNA is that if you have a science that is misunderstood, that science becomes like magic. It gets the power of magic, and that is what makes it very, very dangerous."—Anonymous Voice Over, Exhibit A: Touch DNA, Netflix
Mike Rodelli
Author, The Hunt for Zodiac; 3.9 stars on Amazon and
In The Shadow of Mt. Diablo: The Shocking True Identity of the Zodiac Killer, a second edition in print format. 4.3 Amazon stars and great Editorial reviews. Twitter:@mikerodelli
After over two years from the original announcement of a DNA breakthrough in the Zodiac case, I think we can all now safely say that it was all BS. We have seen multiple cold cases solved after just four or five months. Meanwhile, it’s been over two years since "Zodiac DNA" was entered into a genealogy website.
Too bad it was all a bunch of BS.
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
Hi,
Don’t be so quick to dismiss the DNA. There are people in possession of "secret info" that has not yet been revealed. What LE is waiting for to release these people to talk is anyone’s guess.
Mike
Mike Rodelli
Author, The Hunt for Zodiac; 3.9 stars on Amazon and
In The Shadow of Mt. Diablo: The Shocking True Identity of the Zodiac Killer, a second edition in print format. 4.3 Amazon stars and great Editorial reviews. Twitter:@mikerodelli
Hi,
Don’t be so quick to dismiss the DNA. There are people in possession of "secret info" that has not yet been revealed. What LE is waiting for to release these people to talk is anyone’s guess.
Mike
??
Hi,
Don’t be so quick to dismiss the DNA. There are people in possession of "secret info" that has not yet been revealed. What LE is waiting for to release these people to talk is anyone’s guess.
Mike
Don’t get excited. Mike was being sarcastic. There’s no reason to suspect we will have a DNA breakthrough in the Zodiac case.
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
No, there are people who imply they are insiders and know things they can’t tell everyone else about Vallejo and DNA.
Mike Rodelli
Author, The Hunt for Zodiac; 3.9 stars on Amazon and
In The Shadow of Mt. Diablo: The Shocking True Identity of the Zodiac Killer, a second edition in print format. 4.3 Amazon stars and great Editorial reviews. Twitter:@mikerodelli
Yeah, back to my previous statement: bullcrap.
There’s no DNA work being done, and no announcement is coming. It’s been over two years now. Meanwhile, we see cases solved with forensic genealogy in four months.
It’s all crap.
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
I think people often make the mistake of thinking that getting DNA from one of the letters will automatically lead to an arrest. There are multiple reasons it doesn’t, one being this is not DNA directly from a crime scene like blood or semen. If they do retrieve DNA from one of the letters, unless perhaps it was one that had a piece of Stine’s shirt, all that will prove is that DNA belongs to someone who at one point handled that letter. If it is a police officer, or perhaps someone who works at a postal facility or a newspaper that had reason to have handled that letter, that is not direct evidence of committing the murder.
And even if it’s not someone who had reason to handle the letter, all it really proves is that person most likely wrote the letter, not that they committed a murder. DA’s want solid proof, they don’t like to leave doubt if they take something to a jury. Also, if the person who that DNA belongs to is dead, and has no family to test, that complicates things. So I’m not ready to give up on the DNA yet. I believe we would have heard if they didn’t get a solid, usable result.
I think people often make the mistake of thinking that getting DNA from one of the letters will automatically lead to an arrest. There are multiple reasons it doesn’t, one being this is not DNA directly from a crime scene like blood or semen. If they do retrieve DNA from one of the letters, unless perhaps it was one that had a piece of Stine’s shirt, all that will prove is that DNA belongs to someone who at one point handled that letter. If it is a police officer, or perhaps someone who works at a postal facility or a newspaper that had reason to have handled that letter, that is not direct evidence of committing the murder.
And even if it’s not someone who had reason to handle the letter, all it really proves is that person most likely wrote the letter, not that they committed a murder. DA’s want solid proof, they don’t like to leave doubt if they take something to a jury. Also, if the person who that DNA belongs to is dead, and has no family to test, that complicates things. So I’m not ready to give up on the DNA yet. I believe we would have heard if they didn’t get a solid, usable result.
In Joe DeAngelo’s case there was massive DNA evidence, yet the genealogy research was extremely complex and protracted.
I hope you guys are right. I’m losing my optimism with each day that passes.
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
