I think they have just lumped them in there as suspected without clarifying. It does go on to say he was cleared.

Ah I see.I am halfway through Robert Graysmiths book on the case and only skimmed over the entry so as not to spoil any surprises.A bit poor having their photos in the victims section all the same.

I was browsing Murderpedia last night and ended up reading about David Carpenter,the Trailside Killer of San Francisco.For some reason it has Cecilia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell listed as 2 of his victims.I know some people suspected him of being Zodiac but its a bit much to attribute this crime to him without some good evidence.
http://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/carpent … joseph.htm

Ugh… remind me not to look up anything on Murderpedia.

Carpenter is rather interesting though because Zodiac WAS publicly suspected of being the Trailside Killer and Carpenter reportedly (according to Graysmith later in your book…) told other inmates that he WAS the Zodiac Killer during a brief prison escape on 4/27/70. Carpenter was a menace and had two long incarcerations before ever becoming the Trailside Killer. He was released from prison briefly some time in 1969 but was incarcerated during the Lake Herman Rd. attack and most of Zodiac’s later letters. He apparently continues to profess his innocence in the Trailside killings.

From what I’ve read Carpenter lies about everything and anything.His crimes however were obviously more sex driven than the Zodiac attacks,apart from the Bay area location theres not much similarity. I didn’t realise he himself said he was the Zodiac.