Thanks to you both for all the great episodes, I have enjoyed them as much as any media about the Zodiac Killer ever.

Ah, that’s a shame, Rich. I really enjoyed the podcast. It was perfect for folks who already possess an in-depth knowledge of the case and want a few new nuggets to chew on. I do hope you guys revive it down the road.

That said, you have done “deep dives” into all the canonical crimes except for Lake Berryessa. You did an episode on LB but only as an introductory episode. Would love a deep dive into the LB attack.

Another suggestion would be a “where does the case stand today?” episode where you kind of bring everything full circle and discuss the case and evidence as it currently stands including law enforcement interest, media interest, and DNA. Along those lines would be “where do we go from here?” approach where you discuss how new technology could be used to break the case and what avenues we could still use to crack it. 

Again, great stuff, and congratulations to both of you for a job well done.

@chaucer Thanks Chaucer, I will bear this in mind if we add supplementary episodes in the future. Particularly about Lake Berryessa. “Where do we go from here” is the big question. I think nowhere, unless the envelopes from the later letters are tested and retested. If documents examiner Robert Prouty is correct there could be a potential 150 to 200+ communications from the Zodiac Killer as of 1987, with plenty of material to examine. Unfortunately, if they have been thrown away or lost, then all that potential evidence has unfortunately been washed down the toilet, and opportunities squandered. Why, in such a high profile case such as the Zodiac Killer, communications were just indiscriminately labelled hoaxes and effectively tossed away, I cannot understand. People often claim that the only way to identify the Zodiac Killer is to secure DNA and fingerprints that we know are from the killer. These countless communications deemed hoaxes, unless tested against known Zodiac DNA and fingerprints can never be called hoaxes. Yet people keep calling these communications hoaxes on nothing more than just looking at them. You cannot rule out any communication based on handwriting analysis or by the “tone” of a letter. Even document examiners cannot agree with each other on a particular letter. Take the 3-page Ramsey ransom letter as an example. To sum up Chaucer, these potential 200+ communications need to be tracked down and tested. They may contain multiple routes for investigation, that could be used in familial DNA searches. Unfortunately, through mismanagement of potential evidence, I doubt any of these communications exist any more. This would be my route forward, but it will never happen.  

By the way Chaucer, what parts of the Lake Berryessa crime do you think warrants further examination – and what do you feel has been under-investigated about this particular attack? 

Hey, Rich,

I didn’t mean to imply that you had not done a thorough enough job on the LB attack. I just meant that perhaps there were details of the case that could be expounded upon. For example, what kind of knife was used? The medical examiner said bayonet, but that doesn’t match Hartnell’s description. Hartnell’s description seems to suggest a large kitchen knife. But what kitchen knife is kept in a sheath? Also, the costume. Was it one piece or two? Was it sewn? Was the symbol painted on or stitched on? Any of these things might suggest a talent with fabrics and or design. There have also been rumors – from Tom V. primarily – that there was something left behind at LB that definitely tied the the crimes together. Anyways, I’ve always thought that the LB crime provided the most clues of all the crimes, but always seems to be the least examined. Just my two cents.

To your point about where the case goes. I don’t even think you need 200 letters. You need one stamp or one envelope with some DNA on it. Moreover, they just recently developed a technique to extract DNA from rootless hairs. Further, there is the development with Bates letter hoaxer that you guys never really discussed much. 

Regardless, the podcast was a delight, and I will miss it. I do hope you guys continue it at some point in the future.