This is a question that bothers me & would like some feedback on it. At Berryassa, with the writing on the car, and with Stine and the shirt included in the mailings, can we assume the writer either was the killer, or was in close communication with the killer? At Berryassa as a lookout/writer possibly, and with Stine, as someone the shirt was given to? Or could there be another scenario?

When the idea of separate people committing the crimes and writing the letters comes up, that’s the first thing I think of – the interplay that would’ve been necessary between the two. It doesn’t seem so problematic at the other two crime scenes, which were simple shootings, short and quick.

As far as Ross goes, he was a writer, a poet, knew Cheri, and I could see him writing the personal notes to her family. I could also see him as having helped in the murder, and being the one Cheri scratched, which might explain why Bob Barnett passed the forensic tests. As Morf says, if he then disappeared for a couple weeks as the librarian said, that would allow his face to heal.

To me, the Cheri letters almost look like the writer is trying to reaffirm to himself that she "had to die." Almost like he’s struggling with it a bit, trying to reaffirm it to himself. Not really offering an apology because that would be saying it had been a mistake and wrong, but sort of an explanation of sorts, as if one was needed.

…Then again, if things really did go down as the Librarian described, and Ross suddenly vanished for a couple weeks, and returned later with new clothes, the timing would seem to have some importance. Why would he suddenly leave,and then reappear weeks later with new clothes?

This is awfully suspicious, however, I refuse to believe LE didn’t make the same connection. Surely they were aware of Ross. According to the papers there was a great deal of man power and effort directed toward this case and a lot of that was focused on RCC staff and students.

This is a question that bothers me & would like some feedback on it. At Berryassa, with the writing on the car, and with Stine and the shirt included in the mailings, can we assume the writer either was the killer, or was in close communication with the killer?

I should say so, yes. Berryessa is clear cut in that regard. Either the writer was along for the ride, or the killer happened to be able to copy his partner’s writing to a very decent degree (and with that the whole idea of a partnership loses all possible credibility, IMO).

PH is a bit different. If it was the writer who sent the envelope, then the killer had to meet up with him fairly quickly in order to pass on the shirt piece. Fairly quickly is relative, though. But certainly in close communication in a general sense, yes. However, one can speculate that the writer had prepared the letter in advance – and that it was the killer who sent it.

But LB is the stumbling block. Either the writer was there in person – or there was no writer at all, only a killer who did his own writing.

Has anyone had any ideas on how to find out where Ross was a dishwasher at? If anyone has been looking into this, can you please include Facelli’s iRestaurant in your search? I won’t post why because it’s one of the dumbest ideas I have had, but if anyone finds out he did work there then things could get interesting (doubtful). The place later became known as Bibby’s Inn (in 1972 when they changed ownership). It burned down in Feb. 1976. It was pretty far from the address Ross died at, but I’m not sure the year he moved into the 17th Ave address.

Dec. 1969, Stirling Silliphant’s son, Loren (age 18), was murdered by a Chester A. Johnson (age 22). We know Ross had ties to Mr. Silliphant. Might be worth exploring more since this happened during the Zodiac crimes.

It is believed that Mr. Johnson was given an incorrect address to score some dope, and showed up at Loren Silliphant’s place by mistake and ended up killing him.

Has anyone had any ideas on how to find out where Ross was a dishwasher at? If anyone has been looking into this, can you please include Facelli’s iRestaurant in your search? I won’t post why because it’s one of the dumbest ideas I have had, but if anyone finds out he did work there then things could get interesting (doubtful). The place later became known as Bibby’s Inn. It burned down in Feb. 1976. It was pretty far from the address Ross died at, but I’m not sure the year he moved into the 17th Ave address.

Has anyone had any ideas on how to find out where Ross was a dishwasher at? If anyone has been looking into this, can you please include Facelli’s iRestaurant in your search? I won’t post why because it’s one of the dumbest ideas I have had, but if anyone finds out he did work there then things could get interesting (doubtful). The place later became known as Bibby’s Inn. It burned down in Feb. 1976. It was pretty far from the address Ross died at, but I’m not sure the year he moved into the 17th Ave address.

That’s funny, I just uploaded that same pic to my photobucket haha… I found a newspaper article where the wife of Tony Tola wrote to the Santa Cruz Sentinel in 1970 raving about how good her and Tony thought Facelli’s was. From the letter she wrote, it seems as though they ate out quite often. Just made me think… being in Santa Cruz themselves, did they have an unpleasant run-in with Ross a year or two prior at a place where he was a dish washer? If so, would Ross have been able to get the guys name somehow and work it into the cipher that says "TONY TOLA" with the cross-hair in between the first and last name? I know it’s a dumb idea, but you never know?

A week or so ago, I mailed a letter to Ross’s Brother. It was an honest, heartfelt letter explaining and detailing,just why it is that Ross has gotten so much attention. I also pointed out I would like to be able to publicly rule him out, and just what info would help to do that. I told him that if he could be ruled out,I would spread the word and make it known. I also told him, truthfully, that if Ross was Zodiac, his actions could be explained by his mental illness, and People would have a better understanding and perhaps be forgiving of him for that reason. I provided my phone number, my email, and my mailing address, and pleaded for him to reach out to me. My prediction was that he would simply ignore my letter. So far, he’s proven me right.

Ophion, I see that you have a site about Z/Ross Sullivan- http://zodiackiller.forumotion.com/

A week or so ago, I mailed a letter to Ross’s Brother. It was an honest, heartfelt letter explaining and detailing,just why it is that Ross has gotten so much attention. I also pointed out I would like to be able to publicly rule him out, and just what info would help to do that. I told him that if he could be ruled out,I would spread the word and make it known. I also told him, truthfully, that if Ross was Zodiac, his actions could be explained by his mental illness, and People would have a better understanding and perhaps be forgiving of him for that reason. I provided my phone number, my email, and my mailing address, and pleaded for him to reach out to me. My prediction was that he would simply ignore my letter. So far, he’s proven me right.

You should call him and approach him with the same tone. But be prepared and maybe you’ll get some new information, even if he decides again he doesn’t want to help.

A week or so ago, I mailed a letter to Ross’s Brother. It was an honest, heartfelt letter explaining and detailing,just why it is that Ross has gotten so much attention. I also pointed out I would like to be able to publicly rule him out, and just what info would help to do that. I told him that if he could be ruled out,I would spread the word and make it known. I also told him, truthfully, that if Ross was Zodiac, his actions could be explained by his mental illness, and People would have a better understanding and perhaps be forgiving of him for that reason. I provided my phone number, my email, and my mailing address, and pleaded for him to reach out to me. My prediction was that he would simply ignore my letter. So far, he’s proven me right.

You should call him and approach him with the same tone. But be prepared and maybe you’ll get some new information, even if he decides again he doesn’t want to help.

Nah, I am not going to call him, that would be disrespectful I feel. If he was willing to speak, he would contact me

Ophion, I see that you have a site about Z/Ross Sullivan- http://zodiackiller.forumotion.com/

Yeah… me and a friend started it up recently. I was going to post a link here but wasn’t ready to do so just yet. Still getting it set up and everything.

Some of my ideas are weird so I don’t share them here because I know they would gain no interest. Some I do post here and they don’t gain interest. No big deal, I know a lot of them are crazy. The new site is not meant to take any visitors away from your site, I hope you weren’t thinking that. Actually, your site is the one I always recommend to interested people who ask me about the case, because your site is the most informative and everyone on here is very friendly and willing to help research pretty much any subject.

If you could give me some pointers I would really appreciate it.

Ross’ brother not responding is a little bit curious. Makes ya wonder if he knows something he does not want to talk about or if he just straight-up doesn’t want anything to do with it. Good idea sending him a letter, though. Did Allan Silliphant ever find that movie?

Good luck with the site, sorry to prematurely link to it if it is not ready. There’s always room to spread the word on another site about Z

Ross’ brother not responding is a little bit curious. Makes ya wonder if he knows something he does not want to talk about or if he just straight-up doesn’t want anything to do with it. Good idea sending him a letter, though. Did Allan Silliphant ever find that movie?

put yourself in his shoes. someone contacts you that they have an internet site where people think your dad/mom/brother/sister is a serial killer. my first reaction would be to think it’s some kind of scam or at best someone with a screw loose. ross’ brother did respond at first but then probably realized responding was only feeding the fire so to speak. whether ross is z or not, his brother lost a family member many years ago and i’m sure that’s painful and i’m sure entertaining the speculations of internet sleuths doesn’t help abate the feelings of loss. i do think if we give him some space he may come around to the idea of either helping clear his brother’s name or, if he harbors any suspicions, he may realize it’s worth helping answer the question of his brother’s involvement one and for all.