What’s the source for Tim’s suspicion of his brother Ross as Zodiac? Did Tim go through Ross’ personal effects after Ross died? If so, what are the odds that, if Ross was the Zodiac, he kept some momentos of the slayings (such as parts of the bloody Stine shirt) and Zodiac related newspaper and magazine clippings?
If Ross was Z, do we think he would have kept a prized artifact box of his killings? It would be fascinating to know why Tim suspected his brother while the other brother rejects the notion. Surely Tim would have told his other brother his reasoning.
…Surely Tim would have told his other brother his reasoning.
I communicated with Ross’ brother Jon. It appeared to be news to him. He seemed completely unaware of any of this…Ross, Cheri, Zodiac…all of it.
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
If Ross was Z, do we think he would have kept a prized artifact box of his killings? It would be fascinating to know why Tim suspected his brother while the other brother rejects the notion. Surely Tim would have told his other brother his reasoning.
Given that Z took his sweet time cutting off a patch of Stine’s shirt, I would think yes, he kept mementos.
Devil’s advocate: Why should we put much stock in Tim Sullivan’s suspicions about his brother if we don’t buy Steve Hodel’s, Dennis Kaufman’s, or Gary Stewart’s allegations against their fathers (or stepfather in Kaufman’s case)? And a secondhand account of Tim’s suspicions, at that?
A great and essential question. A second one – why put faith in Katz’ letter to Morf? For all we know, he could be just getting even with someone he didn’t like for some reason.
I would say, though, that the library staff – for whatever reason, good or bad, fueled by good reasons or by bad,outdated ideas of what a criminal should be like – definitely suspected Ross Sullivan. That seems clear. So the Katz letter isn’t out there in space all alone. And Ross was definitely enough of an early suspect in the Bates killing (alongside many other men) to require him to provide an alibi.
Devil’s advocate: Why should we put much stock in Tim Sullivan’s suspicions about his brother if we don’t buy Steve Hodel’s, Dennis Kaufman’s, or Gary Stewart’s allegations against their fathers (or stepfather in Kaufman’s case)? And a secondhand account of Tim’s suspicions, at that?
A great and essential question. A second one – why put faith in Katz’ letter to Morf? For all we know, he could be just getting even with someone he didn’t like for some reason.
I would say, though, that the library staff – for whatever reason, good or bad, fueled by good reasons or by bad,outdated ideas of what a criminal should be like – definitely suspected Ross Sullivan. That seems clear. So the Katz letter isn’t out there in space all alone. And Ross was definitely enough of an early suspect in the Bates killing (alongside many other men) to require him to provide an alibi.
hi Nick
when did the library staff suspect Ross? when did the police suspect ross?
I’m asking because if the library staff was so confident that ross killed bates, then he should have become a suspect at the time of her murder.
Is this when he first came to the attention of the police? or much later?
…a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma
Devil’s advocate: Why should we put much stock in Tim Sullivan’s suspicions about his brother if we don’t buy Steve Hodel’s, Dennis Kaufman’s, or Gary Stewart’s allegations against their fathers (or stepfather in Kaufman’s case)? And a secondhand account of Tim’s suspicions, at that?
A great and essential question. A second one – why put faith in Katz’ letter to Morf? For all we know, he could be just getting even with someone he didn’t like for some reason.
I would say, though, that the library staff – for whatever reason, good or bad, fueled by good reasons or by bad,outdated ideas of what a criminal should be like – definitely suspected Ross Sullivan. That seems clear. So the Katz letter isn’t out there in space all alone. And Ross was definitely enough of an early suspect in the Bates killing (alongside many other men) to require him to provide an alibi.
hi Nick
when did the library staff suspect Ross? when did the police suspect ross?I’m asking because if the library staff was so confident that ross killed bates, then he should have become a suspect at the time of her murder.
Is this when he first came to the attention of the police? or much later?
They apparently checked Ross early on, for scratches…so it wasn’t too much later. It was said he was out of town just after her murder, but he must have been back soon enough to check for scratches…if this is true.
“…they may be dealing with one or more ersatz Zodiacs–other psychotics eager to get into the act, or perhaps even other murderers eager to lay their crimes at the real Zodiac’s doorstep.“ L.A. Times, 1969
I paid to have a researcher look for obituaries or service announcement of Ross’s death, there were none.
I think Ross was dead when he was found by Jon, so there would be no need for emergency response.
I’ve found that ‘zodiac was killed in Santa Cruz’ story interesting but Ross was not killed, he died. I also find any theory of police covering up that they killed Z, hard to swallow
Just out of curiosity what was the cause of death. I have seen copies of Ross’s death certificates where the cause of death is marked "PENDING".
Scroll down a bit on this page-
There are two pages of the death certificate. The second page gives the cause of death.
