Curious if they might be looking for the wrong thing.

As mentioned, it states "letters pasted on picture". Maybe people have been searching for a letter rather than a photograph? It should all be in the same place regardless, but maybe it was simply overlooked.

http://zodiackiller.fr.yuku.com/topic/6 … uMJBNLTn6o

I sent SFPD, FBI and Cal DOJ that exact list with the description on it.

But it is described a little differently than its closest analouge, the Pines Card. Maybe it is a picture, and not a postcard. I wonder if it was sent in an envelope or via other means?

ZAMANTHA: Were you able to find out anything yet???

Curious if they might be looking for the wrong thing.

As mentioned, it states "letters pasted on picture". Maybe people have been searching for a letter rather than a photograph? It should all be in the same place regardless, but maybe it was simply overlooked.

http://zodiackiller.fr.yuku.com/topic/6 … uMJBNLTn6o

I sent SFPD, FBI and Cal DOJ that exact list with the description on it.

But it is described a little differently than its closest analouge, the Pines Card. Maybe it is a picture, and not a postcard. I wonder if it was sent in an envelope or via other means?

ZAMANTHA: Were you able to find out anything yet???

Yes AK, working on it, playing tag with our contact. Next week for sure!

Zamantha – I am still very, very interested in this letter/picture and hoping to hear you found out any information on it. Good luck!

Zamantha – I am still very, very interested in this letter/picture and hoping to hear you found out any information on it. Good luck!

Spoke to our contact, and honestly he didn’t have much. It seems a few years ago, the SF LE were also interested in this "in the woods dies April…near Monticello". They came & asked for the card & picked up the Zodiac box. Our contact wasn’t even sure if this card/letter was in the box.
And there you have it, wished it would have been more.
Zam*

I wonder then if the were just searching for a copy because it was already in the SFPD’s possession…at one point at least.

My California Public Records Act request was made in 2011, and when SFPD told me they could not find the Monticello card, I suggested to Inspector Jones to contact the SF Chronicle. It appears he did.

Based on your information Zam, I just renewed my request for the Monticello letter and I also submitted a request for a copy of all the contents in the box that the Chronicle gave to the SFPD!

Without admitting they have the Monticello letter or the box of letters from the Chron, the SFPD denied my request on the ludicrous grounds that the Zodiac case is an open investigation and they are exempt. I responded by showing how they are wrong and citing the parts of the law proving it. We will see what happens.

Good Luck!

By the way, if that letter exists, and they are choosing to hold it back, there must be something special about it that might be a big clue for them

By the way, if that letter exists, and they are choosing to hold it back, there must be something special about it that might be a big clue for them

I don’t know about that morf…it was apparently one they didn’t choose to test for DNA, even though on their list.

This was my request in May 2011:

The following request is made under the California Constitution Sunshine Amendment Article I, Section 3(b) which states in part that "the writings of public officials and agencies shall be open to public scrutiny", and the The California Public Records Act (California Government Code §§ 6250 through 6276.48), which requires disclosure of government records.

I hereby request these documents which are in the records of the San Francisco Police Department in the case of the "Zodiac Killer".

Letter from the "Zodiac" (and envelope if it exists) sent to SF Chronicle, dated 7/13/71 (or perhaps 7/12/71). Described as:

Letters pasted on picture

Contains words:

"NEAR MONTICELLO SHOUGHT VICTIMS 21…IN THE WOODS DIES APRIL"

I am requesting a copy of this letter and its envelope, and any documents pertaining to analysis or examination of the letter.

Thank you.

This was the initial response from SFPD in August 2011:

"I spoke with Inspector Jones regarding this request. He is processing it, however, he has to look through many boxes of documents related to this case to determine: 1) If we have the document (some documents were given to other agencies). 2) Determine why it has not been released yet (there may be a specific reason it has been withheld). He will research this and forward his findings to you. He does not have a timeline to when this will be completed."

And my follow up request in October 2011:

I realize we have just passed the 42nd anniversary of the murder of Paul Stine. I was hoping for news on the release of the "In the woods dies April…" letter sent by the Zodiac. My hope is that since this is the only known confirmed Zodiac letter never released to the public, it may contain clues to the identity of the Zodiac. By releasing it to the public, the Zodiac research community and/or a family member or friend of the Zodiac or a victim may recognize words, phrases or other information.

I can think of no reason why this letter should not be released. [Edited] Any news is appreciated. Thanks to all for your continuing work on this and other cases. Thank you.

And the follow up response in October 2011:

"I have been informed by Inspector Jones, that he is still in the process of trying to locate the letter described below. Once Inspector Jones has completed his search, the Department will notify you as to whether or not the "letter" has been located. "

This is the recent email from the SFPD January 2014. Get your reading glasses out:

"In response…this case is open and we will not be releasing any information about the evidence at this time."

And from the SF City Attorney Office, Police Liason January 2014:

"Pursuant to Government Code section 6254(f), this information is exempt from disclosure."

This is my edited response:

That response makes no sense. The case is 44 years old. I understand the SFPD may not like the California Public Records Act, but they cannot just refuse to follow it. I am asking for

1) The card, letter or picture with the words "Monticello…In the woods dies April", thought to be postmarked on or about July 13, 1971, and if that is NOT provided to me than

2) The copies of the letters in the box the SF Chronicle gave to the SFPD sometime in 2011 or 2012, I think in response to my initial request.

In other words if Request 1 is met, I will drop Request 2.

The law you cite to does NOT provide a blanket exemption for law enforcement records. It states in relevant part:

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, state and local law enforcement agencies shall make public the following information, except to the extent that disclosure of a particular item of information would endanger the safety of a person involved in an investigation or would endanger the successful completion of the investigation or a related investigation:

6254(f)(1)
(1) The full name and occupation of every individual arrested by the agency, the individual’s physical description including date of birth, color of eyes and hair, sex, height and weight, the time and date of arrest, the time and date of booking, the location of the arrest, the factual circumstances surrounding the arrest, the amount of bail set, the time and manner of release or the location where the individual is currently being held, and all charges the individual is being held upon, including any outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions and parole or probation holds.
6254(f)(2)
Subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 841.5 of the Penal Code, the time, substance, and location of all complaints or requests for assistance received by the agency and the time and nature of the response thereto, including, to the extent the information regarding crimes alleged or committed or any other incident investigated is recorded, the time, date, and location of occurrence, the time and date of the report, the name and age of the victim, the factual circumstances surrounding the crime or incident, and a general description of any injuries, property, or weapons involved.

The letter sent in by a person with the words "Monticello…In the woods dies April" was a either a complaint/request for assistance OR information about/from the offender. Thus you are required by law to provide it. The law makes clear the the public has a right to see these records. If I am forced to litigate to get this document the City would have to pay all legal fees, mine included, if it loses. I don’t want that to happen, and I am sure you don’t either.

The Zodiac Killer case is about an offender who may still be alive and out there killing people. The document I am requesting may contain vital clues to his identity. If the public sees this document someone may recognize words, phrases, handwwriting, images, locales, typewriter font or other information which could help lead to the discovery of the identity of the Zodiac Killer.

I am asking you to follow the law and please make every effort to find and release this document.

My goal is to help San Francisco and the State of California catch a dangerous offender and establish truth and closure in this case for the victims. I know this case has attracted unwanted publicity and every form of nut and crank. I know you wish this law did not exist and that you could just ignore my request. But remember it was not the SFPD or the FBI that solved the first Zodiac code, it was a member of the public, school teacher Don Harden. The release of this document may lead to a new clue in this case.

The "Monticello…In the woods dies April" letter would either be classified as a call or complaint (if it is from a witness, victim, citizen) or information about the offender (if it is from the Zodiac Killer himself). Either way the statute SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THESE TYPE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE.

ALL of the other confirmed Zodiac letters have already been released to the public, as have most of the unconfirmed letters. There is no valid reason to not release this letter.

Thank you for your anticipated assistance.

AK Wilks

Good luck AK!

I have to wonder if they will throw that legal mumbjo-jumbo at you rather than just say they misplaced it.

I also have to wonder if they will be looking for a letter in their box o’stuff, rather than a photograph…which it may very well be.

Yes, they have been saying that they simply cannot find it. I asked for "The card, letter or picture with the words "Monticello…In the woods dies April", thought to be postmarked on or about July 13, 1971

I just hope "they" (or should I say…the guy who will search the box. ) consider it could be a photo…even though you do suggest it.

What I don’t get are the excuses. Even if they gave an original to another agency, you know they kept copies for themselves. Surely copies were made of everything. At least one would think. People stealing for mementos?

We know it was in the hands of S.F. when they did the DNA testing…or so it reads.

I’ve been reading up on what I can about Monticello and the history of the town being turned into a lake from the dam. Not sure about you guys, but the Glory Hole in the lake there is enough for me to not want to go anywhere near it…..that looks terrifying. My thought is that he had another killing at Berryessa, just this time he called it Monticello, that or it was near the damn…..I am sure this thing drew all kinds of gawkers then and probably still does. My guess is that it is very loud as well and would nicely cover the sounds of gunshots up with white noise.