My initial response to his claim of killing on August of 1969 and for some reason not listing it up on Bryan Hartnell’s car door in September 27th, 1969 after causing the death of Cecilia Shepard was that he was lying, but considering his November 8th (of that same year) letter’s excitement tone it seems to me like he possibly acts like his August victim had just been pronounced dead shortly before this was sent. Perhaps there was a case in August where the victim/s survived but died after a while in hospital after September 27th and that it was his doing.

His listings on the car door were under the heading Vallejo. Bearing in mind the LHR murders were on the jurisdictional line between Benicia and Vallejo, it is understandable he listed this under Vallejo. On the card door Zodiac’s only purpose was to confirm he was the killer in the two previous attacks. Adding any August murders (if they occurred at all) to the car door does not serve the purpose of confirmation, and if any attack did occur in August, they obviously weren’t in Vallejo, so you don’t add them under the heading ‘Vallejo’.

Zodiac was all about boasting of his crimes. This was before he said he would no longer do it. He would have been all over gloating about crimes he committed in August…instead he teases later in a card. August? Nope. (imo)

In the November 8th 1969 letter, Zodiac wrote "Des July Aug Sept Oct = 7". In the November 9th 1969 letter, he claimed to have killed 7 people up to the end of October. We know that after Paul Stine, we 5 confirmed dead victims, with 2 survivors. But Zodiac claims to have killed 7.

5 dead + 2 survivors = 7 victims. It didn’t say anything about all being dead.

Except August is written, so if he is claiming victims (alive or dead), it affects the count.

Ah, I see.

Anyone know what the "Des" is? Misspelling of December?

I don’t think anyone has actually figured that out… at least anything that makes sense, that they’ve shared.