What’s the public transport situation in PH at that time? Could Z have parked near a tram or bus stop that would have taken him near the theatre district? That would be a simple and effective way to avoid a trail and one he undoubtedly would have taken if he considered it. Hell, he may have even done that a day in advance if he was really going to throw them off the scent.
Even if public transport kwas bad in that area, I’ve looked on google maps and assuming the basic layout hasn’t changed much, there’s plenty of buildings within a mile or so that would be quite well served (I can see the university of SF for one, I would have thought that was around then).

I always wondered if maybe he hop a bus after he killed Stine. How late did the buses run and was there a pick up stop near the crime scene ? If so two both questions then was the bus driver ever questioned about the pic ups he made ? Not to long after that he mentions the bus bomb letter and maybe the bus is a clue to him telling how he got away. Probably nothing but you never know.

Hi-

Interesting thread. I’ve always felt that Z could not have left the area due to an observation my brother, a retired NYPD Lieutenant, made several years ago: In his letters the killer described the sounds of the search, not the sights. Either he was incredibly devious to think of doing that, or he was there to actually hear what was going on.

My money is on the notion that he was there.

I believe someone told me once that if you have a dog sniff something with Stine’s blood on it, they would have gone right back to the cab, since that is where the highest concentration of that scent would be found. (They would not trace the scent as it diminished.) Unless they had an article of clothing or something they knew belonged to the killer to provide his scent, they may not have given the dogs anything to chase down. In that case, the highest concentration of scent would be on the killer, not in the cab. Have to review my notes.

Mike

It of course makes sense that he would have a car in the area, unless he really did live nearby… but why go through the trouble of parking the car, going somewhere else and then having a taxi take you back to your car and shooting him? Why not just park the car, hail the cab, shoot the driver, and then go back to the car and drive away? Either way if he’s going to his car after the crime, he’s leaving a trail.

Seems to me it was more likely that he parked near the spot where he hailed Paul’s cab, or even that he took several cabs around town that night until he got one to a secluded spot where he felt comfortable committing the crime. He could have even gotten another cab to drive him back afterwards, but that is risky with police around.

My guess is this, he drove to San Francisco intending to kill someone to involve the SFPD in his story.
He was a controller so having the car would give him more control than taking public transportation.
He probably did hang around crime scenes, pretended to be helpful, attended funerals, etc.
These are thrill killings, and absorbing as much of the experience as possible would be important to Zodiac.
Great point about the noises generated that night. He was probably up in a tree or on a dark wall.
Goody-goody gumdrops.

Maybe he was housesitting for a Friend or Family member. I get the sense that Zodiac didnt have much money, and I know Ken Narlow felt the same way since the Zodiac’s car at Berryessa had two different porrly worn tires on the front of his car. Washington & Cherry was a nice area, in a rich area.

It would be convenient if he did have a place in the area, but I would think that someone would have recognized the sketch if he was a neighbor.

Possible reasons why Z took a taxi to Presidio Heights:

1) Pre-planned murder in that area
2) Lived in the area
3) Visiting somebody in the area
4) Had business or activities in the area
5) PH was just a leg on a journey elsewhere
6) Had parked his vehicle in that area
7) Intended to steal a vehicle in that area
8) Intended to break into a house in the area

Any others?

G

Hi-

Based on the perceived "profile" of Zodiac back in 1969–a "crazed", "psychopathic" killer, I doubt that anyone would have considered that a resident of PH with a home conveniently overlooking the murder scene could possibly have been the killer–regardless of how much he looked like the sketch. And didn’t Zodiac reassure everyone that he only looked like the sketch when he "did his thing?" Zodiac was a "madman," not a wealthy man who was in any normal way "successful." That was the prevailing thought. People were "conditioned" early on in the investigation through common sense to believe that Zodiac was not someone who was "normal" and leading a productive life. Certainly he was not someone who lived among them, especially in a wealthy enclave like PH…

Mike

Zodiac was not a thief…not for money…never…

Hi-

Based on the perceived "profile" of Zodiac back in 1969–a "crazed", "psychopathic" killer, I doubt that anyone would have considered that a resident of PH with a home conveniently overlooking the murder scene could possibly have been the killer–regardless of how much he looked like the sketch. And didn’t Zodiac reassure everyone that he only looked like the sketch when he "did his thing?" Zodiac was a "madman," not a wealthy man who was in any normal way "successful." That was the prevailing thought. People were "conditioned" early on in the investigation through common sense to believe that Zodiac was not someone who was "normal" and leading a productive life. Certainly he was not someone who lived among them, especially in a wealthy enclave like PH…

Mike

Thanks Mike R.
Always enjoy your posts & ideas.

I lived at Green St. and Laguna for about 6 years…and often cruised to the crime scene on my scooter just to get a sense of "why there?" and I did note the partitioned street of Pacific ave. makes a great escape street..once you get to Lyon st. you can have a commanding view of the whole area of the Presidio as Lyon st. is on an incline…and conveniently close to the hustle and bustle of the city..

I would say that the are in question was probably a good place to get away. Ample streets, a huge park near by. The perfect place to plan a getaway. I always favored the theory that his car was parked near by the murder scene. He gets to the car and peaces it to somewhere else in the city. I also don’t believe Zodiac would be dumb enough to murder someone near his residents and hang around the crime.

It’s an accepted trait of many criminals to hang around a crime scene (hidden within a crowd) and watch the aftermath. I was thinking about Z’s descriptions of the Presidio Heights police activities and it got me thinking – what was the crowd situation there and at the other crime scenes? I know LHR and BRS were not frequented areas at night but it strikes me that both look like areas where Z could have returned by car nearby and watched from afar (did a small crowd gather at BRS, we know there were teens in the park?). Lake Berryessa is obviously too remote for a crowd but again offers plenty of opportunity to overlook the aftermath from cover and safe distance.
I don’t think police were aware of this kind of criminal behaviour at that time, nor whether it adds anything significant to the case, but it’s something I’ve not seen touched on elsewhere. But if any pictures exist of any sort of crowd they may be worth a look.

It is a possibility, however the Lake Berryessa crime, almost certainly no, after all why drive 27 miles to Napa to place the call then return, there were phone booths considerably nearer, if he had chosen this option. And if he had hung around immediately then the call at 7.40 would not be possible .

A view from the residence at 16 Spruce st. San Francisco..

Another view from 16 Spruce st., San Francisco