I think Don Cheney should have been seriously investigated.
I wish that samples of Cheney’s DNA had been taken.
He was, and the SFPD did check his DNA.
I’m am guessing it cleared him?
Bummer. He really seemed off To me, but I guess that’s why you can not rely on "feelings" about an individual and must stick to the evidence.
Here is the link…should you choose to click on it. 
http://www.zodiackiller.com/Cheney2.html
There is question now as to whether the DNA was actually even Zodiac’s. A retired SFPD officer (not involved with the Zodiac case) says the analyst got if from the outside of the envelope. I have contacted "Dr. Holt" to confirm and hope to hear back…but, probably won’t.
“…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
Here is the link…should you choose to click on it.
http://www.zodiackiller.com/Cheney2.html
There is question now as to whether the DNA was actually even Zodiac’s. A retired SFPD officer (not involved with the Zodiac case) says the analyst got if from the outside of the envelope. I have contacted "Dr. Holt" to confirm and hope to hear back…but, probably won’t.
(Rather than click on provided links I can just search out the thread using the sites search bar. When you know a good deal of code writers, and know a good deal about malicious code, you become far more weary of things that most would not even consider)
Jeez, so the DNA could have potentially come from from anyone who touched the outside of the envelope?
Did they not have more than a single zodiac DNA sample?
(I thought I read about them swabbing the folds of the letters for DNA, as well as the area of the envelopes where one would lick to seal them, and behind the stamps, and other potential areas. Do they only have a single potential zodiac DNA profile?
How many people were cleared by this potentially faulty DNA sample?
Is this also what Tom thought would put Arthur allen back into play as a suspect?
(Someone mentioned in another thread that Tom thought Arthur Leigh allen could again be a potential suspect as a result of this potential DNA folly, though I have not confirmed this)
I expressed my thoughts at Tom’s. Until we hear straight from Holt…I have my doubts. I can’t imagine LE clearing Allen, or bothering to test Cheney, etc., if the DNA was some random stuff found on the outside of an envelope.
“…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
A retired SFPD officer (not involved with the Zodiac case) says the analyst got if from the outside of the envelope.
Wait, I thought TV said he heard that from Holt? I guess I need to go read back through that.
I expressed my thoughts at Tom’s. Until we hear straight from Holt…I have my doubts. I can’t imagine LE clearing Allen, or bothering to test Cheney, etc., if the DNA was some random stuff found on the outside of an envelope.
Bummer, I really wish more thoughts could be expressed here as I am not familiar with Tom’s site.
I would not be surprised is the DNA sample was somehow invalid, it would be very fitting for this case.
Nothing surprises me.
But, law enforcement using DNA to dismiss people would. If that’s the case.
Obviously there are other factors involved in why they did drop certain suspects, but having read this…it sure seems DNA was (in part) a factor with Allen.
***
"Working with DNA evidence, San Francisco homicide inspectors believe they have cleared the only person police ever named as a suspect in the Zodiac killings that terrorized the Bay Area three decades ago.
Genetic traces from envelopes that contained the serial killer’s apocalyptic and police-taunting letters in the 1960s appear to have cleared a school teacher and child molester whom Vallejo police and others once identified as the Zodiac, according to inspectors Kelly Carroll and Michael Maloney.
…."Holt retrieved saliva traces beneath a stamp and was able to replicate a DNA sample large enough to test".
…"Inspectors Carroll and Maloney say the new DNA lab results eliminate Allen as the person who licked the envelopes and stamps from the confirmed Zodiac letters."
San Francisco Chronicle – October 15, 2002
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/DNA … 784268.php
(bolding mine)
“…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
That sounds like separate DNA testing from what TV is referring to done by the show.
They refer to Dr. Holt, and the timing appears to be right. ??
“…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
Thanks for this article. Mike Weiss was an excellent reporter, one of the best in the history of the Chronicle. It sounds like there may have been an informational break somewhere in the chain. Confusing at this point.
Tahoe,
I read on Tom V’s site your post that said the watch recovered from Cheri Jo’s crime scene was tested for DNA.
This is the first I’ve heard of this, do you have anymore info/details about this ??
Only what Ken Mains gave me. Some had mentioned the watch could be Cheri’s and he confirmed it was tested and it was definitely not hers. That’s all I got….sorry!
“…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
Only what Ken Mains gave me. Some had mentioned the watch could be Cheri’s and he confirmed it was tested and it was definitely not hers. That’s all I got….sorry!
Thanks Tahoe.
They refer to Dr. Holt, and the timing appears to be right. ??
Yeah, and it specifically says it was done by the SFPD. It seems TV’s info muddied the waters a bit since it’s about a different DNA test. That’s how I’m understanding this anyway.
They refer to Dr. Holt, and the timing appears to be right. ??
Yeah, and it specifically says it was done by the SFPD. It seems TV’s info muddied the waters a bit since it’s about a different DNA test. That’s how I’m understanding this anyway.
She did work for the SFPD.
“…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
