So, I have been researching a particular aspect of the Zodiac case. I’m not done and don’t yet have all the information and details gathered to share, but I hope to soon. Nevertheless, my research led me to speak with a woman who shared her own Zodiac story. I was talking to her for a completely unrelated reason, but I happened to mention Zodiac and she said, "Well, I believe I encountered him at Lake Berryessa." I am going to recount her story below. I am not willing to share her name so we will call her "Barb".
On Labor Day Monday of 1970, Barb, her husband, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law had gone to what she called "Steele Park" which I believe is on the south shore of Lake Berryessa also known as Steele Canyon. The four had gone there to fish and hang out. At the time, Barb was two months pregnant and began to feel ill. She told her husband that she was going to drive home. Her husband told her that the roads were winding and could be confusing. He was worried she would get lost. Barb left in her little sports car and headed south on Steele Canyon Road to 121 and on to Napa. She was looking for the intersection that she called "Four Corners" (which I took to mean the intersection of Steele Canyon Road, 128 and 121. Unfortunately, she ended up getting lost as her husband predicted. She backtracked to return to where her family was fishing at Steele Park. As she turned around, she saw a man driving what she described as a "grey or tin colored, two-door Ford Galaxy". The man was wearing what looked like nylon pantyhose over his head and face. At first, she thought that was unusual, but figured, well, it’s California. Suddenly, he pulled up behind her and began tailgating her and honking his horn and flashing his lights. Terrified, she floored it back to Steele Park with the Ford Galaxy in close pursuit. When she reached the area where her husband was fishing, she stopped and ran from the car up a nearby hill screaming. Her husband and her brother-in-law, hearing her screams from the lakeside, ran up the opposite side of the hill and met her at the top. Barb didn’t stop and kept running in panic. Her husband and brother-in-law looked and saw the masked man getting out of his car to pursue Barb. Her husband told his brother to "get the gun". Upon hearing this, the masked man stopped and returned to his vehicle and fled at high speed.
Barb, completely freaked out at this point, kept running far into the woods. Eventually, she heard her husband calling after her and returned to the lakeside. The ranger station was contacted and two park rangers responded. When Barb saw the uniformed men approaching, she freaked out again and had to be calmed down by her husband. They were taken to the park office and spent the next four hours being questioned by Napa Sherriff’s and CHP. Barb told me that they set up roadblocks in the area, but nothing ever came of it. She said that a police report exists – most likely with Napa County SO or CHP.
I asked if she had a physical description and she told me that no, she only saw his nylon covered head and never looked back after running from her car. She didn’t even know the man had gotten out to pursue her on foot until her husband told her later. She has never been back to the lake and says she gets anxious any time anyone mentions going up there.
I know there are a lot of kooks and crackpots always looking to make up fanciful stories, but I believe this woman. She had no reason to make this story up and lie to me. Furthermore, she was quite detailed. It also fits some other possible Zodiac behavior (harassing people in his car, etc.) Also, it’s quite possible this had nothing to do with Zodiac and was some random bad guy. Either way, I thought I’d share.
I’m planning on doing a public records request and follow up on this. I will let you know what I learn.
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
Sounds kind of remote. On Labor Day Berryessa would have been packed.
Interesting Chaucer, thanks for sharing.
…a "grey or tin colored, two-door Ford Galaxy".
Minor point, the correct designation would be ‘Galaxie’ ;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Galaxie
Concievably, an early 60’s Impala could be mistaken for a 1963, 1964 Galaxie;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Impala
U.S. Labour day 1970 (a Federal holiday) fell on Monday 7th September 1970, according to here;
https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/cu … df=1&hol=1
I asked her if it was an Impala and she said it definitely was not because she drove a Chevy and “was a Chevy person”. She believed it to be a Ford.
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
I thought you said she drove a sports car.
I thought you said she drove a sports car.
Yes, that’s what she said. Why?
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
I thought you said she drove a sports car.
Yes, that’s what she said. Why?
‘Why’ is because it sounds like the story’s falling apart for at least a couple reasons.
It would be good to find out if there’s a police report on record.
I thought you said she drove a sports car.
Yes, that’s what she said. Why?
‘Why’ is because it sounds like the story’s falling apart for at least a couple reasons.
It would be good to find out if there’s a police report on record.
I’m not seeing how? Can you elaborate?
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The two red flags for me would be:
Labor Day, along with the 4th of July, would have been the busiest day of the year at Lake Berryessa, which would include the local roads entering and exiting the area. The description makes it sound like they were the only two cars on the road, and that there was essentially no one around when she had to flee into the woods.
She said she knew a Ford because by contrast she drove a Chevy — yet the story has her leaving LB in her little sports car, which wouldn’t have been a Chevy.
The two red flags for me would be:
Labor Day, along with the 4th of July, would have been the busiest day of the year at Lake Berryessa, which would include the local roads entering and exiting the area. The description makes it sound like they were the only two cars on the road, and that there was essentially no one around when she had to flee into the woods.
She said she knew a Ford because by contrast she drove a Chevy — yet the story has her leaving LB in her little sports car, which wouldn’t have been a Chevy.
Well, neither she nor I said her sports car was “little”. Also, you’re implying that Chevrolet didn’t have sports cars which is simply not accurate. Chevy had the Corvette which is perhaps the most iconic American sports car.
Regarding the crowds at the lake, I don’t think there is anyway to know. That lake is big.
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
"Barb left in her little sports car"
LB was a Labor Day destination. If you want to dispute that, or the double story with the Chevy, go for it. But why not look up the incident and see if it’s on record.
EDIT
Chaucer, you’ll notice that the 1965, 1966, 1967 Galaxies had vertically stacked double
headlights, the years before and after this had horizontal double headlights. Maybe ask
her if she remembers how many headlights the chase car had, how they were arranged?
(Notice the use of, at least initially, non-leading questions.)
There are small hills between the road into Steele Canyon (Park) and the lakeshore;
https://goo.gl/maps/x8s3yFv21EFLKDQm7
which is in agreement with her story.
The area you believe to be ‘Four Corners’ is most easily found in Google Maps by inputting
‘Moskowite Corner’.
————-
N.B. Not particularly relevant to your story:
I remember reading about how serial killer Roger Kibbe placed a body in a creekbed at
Lake Berryessa, as related here;
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2011/07/14 … ek-murder/
– what stuck with me from that story was the offhand mention of another found body part
that was not matched to anything Roger Kibbe did – you’d think that "a Wallabee boot
containing parts of a foot, found at the north end of the lake in November 1977" would be
an easy factoid to find on NAMUS for Napa County (Berryessa) 1977, but there’s nothing
about that particular unidentifed persons’ remains to be found in NAMUS – either the
identity got found and NAMUS doesn’t return search results for solved cases, or the LE or
Coroners Office never input the facts of that body part case into NAMUS… and that
evidence is just sitting on an evidence shelf somewhere!?
Cheers
Hmm. Now you’ve turned ‘little sports car’ into a Chevy Nova to fit the narrative.
As far as ‘quick to judge’ — the poster laid out a scenario for us to review. In doing so I’m seeing red flags, and the alleged incident needs corroboration.
Others’ mileage may vary!
FYI; Donna Lass disappeared, same day/year, September 7 Labor Day (some reports says it was September 6th)
Hi, english is not my first language so please bear with me 
