Ethan Allen Fresno Bee September 25, 1970

Ethan Allen Fresno Bee October 5, 1970

Doesn’t seem likely that this guy was ALA’s father.

He comments on local politics and whatnot, seemingly doing so as a local man, i.e. someone who actually lived in Fresno.

Anyway, if there are any letters from the guy post 1971, the matter is definitely settled – as ALA’s father died in that year (as mentioned above).

Guy writes frequently to the editor, uses the phrase "blue meanies" and calls himself Ethan Allen (same as ALA’s father). It’s zynchronicity – and a good one at that – but probably nothing more.

Oddly enough, the very last one I could find was October 5, 1970. Doesn’t seem to be any more from him at any date after. That was a LOT of letters to the editor in a short period of time from this guy. He must have REALLY liked being published. I also can’t find any prior to these I have posted so he seems to have only been in the paper from June 2, 1969 until October 5, 1970

Vasa, good find on these, and since it seems like he was a local guy, it may be a true case of zyncronicity. Still, there is not a single ETHAN ALLEN ever listed as living in Fresno County CA, with the exception of one guy who was born in 1888 and died in 1971,and I doubt he was writing letters in his 90s

For what it’s worth ALA’s father [Ethan Allen] died in March 1971. He was born in 1903.

For what it’s worth ALA’s father [Ethan Allen] died in March 1971. He was born in 1903.

Same month as the only Zodiac letters that year (LA Times & the Pines card) then nothing until Jan 1974. Also FWIW.

Anyone know if Ethan Allen was a big fight fan? The last article that this Ethan Allen wrote said he was a big fight fan…that would put to rest if it is ALA’s dad or not I would think.

No idea whether Allen’s old man was a boxing enthusiast. But as far as I know he did not live in Fresno (he lived in Vallejo with his wife – and his infamous son) – and that alone seems to rule him out here. The Ethan Allen who wrote these letters seems to have been a Fresno resident – everything points to this being the case.

The other guy was born in 1888, right? So, he would have been a bit over eighty at the time of writing these letters – that isn’t inconceivable, is it? Eighty year old right winger who loved his boxing and hated his hippies? It doesn’t seem too far fetched when you think about it.

No idea whether Allen’s old man was a boxing enthusiast. But as far as I know he did not live in Fresno (he lived in Vallejo with his wife – and his infamous son) – and that alone seems to rule him out here. The Ethan Allen who wrote these letters seems to have been a Fresno resident – everything points to this being the case.

The other guy was born in 1888, right? So, he would have been a bit over eighty at the time of writing these letters – that isn’t inconceivable, is it? Eighty year old right winger who loved his boxing and hated his hippies? It doesn’t seem too far fetched when you think about it.

Doesn’t seem far fetched at all to me. Though, far fetched and fact are a different story.

What if this was ALA’s dad?

Guess there is no way to prove it at this point.

This guy could have written to Fresno Bee claiming Fresno when it was actually just Fresno St..Can’t really know unless we have the envelope.

8/21/68 & 8/28/68 Were blurry, here are better copies, one that jumps out is written by a Jack Wayne Essex, he seems like somebody that might call himself, ZODIAC

Snooped a bit more about this Guy, Jack Wayne Essex. Can’t find much on him, but he was born in 1935 in San Bernardino

I would encourage members, to skim thru some of these letters to Editors of newspapers. There are some interesting letters. Let us know if you find any of interest,perhaps Zodiac wrote one of these letters using his real name

Al Cardwell is famous for writing letters to the Napa Register. He knew and was fond of Harry Martin, publisher of the Napa Sentinel. It was estimated that he wrote letters at least once a week to the Register, usually complaining about Government over-reach and the ennui of the passing of the "good old days" But there have been very strange letters written by killers to papers before, so it makes very good sense.
Napa papers should also be previewed.
I am going to see if I can make a donation for this effort.
I hope everyone can also help out.
This seems like a likely way to gather new, previously unlooked at evidence.

You may also want to look at Reporters. Vlado Taneski (Macedonian: Владо Танески; 1952 – June 23, 2008) was a Macedonian crime reporter and serial killer. A career journalist for over 20 years, Taneski was arrested in June 2008 in his hometown of Kičevo in western Macedonia for the murder of two women on whose death he had also written articles; when arrested he was also being investigated over the death of an additional woman. These articles on the murders had aroused the suspicion of the police, since they contained information which had not been released to the public. After DNA tests connected Taneski to the murders, he was arrested and imprisoned on 22 June 2008 and was found dead in his cell the following day, after an apparent suicide.

Now if Zodiac was a crime reporter, then he would have access to the investigation, as it happened.

Taneski came under suspicion for murder after having written articles about the murders of three women in Kičevo, Republic of Macedonia.

I believe there could be some similar pathos at work….And if the reporter was the killer, what better way to hide your trail then by sending a real cipher along with fakes, and purposely mis-spell words..
Manson wanted clues left that pointed to Black revolutionaries..
Does this make sense?

It may also serve us well to see letters to the editor of Napa Valley register. So far, we have SF Chron, Vallejo Times Herald. Are there any other big Bay area papers that Z may have wanted to write to? Anything in Alameda County, or Sacramento areas?

Apparently someone ( ) liked to write letters to "The Times" (San Mateo).

Here are Napa letters to the editor for July 1-15,1968, I will get more as time & $$ permits, it costs me about $25 per a months worth of these letters (I will load the pages tonight I hope time permitting)