According to Dean Ferrin and Lee, his employer, a ‘party’ was planned at Darlene’s home at 1300 Virginia Street.
This ‘party’ was, if at all, supposed to happen after Caesar’s Restaurant had closed; according to Dean and Lee. Both claimed, they had asked Darlene to get some fire-works for such party.
In fact, the opposite had happened:
– Darlene did NOT leave Ceasar’s to get home to her own party
– She did NOT buy any fire-works (none in her car)
– She did NOT drive home in time.
– She NOT even searched for fire-works or prepared anything (food, drinks) but went with her sister to Terry’s instead (there she spoke only with female colleagues); according to her sister Christina Suennen
– After that – even then – she did NOT continue to any party at her home (but met Mageau)
– Meanwhile, at 1300 Virginia Street, her husband and his employer show up, as if Lee was a good alibi. But, except for the baby-sitter, nobody else shows up for such party. Lee and Dean, however, state that they had been informed by police about her killing (which may or may not be true). A good reason for Lee to innocently accompany Dean to his home.
– No other guests present or arriving. And yes, that time there was no public internet to inform any guests either.
To me, this part of the police report sounds like a rock-solid lie. Never ever was there a party planned at Darlenes’ house; at least not by or with Darlene herself.
Now let’s get over to the ‘mysterious’ phone calls:
Aware that Z had called both, Arthur Ferrin at 930 Monterey as well as Darlene’s home at 1300 Virginia Street:
Imagine for a second that the killer had tried to reach Dean Ferrin to tell him that he ‘had done it‘: He calls Dean, even twice, but can’t speak a word. It is possible that he simply did not want to confess being a murderer, especially to a person he (potentially) had known very well. Or, same, if Lee had picked up the phone, on demand of Dean. Or with any other people being heard through the phone in the background – no words would have been spoken by the caller (which actually happened).
Same with the phone call at Arthur Ferrin’s:
Pretty hard to confess to the (own?) father. And no need to speak at all when actually trying to reach Dean instead.
But knowing both, of course, telephone numbers. No need to look up the Vallejo telephone register (was Arthur’s number in there at all?).
If Z had tried to reach Dean at 930 Monterey but instead his own father had picked up – definitely not the best time to speak about having committed this homicide.
Then, instead, trying to reach Dean at 1300 Virginia: Even if Z had given Dean some notice about the homicide: Dean not necessarily would (have to) tell, neither to Lee nor to the police later-on. For possibly some very good reasons. Instead, decades of silence.
Mysterious phone calls? Nope. Party at Darlene’s home with her delivering fire-works? Nope either.
The calls were made to confirm / let know that the murder (en lieu?) had successfully been committed.
QT
https://www.zodiackiller.com/DFR19.html
https://www.zodiacciphers.com/zodiac-ne … hone-calls
*ZODIACHRONOLOGY*
No time for Darlene to be at home and at BRS at the same time. No intention at all for having a party with Dean, either. She planned to meet Mageau, which she did, besides meeting her sister.
Many times below are approximate as they are not explicitly mentioned in the police report but rather like ‘five to ten minutes’. However, the order of the following events should be correct (e.g. that Z had arrived after the three cars had left):
7-4-1969 @ 04:00pm – Darlene calls Mageau to arrange a meeting at 07:30pm at his place to then go to ‘a movie to San Francisco that night‘ [Mageau]
7-4-1969 @ 08:00pm – Darlene calls Mageau again to let him know that she wouldn’t make it but had to go with her sister to the Miss Firecracker contest. According to Mageau, she told him she would call ‘as soon as she could, as soon as she was clear from this‘ (she in fact did so).
7-4-1969 @ 10:15pm [approx.] – According to Dean/Lee, Darlene had left Caesars together with her sister Christina.
7-4-1969 @ 10:30pm – Darlene calls Mageau a third time to let him know she would be over ‘shortly’.
7-4-1969 @ 10:45pm – Darlene and Christina drive to Terry’s, having a chat and most likely she left brought Christina home afterwards
7-4-1969 @ 11:30pm [approx.] – According to Dean/Lee, Dean had called her at this time. This, in fact, must have been shortly before she had left to see Mageau
7-4-1969 @ 11:35pm [11:30pm ‘or shortly thereafter‘] – Darlene arrives at Mageau’s place
7-4-1969 @ 11:42pm [approx.] – Darlene and Mageau turn around on Springs Road. Despite being hungry, they decide to not proceed to ‘Mr. Ed’s’ restaurant. Instead, they drive to the scene at Blue Rock Springs
7-4-1969 @ 11:45pm [approx.] – Officer Hoffman – if at all – checks the BRS parking lot with no motor vehicles / people there. The time given by himself was actually 11:55pm [’15 minutes’ before he had received the radio call]; however this statement must be incorrect. Otherwise the follow-on events could not have happened:
7-4-1969 @ 11:46pm [approx.] – Darlene and Mageau arrive at the scene
7-4-1969 @ 11:48pm [approx.] – Three cars pull into the parking lot (‘just a very short time, a few minutes‘)
7-4-1969 @ 11:50pm [approx.] – The three cars leave the parking lot in a ‘very short space of time‘ [thus both, arrival of the three cars after Darlene and Mageau had gotten there by themselves but also the time when they left again was short, after a ‘few minutes’, too)
7-4-1969 @ 11:52pm [approx.] – Zodiac arrives ‘about five minutes before the shooting occurred‘ but after the three cars. He stays for one minute, then leaves the scene – but he comes back.
7-4-1969 @ 11:53pm [approx.] – Zodiac leaves the couple after watching them for about one minute (‘oh, never mind‘).
7-4-1969 @ 11:58pm [approx.] – Zodiac returns after approximately five minutes.
7-4-1969 @ 11.59pm [approx.] – The shooting happens
7-5-1969 @ 12:06am [approx.] – Three witnesses find the scene after what ‘seemed to be eight to ten minutes‘ and, after a short conversation with Mageau, drove off to call the police (‘After finally ten minutes, the policemen came‘ [Mageau]).
7-5-1969 @ 12:10am – Nancy Slover receives a call from a ‘female citizen‘, one of the witnesses, reporting the crime. She passes the information on to radio operator F. Shook.
7-5-1969 @ 12:10am – Officer Hoffman receives a police radio call, claims to then having headed toward the scene.
7-5-1969 @ 12:10am – Crime report written by Lynch/Rust (time was correctly taken from the radio call as the beginning of the police operation..in fact they had arrived later than that – the police operation itself lastet until ~05.00 am).
7-5-1969 @ 12:12am [approx.] – Officer Hoffman is the first official arriving ‘five to ten minutes‘ after the witnesses had left the scene to call Nancy Slover. Hoffman immediately finds Darlene and interviews Mageau quickly who reported him a ‘brown‘ car, but lighter than the one of Darlene. Hoffman searches the scene, waiting for the ambulance and finds seven shell casings.
7-5-1969 @ 12:17am [approx.] – Sgt. Conway arrives
7-5-1969 @ 12:18am [approx.] – Officer Clark arrives
7-5-1969 @ 12:18am [approx.] – One of the (previous?) officers is sent back by Officer Hoffman to instruct Officers Meyring/Lindeman to (then) arrest the white male and white female for ‘felony‘ (Andy Nickolatos and Betty ..?). Their car is searched by Officers Meyring and Lindemann, the officer who was sent to them later returned to the scene.
7-5-1969 @ 12:20am [approx.] – Ambulance arrives at the scene
7-5-1969 @ 12:25am [approx.] – Mageau and Ferrin are both put into the ambulance.
7-5-1968 @ 12:30am [approx.] – After the ambulance had left, Officers Lynch/Rust/Ordiorne arrive at the scene.
7-5-1969 @ 12:38am – Ambulance arrives at Kaiser Hospital with Darlene being announced DOA. Michael Mageau is treated for his wounds.
7-5-1969 @ 12:40am – Nancy Slover receives a taunting call from Z. At this time, the crime had already been reported by the three witnesses.
7-5-1969 @ 01:00am [approx.] – Officer Hoffman is informed about this call and heads towards the Springs/Tuolomne phone booth. There, Officers Agenbroed and Pesch [?] await the ‘I.D.‘ technician to check the phone booth for prints.
7-5-1969 @ 02:45am – Darlene’s body is transferred to Twin Chapel
7-5-1969 @ 04:30am – Sgt Ed Rust’s time of (his) report
7-5-1969 @ 05:15am – Officer Hoffman starts to write his report
7-5-1969 @ 06:00am – Officer Hoffman notes time of his ‘Report written‘
7-5-1969 @ 09:00am – The father of Michael, Robert Mageau, gets informed about the shooting of his son; he then heads towards the hospital. He mentions Michael to be ‘together‘ with Darlene but not knowing how they got together. He confirmed that Darlene had called multiple times that day, asking for Michael.
7-5-1969 @ 09:30am – Darlene’s car is checked at the VPD garage.
7-5-1969 @ 03:00pm – Officer Hoffman interviews Mageau – now for the second time – at the hospital (Mageau sedated).
7-8-1969 – Nancy Slover is interviewed regarding Z’s call
7-8-1969 – Copy to DA office / Vehicle impounded at AAA (Waricher)
IMO it is very obvious that Darlene had a very exciting day, even before her murder. It also is obvious that she had not at all planned to spend time with Dean. According to Mageau, she wanted to meet him to go to the cinema – but was late. She excused herself, promised to call later-on, which she did. After having been to the Miss Firecracker contest – and even Caesars, Terry’s as well as her home – she still headed to see Mike Mageau. But, instead to join any 4th of July party of her ‘ex’, she left with him to some romantic lover’s lane / view over the fire-works.
At no time she had planned to have a party at 1300 Virginia Street.
The behaviour of Darlene is self-explaining, so is the one of Mageau. Mageau’s report is credible not only because he is a victim himself but also becaus his father had confirmed Darlene’s calls.
Opposite to this, Dean had only claimed that he had gotten informed by the police about her murder (where? at Caesars?). Also about a planned party at his home (with no guests?).
It very much looks like as if Darlene had not only planned to stay with Michael that evening but also had even left shortly after Dean’s call (argument?).
From early-on she had planned to see Michael Mageau. It therefore must be false information if anybody claimed that Dee had planned to search for fire-works and then return to party, at least if the ‘party’ was supposed to start before 12.30 am in the morning.
One of the two parties is obviously lying, either the (dead or injured) victims plus a father confirming that Darlene had actually called Michael multiple times – or a potentially jealous suspect #1 with sort of an ‘alibi’. IMO she certainly had no intention nor time to search for fire-works and return to such party (that had no other guests).
QT
*ZODIACHRONOLOGY*
Re ‘Mysterious phone calls’, Michael Butterfield‘s website says that;
…"Darlene’s younger brother Leo stated that he had placed these
telephone calls while attempting to find Darlene because he was in
search of marijuana and thought she could help him."
https://zodiackillerfacts.com/myths-leg … dd-walker/
I got to meet Leo in 2002, and he confirmed this when I asked him about it.
Don’t forget that Andy Nickolatos, Jr presumably passed by the parking spot, seeing Mageau on the ground, after the three witnesses had left, before Hoffman got there. Sadly, any details about him, his car, etc., are missing from the case files. You have to put him somewhere in the timeline. Probably one of the most important witnesses/testimony and it’s missing from the files 
Andy was mentioned above, thank you for his full name? Here is some stuff on Andy and his girlfriend Betty:
https://www.zodiacciphers.com/uploads/4 … y_orig.png
@Cremcraw
Regarding Leo: Does that mean he confirmed to you having made both calls, to Darlene as well as Ferrins home? Exactly, that he had tried to reach Darlene THAT night? But did not even ASK Dean or Mr. Ferrin if she was there? At the home of Mr. Ferrin, where she was not expected to be at all? On what occasion did he confirm and is it therefore you who being the source for the site previously mentioned Leo’s statement? Or did he just confirm that he had sometimes called Darlene for weed…that’d make some difference.
Some interesting detail:
"Dean Ferrin, stated that no one had ever believed that the calls were made by the killer"
Uhhh..but what IF? Or better question: HOW would Dean know who had called that night – if the person did not respond? But called at night, shortly after his wife’s HOMICIDE? Interesting that he was that sure the calls did not come from…
Isn’t it AMAZING how sure Dean had been about this [source?] That those calls were NOT from the killer of his soon-to-be divorced wife? While she never had the intention to join his party but went with Mageau for a romantic date, instead?
The SCHEDULE of Darlene was pretty tight: After having met Dean she went to Terry’s, then brought Christina home and headed to 1300 Virginia. There she presumably spoke with Dean on the phone, approx. 11:30 pm – we actually do not know if that is true at all. But it might very well be: She then left to Michael’s place (possibly already followed by her killer). From there they drove to Springs road, turned around, to BRS – the killer already following them. They meet some hippies, then Zodiac. She states: OH NEVER MIND. Why should she care about her husband’s brother if she didn’t care about Dean anymore, after all? Well, never mind. Five minutes later she got killed. Four locations in 25 minutes.
It’d have been very easy for Darlene’s killer to follow her from 1300 Virginia to BRS. Just a quick stop at Michael’s and he’d be there.
QT
*ZODIACHRONOLOGY*
Re ‘Mysterious phone calls’, Michael Butterfield‘s website says that;
…"Darlene’s younger brother Leo stated that he had placed these
telephone calls while attempting to find Darlene because he was in
search of marijuana and thought she could help him."
https://zodiackillerfacts.com/myths-leg … dd-walker/
Did that knowledge ever find it’s way into the police files or FBI files?
www.zodiachalloweencard.com has a 400 paged book for free containing the super solution with an overarching explanation of the cards and more.
That info originated with Voigt.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/zodiack … 1381#p1381
Leo lied to me about several things, and I simply no longer believe him. Like Darlene’s sisters, he tries to interject himself into the case at every chance.
QT
*ZODIACHRONOLOGY*
7-4-1969 @ 04:00pm – Darlene calls Mageau to arrange a meeting at 07:30pm at his place to then go to ‘a movie to San Francisco that night’ [Mageau]
Where was the movie being shown in SF?
Regarding Leo’s calls, he confirmed this to me face-to-face in 2002. He definitely called at least once on July 4th, 1969, according to him. I think he called multiple times, but I can’t say for sure. It’s been a long time.
This was at the anniversary gathering at Blue Rock Springs on July 4th, 2002.
I would not be surprised if the Zodiac called the families of his victims (much like the Golden State Killer did), although I don’t think he did in this case. My opinion only.
Regarding Leo’s calls, he confirmed this to me face-to-face in 2002. He definitely called at least once on July 4th, 1969, according to him. I think he called multiple times, but I can’t say for sure. It’s been a long time.
This was at the anniversary gathering at Blue Rock Springs on July 4th, 2002.
I would not be surprised if the Zodiac called the families of his victims (much like the Golden State Killer did), although I don’t think he did in this case. My opinion only.
Hi Cremcraw,,
Thanks for the update from Leo.
Zam*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If Zodiac ever joined a Z forum, I’m sure he would have been banned for not following forum rules. Zam’s/Quote
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MODERATOR
Cremcraw, regarding Pam’s statement about Riverside – do you believe them to be credible? thanks
QT
*ZODIACHRONOLOGY*
