If Zodiac knew Stine it would have been weird for him to get in the back.
Yep, I don’t think he knew him, just happened to be the guy unlucky enough to give Zodiac a ride.
According to Paul’s sister, Inspector Armstrong told her they had determined Zodiac sat in front. Not to mention Zodiac was only seen in the front, never in back. Seems pretty obvious to me Zodiac sat in front.
The map is easily explained.
The gunshot wound? Who says Zodiac didn’t already have his gun out and pointed when the cab was being parked? Perhaps Paul got suspicious.
The only way to truly know if Zodiac sat in front would be for someone at the pick-up location to have seen it happen.
If he was up front, he knew Paul. Otherwise, it would just be….weird.
“…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
Zodiac – "Hey buddy, can you pick me up at the corner of Mason and Geary around 9:30 or so? I’m going to need a ride."
Stine – "I can’t promise you, but if I’m in the area and available I will".
I’m not saying that’s what happened, I don’t think that’s what happened, I’m just saying it could happen.
That’s a fair point. But then Z runs the risk of someone else being privy to it.
Another patron in a bar overhearing him ask Stine, for example.
Don’t know why the conversation would have had to happen in a bar.
Or Stine telling his dispatcher, "Hey my friend Rich needs a ride tonight at 9:30, if you can work me over to Mason and Geary around then."
That is true, but most likely Stine wouldn’t have said anything.
Right, but hard to picture Z taking that chance.
Most of us started with the Yellow Book, which had Zodiac riding in the back. In reality, it was just speculation.
Had the Yellow Book placed Zodiac in the front seat for the ride, I seriously doubt anyone today would be insisting that no, Zodiac must have instead been in the back.
Paul Stine doesn’t really fit the pattern..although a definite Z crime it seems that Z didn’t know this victim well or at all.
1. Many cabs, no mobile phones..if Z had met Stine by purpose he had to arrange the meeting in advance (however: the crime was prearranged..Z took his scissors or knife to cut the shirt, an idea that usually would rather come up before than after shooting someone)
2. Agree that it’d been easier to shoot Stine from the back seat
3. Uncommon to sit on a cab’s passenger seat
4. Cab meter running: If Paul had known Z, he most likely wouldn’t have started the meter
Especially 4 makes me believe that Paul didn’t know Z.
Here is some analysis regarding the cab meter:
https://www.zodiacciphers.com/zodiac-ne … er-reading
(imo one error in it..’should be added’ should read ‘should be subtracted’ whatsoever..then fitting well to Mason/Geary)
QT
*ZODIACHRONOLOGY*
According to Paul’s sister, Inspector Armstrong told her they had determined Zodiac sat in front. Not to mention Zodiac was only seen in the front, never in back. Seems pretty obvious to me Zodiac sat in front.
How many witnesses observed the car before the shot? A shot occurs and Z is seen in the front, you know he didn’t get out the back and enter the front how?
The gunshot wound? Who says Zodiac didn’t already have his gun out and pointed when the cab was being parked? Perhaps Paul got suspicious.
Or perhaps Z sat in the back, pulled his gun out with Paul not seeing a thing and then shot him. Z then got out the rear passenger side, entered the front passenger side and is then observed by the kids?
<dimly-remembered information>
As I recall, there were witnesses who saw Z getting into Stine’s car. They said he was acting strangely and that he got into the back seat. I’m pretty sure I know who said/wrote this, but since I’m not 100% I’ll leave his name out of this.
</dimly-remembered information>
I hope someone else can recall the particulars and cite a source.
Zodiac was a screwup. He left behind five breathing victims, two survivors, bootprints, possibly fingerprints and palmprints, tiretracks, eyewitnesses, and earwitnesses. If the APB had gone out for a WMA he would have been locked up in ’69.
<dimly-remembered information>
As I recall, there were witnesses who saw Z getting into Stine’s car. They said he was acting strangely and that he got into the back seat. I’m pretty sure I know who said/wrote this, but since I’m not 100% I’ll leave his name out of this.
</dimly-remembered information>I hope someone else can recall the particulars and cite a source.
It sure would be interesting to learn where you have obtained this information.
<dimly-remembered information>
As I recall, there were witnesses who saw Z getting into Stine’s car. They said he was acting strangely and that he got into the back seat. I’m pretty sure I know who said/wrote this, but since I’m not 100% I’ll leave his name out of this.
</dimly-remembered information>I hope someone else can recall the particulars and cite a source.
It sure would be interesting to learn where you have obtained this information.
No clue where, but I recall reading a similar detail somewhere.
