Let’s just assume for a minute that YOU are The Zodiac. Put yourself in his shoes.
You love being in the papers, you love being in the spotlight, you love "needling the blue pigs".
After your "reign of terror", you see that LE is getting nowhere close to figuring out who you are and solving the case…what would you do?
If it was me, I’d go get a safe deposit box, place a letter in it saying, "This is The Zodiac speaking, if you are reading this, then I am dead. You never came close to catching me, I told you I was crack-proof. Hey blue pigs, how does it feel to have your nose rubbed in your boo-boos"
I’d then go on to give information about each and every crime I committed, and go into great detail about them, leaving no doubt, that I was the culprit.
Also in the safe deposit box, I’d place even more proof that I was indeed the killer eg; the hood, more of paul stines shirt or his drivers license.
I’d also include the keys to the other ciphers.
I would then make a will, and give someone access to that safe deposit box at my death, and tell them that my last wish is that all this be made public.
I’d would be my FINAL HURRAH!! My final moment in the spotlight.
Now, with that said…what are the chances he really did that? What are the chances he’s still alive, and in just a few more years, all of this may come to pass?
HMPF PF HMZ ΦXℲPGƎ FԀZG/POR!
Very interesting thought.
Pure evil psychopath with no remorse who will take his secret to his grave, hopefully already has. A blood lust murderer who once enjoyed the fame realised he was hot to be caught if he kept up the notoriety. Unless he died in an accident or disease he would have kept on killing for the thrill. Point in case for a pure psychopath Australian Derek Percy. MHRIH
i dunno, i think the only way you become "legendary" is to never be discovered. i think that would be important to someone of the "murdering and writing letters" psychological profile.
I don’t know if Zodiac was actually a psychopath though…? I know…a lot of you are thinking….what? 
It seems to me with his need for notoriety, he would want people to one day to know who he actually was. "You" don’t receive notoriety if people don’t know who "you" were. I think he would eventually WANT people to know who he was and that he was right there under their noses.
It would be interesting to know if someone like BTK would have done this.
“…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
I think that during his killing spree, he didn’t care one way or the other, whether he was caught / identified or not. He got what he wanted either way. I can see him wanting, perhaps later in life, to be known. I am at odds on whether or not he actually would have left something behind (assuming he has passed). What I wonder though, should he have left something behind, would the family/friend have turned it over? That would be a pretty tough thing to do when it would ultimately come down to your knowledge or connection to this "killer" that people will see. Its been over 40 years. Wouldn’t they be more inclined to let it stay buried?
Soze
In addition…..I think the Zodiac was as sane as they come. He knew right from wrong and don’t think he ever stepped into a doctors for anything other than natural ailments and light depression.
Soze
I have always thought there is a lawyer out there with some sort of package to be opened upon the passing of his client that will reveal all.
At least I hope so.
I don’t know if Zodiac was actually a psychopath though…? I know…a lot of you are thinking….what?
It seems to me with his need for notoriety, he would want people to one day to know who he actually was. "You" don’t receive notoriety if people don’t know who "you" were. I think he would eventually WANT people to know who he was and that he was right there under their noses.
It would be interesting to know if someone like BTK would have done this.
Exactly! Tahoe and I are on the same page here. Zodiac LOVED to brag, even taking credit for crimes he didn’t commit. This would be another way of bragging, "Hey blue pig, you caught Ted Bundy, you caught Gary Ridgway, you caught Dennis Rader, you caught Richard Ramirez…but you didn’t catch me! So now in my death, I shall finally give you my identity."
I think that during his killing spree, he didn’t care one way or the other, whether he was caught / identified or not. He got what he wanted either way. I can see him wanting, perhaps later in life, to be known. I am at odds on whether or not he actually would have left something behind (assuming he has passed). What I wonder though, should he have left something behind, would the family/friend have turned it over? That would be a pretty tough thing to do when it would ultimately come down to your knowledge or connection to this "killer" that people will see. Its been over 40 years. Wouldn’t they be more inclined to let it stay buried?
Soze
Wouldn’t have to be a family member or friend. Could be a lawyer like Dick Castle said above…or even, lets say "To The Editor" of the San Francisco Chronicle, whoever that may be, at his death. Now that would be FRUNT PAGE NEWS!
HMPF PF HMZ ΦXℲPGƎ FԀZG/POR!
I think the odds are at least 50/50 that you are right or better and I have often thought exactly as you in this regard.
I think that during his killing spree, he didn’t care one way or the other, whether he was caught / identified or not. He got what he wanted either way. I can see him wanting, perhaps later in life, to be known. I am at odds on whether or not he actually would have left something behind (assuming he has passed). What I wonder though, should he have left something behind, would the family/friend have turned it over? That would be a pretty tough thing to do when it would ultimately come down to your knowledge or connection to this "killer" that people will see. Its been over 40 years. Wouldn’t they be more inclined to let it stay buried?
Soze
I don’t know Soze. Some people seem to get off thinking their Uncle, Dad, brother cousin, etc. could have been Zodiac.
“…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
Enigma, I think he may have actually done some of what you describe in 2000-2001 on zodiackiller.com, going by the nickname of "Oscar."
I don’t know Soze. Some people seem to get off thinking their Uncle, Dad, brother cousin, etc. could have been Zodiac.
Only if they hate them, really. I’ve yet to hear any of these types say "Yeah, Dad was like Robert Young from "Father Knows Best" except for his hobby of putting on a pair of horned rim glasses and shooting people after dinner."
The average person doesn’t want that kind of scrutiny on a family, even if dad, uncle brother was a total knob. Would Zodiac have been able to mask his abnormal view of life from an actual family? Like Herb Baumeister?
But I also find it interesting that most of the "traditional" Zodiac suspects aren’t exactly family men.
He could have disposed of "evidence" as my poi did sometime in the early 1980’s. My guy came to visit me in southern Calif. from the bay area where he was living at the time. He wanted to see the home I’d purchased and help me with any repairs. I do remember when he was working in the yard, he had the elastic band that held his glasses on and that when he’d finished, he said something to the effect that he’d just leave it here with me as I might have the need for such an item! I kept it for awhile before throwing it in the trash as the elastic was totally stretched.
I remember thinking this was kind of an odd thing for him to do since he had this when we met in 1970 and he usually wore it when we were out bicycle riding or motorcycle riding or skiing. I’m sure I told him or asked him if he didn’t think he’d regret leaving it here the next time he was out on his bicycle or motorcycle and he told me not to worry as he could always get another one and he was thinking of me and wanted me to have it.
If Zodiac really left a letter with a lawyer as some surmise, imo it could be in another state (other than Calif.). Like my guy, there are millions of people living here from other states. My guy was born in one state, attended college in another state nearby, and then went to graduate school at UC Berkeley. He loved California so much, he ended up living here but has traveled extensively throughout the USA in connection with his jobs and then for pleasure. He also has a couple of close friends or had close friends who were pretty successful lawyers!
Enigma, I think he may have actually done some of what you describe in 2000-2001 on zodiackiller.com, going by the nickname of "Oscar."
I’m over there reading some of that now. Thanks Drew.
HMPF PF HMZ ΦXℲPGƎ FԀZG/POR!
