And this…from the Stine thread:

I recently read this in regards to Criminal Investigation:

"Witnesses are often the key to solving crimes. They can provide eyewitness accounts, or they can provide leads that would be otherwise unavailable. However, such testimony is often unreliable, with the results of one study estimating that as many as 75 percent of the defendants eventually exonerated through the use of DNA evidence were wrongly convicted in the first place because of erroneous eyewitness testimony. Several states have passed legislation to create tougher standards for identifying suspects by witnesses, which is often considered on of the most problematic aspects of an investigation. Despite criticism and controversy regarding the value of eyewitness testimony, judges and juries accord significant weight to eyewitness evidence."

This type of thing was probably known by Toschi–not to mention the composite was so generic.

It certainly explains the discrepancies in the descriptions, but they do give us some general information. We know he was a white guy who had a husky build, who looked to be anywhere from 25 to 45 and had no real distinguishing features, except possibly for his gait. The fact that four or five people saw Stine’s killer that night and they apparently agreed that the composite roughly resembled what he looked like tells me that it must look somewhat like him. It just sucks that so many men look like that composite.

Sadly, this is not uncommon. Witnesses, especially under stressful circumstances, may not be accurate. Fouke was very specific in his description, down to the odd walk, and the widow’s peak hairline. Then again, if the guy seen by the girls at Berryessa was Z, that guy looks almost nothing like the Stine sketch,so maybe Z really looked someplace in between?

I posted the above as food for thought about all the witnesses and to show LE isn’t necessarily prone to more validity in their statements.

When it comes to Fouke, I can’t help but think of the above statement. All officers in the (above mentioned) test failed. Surely not all did at other times, but why did Fouke recall everything in such detail if he makes it sound like he was not paying attention to the guy simply because he was white?

I do agree the general description between the kids and Fouke is the same.

Weight NUMBER estimates should be taken with a grain of salt, but when someone says "stocky" or "heavy set" that makes sense.

Fouke seemed too accurate for me to completely believe his account. It sounded rehearsed, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he let his imagination get the better off him.

Fouke’s scratch or memo is problematic, no doubt. It shows up a month after Stine’s murder and it’s hard not to see it as being directly linked to what Z had to say about cops pulling a goof.

One thing I’ve been pondering, though, which may count in Fouke’s favor: Didn’t cops habitually carry a note pad/book back then? To me it seems plausible that Fouke made a note of what happened that night. He may have consulted his notes when writing up that memo.

Another thing is that whether his description is suspiciously detailed or not really depends on precisely what took place. If he simply drove past the guy and threw a glance at him, viewing him in profile and from behind (as he went up the stairs to the house), then yes – the amount of detail is perhaps remarkable. But if he actually stopped him (can of worms, I know) or at least slowed down and observed him (less controversial), then that changes things.

It certainly explains the discrepancies in the descriptions, but they do give us some general information. We know he was a white guy who had a husky build, who looked to be anywhere from 25 to 45 and had no real distinguishing features, except possibly for his gait. The fact that four or five people saw Stine’s killer that night and they apparently agreed that the composite roughly resembled what he looked like tells me that it must look somewhat like him. It just sucks that so many men look like that composite.

I think it’s a little telling that last part of what you said. I’m not saying that all witnesses saw a different guy who just happened to look pretty similar, but the fact that so many men can fit that composite can conclude at how ambiguous and ‘general’ the sketch is. Given the information from the OP, it makes me wonder how similar Z may actually have looked to the sketch.

It’s an exaggeration to say that the Napa description is nothing like the SF one, lol.

They both describe a tall, heavyset guy with brown hair.

It’s an exaggeration to say that the Napa description is nothing like the SF one, lol.

They both describe a tall, heavyset guy with brown hair.

Except Napa is dark brown and combed and others said differently. Mike said light brown almost blonde and curly. Fouke mentioned Reddish with possibly graying in rear he said it could have been the lighting (or hey, maybe it was in blond) – hair dye and wigs aside.

Well, to be fair, one can style their hair differently in a matter of hours.

Lighting probably influenced the witnesses reports of Zodiac’s hair colour to a great degree. The Napa description was the only one that was made in broad daylight.

…and you can vary your weight as well. Just think Robert De Niro in "Raging Bull".

Wouldn’t it be fairly easy for someone to simply draw a widow’s peak on their forehead using makeup such as an eyebrow pencil?

Wouldn’t it be fairly easy for someone to simply draw a widow’s peak on their forehead using makeup such as an eyebrow pencil?

Probably so.

-glurk

LOL and that is just exactly the type of thing Zodiac would think to do imo!