Zodiac did not need to call LE after the Stine murder simply because LE was on scene almost immediately. There is the possibility that he never intended to make that phone call after killing Stine because he took a large piece of Paul’s shirt to use for proof.

LHR was the first attack in the Bay Area so perhaps Zodiac had not incorporated making a phone call into his routine yet. I find it ironic that in the two instances where Zodiac made the calls, one each of the victims survived.

What is your opinion on why the Zodiac never placed a phone call after the first and last crimes. If he lived in Vallejo/Benicia he had ample opportunity en route back from San Francisco and had an equal opportunity after Lake Herman Road. Do you think there was a specific reason or quite simply chose not to do so.

Good questions, never thought about them very much. I have always been suspicious of James Owen’s actions and statements, and he immediately went to work after passing the LHR scene(would be a great alibi if he turned out to be Z). If Owen turned out to be Z, could explain why he didn’t write after the LHR murders, since police were questioning him, had his guns, made him give multiple statements, rode with him in his car, etc. He may have felt he was suspected,again, if he turned out to be Z.

As for Stine, I think Z realized just how close he came to getting caught that night, and didn’t want to push his luck that night with a phone call. As for as we know, there was never any confirmed Z calls after Lake Berryessa

Zodiac did not need to call LE after the Stine murder simply because LE was on scene almost immediately.

Great point

I think the only reason he placed the calls was to make sure the crime was known as soon as possible. That was his game, for whatever reason. Perhaps knowing that his actions were noted – alarming and scaring people, setting the sirens off, so to speak –while he was still…I don’t know: In the zone, on the job, in Zodiac modus…perhaps this was important to him.

At PH he didn’t have to alert anyone, as T points out – he knew the cops were on it minutes after he left the scene.

LHR could be explained in two ways: Either he hadn’t incorporated this element – or he hung around, in one way or another. The cops were alerted quickly, thanks to Stella Borges passing so soon after Z left the scene. Perhaps he somehow managed to register that the deed had been discovered before he got to a public phone.

Possibly apart from the call to Oakland Police, I don’t think Zodiac made the calls (or set fire to Kathleen Johns’s car, if she was an intended victim specky-boy decided to let go). I think there were at least 2 people directly involved in each crime (sometimes 3; at least 1 always a cop) and that James Owen (of Humble Oil) was part of the ‘first’ murder (probably the lookout).

I think there were probably 13 in the elite Zodiac murder ring (the list-makers) all members of the Bohemian Club (‘Weaving spiders come not here’) and followers of Crowley. This is clear from the letters. (‘Orientem’ may be an adjective.)

I understood this message right away (though I’m always wrong about everything) and couldn’t see why LE – especially the FBI – didn’t. I’m afraid I can’t discuss my theory of motive at this time. And I really hope I’m wrong.

I was researching the murder of Bernard Oliver in 60s London, when I realised the Manson connection (sorry, but yes) stumbled on the Zodiac, and was instantly hooked.

From the mists of time…! I knew some Old Norse, Latin and Old English, as well as bits of ancient philosophy and Medieval literature. I was shocked when I clicked on TV’s website and saw the letters.

I know people want to think of the Zodiac as a single individual, but to me, everything suggests otherwise. Big time. I cannot (at least yet) give you the evidence I have, because my suspect is still very much alive. No one has, to my knowledge, ever suspected him (of involvement in these particular murders) but he always has the best lawyers his millions can buy.

Anything I say would be constructive identification. He is famous. I think he wrote the letters and murdered Paul Stine.

He was a friend of Ronald Reagan, if that helps anyone. Hollywood is a big part of this.

I have enough for a book now! I say that in pure frustration and irony. I have been bothering all the LE I could think of about this, for about 3 months. No one has replied. (I do believe they solved the cyphers at the time.)

I promise I am not tailoring my impressions of the evidence to fit a particular suspect. I have several others, some of whom are dead, and I just want to hang out and discuss the details of the case. If you’ll have me. You are wonderful, amazing people.
Anyway, I don’t think he made the calls. I don’t think ‘he’ left the area of the crime scenes.