TikToker Finally Solves Zodiac Case After 50 years?!

Summary

The script delves into the chilling story of the Zodiac Killer, America's notorious unidentified serial murderer from the late 1960s. Known for taunting police with cryptic letters and ciphers, the Zodiac claimed over 30 victims, creating widespread fear. The narrative explores the killer's modus operandi, including the murder of young couples, his communication with authorities, and the intense manhunt involving thousands of suspects. Despite extensive investigations, the Zodiac's identity remains a mystery, leaving behind a legacy of terror and intrigue.

Takeaways

• 🗓️ The Zodiac Killer's terror spanned from December 1968 to January 1974, with the first victims being a young couple, David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen, shot dead on December 20th, 1968.
• 🔍 The killer's identity remains unknown, despite over 2500 suspects and multiple theories, including three prominent suspects: Arthur Leigh Allen, Gary Francis Post, and Erol van Best Jr.
• 📝 The Zodiac taunted police and the public with letters and ciphers, claiming over 30 victims and demanding attention, which contributed to his notoriety.
• 🚔 The police were often one step behind, with the Zodiac sending detailed accounts of his crimes and even mocking them for their inability to catch him.
• 🔑 The Zodiac's letters included coded messages, one of which was cracked by amateur investigators revealing his chilling enjoyment of killing.
• 👥 The killer targeted young couples in secluded areas, often under the guise of a police officer or other authority figure, and displayed a preference for killing at night.
• 🔮 The case involved a complex web of ciphers, symbols, and threats, including a threat to attack a school bus, which heightened public fear and police scrutiny.
• 🏹 The Zodiac's choice of weapon was a gun, and he was known to shoot his victims multiple times, often ensuring their deaths by shooting them in the head or chest.
• 🏰 The killer's final confirmed victim was a taxi driver, Paul Stine, who was shot in San Francisco, and whose murder was also claimed by the Zodiac in a letter to the press.
• ✉️ The Zodiac's last known communication was a letter sent in 1974, after which he disappeared, leaving behind an enduring mystery and a legacy of fear.

Q & A

What was the Zodiac Killer's motive for targeting school children?

The Zodiac Killer expressed a chilling desire to target school children in a letter, suggesting that he would 'wipe out a school bus' by shooting out the front tire and then picking off the children. The motive behind this was not explicitly stated, but it reflects the killer's sadistic enjoyment of causing fear and chaos.

How did the Zodiac Killer communicate with the authorities?

The Zodiac Killer communicated with the authorities by sending letters to newspapers and police stations, often including cryptic messages and ciphers. He would detail his crimes and threaten further violence if his demands, such as the publication of his ciphers, were not met.

What was the significance of the ciphers sent by the Zodiac Killer?

The ciphers sent by the Zodiac Killer were part of his modus operandi to taunt the authorities and the public. He claimed that they contained his identity, and solving them was crucial to understanding who he was. One of the ciphers was eventually solved and revealed a message expressing his enjoyment of killing and his belief in being reborn in paradise with those he killed as his slaves.

How many victims did the Zodiac Killer claim to have killed?

In his final letter, the Zodiac Killer claimed to have killed 37 people, which he referred to as 'me 37, San Francisco police zero,' indicating his perceived victory over the police.

Who were the first known victims of the Zodiac Killer?

The first known victims of the Zodiac Killer were David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen, a young couple who were shot on December 20th, 1968, near Lover's Lane.

What was the Zodiac Killer's signature symbol?

The Zodiac Killer's signature symbol was a circle with a cross through it, resembling the sights of a rifle. He used this symbol in his letters and claimed it represented his identity.

Why was the Zodiac Killer never caught?

The Zodiac Killer was never caught due to a combination of factors including the lack of advanced forensic technology at the time, the intentional planting of false evidence by the killer, and the large number of false leads and public interference. Additionally, the killer's careful concealment of his identity and his ability to avoid leaving traceable evidence contributed to the case remaining unsolved.

What are the three most prominent suspects believed to be the Zodiac Killer?

The three most prominent suspects believed to be the Zodiac Killer are Arthur Leigh Allen, Gary Francis Post, and Erol van Best Jr. Each had certain characteristics or evidence linking them to the crimes, but none were conclusively proven to be the killer.

How did the Zodiac Killer's communication style evolve over time?

Initially, the Zodiac Killer's communication was focused on detailing his crimes and taunting the police with ciphers. Over time, his messages became more erratic and threatening, with an increasing focus on his desire for attention and his anger towards the police. His later letters included nonsensical ciphers, strange poems, and drawings, indicating a shift towards more erratic and less informative communication.

What was the impact of the Zodiac Killer's threats on the community?

The Zodiac Killer's threats had a profound impact on the community, causing widespread fear and panic. Parents were afraid to let their children go to school, and there were discussions about halting school buses. The killer's letters and threats dominated the news and the public's consciousness, leading to a climate of unease and a heightened sense of danger.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 The Emergence of the Zodiac Killer

The script begins with a chilling setting on October 17th, 1969, where children are afraid to go to school due to the threat of a serial killer. The narrative introduces the Zodiac Killer, a notorious figure who terrorized the US, claiming over 30 victims. The killer's modus operandi included taunting the police with letters and ciphers, and the case remains unsolved after 50 years. The video promises to delve into the investigation of the Zodiac Killer, starting with the first known victims, David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen, murdered on December 20th, 1968. The police initially considered the crime a drug-related or robbery gone wrong incident, unaware it was the beginning of a series of murders by the infamous Zodiac Killer.

05:00

📜 The Zodiac's Communication and Ciphers

Paragraph 2 details the Zodiac Killer's communication with the press and police, beginning with a phone call claiming responsibility for a double murder. The killer sent letters to newspapers with specific details of the murders, proving his involvement. Included in one of the letters was a cipher, which the killer claimed would reveal his identity if solved. Despite the police's efforts and a public appeal for help, the cipher remained unsolved. The Zodiac Killer's letters included threats of further violence if his demands were not met, and he introduced himself with a symbol resembling a rifle's crosshairs. The paragraph ends with a call to action for viewers to subscribe to the channel for more in-depth coverage of the case.

10:02

🗡️ The Zodiac's Continued Violence and Taunting

Paragraph 3 describes the Zodiac Killer's next attacks, focusing on the brutal stabbing of Cecilia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell near Lake Berryessa. The killer, now donning a black hood and wearing the Zodiac symbol, initially deceives his victims by claiming to be an escaped convict. After tying up the couple, he proceeds to stab them repeatedly. The Zodiac then leaves a taunting message on the car and calls the police from a nearby booth, boasting about his latest murders. The paragraph highlights the killer's growing boldness and the police's increasing helplessness in the face of his crimes.

15:05

🚔 The Zodiac's Media Manipulation and Intensifying Threats

Paragraph 4 delves into the Zodiac Killer's psychological warfare with the public and authorities. He sends letters to the press, threatening more violence and even mass murder if he feels ignored. The killer's letters become increasingly erratic, with nonsensical ciphers and taunts aimed at the police. The paragraph also discusses the public's reaction to the Zodiac's threats, with parents keeping their children from school and the police under immense pressure to apprehend the killer. The Zodiac's final known communication is a letter sent in 1974, hinting at his final victim count and ending his correspondence with a chilling ultimatum.

20:05

🕵️‍♂️ The Suspects and the Zodiac's Enduring Mystery

The final paragraph discusses the challenges in identifying the Zodiac Killer, despite numerous suspects and theories. Three main suspects are highlighted: Arthur Leigh Allen, Gary Francis Post, and Erol van Best Jr. Each is linked to the case through physical evidence, behavioral traits, or circumstantial connections. However, no concrete evidence definitively connects any of them to the Zodiac's crimes. The paragraph concludes with the likelihood that the Zodiac's identity may never be revealed, leaving behind a legacy of terror, enigmatic messages, and an unsolved mystery that continues to captivate and horrify.

Keywords

💡Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac Killer was an unidentified serial killer that operated in Northern California during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The killer is known for sending taunting letters to the local press and police, some of which included cryptograms or ciphers. In the script, the Zodiac Killer is described as a mysterious figure who claimed over 30 victims and played a twisted game with the police and media, sending them coded messages and threatening letters.

💡Serial Killer

A serial killer is someone who murders three or more people, typically over a period of more than thirty days, with a 'cooling-off' period between each murder. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the Zodiac Killer's modus operandi, who terrorized Northern California with a series of seemingly unrelated murders, often targeting young couples.

💡Cipher

A cipher is a method of transforming a text or message into a coded one, which cannot be understood without the cipher's key. In the video script, the Zodiac Killer sends cryptic ciphers to newspapers, challenging the police and public to decipher them to reveal his identity. The ciphers are integral to the mystery surrounding the killer, as they represent a direct communication from him and are believed to contain hidden messages.

💡Cryptic Message

A cryptic message is a communication that is intentionally difficult to understand, often containing hidden meanings or requiring special knowledge to interpret. The script mentions the Zodiac Killer's cryptic messages, which were part of his psychological warfare with the police and public. These messages were designed to taunt, confuse, and keep the killer in the public eye.

💡Taunting Letters

Taunting letters are messages sent by a criminal to law enforcement or the media, often to boast about their crimes or to challenge them to catch the perpetrator. The Zodiac Killer is infamous for sending such letters, which included details of his murders and threats of future violence, as mentioned in the script where he claims he will 'wipe out a school bus'.

💡Mystery

Mystery, in the context of the video, refers to the unsolved nature of the Zodiac Killer's identity and the crimes he committed. Despite numerous investigations and suspects, the Zodiac Killer was never identified, and his true motives and identity remain a mystery, as highlighted by the script's discussion of the enduring enigma surrounding the case.

💡Suspect

A suspect is a person who is thought to have committed a crime. The script explores various suspects who were considered potential Zodiac Killers, including Arthur Leigh Allen, Gary Francis Poste, and Erol van Best Jr. Each was linked to the crimes through different pieces of evidence or circumstances, but none were conclusively proven to be the killer.

💡Psychological Warfare

Psychological warfare involves the use of psychological manipulation to intimidate or demoralize adversaries. The Zodiac Killer engaged in psychological warfare by sending cryptic messages and threats, creating fear and uncertainty among the public and challenging the police's ability to protect and catch him, as described in the script.

💡Egotistic Narcissistic Psychopathic

These terms describe personality traits often associated with the Zodiac Killer based on his letters and behavior. 'Egotistic' refers to excessive self-importance, 'narcissistic' implies a deep self-admiration and lack of empathy, and 'psychopathic' suggests a lack of remorse or empathy, often associated with criminal behavior. The script uses these terms to characterize the Zodiac Killer's personality, as inferred from his communications and actions.

💡Unsolved Case

An unsolved case is a criminal investigation that has not reached a conclusion or identified the perpetrator. The Zodiac Killer case is highlighted in the script as one of the most infamous unsolved cases in history, with the killer's identity and motives remaining unknown despite extensive investigations.

💡Public Panic

Public panic refers to widespread fear or anxiety among the general population, often in response to a perceived threat. The script describes how the Zodiac Killer's threats and murders led to public panic in San Francisco, with parents keeping their children from school and the police under immense pressure to apprehend the killer.

Highlights

October 17th, 1969, children fear going to school due to a serial killer threat.

The Zodiac Killer is named as America's most notorious serial killer, claiming over 30 victims.

The Zodiac Killer's chilling letter to the press includes a cipher that he claims is the key to his identity.

December 20th, 1968, marks the first known Zodiac murder with the slaying of a young couple.

The Zodiac Killer's first communication with the police includes a call reporting a double murder.

A surviving victim provides the first description of the Zodiac, including his physical appearance.

The Zodiac Killer's letters to newspapers include detailed accounts of his murders and threats of further violence.

The Zodiac's cipher is partially solved, revealing his twisted philosophy and desire for notoriety.

The Zodiac's attacks continue with the brutal stabbing of a young couple, marking a change in his modus operandi.

The Zodiac's threat to attack a school bus causes widespread panic and fear among the public.

The Zodiac Killer's correspondence with the press escalates, with increasingly angry and taunting letters.

The Zodiac's final confirmed victim is a taxi driver, murdered in broad daylight in San Francisco.

The Zodiac Killer's final letter includes a chilling poem and a final score of his perceived 'win' over the police.

Over 2500 suspects have been considered in the Zodiac case, with three main suspects emerging.

Arthur Leigh Allen is the most widely accepted suspect, with physical evidence and behavior matching the Zodiac's profile.

Gary Francis Poste is connected to the Zodiac through physical similarities and a military watch with the Zodiac symbol.

Erol van Best Jr. is suspected by his own son, but with questionable evidence due to his alibi in Europe during the crimes.

The Zodiac Killer's identity remains unknown, with the case marred by false leads and poor police work.

The enduring mystery of the Zodiac Killer leaves behind a dark legend and a bloody trail.

Transcripts

October 17th

1969 7 a.m. there's a sharp chill in the

air the streets empty many children are

at home fearing to go out and get on the

school bus because of a serial killer

they've all seen the news they all know

the threat made just 3 days ago school

children make nice targets I think I

shall wipe out a school bass some

morning just shut out the front tire and

then pick of their kitties as they come

bouncing out for the past year one name

has been haunting the minds of every

person in the US the Zodiac I like

killing people because it is so much fun

because man is the most dangerous animal

the best part of it is that when I die I

will be reborn in paradise and all the

people I have killed will become my

slaves these haunting words are only a

small glimpse into the mind of America's

most notorious ser IAL killer a man that

claimed over 30 victims a murderer that

toyed with the police sent them

mysterious letters and coded ciphers a

case that had over

2500 suspects and has remained unsolved

for the last 50 years night fun today I

want to talk to you about the Zodiac

Killer many of you may have heard his

name because of the movie but this video

will surprise you far beyond that so if

you enjoy watching darker stories after

Nightfall subscribe to our Channel and

let's dive into this investigation let's

go back all the way to December 20th

1968 a car drives down the dark road

towards Lover's Lane inside our two

teenagers mly in love with each other

David Arthur faray and Betty Lou Jensen

they' known each other for just a few

weeks but love was blooming between them

the two had hoped for a quiet and

private evening little did they know

that's the last thing they would get as

soon as David's car pulls to a stop next

to the road another car is behind them

following them its headlights flash as

the driver pulls up the doors open and

out walks a complete stranger in the

middle of the night holding a pistol he

fires shot after shot riddling the car

with bullet hole and shooting David

directly in the head Betty Lou wasn't

much luckier thinking David was dead she

pushed herself out of the car and tried

to make a run for it but never stood a

chance she was found 10 M from the car

shot in the back five times the Zodiac

Killer had his first victims ever in the

following few days the local police

investigated this just like any other

murder they had no idea this would be a

beginning of a vicious cycle that would

shock them in the future it was assumed

that given the area and the teens's age

this was either a drug rated crime an

act of jealousy or a robbery gone wrong

they even suspected Betty's ex-boyfriend

or a couple of local Hunters who were

known to stalk the area at night but all

of them had an alibi nobody suspected

this would be the first in a long line

of murders of one of the most famous

serial killers of all time 6 months

later a similar scene happened another

young couple this time two students

Michael maau and his girlfriend Darlene

faren the two were sitting in a car

where they saw a man Point his

flashlight at them thinking he was

police the two pulled out their IDs only

to be met with a barrel of a gun as soon

as the man got close to them he shot

them five times then turned around and

headed for the car Michael however

wasn't dead yet as the killer heard him

moaning out in pain he turned around and

shot both his victims in the chest less

than an hour later the local police

station received a call from a phone

booth just a couple of blocks away and

the voice on the other side was as

chilling as it was calm he said I wish

to report a double murder if one of you

were to go a mile East on the Columbus

Parkway to a public park you will find

the kids in a brown car they've been

shot by a 9mm ler I also killed those

kids last year goodbye however the

police were already aware just minutes

after the shooting a couple of kids

found Michael and his girlfriend and

called 911 Darlene unfortunately did not

survive her injuries but Michael to a

big surprise did later on in the

hospital when regained Consciousness and

spoke to the police

he was able to recall some details of

the man that killed his girlfriend and

almost killed him he said he's about 5'8

or 5'9 stocky build brown hair he walks

with a limb Michael's description was

the first Glimpse anyone got of the

murderer and soon enough the police

would have a haunting name to connect

this description on the morning of

August 1st

1969 three newspapers had a chilling

front page cover it said dear editor

this is the murderer of the two

teenagers last Christmas at Lake Herman

and the girl on the fourth of July near

the golf course in maljo to prove I

killed them I shall State some facts

which only I and the police know the

letter would then go on to State the

exact details of the murders time place

the number of shots and the caliber of

the weapon used there was no doubt The

Man Behind the lad was behind the

murders as well but there's another part

of the

letter here is part of a cipher the

other two parts of this Cipher are being

mailed to the editors of the vjo times

and SF examiner I want you to print this

Cipher on the front page of your paper

the cipher is my identity if you do not

print this Cipher by the afternoon of

pry 1st of August 69 I will go on a kill

Rampage Friday night I will cruise

around all weekend killing lone people

in the night then move on to kill again

until I end up with a dozen people over

the weekend this is the cipher you're

looking at it right now it was a coded

message with all sorts of symbols hiding

the true meaning of the letter soon in

the video you'll know exactly what this

Cipher means and what the killer spoke

with it because as he himself said it

was the key to his identity all the

police had to do was solve it however

they really couldn't and no one could

really blame them for it this was

nonsense game invented and played by a

mad man with rules that only he was

aware of when the police reached out to

the public asking for help and hoping to

get a reaction from the killer he sent

yet another letter and this time he gave

the them a name let's read the letter

dear editor this is the Zodiac speaking

in answer to your asking for more

details about the good times I have had

in bjo I shall be very happy to supply

even more material by the way are the

police having a good time with the code

if not tell them to cheer up when they

crack it they will have it below this

letter was a symbol a circle with a

cross over it just like the sights of a

rifle so the Zodiac finally announced

himself he had a name he had a symbol

and he had the undivided attention of

both the public and the police the game

had officially begun H before we go back

to the video if you could please do me a

favor and subscribe to after Nightfall

right now I would appreciate it we are

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algorithm And subscribe right now thank

you so much a while later his encrypted

message would be solved by an unlikely

pair of sharpened creative amateur

investigators and the contents are

chilling this is exactly what

the coded message said I hope you are

having lots of fun trying to catch me

they are afraid of

death I am not afraid because I know

that my new life will be an easy one in

Paradise I like killing people because

it is so much fun it is more fun than

killing Wild game in the forest because

man is the most dangerous animal of all

to kill something gives me the most

thrilling experience

the best part of it is that when I die I

will be reborn in paradise and all the

people I have killed will become my

slaves what a crazy

letter after this letter the Zodiac

would become silent again at least for a

few months until September 27th when

zodiac would strike again Cecilia

Shephard and Brian harell would be next

on his list another young couple and

another romantic location they were

approached in the dead of night near the

lake barisa by a man claiming to be an

escaped convict he matched the Zodiac's

description perfectly yet now he had

created a costume for himself his face

was covered by a strange black hood

similar to what an executioner would

wear and his black clothes had a cinch

white symbol on them the zodiacs wi

cross her on the chest don't resist I'm

just going to take your car I won't hurt

you he assured them all they had to do

was to just sit down tie their hands and

let him pass in peace it is unclear why

the two didn't resist when he tied them

up perhaps they were too terrified to

fight back or they really did believe he

wasn't going to hurt them but once both

of them had been secured the Zodiac did

just that he brutally stabbed both of

them over and over again after the

bodies had been brutalized he walked up

to Brian's car and left a message for

the police the message said vjo

12268

7469 September

2769

630 by knife these are the exact dates

and details of his previous murders the

Zodiac wanted everyone to know he was

back he wanted the police to know was

him and just like before he rang up the

police from a nearby phone booth this is

exactly what he said I want to report a

murder no a double murder they are 2

miles north of Park headquarters they

were in a white wolkswagen Caron Gia I'm

the one who did it his murders might

have started as a violent Outburst or

could have been written of as just a

tragic confrontation but by now everyone

realized the zodiac was playing a sick

game he was a sick man and the police

were completely powerless against him

the score wasn't in their favor the

Zodiac was undeniably winning both Brian

and Cecilia were still alive when they

were found but only Brian would survive

the trip to the hospital six victims

down and two of them were left alive the

Zodiac was getting

sloppy that or maybe he was becoming

Bolder he left two victims alive he

didn't care if he finished the job he

just needed to satisfy his sick desire

he tasted what power felt like what

giving into his darkest desire was like

and he loved it he wanted more more

violence more power more attention two

weeks later a man matching the Zodiac

description would enter a cab in the

middle of San Francisco the driver Paul

Steen had no idea his newest passenger

would be the notorious murderer once

they reached their destination at

Presidio Park Paul would be shot once in

the back of the head his wallet keys and

a part of his shirt were taken from the

crime scene as a grim trophy for the

Twisted Murderer Zodiac's seventh victim

was the taxi driver this murder was

unlike the rest the victim wasn't a

young couple it was done in broad

daylight and there weren't any clues to

link Paul's death to the Zodiac until he

wouldn't allow his dark act to go

unnoticed that same night he sent a

letter to the Press saying this is the

Zodiac speaking I am the murderer of the

taxi driver last night to prove this

here is a Blood Stained piece of his

shirt I am the same man who did in the

people in the North Bay Area the SF

Police could have caught me last night

if they had searched the park prop L

instead of holding road races with their

motorcycles seeing who could make the

most noise school children make nice

targets I think I shall wipe out a

school bus some morning just shoot out

the front tire and then pick off the

kitties as they come bouncing out now

the Zodiac never followed up on this

planned threat but he did get what he

wanted attention and Credit in the

following few days the whole area of San

Francisco was in absolute Panic people

didn't let their children get on their

school b or even go to school at all and

there were talks of stopping school

until the police could be sure their

children were safe over the next couple

of years while there weren't any victims

directly connected to the Zodiac Killer

his communication with the police and

the newspapers only increased while

reports and connections of murders

committed in the area stopped being

linked to the Zodi y the way he wrote

his

letters it changed he was becoming

angrier and angrier he still wanted the

attention he got during the height of

his if you can call it this way career

let's read another one and this one's

really crazy this is the Zodiac speaking

I thought you would need a good laugh

before you hear the bad news you won't

get the news for a while yet and I can't

do a thing with it he as could you print

this new Cipher on your front page I get

awfully lonely when I am ignored so

lonely I could do my thing up to the end

of October I have killed seven people I

have grown rather angry with the police

for their telling lies about me so I

shall change the way the collecting of

slaves I shall no longer announce to

anyone when I commit my murders they

shall look like routine robberies

killings of anger and a few fake

accidents Etc the police shall never

catch me because I have been too clever

for them what an egotistic narcissistic

Psychopathic man through all this the

Zodiac wanted to show everyone how above

them he was how he was smarter than the

police the Press even the FBI his

ciphers became pure nonsense without any

way of really solving them for anyone

that wasn't the Zodiac Killer and when

this attention died down his messages

became more insane he began sending

strange Twisted poems mysterious cards

and drawings even hinted that he was

working on a bomb somewhere in the area

but none of these threats or messages

ever came true not that we're truly

aware of at least he was barking but he

wasn't

biting it became harder and harder for

him to hold on to that center of

attention that Spotlight he just had a

few years prior after all the cryptic

postcards local maps and insane coded

messages his final letter arrived on

January 27th

1974 6 years after the initial murder it

noted his disapproval of the movie The

Exorcist a short poem that he wrote but

it ended with an insanely ominous line

let's read it again if I do not see this

note in your paper I will do something

nasty which you know I am capable of me

37 San Francisco police zero 37 is

believed to be the final Full Count of

his victims at least the ones he

reported on with this letter that was it

the final score of his sick twisted game

37 for the Zodiac zero for the

police since then there has been no

contact with the Zodiac k killer nor has

he ever been identified however as this

case has been open for 50 years over

2500 people have been suspected of being

behind murders now most of those are

either completely false or are theories

police and investigators had that

connected the Zodiac Killer to other

famous murderers at the time but a few

names exactly three names do really

stand out and I want to talk about them

with you right now let's take a look at

the Zodiac's profile first we know he

was a white male in his late 30s that he

had brown hair and was on the shorter

side he was also obsessed with being at

the center of attention and it seemed he

liked to taunt the police and see his

letters in the papers more than the

actual killings now keeping this in mind

let's discuss the three suspects the

first one and most widely accepted

suspect is Arthur leay Allen he was a

school teacher and a convicted offender

whose profile and behavior fit closely

with the Zodiac he's got the exact boot

type and size like the traces found in

one of the crime scenes on top of that

he had military training and another

trait that is suspected to be the same

as the Killer and owned a watch with the

exact symbol that the Zodiac adopted the

white cross her and to this day he

remains the only suspect publicly

announced during the

investigation however no direct evidence

could link him to to the Zodiac and he

himself has denied ever being involved

in the crimes the biggest flaw with this

Theory are the letters they were written

with a lot of Errors misspelled words

and in handwriting that's completely

different to Arthur's and besides Arthur

was a school teacher it's unlikely that

he would write the letter with all the

mistakes the Zodiac had unless of course

he was so smart that he could fabricate

all these mistakes including his

handwriting now for the second suspect

out of free we need to talk about Gary

Francis po he was an Air Force veteran

and in 2021 a group of private

investigators connected Gary to the

Zodiac this is for multiple reasons he

had the same scars on his forehead as

the Zodiac sketch he was of similar

build and sture and to top it all off he

was known to be violent angry and

connected to a local gang and then also

near one of the later victims believed

to be connected to the Zodiac Killer

there was an old military watch with the

zodiac symbol on it covered in pain then

we have the last connection it is that

his full name fits in well with the

ciphers the Zodiac sent so this sounds

like quite a lot of proof that he's

guilty right not really while there are

connections all of this evidence is

circumstantial it's possible Gary was

the Zodiac yet he himself denied it when

people suspected him the sketch the

connection was based on has been

disputed and question question from the

very start so there's a solid chance

that scars are just a coincidence and on

top of everything the FBI and numerous

experts have disputed this Theory so now

we have two out of three of the most

popular suspects let's move to the last

one his name is Erol van best Jr his own

son claimed the Zodiac was him based on

the resemblance to the sketch partial

DNA evidence and fingerprints his

father's own behavior and handwriting

matches however van best was in Europe

during the Zodiac's activity meaning it

couldn't be him so why is the Zodiac so

difficult to identify well this happened

over 50 years ago definitely with all

the technology we have today and the

evidence collected we would be able to

find out who he was

but unfortunately it boils down to one

thing sloppy police work or at least

sloppy by today's standards what you

have to remember is that 50 years ago

investigations were way different than

they are today police at the time had no

way of knowing things like DNA samples

fingerprints and other small clues that

could be crucial in identifying the

murderer in the future at the time all

they had were witness reports sketches

and their own skills of deduction then

on top of everything add in the fact

that there has been so much false

information fake accounts fake letters

and public meddling with this case that

finding out what is actually real

evidence becomes a case on its own and

finally let's be honest here the Zodiac

knew exactly what he was doing it was

his whole style like he was good at it

unfortunately for the victims and for

the world he intentionally his identity

he intentionally planted false evidence

to send the police searching in the

wrong direction he wanted to play a game

and so he did me 37 police zero remember

it was a score he was following there's

a good chance the Zodiac's identity will

never be truly revealed and even if it

is by now he's most likely Dead all of

the key suspects are at least but the

thing that will continue decades from

now is the dark legend that surrounds

him his name his symbol the creepy

letters and codes all of these have

become things we associate with serial

killers and the Zodiac was among the

first to do it like it at least on this

scale That's All That Remains of him the

dark Legend the enduring mystery the

creepy thoughts of a hooded stranger

stalking at night the only thing left in

his wake is the UN mystery and the

Bloody Trail he left behind him

[Music]