No one knows who one of the world’s most notorious serial killer is. The Zodiac was a serial killer that terrorized all of California and has claimed to have taken the lives of many innocent civilians through the letters he sent. While his identity remains unsolved to this day, there are many theories as to who it is. Although plenty of people believe the identity of the Zodiac Killer was Arthur Leigh Allen, others are convinced it is a few lesser-known suspects. The Zodiac has caused great panic to the public and not knowing who he was, made him all the more frightening. While everyone’s opinion on who the Zodiac was may vary, there are facts that investigators have confirmed. First off, the Zodiac would occasionally send letters to newspapers …show more content…
Investigators have found evidence connecting Allen to the Zodiac and the murders he has committed. First of all, investigators noticed he had the same gun that was used in a shooting, knives that were covered in blood were found in his car and he was seen wearing a zodiac brand watch (Beck). Next off, Allen told Don Cheney that he wanted to murder a mass quantity of random people and to send letters. (Newton 416). Also, he was ambidextrous “which some theorists say could have helped disguise his handwriting” (Beck). Since he was able to write with both hands, he could have sent those letters knowing investigators wouldn’t be able to trace it back to him. Another witness, Ralph Spinelli told the police that Allen said he was going to head to San Francisco to take the life of a cabbie (Newton 416). Even if they do find more evidence that could prove Allen guilty, they would not be able to arrest him since he is now deceased (Breslau). However, he still remains as one of the most well-known suspects in the case due to a great deal of …show more content…
While many believe Allen to be the killer, there is some evidence that proves other people to be the killer. For example, Darlene Ferrin had been abducted by whom they believe to be the Zodiac, and her sister Linda was able to identify a man named Lawrence Kane as the abductor (Newton 415). Richard Gaikowski was suspected because a dispatcher who spoke to the Zodiac thought Gaikowski’s voice was very similar to the killer. In addition, Jack Tarrance was another suspect because he “was a dead ringer for the composite sketch”. Ultimately, Ross Sullivan, another suspect in the case, resembled the photo of the killer, had a bipolar disorder, had schizophrenia and no one would hear or see him for a few days after the murders (Beck). Someone who has a bipolar disorder could easily turn violent without being able to control it. Considering there is some evidence against them, it’s a definite possibility that one of them could’ve been the
Walking down the street, one passes tons people saying hello and giving friendly smiles, anyone of those people could be a serial killer. In the United States there are a plethora of serial killers; in Illinois alone there are a number of demented killers, but probably one of the worst, most infamous murderer of our time is John Wayne Gacy. John W. Gacy, Chicago Illinois’ own killer clown, is an infamous killer because of his life events and careers he chose to pick, the terrible murders he committed, and the lasting impact he has.
The killer has to be Bruce Davis. First off, he lived by Lake Tahoe where A girl went missing. After the disappearance, he moved away. Now people could say this happens to be just a coincidence but let this prove it more. When he moved away he moved again. This time in California where he spent most of his time at Newport Beach. A girl named Cheri Jo Bates favorite place to go just so happened to be Newport beach. She went very frequently. the final reason will be he worked at Riverside college during renovations from 1965 to 1967. In this time, the girl Cherri Jo Bates got murdered at riverside college. Bruce had also gone off the grid a year earlier. Now with the evidence, everyone will agree with the facts. Bruce Davis has to be the zodiac
The Zodiac Killer is an unidentified man who is presumed to be a serial killer that operated in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Murdering at least five people, but the Zodiac claims to have killed upwards of 37 people in total. In 1969 the Zodiac Killer began sending letters to the Bay Area newspapers, taking credit for the five killings and threatening further violence. The Zodiac Killer would call and send cryptic letters to the law enforcement agencies in Northern California, taunting them since they were unable to bring him to justice. The police had suspects but none that they could ever charge for the murders, due to lack of evidence, so this mystery still remains unsolved. The cultural impact that the Zodiac Killer has had on tv, movies and the media is still around today and has had many shows and movies remade after what this killer did. The cultural impact as well as for the families of the victims still remains today with still no closure, for those families who live in Northern California still there is the fear that crosses the minds on how such an awful criminal was once a part of their society, someone they may
Taking the life of another person is one of the worst infractions of the law to commit. The Bureau of Justice defines serial killing as “[involving] the killing of several victims in three or more separate events” (“Michigan” 1). Serial killers often commit extremely violent crimes; they usually become infamous for these crimes. The first recorded serial killers are probably Jack the Ripper in 1888 and Fritz Haarmann in 1924 (“Michigan” 1). Jack the Ripper is also one of the most well-known criminals, almost everyone knows who he is or has at least heard of him. Most people know what he is famous for and associate him with being a bad person. Serial killers are typically sadistic and sociopathic, meaning that they are unable to feel empathy for people who are suffering (“Michigan” 1). Whimsical sociopaths who have sadistic tendencies are very dangerous. They inflict pain because they do not care that someone else is suffering, they only care that it makes t...
Zodiac’s career, which would become the most cerebral murder case of all time, began in Riverside California on the night of October 30, 1966. The first victim, Cheri Jo Bates, a young student at the university was brutally murdered outside the college library. She was stabbed 42 times with a knife with a small blade. Following the stabbings, her throat was slit so brutally that it secered her larynx, jugular, and carotid artery. Authorities classified the extreme brutality of the murder “overkill”, which typically happened in cases where the victim and perpetrator are acquainted. Evidence found at the scene of the crime included a military class watch with a broken wristband, hair, blood, and skin tissue under Ms. Bates fingernails, and palm and fingerprints on her car. In addition, paint splattered on the watch was identified as being a variety used on ships. Ms. Bates clothes were still intact, and her wallet remained on her, leaving no other motive for attack.
The mysterious person did not have a real name because no one was able to identify him. The murder gave his a name which was the Zodiac Killer. The Zodiac Killer was responsible for five murders in California during the late 1960s. The Zodiac Killers first two murders was on December of 1968 in Benicia, California. David Farraday, who was 17, and Betty Lou Jensen, who was 16, were the first two of a series of murders by the Zodiac Killer. The two of them were inside a parked, when the Zodiac Killer came up behind them and shot them. A similar case happened to the next victim of the mysterious killer. The following year, on July 4, 1969, another couple were shot dead in their car, in Blue Rock Springs Park in Vallejo, California. 22 year old Darlene Ferrin was shot dead, but Michael Mageau, who was 19 years old survived the shots. The strange thing after these murders is that the police received a phone call from an unidentified person that confessed to murdering those people. The next killings occurred two months later, on September 27, 1969. Two couples were also in a parked car in Lake Berryessa in Napa County. Cecelia Shepard and Brian Hartnell were shot at by the killer, but Brian Hartnell, who was 20 years old survived the mu...
Does the name Ted Bundy ring a bell? A Handsome smart and conniving young man that’s responsible for about forty murders between 1964 through 1978. Ted (Theodore) Bundy was born November 24, 1946 in Burling, Vermont. Mother Eleanor Cowell was at the stage in her life where she was a single mother that could take care of her child. So she let her parents step in and raise young Theodore. With this happening Theodore grew up believing his birth mother was his sister and his grandparents where his parents.
But maybe he died, which could explain the end of his communication with California. In the end, he claimed to have killed at least 37 people. People thought Zodiac was unintelligent, but that perception was obviously wrong because he had training in the following areas: explosives, cryptography, astrology, chemistry and guns. He also knew how to prevent leaving fingerprints on crime scenes; he could have learned that from jail. He knew he was clever, and it made him happy to know that the police seemed to be running in circles.
The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer from the late 60’s and early 70’s. The zodiac killer identification was never known. The Zodiac Killer was most famous for killing couples in their car at night. He started his killing spree on October 30, 1966 in San Francisco with his first victim, eighteen-year-old Cheri Jo Bates. Cheri’s throat was cut so deep it almost decapitated her. On November 29, 1966, the Riverside police received a copy of an anonymous letter in the mail. This letter taunted the police about the murder of Cheri Jo Bates and how she will not be the last. (Wilbur R. Miller, 2012) This was his way of being in control and getting his voice heard. Just a few months later he kept to his promise that there will be more death. The Zodiac killer murdered a young couple, David Faraday and Betty Jensen, in Vallejo, California. David was killed by one shot to the head and Betty was shot five times ten feet away from the car. The police suspected Arthur Leigh Allen, a child molester, who fit the description of the Zodiac Killer almost to a T, but there was no incriminating evidence, so he was never charged. The Zodiac Killer was suspected of killing 2,500 people throughout his killing spree, and was never caught. The Zodiac Killer’s reason for killing was that once he killed his victims they would be his slaves in the afterlife. He thought of himself as a “God”, all powerful and all knowing. (Wilbur R.
Attention Getter: Jeffrey Dahmer, The Zodiac Killer, Donald Henry Gaskins, Tsutomu Miyazaki, Ted Bundy, Jack the Ripper, Amelia Dyer, Jane Toppan, these are the names of some of the most notorious serial killers the world has ever come to see, and there are many more where that came from.
Ted Bundy was an American born rapist, a necrophile; a serial killer and a kidnapper who assaulted and murdered several young women during the 1970’s. The criminal kept on denying the charges for more than ten years and later confessed of having committed the thirty homicide crimes in seven different states before his execution (Rule, 2009). Bundy’s handsome and charismatic appearance made it possible for him to easily win the confidence of young women who were always his targets. He broke into the dwellings of his victims at night and bludgeoned them as they slept. He also approached young women in public places where he impersonated as an authority figure or feigned injury on his victim before empowering and assaulting at a more secluded area where he left them dead (Rule, 2009).
Serial killers have been around for decades but According To Jack Levin, 'seven of the ten largest mass killings in American history have taken place in the last decade (Douglas, p. 137). One of the most popular and well-known serial killers in history was Ted Bundy. He was convicted of killing three women but is suspected of killing thirty-six other women (Douglas, p. 137).
Ted Bundy was one of the most vicious serial killers in American history. He confessed to 28 grotesque murders in the 1970’s but the actual number of his victims remains
In order to identify serial killers before they kill repeatedly, a person needs to study the characteristics that make up this type of criminal. Most serial killers have been abandoned, by one or both parents, they are emotionally, physically, and even sexually abused by a family member, or relatives from unstable families who have criminal, psychiatric and alcoholic histories, or tend to have hate for their parents and people in general which makes them have antisocial personality disorder. They have conflicted, pained, or tortured animals at a young age and most are highly interested in gaining control over things. Even though not every serial killer posses these characteristics, most share these characteristics the same way they share the psychological need to have complete control and power over people. Dennis Rader was one normal average citizen until he shocked the public when he was caught as a serial killer who caused tragedy in their town.
Years after the incident, Michael Mageau who survived the attack was shown a line up of pictures thought to be the Zodiac suspect. When Michael was asked to point to whom he best remembered as the attacker he pointed to a man, Arthur Leigh Allen, who was, and still is the main suspect as thought to be the Zodiac