The Zodiac Killer: Unsolved Case - Part 1 (Attacks and Early Letters)

Early Suspected Zodiac Attacks

• 💔 The earliest suspected Zodiac murder occurred on June 4th, 1963, involving Robert Domingos and Linda Fay Edwards, who were found bound and shot in a shack. The ammunition used was the same type as later confirmed Zodiac murders.
• 🔪 Another suspected attack was the murder of Sherry Josephine Bates on October 30th, 1966, who was stabbed and had her throat cut. Hairs found at the scene and a typewritten confession letter, detailing the crime with non-public information, were significant.
• 📝 A poem titled "Sick of Living, Unwilling to Die" was found carved in the RCC library in December 1966, with language resembling future Zodiac letters, and handwritten notes signed with a Z-like symbol were sent in April 1967.

Confirmed Zodiac Attacks and Communications

• 🎯 The first confirmed Zodiac attack was on December 20th, 1968, where Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday were shot on Lake Herman Road. Shell casings matched ammunition used in the Domingos and Edwards murders.
• 💥 The second confirmed attack occurred on July 4th, 1969, at Blue Rock Springs Park, where Darlene Farren was murdered and Michael Majou was shot multiple times but survived. The killer called the police claiming responsibility for both this attack and the Lake Herman Road murders.
• ✉️ The first infamous Zodiac letter was postmarked July 31st, 1969, sent to multiple newspapers, claiming responsibility for the Lake Herman murders and including a circle-cross symbol. The writer threatened further attacks if the letters weren't printed on the front page.
• 🔐 A 408-character cipher, Z408, was sent with the letters, claiming to reveal the killer's identity. It was solved by a high school teacher and his wife, revealing a message about the killer's enjoyment of killing and his belief in rebirth in paradise.

Lake Berryessa Attack and Further Evidence

• 🎭 On September 27th, 1969, Cecilia Shepard and Brian Hartnau were attacked at Lake Berryessa. The assailant, wearing a hooded costume with the Zodiac symbol, tied them up and stabbed them repeatedly.
• 🔪 Brian Hartnau survived the stabbing and described the attacker, noting his hands were shaking. Cecilia Shepard, despite being stabbed 10 times, provided a description before succumbing to her injuries two days later.
• ✍️ The Zodiac symbol and a message including dates and locations of attacks were drawn on Brian's car door, which documents examiner Sherwood Moral concluded was written by the Zodiac.
• 📞 A call to the Napa County Sheriff's Department from the perpetrator claimed responsibility for a double murder, and a palm print was lifted from the phone but never matched.