The Zodiac Killer Essay

“The shot made a deafening blast, as the bullet entered David’s head blowing it apart” (Wark, 5). With David out of the way, the killer turned his attention back to Betty. “He pursued her through the woods, his gun drawn and shot her five times in the back from less than ten feet away”(Wark,5). David was still alive, but Betty was dead. In the ambulance David was able to give the police an account of the events that had taken place, but he died shortly after from his wounds. Upon investigation, the police came up with nothing, and ruled the murder a random homicide.

In the late sixties and early seventies, California was haunted by dozens of unsolved murders. The offender remains unknown to this day. The murderer, who referred to himself as "the Zodiac," made contact with the police and area newspapers throughout his reign of terror through a series of menacing notes. Although the police were never able to apprehend Zodiac, they were able to gather information about him via the letters. Zodiac boasted of killing up to forty victims, however, police estimated he may have killed over 50.

Much is unknown about the Zodiac killer, but given what is known about serial killers in general, this man was probably born between 1938 and 1943. That would make his age between 25 and 30 years old at the time of his first murder in Vallejo, California, in 1968. Also, that age estimate works with witness statements and it's supported by Zodiac's references to his victims in younger terms in his letters of 1969. Zodiac wasn't an attractive character from what we know. He may have had to wear glasses throughout his youth and his facial features weren't all that pleasing. So overall he may have been unpopular as a young boy and spent a good deal of time alone. It seems as though rejection is a big issue for Zodiac. No one knows anything

In this paper, I will describe who the Zodiac Killer was, how a serial killer is different from a normal homicide suspect. In addition, I will explain what the Zodiac Killer’s criteria was for selecting his victims and whether forensic psychology or criminal profiling provided input into this case. Finally, I will express my thoughts on why the Zodiac Killer was never captured and what else, if anyhing, could have been done to help find the infamous Zodiac Killer.

She never saw it coming, like a streaking bee whizzing by in a rush to get to the nectar, the bullet struck her in the right side of her head-dropping her instantly.

Yes it was, his intent to kill was connected by the actions he took by reporting his killings by phoning and mailing evidence of his murderous actions.The Zodiac’s killer also had enough presence in his mind to kill in hided areas, he also brought rope to tie his victims, a knife to stab the couple, a gun to kill his victims, all these actions showed intent.

Serial killers have been around since the Middle Ages and have grown to be more incessant, driving researchers to search for the answer in the matter of why serial murderers submit these serial killings and how they became so violent. Two hypotheses have developed, are serial killers conceived with predetermined genes that play a central part in creating their homicidal tendencies or do psycho killers become murderers through their surroundings as adolescents?

He drags his friends on a road trip in hopes of finding her, but what he finds is something else.

     Serial killers tend to be white heterosexual males in their twenties and thirties, who are sexually dysfunctional and have low self-esteem. Serial killers generally murder strangers with cooling off periods in between each murder. Serial killers are twisted in nature. Some return to the place the murder happened or the gravesite to fantasize about their deeds. Serial killers have made many excuses for their killings and behavior such as: Henry Lucas blamed his upbringing, Jeffrey Dahmer claims he was born with a “partâ€? of him missing, Ted Bundy said porno made him do it and John Wayne Gacy turned the blame around and said the victims deserved to die. Many

“I like killing people, because it is fun. It is more fun than killing wild game in the forest, because man is the most dangerous animal of all.” These are the words spoken by a man who terrorized the area of San Francisco, California for two years, lurking in the shadows killing five people, but taking credit for 37 different murders. This man taunted police, seeing his murders as one giant game, sending cryptic messages to the newspapers, forcing them to publish them on the front page. This mysterious figure was never found and will probably never be caught. That man is the Zodiac Killer, an infamous mass murderer, whose identity remains a mystery to this day. The Zodiac Killer is a notorious serial killer,

To Not Solve a Crime: Zodiac as a Crime Film Crime films have been the staple of non-fiction rebellion movies since the beginning of their existence. Each crime film shares similar characteristics relating them to the genre however individualizing them from each other with different crimes, investigations, and mannerisms. A prime example for definitive representation of such films would be the 2007 David Fincher’s Zodiac. The movie is based off of the true crime story of the infamous manhunt for the Zodiac killer during the late 1960s.

There is only one character Mrs. Kathleen Drover who returns to her “shut-up house to look for several things she wanted to take away” (The Demon Lover 242). In the hall she finds a letter sent by a K. and addressed to her reminding of her an appointment with a soldier fiancé who has been “reported missing, presumed killed” (243) in the World War I. She is frightened by the message and the surveillance over each of her activities. While collecting the things she is haunted by the memory of her fiancé with whom she promised to marry. She gathers her goods, leaves the house, walks quickly to the cab rank, enters the taxi, which without her direction “faced the main road” (247).

The first murders widely attributed to the Zodiac Killer were the shootings of high school students Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday on December 20, 1968, on Lake Herman Road, just inside Benicia city limits. Shortly after 11:00 p.m. their bodies were found. Robert Graysmith postulated that another car pulled into the turnout, just prior to 11:00 pm and parked beside the couple. Jensen appeared to have exited the car first, yet when Faraday was halfway out, the killer apparently shot Faraday in the head. Fleeing from the killer, Jensen was gunned down twenty-eight feet from the car with five shots through her back. The killer then drove off.

The Suspects on who The Zodiac KIller is. One suspect is Richard Gaikowski. Their are so many people who could be the Zodiac KIller but the most popular are Earl Van Best Jr., Arthur Leigh Allen,Or even artist Richard Gaikowski.Arthur Leigh Allen had the same typewriter as the Zodiac Killer and he did write letters to the police about his murders. Their isn’t much info on the Zodiac KIller because no one knows for sure who he is. The police did find The Zodiac Killer's DNA on the envelops he sent to the police. The police have been working very hard on the case it embarrisess them that they havent solved a forty year old case. In the cipher Jory Starliper solved one of the lines says KILL/SLF. The Zodiac Killer was very interesting because

When two men came out of the car, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Why were two men like this driving a car like that. After all, they were wearing flannels and leather. But then again, who was she to judge. She was driving a red 1967 Camaro with a black stripe going down the middle. Of course she had gotten it from her mom.