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    977 views268 pages

    This Is The Zodiac Speaking - Into The Mind of A Serial Killer

    Uploaded by

    Ana Maria
    zodiac killer

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    Michael D. Kelleher and David Van Nuys INTO THE MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER INTO THE MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER Michael D. Kelleher and David Van Nuys PEER Libsaty of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kelleher, Michael D. "This is the Zodiac speaking’ : into the mind of serial ile / Michael D. Kelleher and David Van Neys. pcm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-275-97338-7 (alk. pape) 1, Serial murders—California. 2. Serial murder investigation —Califoenia, 1. Van Nuys, David, 1940-1. Tide HYV6533.C2 K&S 2002 364.15°23/0979461—de2 2091016356 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available Copyright © 2002 by Michael D. Kelleher and David Van Nuys All sights ceserved, No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any processor technique, without the ‘express written consent ofthe publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: ISBN: 0-275-97338-7 Fis published in 2002 Pracgst Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 {An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. sworsepraegercom 1001016356 Printed in the United States of America eS “The paper used inthis book complies with the Permanent Paper Standacd issued by the National Information Standards Organization Z39.48-1984). 19876543521 Copyright Acknowledgments “The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge permission co use the following material Excerpts from correspondence between Jake M. Wark and Michael Kells Reprinted with permission of Jake M, Wark. Zodiac letters to the San Francisco Chronicle reproduced with permission from ‘San Francisco Chronic figures, vit preface, tx acknowledgments, xi Introduction, 1 chapter one In the Beginning, 5 chapter two Heyday of Murder, 29 chapter three Murder, Feat, and Uncertainty, 63 chapter four ‘Taunting, 97 chapter five Slipping Away, 127 chapter six Killing in Silence?, 175 chapter seven ‘The Return, 183 chapter eight Legends, Myths, and Facts, 203 chapter nine Portrait of a Killer, 219 chapter ten ‘What Will We Ever Know?, 239 vi * Contents appendices I: Abbreviated Zodiac Timeline, 247 UL: A Brief Who's Who of the Zodiac Case, 243 IIL: The Armchair Investigator, 247 IV: Other Zodiac Research, 251 selected bibliography, 253 index, 255 LL 12 13 21 2.2 23 Bal 32 33 34 Al 42 43 44 Sa 5.2 53 54 55 5.6 57 5.8 59, 5.10 7A 7.2 73 ‘The Riverside Leteer (November 1966), 17 Riverside Community College Desktop Inscription, 12 Riverside Letter (April 30, 1967), 13 ‘The Zodiac Letter of August 1, 1969 (San Francisco Chronicle), 42 ‘The August 1, 1969, Cryprogram, 43 Letcer to the Valeo Times-Herald (August 7, 1969), 53 Zodiac in Disguise at Lake Bettyessa, 67 Inscription Made by Zodiac on Bryan Hattnell’s Car Door, 69 Zodiac Wanted Poster Issued after Paul Stine's Murder, 79 Lewer to che San Francisco Chronicle (October 14, 1969), 81 Card to the San Francisco Chronicle (November 8, 1969), 94 Cipher to the Sen Francitco Chronicle (November 8, 1969), 95 Letter to the San Francisco Chronicle (November 9, 1969), 102 Letter to Melvin Belli December 20, 1968), 115 Letter to the San Francisco Chronicle (April 20, 1970), 130 Bomb Sketch Sent with Zodiac's Lewer of April 20, 1970, 137 Card Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle (April 28, 1970), 136 Letter to the San Francisco Chronicle (June 26, 1970), 142 ‘Text of the Letter to the San Francisco Chronicle (July 24, 1970), 147 Partial Text of the Letter to the San Francisco Chronicle (uly 26, 1970), ISI “Text of Card Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle (October 5, 1970), 160 Representation of the Halloween Card Sent to Paul Avery (October 27, 1970), 161 Letter to the Los Angeles Times (Match 15, 1971), 165 (Card Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle (March 22, 1971), 170 Letter Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle (January 29, 1974), 184 ‘Text of the Letter Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle (Rebruaty 14, 1974), 189 Letter Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle (May 8, 1974), 190 viii + Figures 7-4 Text of the Lercer Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle (July 8, 1974), 194 7.5. Letter Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle (April 24, 1978), 196 8.1 Three Composite Drawings of Zodiac, 213 ‘As chair ofa rather unique psychology department, ['ve become accustomed to receiving unusual requests over the telephone and by mail. However, this one came to me by e-mail. The sender claimed to be working on a book about a serial Killer and wondered if | would be willing to read and analyze a number of leeers the perpetrator had written to newspapers and the police. Uncertain of what I might bring to the project, I suggested that my corre- spondent e-mail me the first letter. Twould do whatever T could with it and send ix back to him for his reaction and, then, we'd sce if it made sense to proceed ‘ogether, After reading my analysis of that first leter, he was eager to continue because, independently, without any background knowledge of the details of the case, [had drawn conclusions very similar to his own. And so, the chase was on. ‘We agreed that he would continue to send me the leters via e-mail, one at a time, I would be blind to all che forensic derails of the case, except for any information he felt I might need in order to understand the context ofa given letter, In fact, I did not even know it was the infamous Zodiac case we were working on uncil ch killer started using his trademark signature several letters into the series. In addition, my new collaborator and I did not have a face-to- face meeting until I had read and analyzed all the letters. Family and fiends found ic curious and disturbing that I should be caught up in such a macabre project with someone whom Tid never met in person. Per- haps, he, himself, was the serial killer, they conjectured. | must admit, the thought had crossed my mind. However, I was to be pleasantly surprised. ‘A few weeks into the project, I learned that his latest book, Murder Most Rare: The Female Seria Killer, was the subject of a four-page review in The New Yorker and had just sold out its first edition after being on the market for less than a month. I decided that my collaborator was definitely legit. Infact, I came to realize that Michael Kelleher is a consummate professional, both as a crimi- nologist and as a writer. He loves writing and chrows himself into it with amaz- ing passion. He is an incredibly fast worker. Ie was all I could do to keep up with him, even though my own share of che writing task was much smaller. [also found him co be a careful and methodical analyst, quickly putting his finger on x * Preface contradictions or details that I had overlooked or forgotten. His follow-up queries to my work would push me to think deeper and more carefully. He was always very open and generous, inviting my fll participation in the project and making himself available as both a colleague and a friend. Despite the grizzly content of our focus, this project was something of an adventure because it represented a fiesh direction for my work. Also, I suppose Zodiac's hubris was a bit infectious because there were times when I felt that if only Michael and I had been on the case 30 years sooner, we might have helped apprehend him. I felt very caught up in the chase, wanting to nail down certain mythological and theatrical references that cropped up in the killers letters. At times, chese ideas had me prowling the World Wide Web in the wee hours and corresponding via e-mail with an amazing array of experts around the globe, feeling I was just about to close in on some vital details that might reveal more about Zodiac’s early years and influences. Amidst this personal excitement, how- ever, [ had to remind myself that, while this was an adventure for me, it was quite otherwise for the victims of Zodiac 30 years ago. I'm sure the pain and horror still linger for the survivors of his atacks, as well as for the families and friends of his victims. have to say that Zodiac's final letters led me to a diagnostic conclusion that was totally unanticipated. I realize that it i likely to be a controversial conclu sion in some quarters. can only say that I did not set out with any preconceived ideas about serial killers in general, or this case specifically. The facts of the case and the fragmentary glimpses of Zodiae’s psychodynamics that came through his letcers forced me, reluctantly, to draw 2 conclusion that I knew would be controversial. To the extent that I have been able to shed any light on the mind of Zodiac, I must give credit to the psychoanalytically-oriented training that I received ac the University of Michigan, my subsequent explorations in Jungian psychology inspired by psychology department colleagues at Sonoma State University, and the experience gained over the years from those who allowed me to work with them as their psychotherapist. In addition, my studies of altered states of con- sciousness, especially hypnosis and dreaming, have provided a laboratory for ‘gaining some insight into the workings of the unconscious. JET have learned anything from all of ths, itis that we are all cur From the same cloth. If we are 10 understand Zodiac, we must be willing to face the darker side of our own selves, Davo Van Nuys My good friend, Brian Sobel, has a passion for solving mysteries and an uncanny Bility to generate unexpected enthusiasm about matters arcane and historical. Je was Brian who first suggested that I write about the infamous Zodiac serial {iller—that I bring the case up to date and try to answer some of the many ques- sons that have clouded i for over three decades. Brian's suggestion sent me on 2 investigative journey that I had never expected, and a waiting experience that

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