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Who is Zodiac Killer, Why Was He Never Found and Other Important Things Him or Her (Compilation)

The Infographics Show・62 minutes read

The Zodiac Killer committed several brutal murders, sending cryptic letters to newspapers and creating unsolved ciphers that puzzled law enforcement for decades. Despite efforts to crack the codes and identify the killer, the Zodiac's true identity remains a mystery and the case remains open to this day.

Insights

  • The Zodiac Killer, known for his cryptic messages and brutal murders, remains unidentified despite various decoding efforts, with his last known letter in 1974 claiming responsibility for 37 deaths.
  • A global team, including David Oranchak, Yaroslav Nikitin, and Sam Blake, decoded the Zodiac's Cipher 340 in 2020, revealing his identity after over 50 years by identifying a mistake in the cipher design.
  • Despite claims by Gary Stewart and others linking potential suspects like Lawrence Kane and Ross Sullivan to the Zodiac killings, the killer's true identity remains elusive, with ongoing investigations and unsolved ciphers providing potential clues to unravel the mystery.

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Recent questions

  • Who were the victims of the Zodiac Killer on December 20, 1968?

    Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday were the victims of the Zodiac Killer on December 20, 1968. They were attacked while parked on Lovers Lane, resulting in Faraday's death and Jensen being shot five times. This incident marked the beginning of the Zodiac Killer's notorious spree of brutal murders and cryptic messages sent to newspapers.

  • What was the significance of the Zodiac Killer's cryptic messages?

    The Zodiac Killer's cryptic messages were significant as they hinted at his identity and intentions to hunt humans for sport. These messages, sent to newspapers, baffled law enforcement and the public, creating a sense of fear and mystery surrounding the killer's motives and actions. The cryptograms and ciphers he sent added an extra layer of complexity to the case, leading to decades of unsolved puzzles.

  • How did the global team crack the Zodiac's Cipher 340 in 2020?

    The global team, including David Oranchak, Yaroslav Nikitin, and Sam Blake, cracked the Zodiac's Cipher 340 in 2020 by working together to decipher the complex code. Through their collaborative efforts and expertise in cryptography, they were able to reveal the chilling message hidden within the cipher, shedding light on the Zodiac Killer's identity and motives after over 50 years of mystery.

  • What led to the full decryption of the Zodiac Killer's message?

    The full decryption of the Zodiac Killer's message was achieved after the team discovered his mistake in the cipher design. By identifying and rectifying this error, the team was able to decode the message completely, providing valuable insights into the killer's twisted mindset and revealing details that had eluded investigators for decades. This breakthrough marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to unravel the mysteries surrounding the Zodiac Killer.

  • Why did the Zodiac Killer abruptly stop killing?

    The Zodiac Killer's abrupt cessation of killings remains a subject of speculation and debate among investigators and criminologists. Some theories suggest that significant life changes, fear of capture, psychological shifts, or the completion of unclaimed murders may have contributed to his decision to stop. Despite various hypotheses, the exact motive behind the Zodiac Killer's decision to halt his spree of violence remains unknown, adding to the enigmatic nature of his case.

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Summary

00:00

Unmasking the Zodiac: Decoding a Killer's Cipher

  • December 20th, 1968: Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday are attacked by the Zodiac Killer while parked on Lovers Lane, resulting in Faraday's death and Jensen being shot five times.
  • The Zodiac Killer sends cryptic letters to newspapers, hinting at his identity and intentions to hunt humans for sport.
  • The Zodiac Killer's cryptic messages and brutal murders confound law enforcement, leading to a 51-year unsolved cipher puzzle.
  • The Zodiac Killer's potential body count is speculated to be much higher than confirmed, with his last known letter in 1974.
  • The Zodiac Killer's cryptograms, particularly the 408 cipher, are decoded by teachers, revealing his disturbing messages.
  • The Zodiac Killer continues his spree, attacking a couple at Lake Berryessa, leaving them for dead.
  • The Zodiac Killer murders a taxi driver, taunting law enforcement and threatening school children in his letters.
  • The Zodiac Killer's cryptogram, Cipher 340, remains unsolved for decades until a global team cracks it in 2020.
  • The team, including David Oranchak, Yaroslav Nikitin, and Sam Blake, deciphers the Zodiac's message, revealing his identity.
  • The team discovers the Zodiac's mistake in the cipher design, leading to the full decryption of his chilling message after over 50 years.

12:22

Unsolved Zodiac Killer Mystery: Clues and Suspects

  • The Zodiac killer believed that death would lead him to paradise where he would have slaves to work for him, unlike others who feared death.
  • The Zodiac was narcissistic in his writing, boasting about being ahead of the police and showing no fear or remorse.
  • The team contacted the FBI after cracking a puzzle related to the Zodiac, but it didn't reveal the killer's true identity.
  • Two ciphers sent by the Zodiac remain unsolved, with some speculating that one might contain his name.
  • Despite cracking a code, the Zodiac killer's identity remains a mystery, with ongoing efforts to solve the remaining puzzles.
  • The Zodiac sent coded messages to newspapers, confessing to murders and threatening more violence if his ciphers weren't published.
  • Suspects for the Zodiac killer have included Lawrence Kane, who had a brain injury and a potential connection to a victim.
  • Another suspect, Ross Sullivan, had physical features resembling the Zodiac and was linked to a murder scene.
  • Gary Stewart claimed in a book that his father was the Zodiac killer, citing evidence from his father's past and physical resemblance.
  • The investigation into the Zodiac killer continues, with various suspects and theories being explored to uncover the truth behind the elusive serial killer.

25:02

Unsolved Zodiac Killer Mystery: Van Best Connection

  • The Zodiac Killer and Earl Van Best Jr. shared a love for the Arthur Sullivan opera, potentially indicating a connection between them.
  • Gary Stewart believes his father, Van Best, could be the Zodiac Killer due to circumstantial evidence like living near a murder scene.
  • Stewart suggests a conspiracy theory involving his mother marrying a detective to protect her from being linked to the Zodiac's first wife.
  • In one of the Zodiac's ciphers, the word "Best" appears, which Stewart sees as definitive proof of his father's identity as the killer.
  • The Zodiac Killer's last letter in 1971 led to a three-year silence before resurfacing in 1974, claiming responsibility for 37 deaths.
  • The FBI suggests serial killers may stop due to significant life changes, leading to theories on why the Zodiac Killer ceased his activities.
  • Various theories propose reasons for the Zodiac Killer's cessation, including fear of capture, psychological changes, or continued unclaimed murders.
  • Despite five confirmed murders, the Zodiac Killer's identity remains unknown, with unsolved ciphers possibly holding clues.
  • The Zodiac Killer's case remains open, with no definitive identification yet, leaving detectives and the public still questioning his whereabouts.
  • The Zodiac Killer's crimes spanned from 1968 to 1969, with multiple attacks and cryptic letters sent to the press, evading capture due to various factors.

38:58

Zodiac Killer: Unsolved American Legend

  • Allen was institutionalized in 1975 for child molestation and died in 1992.
  • In 2002, Allen was exonerated after a relative provided a DNA sample that did not match the Zodiac killer's DNA found on a stamp.
  • Some investigators believe the Zodiac killer was multiple people due to mixed serial killer traits, changing MO, and intricate pictograms.
  • The Zodiac killer evaded capture due to luck, committing murders publicly with few witnesses.
  • During the stabbing at Lake Berryessa, the killer had a prolonged interaction with victims, increasing the chance of a third party showing up.
  • Poor communication among different agencies contributed to the Zodiac killer not being caught.
  • The Zodiac killer abruptly stopped killing, a rare occurrence among serial killers.
  • The killer's motive might have been to gain attention rather than murder, leading to speculation about his reasons for stopping.
  • The Zodiac killer inspired internet groups, movies, books, and songs, becoming an American legend.
  • Despite the case being reopened, the Zodiac killer's identity remains unknown, with police still searching for clues to solve the case.

52:44

Unsolved Zodiac killings: 37 claimed, 5 confirmed.

  • The Zodiac killer claimed to have killed 37 people, but police believe he killed at least five and injured two, with a possibility of 20 to 28 more murders.
  • The first confirmed murders were of Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday on December 20, 1968, at Lover's Lane, with the killer sharing details only he would know.
  • In 1963, Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards were killed at Gaviota State Park, possibly by the Zodiac, with the boy shot 11 times and the girl nine times.
  • Sherry Josephine Bates was brutally killed in 1966, a crime later suspected to be the Zodiac's work, along with the shooting of Michael Magoo and Darlene Ferran in 1969.
  • Brian Hartnell and Cecilia Ann Shepherd were attacked at a lake in Napa County, with Hartnell surviving and providing limited information about the killer.
  • The Zodiac shot Paul Stein in 1969, almost getting caught, but police mistakenly looked for a black suspect, leading to confusion.
  • The Zodiac sent numerous letters, including ciphers, to newspapers and individuals, with the last letter received in 1974, leaving behind an unexplained symbol before disappearing.
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