The Zodiac killer is one of the most elusive and unusual serial killers in American history. Known for his bizarre, rambling handwritten letters, the Zodiac sent baffling ciphers, quoted musical lyrics, taunted police, and threatened to shoot school children.
Unlike most serial killers, the Zodiac called police to report his crimes and wore a hooded costumer featuring his chosen symbol, the crossed circle. The Zodiac wounded two people and killed at least five others during the period between December 1968 and October 1969. More letters, postcards, and other clues continued until 1971 when the Zodiac disappeared.
In January 1974, the San Francisco Chronicle received another letter which hinted at suicide and described the classic horror film The Exorcist as “the best saterical comidy.” Hoax letters continued over the years, but the infamous Zodiac vanished into the history books, leaving a bloody trail of morbidly fascinating physical and visual clues.
This photo gallery originally appeared in True Crime Magazine’s Behind the Tape Photobook, along with nearly a thousand more crime scene photos.
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Riverside Police Officers at the crime scene of Cheri Jo Bates, the first known victim of the Zodiac Killer.
Riverside police officers document a man’s watch found at the crime scene at Riverside City College, near Cheri Jo Bates’ body.
Riverside Police Officer questions Librarian Harry Back and Reference Librarian Winifred Turner after the body of Cheri Jo Bates was found.
Riverside police officers use the porch of a Riverside City College library annex to examine the area surrounding the body of Cheri Jo Bates, at the back of the dirt driveway, before evidence had been gathered.
Approaching the Lake Herman Road crime scene.
Chalk outline of David Faraday’s body.
Shattered glass from Zodiac’s bullet.
Detective Les Lundblad at the crime scene the next day.
Vallejo phone booth used by the Zodiac to report the Tom Voigt
Blue Rock Springs attack.
Aerial photo of Lake Berryessa murder scene.
Investigator at the Lake Berryessa crime scene.
An eerie writing the Zodiac Killer left on the car door at the Lake Berryessa crime scene.
Surviving Zodiac victim Brian Hartnell in Queen of the Valley Hospital, following the attack at Lake Berryessa.
Approaching Paul Stine’s murder scene. Stine’s murder is considered to be the last official Zodiac attack.
Inspector David Toschi at the crime scene.
A look inside Paul Stine’s car.
The lifeless body of a cab driver Paul Stine.
The bloody shirt of Paul Stine.
San Francisco homicide inspectors David Toschi and William Armstrong go through a Zodiac victim’s clothes at the morgue in the Hall of Justice in San Francisco.
Locked cabinet drawer where SFPD keeps some of its Zodiac case files and evidence.
October 20, 1969, meeting of law enforcement officers from two Bay Area counties and San Francisco in hopes of catching the Zodiac.
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