1 00:00:08,250 --> 00:00:11,902 Tonight, a spree of horrifying murders 2 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,996 Shocks northern california and the world. 3 00:00:15,090 --> 00:00:17,182 Reporter: Search goes on in san francisco 4 00:00:17,334 --> 00:00:19,926 For the man known as the zodiac killer. 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:22,003 The maniacal killer goads police 6 00:00:22,097 --> 00:00:24,189 Leaving cryptic clues to his identity. 7 00:00:25,601 --> 00:00:27,251 John tefft: The suspect's very involved in this. 8 00:00:27,269 --> 00:00:29,770 He seems to enjoy taunting law enforcement. 9 00:00:29,922 --> 00:00:31,938 And he's on a roll of doing this. 10 00:00:32,033 --> 00:00:34,925 It's almost something out of a hollywood movie. 11 00:00:35,018 --> 00:00:37,094 Now, we uncover the top theories 12 00:00:37,112 --> 00:00:39,955 About one of history's most notorious serial killers. 13 00:00:42,376 --> 00:00:43,950 Evy poumpouras: He seemed obsessed with her, 14 00:00:44,045 --> 00:00:46,453 To the point where he followed her every move, 15 00:00:46,547 --> 00:00:48,455 David oranchak: There's a chance that zodiac had more victims 16 00:00:48,549 --> 00:00:50,966 And may have left behind evidence that's gone unnoticed. 17 00:00:52,294 --> 00:00:54,053 Robert schug: Grisly murders start happening 18 00:00:54,204 --> 00:00:58,949 In florence, Italy, and they fit the zodiac's m.O. To a t. 19 00:00:59,042 --> 00:01:00,517 Can new evidence finally crack his code? 20 00:01:02,288 --> 00:01:03,878 Kelly knight: After years and years of trying, 21 00:01:03,898 --> 00:01:06,899 They finally crack the cipher. 22 00:01:07,050 --> 00:01:09,151 And maybe that'll tell us who the killer is once and for all. 23 00:01:10,462 --> 00:01:12,813 Who is the zodiac killer? 24 00:01:12,965 --> 00:01:15,240 [music] 25 00:01:28,997 --> 00:01:33,592 Benicia, california, December 20th, 1968. 26 00:01:35,262 --> 00:01:38,155 At 11:00 p.M., local resident stella borges 27 00:01:38,173 --> 00:01:41,992 Drives along a darkened stretch of lake herman road. 28 00:01:42,085 --> 00:01:44,010 Miss borges comes around the bend, 29 00:01:44,105 --> 00:01:46,939 And then suddenly she sees two bodies lying motionless 30 00:01:47,090 --> 00:01:48,023 On the ground. 31 00:01:50,111 --> 00:01:53,019 She's shocked, but she knows well enough not to linger. 32 00:01:53,172 --> 00:01:56,173 So, she keeps driving until she can flag down a police car. 33 00:01:56,266 --> 00:01:58,525 And when the police come, they're able to identify 34 00:01:58,619 --> 00:02:00,677 The two individuals-- 35 00:02:00,696 --> 00:02:03,847 Betty lou jensen, who's 16 years old, 36 00:02:03,940 --> 00:02:06,774 And david faraday, who's 17 years old. 37 00:02:06,794 --> 00:02:09,611 Just two high school students on their first date. 38 00:02:09,705 --> 00:02:12,464 Robert: Detectives examine the bodies and see that david 39 00:02:12,616 --> 00:02:15,283 Was killed by a single gunshot behind his left ear. 40 00:02:15,302 --> 00:02:17,861 Betty lou was shot five times in the back. 41 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,864 Laurence: Police are stumped why anyone would commit 42 00:02:20,883 --> 00:02:25,385 An execution-style murder on an innocent high school couple. 43 00:02:25,537 --> 00:02:27,537 Michael butterfield: There was no evidence of any robbery 44 00:02:27,631 --> 00:02:29,481 Or sexual assault of any kind, 45 00:02:29,708 --> 00:02:31,208 Which led them to believe that it might have been 46 00:02:31,301 --> 00:02:33,235 A random attack by a stranger. 47 00:02:34,713 --> 00:02:37,138 Laurence: For seven months police have no leads. 48 00:02:37,158 --> 00:02:40,384 Then, on July 4th, 1969, 49 00:02:40,402 --> 00:02:43,662 They receive a shocking phone call. 50 00:02:43,813 --> 00:02:46,072 Kelly: The call is taken by vallejo police dispatcher 51 00:02:46,225 --> 00:02:48,225 Nancy slover, and the caller 52 00:02:48,318 --> 00:02:50,652 Speaks in a very low, monotone voice, 53 00:02:50,671 --> 00:02:53,897 And describes where two bodies can be found. 54 00:02:53,916 --> 00:02:55,507 He also states that they've been shot 55 00:02:55,659 --> 00:02:57,734 With a 9-millimeter luger. 56 00:02:57,827 --> 00:02:59,661 And before he ends the phone call, 57 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,515 He also says, "I also killed those kids last year." 58 00:03:03,742 --> 00:03:06,092 Robert: Police rush to blue rock springs park 59 00:03:06,187 --> 00:03:07,186 In the city of vallejo 60 00:03:07,337 --> 00:03:09,413 Four miles from the first crime scene. 61 00:03:09,506 --> 00:03:12,766 When they arrive, they find another young couple 62 00:03:12,860 --> 00:03:15,843 Inside of the car suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. 63 00:03:15,863 --> 00:03:19,448 Laurence: Emts quickly transport the victims to the hospital. 64 00:03:21,093 --> 00:03:25,262 22-year-old darlene ferrin is pronounced dead on arrival. 65 00:03:25,355 --> 00:03:28,598 But 19-year-old michael mageau survives. 66 00:03:28,617 --> 00:03:30,283 Michael is badly injured, 67 00:03:30,377 --> 00:03:32,702 But he's still able to describe what happened. 68 00:03:34,048 --> 00:03:36,548 He says that they were randomly attacked by a stranger 69 00:03:36,700 --> 00:03:38,792 Who shined a flashlight in their faces 70 00:03:38,944 --> 00:03:41,945 Right before he fired five shots. 71 00:03:42,038 --> 00:03:45,282 John: He describes the suspect as a caucasian, 72 00:03:45,300 --> 00:03:47,875 About 30 years old, 5'8", 73 00:03:47,895 --> 00:03:50,479 200 pounds, with short curly hair. 74 00:03:51,974 --> 00:03:55,400 Evy: The bay area now has a serial killer on the loose. 75 00:03:55,552 --> 00:03:57,903 He's claimed three victims so far, nearly four. 76 00:03:59,798 --> 00:04:02,482 Laurence: Almost a month after the vallejo attacks, 77 00:04:02,576 --> 00:04:05,244 The killer contacts local press. 78 00:04:05,395 --> 00:04:09,806 He includes a strange three-part coded message, or cipher. 79 00:04:09,899 --> 00:04:13,326 Michael: On July 31st three bay area newspapers 80 00:04:13,420 --> 00:04:16,480 Receive three virtually identical handwritten letters 81 00:04:16,498 --> 00:04:18,665 From someone who claims to be the killer. 82 00:04:18,759 --> 00:04:21,668 He demands that a cipher which is included with the letters 83 00:04:21,820 --> 00:04:23,820 Be published on August 1st, 84 00:04:23,913 --> 00:04:25,931 Or he threatens to kill more victims. 85 00:04:27,342 --> 00:04:29,009 Laurence: The cipher and the accompanying letters 86 00:04:29,161 --> 00:04:31,770 Are published, as demanded. 87 00:04:31,997 --> 00:04:36,182 Then, on August 4th, another letter arrives. 88 00:04:36,277 --> 00:04:39,444 Kelly: This letter sent to the san francisco examiner 89 00:04:39,596 --> 00:04:44,174 Says, "dear editor, this is the zodiac speaking." 90 00:04:44,192 --> 00:04:46,267 And now, our killer has a name. 91 00:04:46,361 --> 00:04:47,286 Laurence: Zodiac. 92 00:04:48,864 --> 00:04:52,682 His name becomes front-page news in the bay area. 93 00:04:52,776 --> 00:04:55,210 That publicity quickly leads to a breakthrough. 94 00:04:57,039 --> 00:05:00,524 Michael: On August 8th, 1969, news broke 95 00:05:00,617 --> 00:05:02,617 That the zodiac's cipher had been solved 96 00:05:02,711 --> 00:05:04,711 By a couple in salinas, california. 97 00:05:04,805 --> 00:05:06,788 The message read that, 98 00:05:06,807 --> 00:05:09,549 "man is the most dangerous animal of all." 99 00:05:09,643 --> 00:05:13,036 The writer also states that the victims he had killed 100 00:05:13,055 --> 00:05:15,897 Would serve as his slaves in the afterlife. 101 00:05:17,209 --> 00:05:19,392 Evy: But it doesn't reveal his identity. 102 00:05:19,486 --> 00:05:22,228 In fact, it specifically says that he won't give his name 103 00:05:22,381 --> 00:05:24,731 Because he intends to keep killing. 104 00:05:24,825 --> 00:05:26,900 John: People are already scared about these murders. 105 00:05:26,994 --> 00:05:30,162 The victims on this are young, they appear to be random, 106 00:05:30,389 --> 00:05:32,389 And now we have all these letters coming out, 107 00:05:32,482 --> 00:05:34,816 And it shows that this maniacal killer 108 00:05:34,910 --> 00:05:37,410 That likes to play games, likes to taunt law enforcement, 109 00:05:37,504 --> 00:05:39,504 It's almost something out of a hollywood movie. 110 00:05:42,176 --> 00:05:46,261 Laurence: On September 27th, the zodiac keeps his word. 111 00:05:47,756 --> 00:05:50,665 Kelly: At 7:40 p.M., the police receive a phone call 112 00:05:50,684 --> 00:05:52,333 From the zodiac, 113 00:05:52,353 --> 00:05:55,145 Again in that low, monotone voice. 114 00:05:56,598 --> 00:05:58,005 Evy: He tells the dispatcher that he wants to report 115 00:05:58,025 --> 00:05:59,583 A double murder. 116 00:05:59,601 --> 00:06:01,585 The bodies can be found at lake berryessa 117 00:06:01,603 --> 00:06:03,920 In napa county. 118 00:06:04,013 --> 00:06:05,864 John: When the police arrive at lake berryessa, 119 00:06:06,091 --> 00:06:08,758 They find the bodies of two college students-- 120 00:06:08,852 --> 00:06:11,611 Bryan hartnell and cecelia shepard. 121 00:06:11,705 --> 00:06:14,431 Both victims had been stabbed multiple times. 122 00:06:14,524 --> 00:06:15,949 Evy: Shepard dies from her injuries, 123 00:06:16,043 --> 00:06:17,358 But hartnell's lucky. 124 00:06:17,452 --> 00:06:21,046 None of his vital organs were struck, so he survives. 125 00:06:21,273 --> 00:06:23,440 Michael: Bryan hartnell tells police that the man 126 00:06:23,533 --> 00:06:26,534 Was over six feet tall, was heavyset, 127 00:06:26,553 --> 00:06:28,278 That he was wearing a hooded costume 128 00:06:28,296 --> 00:06:30,538 With a crossed circle on the chest. 129 00:06:30,557 --> 00:06:32,616 Laurence: That same chilling symbol appears 130 00:06:32,634 --> 00:06:36,377 In zodiac's letters, causing widespread public fear. 131 00:06:36,471 --> 00:06:37,954 John: At this point, 132 00:06:38,047 --> 00:06:38,972 Descriptions of the zodiac killer 133 00:06:39,124 --> 00:06:40,047 Are all over the media. 134 00:06:40,142 --> 00:06:42,292 Reporter: Search goes on in san francisco 135 00:06:42,385 --> 00:06:44,903 For the man known as the zodiac killer. 136 00:06:45,130 --> 00:06:47,072 He was a big guy, six foot or better, 137 00:06:47,223 --> 00:06:48,982 Over 200 pounds. 138 00:06:49,134 --> 00:06:50,867 And tips are just pouring in to law enforcement. 139 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,638 Michael: Some witnesses reported that they had seen a man 140 00:06:54,656 --> 00:06:57,582 Lurking in the area just prior to the attack. 141 00:06:57,809 --> 00:07:01,811 Laurence: The man's name, arthur leigh allen. 142 00:07:01,830 --> 00:07:04,481 When police dive into allen's background, 143 00:07:04,574 --> 00:07:06,741 They find a ton of red flags. 144 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,077 In 1968, the same year the killings start, 145 00:07:10,097 --> 00:07:12,413 He's fired from his job as a schoolteacher 146 00:07:12,433 --> 00:07:13,598 For molesting a student. 147 00:07:17,104 --> 00:07:19,604 Robert: Allen was apparently seen at lake berryessa 148 00:07:19,831 --> 00:07:22,423 On the day of the attack, but he tells police 149 00:07:22,443 --> 00:07:24,592 That he was scuba diving at a totally different area 150 00:07:24,686 --> 00:07:26,519 Called salt point that day, 151 00:07:26,672 --> 00:07:28,280 And he spent the night out there. 152 00:07:28,431 --> 00:07:31,950 There are no witnesses to corroborate his alibi. 153 00:07:32,177 --> 00:07:34,344 Laurence: Even allen's own friends and family 154 00:07:34,362 --> 00:07:36,179 Are suspicious. 155 00:07:36,198 --> 00:07:39,032 Kelly: Don cheney is a close friend of allen, 156 00:07:39,126 --> 00:07:42,944 And he tells police that allen is in fact writing a book 157 00:07:43,038 --> 00:07:45,613 About a character that kills couples, 158 00:07:45,707 --> 00:07:47,524 Taunts police with letters, 159 00:07:47,617 --> 00:07:49,801 And even calls himself the zodiac. 160 00:07:51,213 --> 00:07:53,472 Michael: Police interviewed allen's brother ron, 161 00:07:53,699 --> 00:07:56,049 Who said that their mother had given allen 162 00:07:56,143 --> 00:08:01,146 A zodiac brand wristwatch for a christmas gift in 1967. 163 00:08:01,373 --> 00:08:03,315 This watch featured the crossed circle symbol 164 00:08:03,542 --> 00:08:05,633 Used by the killer. 165 00:08:05,727 --> 00:08:08,545 Laurence: But not everything lines up. 166 00:08:08,638 --> 00:08:10,322 There are certainly some discrepancies 167 00:08:10,473 --> 00:08:12,048 In the witness statements. 168 00:08:12,141 --> 00:08:15,902 For one, allen is 6'1" and 240 pounds, 169 00:08:15,996 --> 00:08:18,388 Which is much bigger than previous witness statements 170 00:08:18,406 --> 00:08:19,664 Have described. 171 00:08:19,891 --> 00:08:21,891 Evy: He's also bald on top, while the witnesses 172 00:08:21,985 --> 00:08:24,394 Mentioned short brown curly hair. 173 00:08:24,487 --> 00:08:26,896 Laurence: And that's not the only issue. 174 00:08:26,915 --> 00:08:30,008 Allen's writing doesn't match zodiac's. 175 00:08:31,737 --> 00:08:35,922 Police dispatcher nancy slover also doesn't think it's allen. 176 00:08:36,074 --> 00:08:39,242 When she's asked to listen to a recording of allen's voice, 177 00:08:39,261 --> 00:08:41,353 Slover is confident that is not the man 178 00:08:41,580 --> 00:08:44,338 Who called in to report the first murders. 179 00:08:44,358 --> 00:08:45,941 It's not zodiac. 180 00:08:47,419 --> 00:08:50,270 Laurence: Allen dies in 1992 without being arrested 181 00:08:50,364 --> 00:08:52,756 Or charged in any zodiac murder, 182 00:08:52,774 --> 00:08:55,683 Including one that takes place in san francisco 183 00:08:55,702 --> 00:08:57,827 In October 1969. 184 00:09:00,615 --> 00:09:02,448 Kelly: Three teenagers are sitting in their apartment 185 00:09:02,543 --> 00:09:06,286 In san francisco when they believe they hear a gunshot. 186 00:09:06,438 --> 00:09:08,605 Evy: They look out the window and they see a man 187 00:09:08,623 --> 00:09:13,126 Hovering over a taxicab driver in what appears to be a robbery. 188 00:09:13,278 --> 00:09:14,778 Michael: One of them calls police 189 00:09:14,871 --> 00:09:16,780 To report the crime in progress, 190 00:09:16,873 --> 00:09:18,948 And reports that they saw the killer 191 00:09:18,967 --> 00:09:22,561 Apparently wiping down the cab with some sort of cloth. 192 00:09:22,788 --> 00:09:24,454 Laurence: When they arrive, they find 193 00:09:24,547 --> 00:09:27,290 29-year-old taxi driver paul stine 194 00:09:27,309 --> 00:09:31,311 Dead from a gunshot wound to the head. 195 00:09:31,405 --> 00:09:33,129 Evy: There are a few other similar murders 196 00:09:33,148 --> 00:09:35,740 That some suspect could be connected, 197 00:09:35,967 --> 00:09:38,059 But this is the last killing that the zodiac 198 00:09:38,153 --> 00:09:40,061 Explicitly takes credit for 199 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,305 In a letter sent to the newspaper. 200 00:09:42,398 --> 00:09:44,398 Kelly: After the stine murder 201 00:09:44,492 --> 00:09:47,811 Zodiac keeps sending letters intermittently for a few years, 202 00:09:47,904 --> 00:09:50,830 And some even include more cryptograms. 203 00:09:50,924 --> 00:09:53,666 This psychopathic killer seems to think of himself 204 00:09:53,819 --> 00:09:57,003 As some uncatchable genius. 205 00:09:57,097 --> 00:10:00,081 Laurence: All told, zodiac sends more than 20 letters 206 00:10:00,175 --> 00:10:02,583 And a total of four ciphers. 207 00:10:02,603 --> 00:10:06,896 Then, in January 1974, they suddenly stop. 208 00:10:08,758 --> 00:10:11,184 Luckily, the stine murder has something 209 00:10:11,336 --> 00:10:15,596 None of the others do-- independent eyewitnesses. 210 00:10:15,690 --> 00:10:17,282 Evy: Thanks to these witnesses, 211 00:10:17,509 --> 00:10:19,359 Police are able to make a composite drawing, 212 00:10:19,453 --> 00:10:22,120 Which two days later, they're released to the media. 213 00:10:22,271 --> 00:10:24,013 We should mention that this sketch 214 00:10:24,107 --> 00:10:26,683 Looks nothing like arthur leigh allen, 215 00:10:26,701 --> 00:10:29,369 But it does open the floodgates for a lot more tips, 216 00:10:29,521 --> 00:10:31,779 And police are about to have a lot more suspects 217 00:10:31,873 --> 00:10:33,298 To investigate. 218 00:10:37,529 --> 00:10:38,862 Laurence: After the zodiac killer 219 00:10:38,955 --> 00:10:42,548 Goes on a 10-month killing spree that claims five victims, 220 00:10:42,701 --> 00:10:44,976 Police get a break. 221 00:10:45,128 --> 00:10:47,979 Eyewitnesses help them create a composite sketch 222 00:10:48,206 --> 00:10:50,723 With one vital clue. 223 00:10:50,876 --> 00:10:52,542 This is the first sketch 224 00:10:52,560 --> 00:10:54,544 That shows the suspect wearing glasses. 225 00:10:54,562 --> 00:10:56,303 Evy: Immediately, the police tip line 226 00:10:56,323 --> 00:10:58,490 Gets flooded with calls. 227 00:10:58,717 --> 00:11:00,550 Everybody and their mother thinks that they know somebody 228 00:11:00,568 --> 00:11:02,827 Who resembles the man in the sketch. 229 00:11:03,054 --> 00:11:04,570 Robert: Police estimate they've tracked 230 00:11:04,723 --> 00:11:08,333 Over 2,500 suspects in the zodiac case. 231 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:11,077 Most are very quick dead-ends, people with alibis 232 00:11:11,229 --> 00:11:13,730 Or with no connections whatsoever 233 00:11:13,748 --> 00:11:16,065 To locations or victims in the case. 234 00:11:16,159 --> 00:11:18,677 Laurence: Most, but not all. 235 00:11:18,828 --> 00:11:20,904 Evy: There's a journalist and amateur investigator 236 00:11:20,922 --> 00:11:22,922 Named blaine blaine, who at the time 237 00:11:23,074 --> 00:11:24,590 Of the zodiac killings 238 00:11:24,743 --> 00:11:27,001 Writes a column named "cop watch" 239 00:11:27,020 --> 00:11:28,853 For the good times newspaper. 240 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,190 He's fascinated by the case and spends 10 years 241 00:11:32,341 --> 00:11:34,508 Looking for a suspect who matches the sketch. 242 00:11:34,528 --> 00:11:37,437 Kelly: Blaine studies the ciphers. 243 00:11:37,589 --> 00:11:40,514 He compiles a list of the victims' friends, 244 00:11:40,534 --> 00:11:43,443 Neighbors, classmates, you name it. 245 00:11:43,595 --> 00:11:46,429 He looks at every angle possible. 246 00:11:46,448 --> 00:11:49,523 And eventually, he finds his perfect match, 247 00:11:49,543 --> 00:11:52,711 Army veteran richard gaikowski. 248 00:11:52,862 --> 00:11:54,938 John: We should start off by saying just because someone 249 00:11:54,956 --> 00:11:57,364 Looks like the sketch, doesn't make that person guilty. 250 00:11:57,384 --> 00:11:58,699 Doesn't even make 'em the suspect. 251 00:11:58,793 --> 00:12:00,626 That's kind of a long shot. 252 00:12:00,779 --> 00:12:02,203 But the photos are very striking, 253 00:12:02,222 --> 00:12:04,538 And gaikowski definitely fits the description 254 00:12:04,558 --> 00:12:06,299 Of the zodiac killer. 255 00:12:06,451 --> 00:12:08,042 But of course, blaine doesn't stop there. 256 00:12:08,061 --> 00:12:10,636 He finds a lot more circumstantial evidence. 257 00:12:10,731 --> 00:12:12,638 John: Gaikowski is a journalist, 258 00:12:12,733 --> 00:12:15,900 And he moved to martinez, california, in 1964, 259 00:12:16,052 --> 00:12:19,796 Four years before the first known zodiac murder. 260 00:12:19,814 --> 00:12:22,632 Laurence: Martinez is within one hour 261 00:12:22,650 --> 00:12:25,485 Of all the known murder sites. 262 00:12:25,579 --> 00:12:27,561 He's in the right place at the right time, 263 00:12:27,581 --> 00:12:29,730 And with the right appearance. 264 00:12:29,824 --> 00:12:32,825 But the really big red flag, the most suspicious thing 265 00:12:32,919 --> 00:12:35,402 About gaikowski and his link to the zodiac killings 266 00:12:35,497 --> 00:12:38,648 Comes when blaine looks into the lives of the victims. 267 00:12:38,666 --> 00:12:40,817 Laurence: It appears gaikowski has a connection 268 00:12:40,835 --> 00:12:44,170 To at least one victim-- darlene ferrin. 269 00:12:44,264 --> 00:12:48,491 Evy: In January of 1966, darlene ferrin gets married, 270 00:12:48,510 --> 00:12:50,827 And with her husband move to albany, new york. 271 00:12:50,845 --> 00:12:52,604 The next thing you know, richard gaikowski 272 00:12:52,755 --> 00:12:55,923 Uproots his life and then moves to albany as well. 273 00:12:56,017 --> 00:12:58,109 Kelly: When darlene and her husband 274 00:12:58,336 --> 00:13:00,503 Move back to northern california, 275 00:13:00,596 --> 00:13:04,598 Richard also moves back to northern california. 276 00:13:04,618 --> 00:13:06,951 Blaine does not think this is a coincidence at all. 277 00:13:08,513 --> 00:13:10,437 Laurence: When authorities read blaine's dossier, 278 00:13:10,532 --> 00:13:14,626 They find it convincing enough to open an investigation. 279 00:13:14,777 --> 00:13:17,537 Police immediately confirm several key details 280 00:13:17,689 --> 00:13:19,113 From blaine's report. 281 00:13:19,132 --> 00:13:22,358 First, gaikowski lived only 12 miles from blue rock springs, 282 00:13:22,451 --> 00:13:24,210 Where darlene was murdered. 283 00:13:24,362 --> 00:13:26,304 And second, he seemed obsessed with her, 284 00:13:26,455 --> 00:13:27,972 To the point where he followed her every move. 285 00:13:29,384 --> 00:13:31,125 Laurence: Detectives look into other possible links 286 00:13:31,144 --> 00:13:33,645 To the zodiac's victims. 287 00:13:33,796 --> 00:13:36,463 They look back at the lake berryessa crime scene 288 00:13:36,558 --> 00:13:39,800 Where cecelia shepard and bryan hartnell were attacked, 289 00:13:39,820 --> 00:13:43,822 And they find a very specific style of footprint. 290 00:13:44,049 --> 00:13:46,640 Evy: They're from a special wing walker model of a boot 291 00:13:46,734 --> 00:13:48,718 Worn by the army. 292 00:13:48,736 --> 00:13:50,811 You know who's a medic in the u.S. Army? 293 00:13:50,905 --> 00:13:53,164 Richard gaikowski. 294 00:13:53,391 --> 00:13:55,482 Laurence: There's a possible connection between gaikowski 295 00:13:55,502 --> 00:13:58,002 And victim paul stine as well. 296 00:13:58,154 --> 00:14:00,505 John: When the police interview stine's sister, 297 00:14:00,656 --> 00:14:05,159 She tells them that gaikowski attended stine's funeral. 298 00:14:05,253 --> 00:14:06,660 She found this very odd 299 00:14:06,754 --> 00:14:08,680 Because the two men were not friends. 300 00:14:08,907 --> 00:14:10,089 They weren't acquainted anywhere. 301 00:14:10,241 --> 00:14:13,076 Why would he be at her brother's funeral? 302 00:14:13,094 --> 00:14:16,170 Kelly: So now, we have connections between gaikowski 303 00:14:16,264 --> 00:14:19,415 And three of the four known murders. 304 00:14:19,508 --> 00:14:22,251 The next thing police look at is the letters. 305 00:14:22,270 --> 00:14:24,511 Robert: Zodiac writes letters regularly 306 00:14:24,606 --> 00:14:27,106 Starting in August of 1969. 307 00:14:27,258 --> 00:14:29,092 Pretty much every couple of months, 308 00:14:29,110 --> 00:14:32,762 Letters show up until March of 1971. 309 00:14:32,780 --> 00:14:37,100 Then, suddenly, he's silent for almost three years. 310 00:14:37,118 --> 00:14:41,270 The final letter comes in January 1974. 311 00:14:41,289 --> 00:14:44,048 Laurence: This three-year gap coincides with a time 312 00:14:44,275 --> 00:14:46,943 When gaikowski is committed to a mental asylum. 313 00:14:46,961 --> 00:14:48,535 Robert: We don't have a lot of details 314 00:14:48,555 --> 00:14:50,613 On his involuntary commitment, 315 00:14:50,706 --> 00:14:53,132 But we know he spent time at napa state hospital 316 00:14:53,284 --> 00:14:55,968 For quote, "going berserk." 317 00:14:56,121 --> 00:14:58,121 Laurence: And there's one more clue 318 00:14:58,139 --> 00:15:00,640 Hidden in the zodiac's first cryptogram. 319 00:15:00,792 --> 00:15:03,292 Evy: Zodiac said he was identifying himself 320 00:15:03,311 --> 00:15:08,406 In that first set of cryptograms from August 1st, 1969, 321 00:15:08,557 --> 00:15:11,725 But there was no name listed when the code was cracked. 322 00:15:11,745 --> 00:15:15,655 But what if the name was buried in the code itself? 323 00:15:15,807 --> 00:15:18,474 In one part of the code you can clearly see the letters 324 00:15:18,493 --> 00:15:22,069 G-y-k-e-- gyke. 325 00:15:22,088 --> 00:15:25,314 In articles written by gaikowski in 1969, 326 00:15:25,333 --> 00:15:28,909 He frequently shortened his name to four letters. 327 00:15:28,929 --> 00:15:32,931 He used multiple spellings such as g-I-k-e 328 00:15:33,082 --> 00:15:35,825 Or g-a-I-k. 329 00:15:35,843 --> 00:15:38,419 Some theorists have taken this even further. 330 00:15:38,513 --> 00:15:41,439 The translation of those letters once the code was solved 331 00:15:41,590 --> 00:15:44,167 Is a-u-s-e. 332 00:15:44,185 --> 00:15:47,094 And again, once you look at both the code 333 00:15:47,113 --> 00:15:50,523 And the solution, you see the letters k-e-y. 334 00:15:50,675 --> 00:15:54,619 "gyke," "ause," "key." gaikowski. 335 00:15:54,770 --> 00:15:57,513 The killer says his identity was in the cipher. 336 00:15:57,532 --> 00:15:58,539 Was he telling the truth? 337 00:15:59,960 --> 00:16:02,443 Laurence: By 1985, blaine is ready 338 00:16:02,462 --> 00:16:05,630 To take his investigation to the next level. 339 00:16:05,781 --> 00:16:07,948 Blaine wants more definitive proof 340 00:16:07,968 --> 00:16:10,451 That gaikowski is, in fact, zodiac. 341 00:16:10,470 --> 00:16:13,196 So, he calls him up and tricks him 342 00:16:13,214 --> 00:16:16,882 Into talking about code, and records the conversation. 343 00:16:17,035 --> 00:16:19,218 Well, detectives get this tape from blaine. 344 00:16:19,370 --> 00:16:22,296 Then they ask nancy slover, the police dispatch 345 00:16:22,315 --> 00:16:24,373 Who actually talked to the zodiac, 346 00:16:24,467 --> 00:16:26,633 To listen to gaikowski's voice. 347 00:16:26,728 --> 00:16:29,821 She says it's the same as the zodiac killer's voice. 348 00:16:31,399 --> 00:16:33,216 Laurence: Detectives confront gaikowski 349 00:16:33,309 --> 00:16:35,309 And ask him where he was at the time 350 00:16:35,328 --> 00:16:38,070 Of the lake herman road murders. 351 00:16:38,164 --> 00:16:40,906 Robert: And gaikowski tells them that he was overseas 352 00:16:41,059 --> 00:16:43,150 Covering the conflict in northern ireland 353 00:16:43,169 --> 00:16:46,245 For the knickerbocker newspaper. 354 00:16:46,339 --> 00:16:48,297 Laurence: Authorities immediately check his alibi. 355 00:16:50,418 --> 00:16:53,252 Kelly: Detectives pull gaikowski's passport application 356 00:16:53,404 --> 00:16:56,663 Which is dated October 1968. 357 00:16:56,758 --> 00:16:59,925 In the box where it says approximate date of departure, 358 00:17:00,078 --> 00:17:03,837 It says November 1st, 1968. 359 00:17:03,857 --> 00:17:06,916 Now, this isn't proof that he traveled on that day, 360 00:17:06,934 --> 00:17:08,693 But it does show that he intended to. 361 00:17:10,421 --> 00:17:11,845 John: Now, this isn't a foolproof alibi. 362 00:17:11,939 --> 00:17:13,256 He could have applied for a passport 363 00:17:13,274 --> 00:17:14,681 And not traveled on it. 364 00:17:14,701 --> 00:17:17,017 He could have written articles about northern ireland 365 00:17:17,111 --> 00:17:19,612 From any location, and just pretended to be in europe. 366 00:17:19,764 --> 00:17:22,623 Is it possible? Yes, but very unlikely. 367 00:17:24,044 --> 00:17:26,193 Laurence: Frustrated, police make one final effort 368 00:17:26,212 --> 00:17:28,287 To gather proof. 369 00:17:28,381 --> 00:17:30,864 Kelly: Detectives have a handwriting expert 370 00:17:30,884 --> 00:17:32,942 Look at gaikowski's handwriting 371 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,369 And compare it to the zodiac killer's. 372 00:17:35,463 --> 00:17:38,389 The expert concluded that those two samples did not match. 373 00:17:39,726 --> 00:17:41,967 Evy: With no physical evidence tying gaikowski 374 00:17:42,062 --> 00:17:45,121 To any of the zodiac murders, detectives determine 375 00:17:45,139 --> 00:17:46,898 That there is not enough probable cause 376 00:17:47,125 --> 00:17:49,216 For either an arrest or a search warrant. 377 00:17:49,235 --> 00:17:51,961 At the time of his death in 2004, 378 00:17:51,979 --> 00:17:54,906 Gaikowski is officially no longer a suspect. 379 00:18:00,229 --> 00:18:02,655 Laurence: Between 1969 and 1970, 380 00:18:02,749 --> 00:18:05,658 The zodiac killer sends four coded messages 381 00:18:05,752 --> 00:18:06,918 To newspapers. 382 00:18:07,145 --> 00:18:09,495 But after codebreakers solve the first cipher 383 00:18:09,647 --> 00:18:11,814 In less than a week, the remaining three 384 00:18:11,833 --> 00:18:14,241 Stay unbroken for decades. 385 00:18:14,260 --> 00:18:17,244 Evy: A couple in salinas solved the first cryptogram 386 00:18:17,263 --> 00:18:19,505 By using what they call a crib. 387 00:18:19,599 --> 00:18:21,415 That's where you guess the words and phrases 388 00:18:21,434 --> 00:18:23,083 That you think might be in the cipher, 389 00:18:23,177 --> 00:18:24,751 And then you go from there. 390 00:18:24,771 --> 00:18:26,162 Michael: They believed that the cipher 391 00:18:26,255 --> 00:18:27,939 Would contain the word "kill," 392 00:18:28,090 --> 00:18:30,274 So they looked for pairings of certain symbols 393 00:18:30,501 --> 00:18:32,501 That could represent two letter "l"s. 394 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,003 And they were successful. 395 00:18:34,096 --> 00:18:36,505 The message read, "I like killing people 396 00:18:36,524 --> 00:18:38,341 Because it's so much fun." 397 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,100 Kelly: Once they verified 398 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:42,361 The corresponding symbols for that phrase, 399 00:18:42,513 --> 00:18:44,622 The rest of it they solved pretty quickly. 400 00:18:44,773 --> 00:18:46,699 Michael: Zodiac's following ciphers 401 00:18:46,793 --> 00:18:50,128 Are infinitely more complex, and for 51 years 402 00:18:50,355 --> 00:18:51,871 Cryptologists don't even come close 403 00:18:52,023 --> 00:18:54,281 To solving the remaining ciphers. 404 00:18:54,375 --> 00:18:57,618 Investigators wonder if this is one of zodiac's tricks. 405 00:18:57,712 --> 00:19:01,530 Laurence: Then, in 2020, an all-star group of decoders 406 00:19:01,549 --> 00:19:03,624 Takes on the challenge, 407 00:19:03,643 --> 00:19:07,979 Hoping to crack one of the three unsolved zodiac ciphers. 408 00:19:08,130 --> 00:19:11,207 David: I got involved with this case about 15 years ago. 409 00:19:11,300 --> 00:19:12,817 We decided to try to decode 410 00:19:13,044 --> 00:19:15,227 A 340-character cryptogram by zodiac 411 00:19:15,380 --> 00:19:17,989 That he had mailed on November 8th, 1969. 412 00:19:18,140 --> 00:19:20,733 We planned to use a method called homophonic substitution, 413 00:19:20,885 --> 00:19:22,401 And that's where one letter might be swapped 414 00:19:22,553 --> 00:19:24,311 For multiple symbols. 415 00:19:24,405 --> 00:19:27,147 Laurence: The team creates a powerful software program 416 00:19:27,167 --> 00:19:30,059 That processes millions of homophonic substitutions 417 00:19:30,077 --> 00:19:31,485 Per second. 418 00:19:31,579 --> 00:19:35,414 They run this software program for months and months, 419 00:19:35,566 --> 00:19:37,341 And not much happens. 420 00:19:37,568 --> 00:19:39,677 Then one day, they run an updated version 421 00:19:39,904 --> 00:19:43,848 Of the software, and they finally solve the cipher. 422 00:19:43,999 --> 00:19:46,851 David: Over time we were able to identify a few phrases 423 00:19:47,078 --> 00:19:49,020 That ended up being part of the right solution. 424 00:19:49,171 --> 00:19:50,837 Phrases like "trying to catch me" 425 00:19:50,932 --> 00:19:52,190 And "gas chamber." 426 00:19:52,341 --> 00:19:54,841 Once we saw those phrases, we took a closer look 427 00:19:54,936 --> 00:19:57,102 In our experiments, and after a little bit of effort, 428 00:19:57,255 --> 00:19:59,255 We were able to unlock the entire message. 429 00:19:59,273 --> 00:20:01,365 Evy: The newly decoded message picks up 430 00:20:01,592 --> 00:20:04,260 Where the last cryptogram left off. 431 00:20:04,353 --> 00:20:07,521 It said, "I hope you are having lots of fun trying to catch me. 432 00:20:07,615 --> 00:20:09,373 "that wasn't me on the tv show, 433 00:20:09,525 --> 00:20:11,209 "which brings up a point about me. 434 00:20:11,436 --> 00:20:13,026 "I am not afraid of the gas chamber, 435 00:20:13,046 --> 00:20:15,271 "because it will send me to paradise all the sooner, 436 00:20:15,289 --> 00:20:17,698 "because I now have enough slaves to work for me 437 00:20:17,792 --> 00:20:20,276 "where everyone else has nothing when they reach paradise, 438 00:20:20,369 --> 00:20:21,886 "so they are afraid of death. 439 00:20:22,037 --> 00:20:23,779 "I am not afraid, because I know 440 00:20:23,798 --> 00:20:26,540 That my new life will be an easy one in paradise." 441 00:20:26,634 --> 00:20:28,059 If this one can be solved, 442 00:20:28,286 --> 00:20:30,119 Then maybe the other two can be solved as well, 443 00:20:30,212 --> 00:20:33,789 And maybe that will tell us who the killer is once and for all. 444 00:20:33,808 --> 00:20:37,050 Laurence: Among those eager to solve the remaining cryptograms 445 00:20:37,070 --> 00:20:39,795 Is parisian engineer faycal ziraoui. 446 00:20:39,814 --> 00:20:45,484 In 2020, ziraoui zeroes in on one in particular. 447 00:20:45,636 --> 00:20:48,913 Ziraoui writes his own software to tackle what is thought 448 00:20:49,064 --> 00:20:52,141 To be the most difficult cryptogram of them all. 449 00:20:52,159 --> 00:20:56,312 Michael: On April 20th, 1970, the zodiac sends a short cipher 450 00:20:56,330 --> 00:21:00,165 Consisting of 13 symbols known as the z13. 451 00:21:00,318 --> 00:21:01,834 Because it's so short, 452 00:21:01,928 --> 00:21:04,077 It makes it much more difficult to crack. 453 00:21:04,097 --> 00:21:07,156 Kelly: It begins with "my name is..." 454 00:21:07,249 --> 00:21:10,268 Followed by a 13-character cryptogram. 455 00:21:10,419 --> 00:21:12,436 Evy: So, solving the cipher is actually supposed 456 00:21:12,663 --> 00:21:14,272 To provide us with the zodiac's name. 457 00:21:14,499 --> 00:21:16,015 Michael: Once again, modern technology 458 00:21:16,109 --> 00:21:17,683 Provides a breakthrough. 459 00:21:17,835 --> 00:21:20,169 Ziraoui's software translates the cipher 460 00:21:20,187 --> 00:21:23,114 As the letters k-a-y-r. 461 00:21:23,265 --> 00:21:25,190 Laurence: To many, the translation 462 00:21:25,285 --> 00:21:27,343 Sounds like gibberish. 463 00:21:27,436 --> 00:21:31,530 But veteran zodiac investigators immediately recognize the name. 464 00:21:31,682 --> 00:21:33,699 Detectives who study the zodiac's letters 465 00:21:33,851 --> 00:21:36,127 Know that he misspells quite a few words. 466 00:21:36,354 --> 00:21:37,870 We think that's often deliberate, 467 00:21:38,022 --> 00:21:42,449 And that "k-a-y-r" might just be "k-a-y-e." 468 00:21:42,468 --> 00:21:45,285 Laurence: This potential solution generates excitement 469 00:21:45,379 --> 00:21:48,380 About a decades-old lead. 470 00:21:48,474 --> 00:21:53,460 In 1973, escalon police detective harvey hines 471 00:21:53,479 --> 00:21:56,814 Is assigned to the case, and keys in on an ex-convict 472 00:21:56,965 --> 00:21:58,649 Named lawrence kaye. 473 00:22:01,970 --> 00:22:03,487 Hines begins looking into kaye 474 00:22:03,714 --> 00:22:06,065 After noticing that kaye's mugshot 475 00:22:06,217 --> 00:22:10,310 Bears a striking resemblance to one of the zodiac sketches. 476 00:22:10,330 --> 00:22:12,054 John: The zodiac is described as a male 477 00:22:12,147 --> 00:22:14,406 Between 40 and 45 years old, 478 00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:18,727 5'9", and 165 pounds with dark-colored hair. 479 00:22:18,821 --> 00:22:21,063 Lawrence kaye is 45 years old, 480 00:22:21,156 --> 00:22:24,175 5'9", dark hair, and 160 pounds. 481 00:22:24,326 --> 00:22:26,326 Michael: Lawrence kaye is a convicted criminal 482 00:22:26,346 --> 00:22:28,237 With a long history of arrests 483 00:22:28,330 --> 00:22:30,422 For voyeurism as a peeping tom, 484 00:22:30,575 --> 00:22:32,999 Prowling, burglary, and more. 485 00:22:33,019 --> 00:22:34,518 David: This is important because criminals 486 00:22:34,745 --> 00:22:36,336 Don't just jump straight to murder. 487 00:22:36,356 --> 00:22:38,022 Their crimes usually escalate. 488 00:22:38,173 --> 00:22:40,024 Robert: Perhaps most surprisingly 489 00:22:40,251 --> 00:22:42,434 In kaye's background is that in 1942 490 00:22:42,528 --> 00:22:44,937 He's admitted to the navy's radio materiel school 491 00:22:45,031 --> 00:22:47,590 In chicago, where he's trained in electronics, 492 00:22:47,683 --> 00:22:50,034 But more importantly, in coding. 493 00:22:50,185 --> 00:22:52,261 This may have also given him access 494 00:22:52,354 --> 00:22:54,263 To the military's wing walker boots, 495 00:22:54,356 --> 00:22:55,539 Which would match the prints 496 00:22:55,766 --> 00:22:58,117 At the lake berryessa murder site. 497 00:22:58,269 --> 00:23:00,452 Laurence: Hines next tracks kaye's movements 498 00:23:00,546 --> 00:23:03,789 On the days surrounding the zodiac killings. 499 00:23:03,883 --> 00:23:07,534 Kaye lives at 217 eddy street in san francisco. 500 00:23:07,553 --> 00:23:09,720 That's only two and a half blocks away 501 00:23:09,947 --> 00:23:11,872 From where the cab driver paul stine 502 00:23:11,891 --> 00:23:14,299 Picked up the zodiac on the night he was murdered. 503 00:23:14,452 --> 00:23:17,043 Hines also discovers that darlene ferrin, 504 00:23:17,063 --> 00:23:18,621 Who was murdered at blue rock springs, 505 00:23:18,639 --> 00:23:20,472 Worked at her aunt's cafe 506 00:23:20,566 --> 00:23:22,808 Which was just two blocks from kaye's apartment. 507 00:23:22,902 --> 00:23:24,476 David: When hines interviews darlene's sister, 508 00:23:24,570 --> 00:23:27,888 Pam huckaby, she recognizes a photo of kaye. 509 00:23:27,907 --> 00:23:29,907 Apparently, he often came to the cafe 510 00:23:30,058 --> 00:23:31,892 To pester her sister, to the point that darlene 511 00:23:31,986 --> 00:23:33,819 Was very afraid of him. 512 00:23:33,971 --> 00:23:36,062 Laurence: But hines needs more than circumstantial evidence 513 00:23:36,157 --> 00:23:38,064 To make his case. 514 00:23:38,084 --> 00:23:40,826 Detective hines contacts bryan hartnell, 515 00:23:40,978 --> 00:23:45,481 Who survived the zodiac's knife attack at lake berryessa, 516 00:23:45,574 --> 00:23:47,425 And he's heard the zodiac's voice. 517 00:23:47,652 --> 00:23:49,910 Evy: Hines secretly records a conversation 518 00:23:49,929 --> 00:23:52,171 With lawrence kaye, and then plays it for hartnell. 519 00:23:52,323 --> 00:23:54,098 And without hesitation, he says, 520 00:23:54,325 --> 00:23:56,508 "this is the voice of the zodiac." 521 00:23:56,661 --> 00:23:58,269 Michael: Hines next pays a visit 522 00:23:58,420 --> 00:24:01,330 To san francisco police officer donald fouke. 523 00:24:01,348 --> 00:24:03,515 Fouke rushed to the crime scene on the night that the cab driver 524 00:24:03,668 --> 00:24:06,185 Was murdered in san francisco. 525 00:24:06,337 --> 00:24:09,262 For years, fouke has claimed that he may have crossed paths 526 00:24:09,356 --> 00:24:11,097 With the killer that night. 527 00:24:11,192 --> 00:24:14,952 He saw someone suspicious who matched later descriptions. 528 00:24:15,179 --> 00:24:17,196 But those descriptions weren't out yet, 529 00:24:17,348 --> 00:24:18,864 And he was on his way to a murder scene, 530 00:24:18,958 --> 00:24:20,199 So he didn't stop. 531 00:24:20,293 --> 00:24:23,368 But fouke claims he's never forgotten that face. 532 00:24:23,521 --> 00:24:26,522 When hines shows fouke a picture of kaye, 533 00:24:26,540 --> 00:24:28,357 He states that out of the hundreds of mugshots 534 00:24:28,450 --> 00:24:29,875 He's seen since the murder, 535 00:24:30,027 --> 00:24:31,694 Kaye's picture bears the most resemblance 536 00:24:31,787 --> 00:24:33,637 To the man he saw that night. 537 00:24:33,864 --> 00:24:36,548 Laurence: With three witnesses identifying kaye 538 00:24:36,642 --> 00:24:39,626 As the zodiac killer, hines takes his report 539 00:24:39,645 --> 00:24:42,646 To captain roy conway and lieutenant james husted 540 00:24:42,798 --> 00:24:45,557 Of the vallejo police department. 541 00:24:45,651 --> 00:24:47,893 Evy: Hines thinks he's solved the case of the century, 542 00:24:47,987 --> 00:24:50,562 And he is expecting a huge pat on the back. 543 00:24:50,656 --> 00:24:53,324 Kelly: But after conway and husted read his report, 544 00:24:53,475 --> 00:24:56,309 They basically say, "thanks, we'll get back to you," 545 00:24:56,403 --> 00:24:58,403 And they never do. 546 00:24:58,498 --> 00:25:01,907 Laurence: Discouraged, hines calls in one final favor. 547 00:25:02,059 --> 00:25:04,150 Of course, cops know a lot of other cops. 548 00:25:04,245 --> 00:25:05,986 So, hines sends his report 549 00:25:06,005 --> 00:25:08,321 To two san bernadino detectives he knows 550 00:25:08,341 --> 00:25:10,065 And begs them to take a look at it. 551 00:25:10,158 --> 00:25:11,491 David: The two detectives read the report, 552 00:25:11,585 --> 00:25:12,568 And they believe it. 553 00:25:12,586 --> 00:25:14,345 They think it's good police work. 554 00:25:14,496 --> 00:25:16,588 Robert: These two detectives fly up to lake tahoe, 555 00:25:16,682 --> 00:25:19,074 They go to kaye's home, they ask him his whereabouts 556 00:25:19,167 --> 00:25:21,018 On the night paul stine was murdered, 557 00:25:21,245 --> 00:25:23,521 Darlene ferrin, all kinds of stuff. 558 00:25:23,748 --> 00:25:25,856 Kaye has an answer for everything. 559 00:25:27,193 --> 00:25:29,193 Laurence: Kaye cooperates with investigators, 560 00:25:29,344 --> 00:25:32,604 Supplying his fingerprints and handwriting samples. 561 00:25:32,757 --> 00:25:34,923 Kelly: So, hines is at home, and he's waiting 562 00:25:34,942 --> 00:25:37,517 With bated breath to hear from the two detectives. 563 00:25:37,537 --> 00:25:40,037 They eventually call him, and they say 564 00:25:40,188 --> 00:25:43,782 That based on kaye's answers and the handwriting sample, 565 00:25:43,934 --> 00:25:45,951 They concluded that he is not the zodiac. 566 00:25:46,103 --> 00:25:48,787 Michael: Kaye passes away in may of 2010. 567 00:25:48,881 --> 00:25:51,440 By this time, he's changed his name to cane, 568 00:25:51,458 --> 00:25:54,718 C-a-n-e, but he's never arrested for the murders. 569 00:26:00,634 --> 00:26:03,302 "zodiac," a pseudonym first published 570 00:26:03,396 --> 00:26:08,457 In a 1969 letter that strikes fear to this day. 571 00:26:08,475 --> 00:26:10,717 For decades, that's all we've known 572 00:26:10,811 --> 00:26:13,053 To call this cryptic killer. 573 00:26:13,147 --> 00:26:16,131 But in 2002 a witness comes forward 574 00:26:16,150 --> 00:26:18,058 With a dark family secret 575 00:26:18,152 --> 00:26:20,411 That may finally reveal his true name. 576 00:26:22,656 --> 00:26:25,991 For most of gary stewart's life, the only parents he knows 577 00:26:26,143 --> 00:26:27,567 Are the ones that adopted him. 578 00:26:27,661 --> 00:26:31,163 Kelly: Stewart is born in 1963. 579 00:26:31,315 --> 00:26:33,924 He's given up for adoption rather quickly 580 00:26:34,151 --> 00:26:36,242 And raised by loyd and leona stewart 581 00:26:36,337 --> 00:26:38,487 Of baton rouge, louisiana. 582 00:26:38,505 --> 00:26:40,489 Evy: He wonders about his birth parents, 583 00:26:40,582 --> 00:26:42,266 But he has no idea who they really are. 584 00:26:42,493 --> 00:26:45,418 But in 2002, when he's 39 years old, 585 00:26:45,438 --> 00:26:49,255 His biological mother, judy gilford, tracks him down. 586 00:26:49,350 --> 00:26:52,517 She tells him how she had him when she was just a teenager, 587 00:26:52,612 --> 00:26:55,003 And his biological father who is now deceased 588 00:26:55,097 --> 00:26:57,673 Is named earl van best, jr. 589 00:26:57,691 --> 00:27:01,452 Back in 1963, van best is 27 years old 590 00:27:01,679 --> 00:27:05,039 When he impregnates gilford, who is only 14. 591 00:27:06,441 --> 00:27:09,275 Van best is sent to prison for statutory rape, 592 00:27:09,370 --> 00:27:12,688 But when he gets out on parole, he and gilford go on the run, 593 00:27:12,781 --> 00:27:14,798 Abandoning their baby in new orleans. 594 00:27:16,135 --> 00:27:17,860 Laurence: Stewart is stunned. 595 00:27:17,878 --> 00:27:19,786 But the biggest shock comes when he sees a photo 596 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:22,306 Of his biological father. 597 00:27:22,533 --> 00:27:24,216 Kelly: When stewart looks at the picture, 598 00:27:24,310 --> 00:27:27,311 He immediately feels like he's seen this face before, 599 00:27:27,538 --> 00:27:29,554 And not because of the family resemblance, 600 00:27:29,649 --> 00:27:32,650 But because it actually bears a striking resemblance 601 00:27:32,877 --> 00:27:34,818 To the wanted poster for the zodiac killer. 602 00:27:38,232 --> 00:27:40,732 This photo serves as a catalyst 603 00:27:40,885 --> 00:27:43,068 For stewart to find out everything he can 604 00:27:43,220 --> 00:27:44,903 About his biological father. 605 00:27:45,055 --> 00:27:47,572 Michael: He starts digging for information, 606 00:27:47,667 --> 00:27:51,076 And quickly learns that van best is a bad guy 607 00:27:51,228 --> 00:27:53,578 With a long history of criminal activity. 608 00:27:53,731 --> 00:27:55,839 He's been convicted of fraud, pedophilia, 609 00:27:56,066 --> 00:27:57,657 Rape, drunk driving, you name it. 610 00:27:57,751 --> 00:28:00,235 Laurence: But not murder. 611 00:28:00,254 --> 00:28:02,846 So, he's a criminal, but is he the zodiac killer? 612 00:28:05,075 --> 00:28:07,075 Laurence: Stewart looks closer into his father's whereabouts 613 00:28:07,169 --> 00:28:09,836 At the time of the murders. 614 00:28:09,855 --> 00:28:11,930 John: Stewart learns that his father was incarcerated 615 00:28:12,024 --> 00:28:13,840 In san quentin prison, 616 00:28:13,859 --> 00:28:15,693 And that he was paroled right before 617 00:28:15,844 --> 00:28:17,861 The first zodiac killings occurred. 618 00:28:19,256 --> 00:28:20,698 Evy: And guess where earl van best ends up 619 00:28:20,849 --> 00:28:22,366 When he's released? 620 00:28:22,593 --> 00:28:26,019 He moves into san francisco's presidio district, 621 00:28:26,038 --> 00:28:28,597 The same neighborhood where cab driver paul stine 622 00:28:28,615 --> 00:28:30,040 Is killed. 623 00:28:30,267 --> 00:28:32,710 For stewart, this is like a bad dream. 624 00:28:32,937 --> 00:28:35,028 Everything he learns about his father 625 00:28:35,047 --> 00:28:37,773 Points to him being the zodiac killer. 626 00:28:37,866 --> 00:28:40,033 Evy: He reads all the zodiac's letters, 627 00:28:40,052 --> 00:28:43,721 And one of them references the musical "the mikado." 628 00:28:43,872 --> 00:28:45,705 Then, he finds out earl van best 629 00:28:45,799 --> 00:28:48,374 Was a huge fan of "the mikado." 630 00:28:48,394 --> 00:28:51,286 Detail after detail is just piling up. 631 00:28:51,379 --> 00:28:54,289 Kelly: Stewart decides that the best way 632 00:28:54,308 --> 00:28:56,792 To unload all of his personal baggage 633 00:28:56,810 --> 00:29:00,237 Is to write a book proving that his father is the zodiac killer. 634 00:29:00,388 --> 00:29:01,905 John: He really doesn't have enough information 635 00:29:02,132 --> 00:29:04,057 To take to a publisher at this time. 636 00:29:04,076 --> 00:29:05,892 But armed with a bunch of circumstantial evidence, 637 00:29:05,911 --> 00:29:07,745 He digs deeper. 638 00:29:07,896 --> 00:29:09,654 Laurence: Stewart hires an expert 639 00:29:09,749 --> 00:29:12,991 To compare his dad's handwriting to the zodiac's. 640 00:29:13,085 --> 00:29:15,310 Kelly: This is a moment of truth for stewart. 641 00:29:15,329 --> 00:29:17,737 This is where a lot of the other zodiac suspects 642 00:29:17,831 --> 00:29:19,572 Have fallen apart. 643 00:29:19,592 --> 00:29:22,760 John: The handwriting expert compares the handwriting 644 00:29:22,987 --> 00:29:25,320 Of van best's marriage certificate 645 00:29:25,413 --> 00:29:27,264 To the handwriting of the letters 646 00:29:27,491 --> 00:29:30,008 Sent to the newspaper by the zodiac killer. 647 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:32,418 Evy: And after hours of detailed analysis, 648 00:29:32,438 --> 00:29:35,105 He concludes they are a match. 649 00:29:35,257 --> 00:29:38,758 Laurence: Next, stewart asks police 650 00:29:38,778 --> 00:29:40,519 To compare his father's fingerprints 651 00:29:40,613 --> 00:29:43,839 To partial prints from the stine murder scene. 652 00:29:43,857 --> 00:29:46,358 Michael: The fingerprints found on the taxi cab 653 00:29:46,452 --> 00:29:49,361 Are partial latents which show traces of blood. 654 00:29:49,513 --> 00:29:51,346 So, they're incomplete 655 00:29:51,439 --> 00:29:53,348 And they would be inadmissible in court, 656 00:29:53,441 --> 00:29:55,275 But it still might tell them something. 657 00:29:55,369 --> 00:29:58,203 Evy: Garrett provides an enlarged side-by-side picture 658 00:29:58,297 --> 00:30:00,780 Of the best fingerprints from stewart's father 659 00:30:00,874 --> 00:30:02,190 And the zodiac crime scene. 660 00:30:02,284 --> 00:30:05,135 Robert: When stewart looks at the visual comparison, 661 00:30:05,362 --> 00:30:07,304 He sees a distinguishing characteristic-- 662 00:30:07,531 --> 00:30:10,123 An identical scar on both the zodiac's 663 00:30:10,142 --> 00:30:12,142 And his father's index fingers. 664 00:30:13,962 --> 00:30:15,312 Laurence: Armed with this evidence, 665 00:30:15,539 --> 00:30:18,298 Stewart shares his story with the public. 666 00:30:18,317 --> 00:30:21,301 Stewart's book is published in 2014, 667 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:25,213 And it's called "the most dangerous animal of all"-- 668 00:30:25,307 --> 00:30:27,716 Another reference to zodiac's letters-- 669 00:30:27,809 --> 00:30:30,235 And it's a huge bestseller. 670 00:30:30,387 --> 00:30:32,054 Evy: Stewart decides to parlay his success 671 00:30:32,072 --> 00:30:33,980 Into a television series, 672 00:30:33,999 --> 00:30:35,833 So he meets with some tv producers, 673 00:30:36,060 --> 00:30:37,075 And they tell him they're interested 674 00:30:37,227 --> 00:30:38,752 In optioning his book. 675 00:30:40,172 --> 00:30:42,247 Kelly: Before they put their reputation on the line, 676 00:30:42,399 --> 00:30:44,490 They decide to hire a private investigator 677 00:30:44,510 --> 00:30:46,751 In order to vet his research. 678 00:30:46,904 --> 00:30:50,180 Laurence: And that investigator immediately finds flaws 679 00:30:50,332 --> 00:30:52,257 In stewart's research. 680 00:30:52,409 --> 00:30:55,093 Robert: First, he discovers that the handwriting sample 681 00:30:55,245 --> 00:30:58,355 Taken from van best's marriage certificate 682 00:30:58,582 --> 00:31:01,525 Is not actually earl van best's handwriting. 683 00:31:01,676 --> 00:31:04,753 It's the writing of the priest who conducted the ceremony. 684 00:31:04,846 --> 00:31:07,013 Laurence: The investigator also checks 685 00:31:07,032 --> 00:31:09,867 Van best's credit card records. 686 00:31:10,018 --> 00:31:12,518 Kelly: Now, this is where the case against van best 687 00:31:12,613 --> 00:31:14,596 Actually crumbles. 688 00:31:14,689 --> 00:31:16,765 Through the credit card reports, 689 00:31:16,858 --> 00:31:19,042 The investigator is able to determine 690 00:31:19,194 --> 00:31:21,620 That van best is actually in europe 691 00:31:21,714 --> 00:31:24,122 During the heart of the zodiac's killing spree. 692 00:31:24,274 --> 00:31:26,608 So, it's definitely not him. 693 00:31:26,701 --> 00:31:28,777 Evy: Still, when you look at the sketch, 694 00:31:28,870 --> 00:31:31,371 The resemblance is uncanny. 695 00:31:31,390 --> 00:31:33,539 It's easy to see why stewart believed, 696 00:31:33,559 --> 00:31:36,643 But as we all know, appearances can be deceiving. 697 00:31:42,735 --> 00:31:47,070 Laurence: In April 2004, 35 years after the first murder, 698 00:31:47,222 --> 00:31:49,147 The san francisco police department 699 00:31:49,241 --> 00:31:53,744 Officially marks the zodiac killer file inactive. 700 00:31:53,895 --> 00:31:56,488 Caseloads are busy, and they have active cases coming in. 701 00:31:56,582 --> 00:31:58,898 There's really no leads going on on this case. 702 00:31:58,918 --> 00:32:01,309 The public learns that this case has been shut down, 703 00:32:01,403 --> 00:32:03,069 And they're upset about it. 704 00:32:03,163 --> 00:32:05,238 They don't like the idea that police have given up on it. 705 00:32:05,332 --> 00:32:08,574 Kelly: It's clear that there's still not much to go on 706 00:32:08,669 --> 00:32:10,335 After all this time. 707 00:32:10,487 --> 00:32:13,079 So, as we've seen in many cold cases before, 708 00:32:13,098 --> 00:32:15,323 The public and amateur investigators 709 00:32:15,417 --> 00:32:16,916 Decide to take up the mantle 710 00:32:16,936 --> 00:32:19,344 And keep going with the investigation. 711 00:32:19,496 --> 00:32:21,846 Michael: Now, a lot of the theories presented by the public 712 00:32:21,941 --> 00:32:23,923 Are quickly shot down because the evidence 713 00:32:24,017 --> 00:32:25,850 Just doesn't add up. 714 00:32:26,003 --> 00:32:29,688 Like gary stewart's claims about his father, for instance. 715 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:33,951 Laurence: But in 2021, a group of researchers makes headlines 716 00:32:34,102 --> 00:32:37,179 Claiming they've identified the zodiac killer, 717 00:32:37,272 --> 00:32:39,864 And they are definitely not amateurs. 718 00:32:39,959 --> 00:32:42,960 The group calls themselves the case breakers, 719 00:32:43,187 --> 00:32:46,521 And they are comprised of 40 different people 720 00:32:46,614 --> 00:32:48,690 With impeccable credentials. 721 00:32:48,783 --> 00:32:51,359 We're talking retired fbi agents, 722 00:32:51,453 --> 00:32:53,786 Retired military, forensic analysts, 723 00:32:53,806 --> 00:32:55,621 And academics. 724 00:32:55,641 --> 00:32:57,199 Robert: So, the fact that they believe 725 00:32:57,217 --> 00:32:59,701 They solved this case means a lot more 726 00:32:59,794 --> 00:33:02,204 Than hearing it from your average joe. 727 00:33:02,222 --> 00:33:06,057 Laurence: On October 6th, 2021, the case breakers 728 00:33:06,151 --> 00:33:09,044 Announce that the zodiac killer is a former military man 729 00:33:09,062 --> 00:33:11,822 Named gary francis poste. 730 00:33:11,973 --> 00:33:13,473 John: Gary poste is quite different 731 00:33:13,492 --> 00:33:14,825 Than most of the other suspects 732 00:33:15,052 --> 00:33:16,159 That they've looked at in the past. 733 00:33:16,311 --> 00:33:19,571 He's a very quiet guy, he lives in a rural area. 734 00:33:19,723 --> 00:33:22,407 He paints houses. He flies under the radar. 735 00:33:22,501 --> 00:33:25,560 There's really no red flags to make him the suspect. 736 00:33:25,653 --> 00:33:26,745 David: Poste is brought to the attention 737 00:33:26,897 --> 00:33:28,580 Of the case breakers by one of his neighbors, 738 00:33:28,674 --> 00:33:30,156 A guy named chris avery. 739 00:33:30,250 --> 00:33:33,326 When they hang out together, avery discovers that poste 740 00:33:33,345 --> 00:33:34,903 Is quite a different man than he appears. 741 00:33:34,921 --> 00:33:38,406 Kelly: It turns out that avery is one of several young men 742 00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:40,575 That poste has recruited to mentor, 743 00:33:40,668 --> 00:33:42,577 Kind of in a paramilitary way, 744 00:33:42,670 --> 00:33:44,438 And they call themselves the posse. 745 00:33:46,007 --> 00:33:47,858 Michael: Poste takes these guys on trips 746 00:33:48,009 --> 00:33:50,193 Up to the mountains, and they say he is obsessed 747 00:33:50,420 --> 00:33:52,437 With torturing and killing animals, 748 00:33:52,531 --> 00:33:55,440 And building bombs which are similar to the explosive devices 749 00:33:55,534 --> 00:33:57,776 Described by the zodiac. 750 00:33:57,870 --> 00:34:00,520 Laurence: According to avery, on one of these trips 751 00:34:00,614 --> 00:34:03,356 Poste makes a confession. 752 00:34:03,375 --> 00:34:05,600 Kelly: Poste implies to avery 753 00:34:05,619 --> 00:34:07,878 That he has committed one of the zodiac murders. 754 00:34:08,105 --> 00:34:10,696 And for him, that's the last straw. 755 00:34:10,716 --> 00:34:13,275 He decides that he wants to move away from groveland, 756 00:34:13,368 --> 00:34:15,944 And that it's also time to report poste. 757 00:34:16,037 --> 00:34:18,388 Coincidentally, one of avery's friends 758 00:34:18,615 --> 00:34:20,390 Is actually part of the case breakers. 759 00:34:22,210 --> 00:34:23,785 Laurence: After speaking with avery, 760 00:34:23,878 --> 00:34:25,896 The case breakers agree to investigate. 761 00:34:26,123 --> 00:34:27,956 David: Before they have a chance to dive in, 762 00:34:28,049 --> 00:34:30,642 Poste dies in 2018 at the age of 80. 763 00:34:30,736 --> 00:34:33,795 The case breakers decide to keep going regardless. 764 00:34:33,814 --> 00:34:35,739 One of the first things they learned about poste 765 00:34:35,890 --> 00:34:37,315 Was that he's an air force veteran. 766 00:34:37,467 --> 00:34:40,577 The case breakers are able to gain access 767 00:34:40,804 --> 00:34:42,728 To poste's property in groveland. 768 00:34:42,823 --> 00:34:44,915 In the photography darkroom, 769 00:34:45,066 --> 00:34:47,417 They find an old photo of poste, 770 00:34:47,644 --> 00:34:50,478 And the photo bears a striking resemblance 771 00:34:50,572 --> 00:34:52,506 To the sketch of the zodiac. 772 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,668 Laurence: Soon, they find even more chilling evidence. 773 00:34:56,762 --> 00:34:59,262 The case breakers look into other california murders, 774 00:34:59,489 --> 00:35:01,506 Unsolved ones that happened around the same time 775 00:35:01,658 --> 00:35:03,675 As the zodiac crimes. 776 00:35:03,769 --> 00:35:06,770 There's a chance that the zodiac had more victims 777 00:35:06,997 --> 00:35:08,680 And maybe left behind more evidence 778 00:35:08,774 --> 00:35:10,849 That's gone unnoticed. 779 00:35:10,943 --> 00:35:13,168 Michael: They zero in on a top potential candidate 780 00:35:13,261 --> 00:35:15,595 For another zodiac murder. 781 00:35:15,689 --> 00:35:19,616 In 1966, riverside city college student cheri jo bates 782 00:35:19,843 --> 00:35:22,193 Is stabbed to death near the campus. 783 00:35:22,346 --> 00:35:24,770 This is just a couple of years before the zodiac appeared 784 00:35:24,865 --> 00:35:25,789 In northern california. 785 00:35:27,459 --> 00:35:30,034 Robert: A stabbed young woman certainly fits the mold, 786 00:35:30,187 --> 00:35:33,296 But even more so, bates' killer sends a confession letter 787 00:35:33,448 --> 00:35:35,948 To police a month after the murder. 788 00:35:36,042 --> 00:35:40,378 The letter is typed, so they can't compare much handwriting, 789 00:35:40,472 --> 00:35:42,622 But the address is handwritten on the envelope, 790 00:35:42,716 --> 00:35:45,550 And definitely bears resemblance to the zodiac's writing. 791 00:35:45,644 --> 00:35:48,294 The letter itself has the same tone and style 792 00:35:48,388 --> 00:35:50,538 As the later zodiac letters. 793 00:35:50,557 --> 00:35:53,541 Naturally, they ask where was gary poste 794 00:35:53,635 --> 00:35:56,561 On the day of bates' murder? 795 00:35:56,655 --> 00:35:59,305 Turns out he was undergoing a physical examination 796 00:35:59,399 --> 00:36:03,827 At March air force base, 15 minutes from the crime scene. 797 00:36:03,978 --> 00:36:06,738 Laurence: According to records of bates' murder, 798 00:36:06,832 --> 00:36:10,650 Police find size 10 1/2 military-style boot prints 799 00:36:10,669 --> 00:36:12,577 Next to the body. 800 00:36:12,671 --> 00:36:15,338 David: Military boot prints once again, just like zodiac, 801 00:36:15,565 --> 00:36:17,899 And in poste's exact size of 10 1/2. 802 00:36:17,918 --> 00:36:19,676 If she's the first victim, 803 00:36:19,903 --> 00:36:21,845 Then he has to be our first suspect. 804 00:36:21,996 --> 00:36:25,240 Obviously, poste can't be arrested or tried at this point. 805 00:36:25,333 --> 00:36:26,999 So, the case breaker announcement 806 00:36:27,093 --> 00:36:29,168 Is met with some skepticism. 807 00:36:29,262 --> 00:36:32,747 As with every zodiac theory, the public picks it apart. 808 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:35,174 First of all, despite his resemblance 809 00:36:35,194 --> 00:36:38,177 To the sketch, poste never wore glasses. 810 00:36:38,197 --> 00:36:40,680 Michael: The same day as the case breakers' announcement, 811 00:36:40,699 --> 00:36:43,533 The riverside police department releases a statement 812 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:46,094 Saying that the zodiac was not responsible 813 00:36:46,187 --> 00:36:48,279 For the murder of cheri jo bates. 814 00:36:48,432 --> 00:36:50,114 Are the cases connected? 815 00:36:50,267 --> 00:36:52,692 Is poste responsible for the bates murder? 816 00:36:52,711 --> 00:36:55,437 Was that the first zodiac killing? 817 00:36:55,455 --> 00:36:58,215 At this point, we're stuck with more questions than answers. 818 00:37:04,281 --> 00:37:05,722 Laurence: As investigators pursue the true identity 819 00:37:05,949 --> 00:37:08,225 Of the zodiac killer, one vital question 820 00:37:08,376 --> 00:37:10,785 Could hold a clue. 821 00:37:10,804 --> 00:37:13,897 Police think the murders ended in 1969, 822 00:37:14,124 --> 00:37:16,140 The letters in 1974. 823 00:37:16,235 --> 00:37:18,884 But why did they stop? 824 00:37:18,904 --> 00:37:20,795 John: The suspect's very involved in this, 825 00:37:20,814 --> 00:37:23,389 Seems to enjoy taunting law enforcement, 826 00:37:23,408 --> 00:37:24,966 And he's on a roll doing this. 827 00:37:25,059 --> 00:37:27,986 And then, as quick as he starts, he stops. 828 00:37:28,138 --> 00:37:29,971 What happened here? 829 00:37:29,990 --> 00:37:33,141 Was the suspect arrested, incarcerated? 830 00:37:33,159 --> 00:37:35,977 Were they institutionalized? Were they killed? 831 00:37:35,996 --> 00:37:37,812 There's a lot of open-ended questions 832 00:37:37,905 --> 00:37:40,482 As to why these murders all of a sudden stopped. 833 00:37:41,835 --> 00:37:44,986 Laurence: According to italian journalist francesco amicone, 834 00:37:45,005 --> 00:37:47,430 The explanation is truly surprising. 835 00:37:47,657 --> 00:37:49,324 Kelly: Amicone believes that the reason 836 00:37:49,342 --> 00:37:51,917 The zodiac killings stop is because the killer 837 00:37:51,937 --> 00:37:54,604 Moved from california to Italy, 838 00:37:54,756 --> 00:37:56,898 And that in fact, the killings didn't stop at all. 839 00:37:59,278 --> 00:38:01,853 In September of 1974, 840 00:38:02,005 --> 00:38:04,263 Just months after the zodiac killer 841 00:38:04,357 --> 00:38:07,266 Sends his last message to newspapers, 842 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:11,454 A series of grisly killings begins in florence, Italy. 843 00:38:11,606 --> 00:38:15,199 And these murders fit the zodiac's m.O. To a t. 844 00:38:15,294 --> 00:38:17,943 David: Like the zodiac killer, the italian murderer 845 00:38:17,963 --> 00:38:19,704 Mostly targets young couples. 846 00:38:19,856 --> 00:38:21,539 He attacks mostly on the weekends 847 00:38:21,691 --> 00:38:23,358 Or public holidays. 848 00:38:23,376 --> 00:38:25,117 He almost always shoots the male victim first, 849 00:38:25,137 --> 00:38:26,636 Then the female. 850 00:38:26,788 --> 00:38:30,307 And just like the zodiac, he uses a small-caliber handgun. 851 00:38:30,458 --> 00:38:33,201 Laurence: When the italian press realize a serial killer 852 00:38:33,294 --> 00:38:37,129 Is at large, they dub him the monster of florence. 853 00:38:37,149 --> 00:38:39,223 Robert: The monster of florence 854 00:38:39,318 --> 00:38:42,894 Has a much longer reign of terror than the zodiac. 855 00:38:43,046 --> 00:38:47,382 From 1974 to 1985, he murders 14 people. 856 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,976 But he is just as elusive as the zodiac. 857 00:38:50,996 --> 00:38:53,571 Italian police spend decades chasing leads, 858 00:38:53,723 --> 00:38:55,481 Interrogating ex-cons, 859 00:38:55,575 --> 00:38:57,725 Staking out secluded lovers' lanes. 860 00:38:57,744 --> 00:39:00,319 But nothing works, they cannot identify this killer. 861 00:39:00,339 --> 00:39:04,674 Laurence: Then in may of 2018, a bombshell. 862 00:39:04,826 --> 00:39:09,737 On may 29th of 2018, the italian newspaper il giornale 863 00:39:09,756 --> 00:39:13,016 Publishes the theories by francesco amicone. 864 00:39:13,243 --> 00:39:17,187 He accuses a man named giuseppe "joe" bevilacqua. 865 00:39:18,598 --> 00:39:20,523 Laurence: According to amicone, bevilacqua, 866 00:39:20,675 --> 00:39:23,751 An american army veteran, confessed to him 867 00:39:23,770 --> 00:39:27,513 And agreed to turn himself in eight months earlier. 868 00:39:27,607 --> 00:39:31,426 As the news breaks, bevilacqua recants his confession. 869 00:39:31,444 --> 00:39:33,536 But police in Italy and america 870 00:39:33,688 --> 00:39:37,599 Are already investigating every facet of his life. 871 00:39:37,617 --> 00:39:40,359 John: Bevilacqua was born in new jersey, 872 00:39:40,379 --> 00:39:44,288 And from 1954 to 1974 he served in the u.S. Army. 873 00:39:44,441 --> 00:39:48,776 You can see on his military id that he's 5'8", 200 pounds. 874 00:39:48,795 --> 00:39:50,720 His physical description certainly matches 875 00:39:50,947 --> 00:39:52,538 Some of the descriptions given by witnesses 876 00:39:52,557 --> 00:39:54,206 Of the zodiac killer. 877 00:39:54,226 --> 00:39:57,452 Robert: Detectives also learn that in 1964 878 00:39:57,545 --> 00:40:00,288 Bevilacqua becomes an undercover agent 879 00:40:00,306 --> 00:40:03,641 For the army's criminal investigation division. 880 00:40:03,793 --> 00:40:06,978 One of his assignments takes him to san francisco 881 00:40:07,130 --> 00:40:09,906 Right around the time taxi cab driver paul stine 882 00:40:10,057 --> 00:40:11,408 Is murdered. 883 00:40:11,559 --> 00:40:16,395 Laurence: In June of 1974 bevilacqua retires from the army 884 00:40:16,415 --> 00:40:18,898 And moves to florence, Italy. 885 00:40:18,917 --> 00:40:21,809 Zodiac's letters suddenly stop 886 00:40:21,828 --> 00:40:25,255 And dead bodies start appearing in florence. 887 00:40:25,406 --> 00:40:28,650 David: In 2020 the florence public prosecutor's office 888 00:40:28,743 --> 00:40:31,169 Decides they have enough circumstantial evidence 889 00:40:31,263 --> 00:40:33,596 That they better get a dna sample from bevilacqua. 890 00:40:33,748 --> 00:40:36,081 Robert: Everyone is sitting on pins and needles 891 00:40:36,101 --> 00:40:37,750 Waiting for results to come back, 892 00:40:37,769 --> 00:40:39,769 Because the findings could solve 893 00:40:39,921 --> 00:40:42,830 Two of the biggest murder mysteries in history. 894 00:40:42,849 --> 00:40:45,166 Laurence: So far, italian authorities 895 00:40:45,259 --> 00:40:48,169 Have been unable to match bevilacqua's dna 896 00:40:48,188 --> 00:40:50,196 To any of the florence crime scenes. 897 00:40:51,524 --> 00:40:54,842 But investigators have hope that dna evidence 898 00:40:54,861 --> 00:40:58,179 Will one day solve this long-running mystery. 899 00:40:58,198 --> 00:41:00,606 Kelly: With all of the advancements 900 00:41:00,700 --> 00:41:03,960 We've made in forensic science and investigation in general, 901 00:41:04,187 --> 00:41:07,021 I am confident that there is still an opportunity 902 00:41:07,114 --> 00:41:08,873 For us to solve this case. 903 00:41:08,967 --> 00:41:13,044 And there certainly remains an entire community of people 904 00:41:13,138 --> 00:41:15,430 Who are dedicated to seeing this case solved. 905 00:41:18,051 --> 00:41:20,292 Recently, the vallejo police department 906 00:41:20,312 --> 00:41:23,980 Was able to isolate a partial profile of dna 907 00:41:24,207 --> 00:41:26,207 From saliva on the back of stamps 908 00:41:26,226 --> 00:41:28,634 Used on zodiac's letters. 909 00:41:28,653 --> 00:41:30,803 While this incomplete profile 910 00:41:30,897 --> 00:41:33,064 Can't identify a suspect, 911 00:41:33,216 --> 00:41:36,326 It can be used to rule out a few. 912 00:41:36,553 --> 00:41:39,144 In the meantime, an army of sleuths 913 00:41:39,164 --> 00:41:43,482 Continues to try to finally solve this cold case. 914 00:41:43,576 --> 00:41:45,409 I'm laurence fishburne. 915 00:41:45,562 --> 00:41:47,319 Thank you for watching 916 00:41:47,339 --> 00:41:49,923 "history's greatest mysteries."