The Zodiac Machine
By Michael P. Butterfield


[Text on this page copyright 1998-2001 Mike Butterfield]

By all appearances, there are only a few newsgroup readers who have more than a
passing interest in the Zodiac case. Of these few, most have much more than a
passing interest -- indeed, three of our motley crew run websites related to
Zodiac.

Often, many of us seem to disagree on Zodiac matters, and some of the theories
get more attention than others. These differing opinions bring to the mix a
variety of viewpoints. At times, these differences dominate the discourse.

However, I would like to think that we can all relate to what I am about to
present, and that such thoughts are not foreign to those of you who, for
whatever reason, are touched by the Zodiac case.

*The unsolved Zodiac case does make for a fascinating mystery, but as the years
roll by, the legends are beginning to overtake the human tragedy. A line from
the film THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE seems appropriate: "When the legend
becomes fact, print the legend".

The Zodiac case has been the subject of a great deal of wild speculation and
unsubstantiated claims to have solved the case. The image of Zodiac as sexual
sadist, child molester, mad mathematician, mad bomber, or mad Manson family
member is often preferable to unanswered questions.

Theories and attempts to explain the Zodiac crimes are tempting, but the
Zodiac's motives remain just as much a mystery as his identity. His writings
remain inexplicably strange in the annals of crime. His desire to spread fear
is well known, and his delight in teasing the world with clues to his identity
is surpassed only by his ability to keep his identity a secret. Zodiac fed both
the public's fear of violence and its desire for sensational exploitation of
tragedy. Zodiac made fear profitable. He was not the first and he most
certainly was not the last. However, he did have a unique way of manipulating
the police, the press and the public.

The Zodiac invited the press to exploit his crimes, and as they took the bait,
the facts became unnecessary. From the very beginning, the press loved to play
the Zodiac's game, and made every attempt to sensationalize the Zodiac case in
order to sell more newspapers. Zodiac himself was unable to control the media
coverage of his crimes, and anyone involved became unwilling participants in
an all-too-public tragedy.

The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Francisco Examiner and The Vallejo Times
Herald were the newspapers invited to play the Zodiac game. Of the three, The
Chronicle would become Zodiac's favorite, perhaps because they provided the
most sensational Zodiac stories. The Chronicle ran with the story, and The SF
Examiner even offered Zodiac the opportunity to tell his own
story--exclusively, of course. Each paper exploited the story for its own
benefit, and factual reporting was not as important as creating the story, and
keeping it alive. The actual words written by Zodiac were quickly
re-interpreted to suit the most tantalizing and sensational headlines.

FACTUAL ERRORS, OMISSIONS, DISTORTIONS and VICTIMS:
One Zodiac letter, mailed June 26, 1970, contained the following sentence: "I
shot a man sitting in a parked car with a .38." Authorities knew that Zodiac
had not used a .38 in any of his known crimes. They also knew that Zodiac had
shot a cabdriver who was sitting in a parked taxicab, yet Zodiac had used a 9mm
in this murder.

On the morning of June 26, 1970, San Francisco police officer Richard Radetich
had been shot while sitting in his patrol car. Later, ballistic tests revealed
Radetich had been shot with a .38 caliber weapon. A witness to the shooting
identified an ex-convict named Joe Wesley Johnson as Radetich’s killer. Police
issued a warrant for Johnson's arrest.

It is doubtful that authorities could have learned the exact caliber weapon
used to kill Radetich in the short interim between Radetich’s murder, and
Zodiac's letter, postmarked later that same day. Even if authorities had, in
that short period of time, learned the caliber of the weapon used, it is
doubtful that this information would be released to the media. It is extremely
doubtful that Zodiac could have somehow heard this information in that brief
interim. Therefore, it would seem clear that the ".38" statement was not
intended to imply that Zodiac was claiming to have shot Radetich.

By the time the SF Chronicle received Zodiac's letter, the following facts were
clear:

--Radetich had been killed with a .38 caliber handgun, while sitting in a
parked patrol car
--Police had identified a suspect in the Radetich murder, and issued an arrest
warrant
--Police denied that Zodiac could be responsible for the Radetich shooting
--Police stated that Zodiac had not used a .38 in any of his known killings,
including the murder of cabdriver Paul Stine
--Zodiac did not mention Radetich, let alone claim to have killed him

Despite these facts, reporter Paul Avery and The SF Chronicle still proceeded
to print a story titled "ZODIAC SAYS HE KILLED SF OFFICER", which began with
the statement: "The Zodiac laid claim yesterday to the killing of Police
Officer Richard Radetich." The actual article contained the information
concerning the eyewitness identification of the actual suspect, and the fact
that an arrest warrant had been issued for that suspect. There was no
legitimate reason for the Chronicle's headline, and the article remains a
perfect example of the newspaper's disregard for the facts.

Of course, this is not the only instance of the press distorting the facts.
From the moment Zodiac began to include numbers in some letters, everyone began
assuming that these numbers were meant to imply the number of Zodiac's victims.
In his letter of November 9, 1969, Zodiac made this statement: "Up to the end
of Oct I have killed 7 people". Each time Zodiac included a so-called "box
score" ( SFPD=0, Zodiac=10 ), the press printed that Zodiac had claimed that
number of victims. In one instance, the Zodiac used the phrase "Victim 12". In
another letter, Zodiac used the words "..all 13 of my slaves..".

Zodiac wrote "I hope you have fun trying to figure out who I killed". Indeed,
it would seem that the press had a "blast" using the ambiguous numbers to
create sales and spread fear. Headlines such as "ZODIAC SAYS HE KILLED SF
OFFICER", "ZODIAC CLAIMS 17 VICTIMS" and "ZODIAC CLAIMS 37" created sales when
running the truth would not. Such distortions contributed to the enduring
sensational Zodiac reporting.

More often than not, according to the press, those individuals who were
fortunate enough to survive a Zodiac attack were not considered victims,
unless, of course, it suited the press to say so. Most press accounts give
erroneous information concerning the number of Zodiac's victims. The passages
of serial killer-related books contain such statements as "...he is also
suspected of killing two students at the University of California, Riverside,
where his handwriting was found etched in one of the victim's desks", or this
strange tidbit from Joel Norris' otherwise scholarly work titled SERIAL
KILLERS: Quote: " 1974 -The ' ZODIAC KILLER ' murdered and sexually assaulted
several children in San Francisco. Given his name by the police because he
carved the sign of the zodiac into the bodies of the victims, the killer was
never apprehended and the murder cases remain unsolved. The killer is believed
either to have killed himself or been confined to a mental institution. The
murders stopped after a few months as mysteriously as they had begun."

Brian King's book LUSTMORD features many factual errors: " (ZODIAC) killed at
least five women and at least one man". An odd statement, considering that King
then goes on to describe the murders of both David Faraday and Paul Stine.

An article written by Joe Davis, dated 1996, features this odd paragraph:
"Between December 1969 and November 1970, police in northern California linked
nine unsolved murders with a single perpetrator, still at large. A common bond
is found in the disposal of bodies, cast off in ravines, and in the killer's
hypothetical obsession with astrology. Of nine acknowledged victims, seven
died in fair proximity to a seasonal solstice or equinox, while two were slain
on Friday the thirteenth, Additionally, it is possible the murders may have
lasted through Decvember 1973, with six more victims added to the body count."

These kind of factual errors are so widespread that it is virtually impossible
to find any account of the Zodiac case which does not contain such errors. More
often than not, such errors would be easily avoidable if the author had
conducted a minimal amount of research, or even consulted Graysmith's book.

Indeed, some factual errors are baffling. The UNSOLVED MYSTERIES television
segment on the so-called Zodiac/Unabomber "connection" cites the date of the
Berryessa attack as "September 29". The HARD COPY televisionsegment on the
Harvey Hines/Lawrence Krew theory features the opening statement "The Zodiac
killer was so bold that he killed his fourth victim, a cabdriver, right here on
Fisherman's wharf...". A 1998 FOX NEWS segment on the Zodiac case states:
"...the official death toll at 9".

These are merely a few examples of the factual errors which continue to plague
the vast majority of Zodiac reports. Some may appear to be innocent mistakes,
but most are the product of little-to-no research, and less than honorable
journalistic integrity. Some errors may be unintentional, or the result of a
lack of information. Others are the product of an unwillingness, or inability,
to examine information which may conflict with the theories one may have
constructed.

In December of 1980, Gareth Penn discovered the Zodiac's radian. Soon after, he
gave this information to Robert Graysmith. Graysmith failed to investigate this
information, and makes no mention of this significant discovery in his book.
Similarly, Doug Oswell and Michael Rusconi comment on the Zodiac's radian
statements: "No sense has ever been made of whatever clues were placed in this
correspondence". Oswell & Rusconi's book, DR. ZODIAC was released in 1997--ten
years after Penn's book, TIMES 17, and 17 years after Penn's discovery of the
radian.

Regardless of what one may think of Penn, his suspect, or any of the
complicated theories he has constructed, the radian remains an irrefutable
fact, and Oswell & Rusconi could have easily obtained this information. Judging
from Oswell's comments concerning Penn and the radian, one can be reasonably
certain that the following statements are true:

--Oswell has at least one article which discusses some of Penn's theories (
even if the article was severely edited and re-written, and is outdated and
erroneous )
--Oswell has made no honest attempt to examine the radian information
--Oswell feels that, because he doesn't buy Penn's theories, there is no reason
to examine any of the information resulting from Penn's research

Of course, Oswell is not alone in his deliberate ignorance. Each of the
theorists seems to wear blinders when it comes to the others. However, they are
more than happy to pirate those tantalizing tidbits which they feel may prove
their own, subjective theories.The theorists seems to lose sight of the facts
in search of the elusive proof whichthey think will confirm their theories.
Error by omission, or ignoring relevant information, is ommon. Recent
statements by Kathleen Johns indicate that much of what she told Graysmith was
somehow distorted or misstated, and in some cases, Graysmith neglected to
report rather significant facts. ( Dave Toschi and Bryan Hartnell have stated
they believe Graysmith has exploited the case for his own benefit. )

Howard Davis, author of THE ZODIAC/MANSON CONNECTION, cites Penn and Graysmith
when it suits his purposes, yet ignores every other element of their research.
Penn cites Graysmith, but, at every step of the way, Penn cautions the reader
that anything which comes from Graysmith should be considered suspect.

In their book, DR. ZODIAC, Oswell and Rusconi do provide a rather insightful
examination of the many, differing descriptions of Zodiac. In this context,
they continually cite the descriptions given by Kathleen Johns, as they appear
in Graysmith's book. However, Oswell & Rusconi fail to mention that, in 1994,
Kathleen Johns identified Lawrence Krew ( the suspect accused by Harvey
Hines ) as the man who abducted her and her infant daughter in March of 1970.
Johns apparent conflicting statements not withstanding, her identification of
Krew is a rather important fact to omit in a discussion of her descriptions of
Zodiac.

In addition to omitting information, the theorists have helped to perpetuate
much of the unfounded assumptions concerning Zodiac's methods, motives and
behavior. Robert Graysmith, in a 1998 FOX NEWS segment, states: "He was casting
his horoscope, uh, to choose the times he would kill people". Graymsith makes a
very thin case for an astrological motive in his book ZODIAC, and he attempts
to connect the date of each crime to an occult holiday, or a date of some
astrological significance. Graysmith's theories concerning astrology are often
the source from many news stories on Zodiac.

OTHER CRIMES:
To date, none of theories concerning Zodiac's possible involvement in others
crimes have been substantiated. Initially, the Snoozy/Furlong murders, as well
as the murder of Officer Radetich, were attributed to Zodiac by the press.
Graysmith and others have theorized that Zodiac is responsible for the 1970
murder of Donna Lass, in the Lake Tahoe area of Nevada. With the possible
exception of Zodiac's "Lake Tahoe" postcard, which mentioned "Victim 12", no
evidence implicating Zodiac in this crime has been presented.

Equally unfounded are the claims that Zodiac killed dozens of women in the
Santa Rosa area. Despite many extreme differences in many of these crimes ( IE:
sexual assault, disrobing of victims and transporting of bodies ), these
unsolved murders are continually cited as possible Zodiac crimes, and serve as
the basis for the claim that "the real toll may have reached fifty".

Authors Howard Davis and Bill Nelson would have us believe that Charles Manson
and his minions are responsible for the Zodiac crimes. According to Nelson and
Davis, Zodiac's statement " Des July Aug Sept Oct " is evidence that Zodiac
committed the infamous Tate/LaBianca murders, in August of 1969. the authors
also claim that Zodiac/Manson is responsible for the November 1969 murders of
Doreen Gaul and James Sharp in Los Angeles. Nelson and Davis present the
"missing Zodiac letter", apparently found among Gaul's belongings, and on his
website Nelson states that "something" was found under Gaul's head which proves
it was a Zodiac crime. Nelson's site also features the claim that enough
evidence now exists to charge Manson henchman Bruce Davis in the Zodiac
murders.

Gareth Penn believes that his Zodiac suspect is responsible for the 1980 murder
of Harvard grad student Joan Webster. Oswell and Rusconi claim that Ted
Kaczynski is the Zodiac, thereby adding the list of Unabomber victims to the
Zodiac's toll.

EXPLOITATION:
Not surprising is the fact that the exploitation of the Zodiac case extends to
the realm of fiction, film, and television. The film DIRTY HARRY, featured
Scorpio, a madman who wrote letters to the SF Chronicle and terrorized the SF
bay area. A low budget movie titled ZODIAC featured an exploitational
re-enactment of the Berryessa attack. Recently, the Showtime original film THE
LIMBIC REGION transplanted SFPD Detective Dave Toschi and suspect Arthur Leigh
Allen into a disturbing and rather disappointing fictionalized account of the
Zodiac case. Author William Peter Blatty, influenced by Zodiac's comment on the
film version of his best-selling book THE EXORCIST, chose a fictional Gemini
killer as the basis for his EXORCIST sequel, LEGION.

Television crime dramas absorbed the Zodiac case into TV storytelling from the
very beginning. An episode of HAWAII FIVE-O features an unscrupulous reporter
exploiting the crimes of a Zodiac-like killer. Episodes of NASH BRIDGES and
MILLENIUM have recently resurrected the specter of Zodiac.

Several years ago, a comic book based on the Zodiac case appeared. Poorly
illustrated and filled with ridiculous factual errors, the comic serves as a
perfect example of exploitation aimed at the lowest common denominator
audience. At the same time, another comic book appeared, which featured a
shotgun-toting vigilante who was driven to exterminate serial killers and
haunted by the fact that Zodiac had killed his mother.

Also, several sets of serial killer trading cards emerged. One set featured a
Zodiac card, and the following text: "..."Zodiac". Self-styled ego-driven mass
murderer with an uncanny knowledge of the heavenly bodies. ...armed with a big
'ol gun and big 'ol strap knife, he systematically destroyed 40 known folks,
and is suspected of killin' another 40. After each grisly kill he left taunting
clues for cops and media ( the SF Chronicle, LA Times ) who printed some of his
statements ( hundreds ) and demands, egotistically claiming credit for his
kills..."

FEAR:
It would appear that there are those who have chosen to resurrect the specter
of Zodiac in real life, resulting in real fear and real tragedy. The apparent
Zodiac forgery of 1978 was a disaster which all but destroyed the career and
life of SFPD Detective Dave Toschi, who was initially accused of forging the
letter in order to garner more publicity for himself. The resulting conflicts
within the law enforcement agencies damaged the investigation, forever
hindering attempts to solve the case. Several other "Zodiac" letters have
appeared over the years, apparently forged by individuals who wished to create
fear.

In November of 1989, New York police received a letter which began with the
words "This is the Zodiac speaking", and warned 12 murders were planned. Five
months later, a series of shootings began in Brooklyn and Queens, and more
letters were sent to the New York Post. In these letters, the New York shooter
claimed to be the original Zodiac, and offered evidence of an astrological plan
behind his crimes.

During the six years of the New York Zodiac case. the copycat Zodiac shot 8
people, killing two men and two women. On June 18, 1996, 28 year-old Heriberto
"Eddie" Seda was arrested after shooting his sister and engaging in an armed
stand-off with police for several hours. Seda was subsequently linked to the
New York Zodiac attacks, and was later convicted of 4 of the 8 shootings in
June of 1998.

By all accounts, Seda had used Graysmith's book ZODIAC as a sort of handbook
for his crimes, and it seems clear that Seda was heavily influenced by
Graysmith's astrological theories.

There are several theorists who believe that Seda did not act alone, and that
the New York Zodiac shootings were the result of an occult conspiracy. As with
so many of the theories surrounding the Zodiac case, the allegation that Seda
acted in concert with accomplices has yet to be substantiated.

DAMAGE:
Today, almost thirty years after the first Zodiac shooting, it is difficult to
find objective and thorough journalism on the Zodiac case, and with each new
theory, the facts become obscured by the residue of unfounded speculation,
sensationalism, exploitation and myth-making. Yet, the Zodiac case has affected
the lives of many real people, who were drawn against their will into an
all-too-public and all-too-terrible tragedy. Real people were murdered, shot,
stabbed, and terrorized. Real lives were destroyed.

There is no adequate way to assess the human damage caused by the Zodiac
phenomenon, and the list of casualties only continues to grow:

--Cheri Jo Bates. Stabbed to death. Her father, Joseph Bates was further
terrorized by a note from his daughter's killer.
--David Faraday. Shot to death.
--Betty Lou Jensen. Shot to death.
--Darlene Ferrin. Shot to death.
--Michael Mageau. Survived multiple gun shot wounds.
--Cecelia Shepard. Stabbed to death.
--Bryan Hartnell. Survived multiple stab wounds.
--Paul Stine. Shot to death. Survived by his wife and children.
--Kathleen Johns. Pregnant, and abducted with her infant daughter. Survived
attack only to be named in a press account shortly afterwards.
--The families and friends of all the victims, who have seen the murders of
their loved ones relived over and over again in the media.
--The hundreds of law enforcement officials who investigated the case. Many
were
greatly affected by the case, and have had to listen to the many, amateur
pundits criticize and ridicule their hard work.
--The individuals who have been Zodiac suspects, both by police investigation
and
theorists' accusations. Each of these men, as well as their friends and
families, have been drawn into the spectacle against their will.
--and all of the unnamed others who have, somehow, become a part of the Zodiac
tragedy.

The Zodiac murders remain unsolved. Authorities continue to check out suspects,
etc., and detectives are still assigned to the case. The Zodiac's identity
remains unknown.

The dust jacket of Robert Graysmith's newest book, UNABOMBER - DESRIE TO KILL,
features the followingstatement: "Robert Graysmith, the man who solved the
Zodiac murders...". It is clear that this is a deliberate attempt to capitalize
on the Zodiac case, and transform Graysmith into the man who solved the
long-unsolved case. However, the families of the Zodiac victims, the survivors
of his attacks, and the many law enforcement officials who worked on the case
may find this claim offensive at best. Undoubtedly, those detectives assigned
to the unsolved case know such a claim is not only false, but irresponsible and
absurd.

The exploitation of the Zodiac case continues, and with the facts, the Zodiac
himself has become an unnecessary element of an unstoppable story. We no longer
need the Zodiac to act in order to keep his story alive.

If it is fair to say that Zodiac's game was perpetuating pain and tragedy,
while playing games with the truth and creating terror, then it is also safe to
say that we, as a society, have learned to play his game very well. In fact, we
have learned to play without Zodiac to lead the way.

The machine goes on.

All text on this page copyright 1996-2001 by Mike Butterfield.  Click here to send mail.

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