Post by ea on May 18, 2018 2:38:58 GMT
Not a single crime of JJD's takes place in Solano or Napa Counties. He didn't seem to take this route to and from Sacramento at all. Zodiac was intimately acquainted with this area. He went to a very secluded known lover's lane for the first murder- I've traversed past the spot- if I didn't have GPS here in present day, I would have missed it entirely- its a blip, a turnout off a curving, road you'd miss quite easily- and this was in total darkness and back in the day. There's suggestion that Zodiac knew the spot and went there specifically to kill to see if anyone was present, saw a car and then doubled back to the couple.
The Vallejo murder on the 4th of July was also at a known lover's lane, at a small local park most people wouldn't be aware of if you didn't know Vallejo well- sure, you could find that spot on a map, and you just know Zodiac was a map guy, and if you go to a park on the 4th chances are young people will be snogging- killer still seem to have insider knowledge of V-Town, which JJD didn't seem to, unless he may have had occasion to be around Mare Island Naval Base. Unless he killed people in Napa and Solano and S.F. Counties then switched geographic target area which EARONS is known to have done at least three times now- he's likely to be Cordova Cat, Visalia Ransacker, EAR and ONS- JJD moved his attacks when things got too hot, especially after murders.
I disagree that Zodiac didn't have a sexual component- like Son of Sam, he was targeting young lovers. NOT completely different from JJD's motivation- anger, envy towards people that was unleashed with a fury when he observed them being sexual after preying on them- that's kind of a match, in fact- the invasion of a car versus invading their house, where a rape would be possible is different- could be a progression- he can torment them better if he can control them longer and risk no witnesses.
Zodiac's M.O. as early EAR might make sense: Zodiac's first three attacks resulted in 1) partial vehicle descriptions (might explain taking the taxi in last random attack) 2) TWO survivor witnesses 3) very limited time to inflict terror on victims because of public locations 4) very near apprehension/narrow window of get-away time at 2 of 3 initial crimes. 5) cannot wear a disguise while at the public locations because someone will see that in advance of attack and call for help. Zodiac murders the male first execution style and then female is executed while trying to get away or after the fact. Why? Is it because he originally intends to abduct the female and take her to another location to commit sex crimes, but realizes he doesn't have time so kills to avoid a witness? All of that is SOLVED by attacking EAR style at a home creating much less police attention than a murder, which means he can continue crimes longer. Then he only has to kill if necessary (but which by ONS becomes woven into the entire crime motivation).
If JJD was Zodiac- he would have confessed to that before he confessed to being Visalia ransacker, if he be in a bragging mood. Ballistics and DNA would probably match by now, trophies or news clippings would probably be found- basically, the police would be bragging to the entire world right now if they had a JJD match to Zodiac. He's not stocky enough, too athletic, too young, but that's what we said before JJD was caught, too, right?
For all we know JJD could have gathered INSPIRATION from Zodiac rather than being same person-I think the former is DEFINITELY true- Zodiac loomed very large during JJD's time of activity. I also firmly believe that JJD was also a fan of Magnum Force and Dirty Harry- a blockbuster film series set in our region with a clenched teeth (a la JJD) talking tough guy cop protagonist (Clint Eastwood, natch) on the hunt for a rogue SF police officer gone bad along with the (thinly disguised) Zodiac, respectively):
Gun nuts with strong marksmanship skills, including at night.
Liked gadgets. Technical, machinist oriented,- diamond blades, scope sites, puzzles, sewing, bomb making, woodworking, watches, scanners, medical bags, lock picking, welding.
Demonstrated ballistics knowledge- switching bullets in guns, retrieving bullets, using unique limited issue bullets.
Lived and operated back and forth in the same region- Northern California less than100 miles of each other. All total- over 16 jurisdictions possibly.
Crimes in proximity to Naval bases-EARONS was ex-Navy and Vallejo, where Zodiac struck, had Mare Island - major naval base and shipyard.
A Zodiac murder was committed near a well-known local fishing & hunting spot at Lake Berryessa- the other side of Berryessa is Travis Air Force Base- to this day, air force conduct regular operations at Berryessa. JJD's Dad was career air force. JJD was an avid fisherman and would have probably known about this area.
Zodiac was also suspected of committing murders down in SoCal (x3), just like JJD.
Wore military specific boots and possessed limited issue military items.
Likely military background and specific training.
Inserted themselves into criminal investigation- wanted a reaction from police and the public (EARONS attended community meetings, Zodiac sent letters and clues).
Sent messages to the police (through comments to victims, letters, calls).
White males with strong builds with fluctuating weight (sometimes referred to and sketched as "stocky"). Height range: 5'8 to 5'11. Shoe range: 9 to 10 1/2. Note: military boots add at least 1 1/4 inch height.
Zodiac wore glasses (could be part of disguise); prescription glasses were left at one EAR crime scene.
Both bound victims.
Disturbed writings that were found at crimes or sent to LE (Zodiac used print, EARONS used cursive- need to see if block print is a match or not).
Both committed crimes with sexual component of anger and frenzy after first deliberately and secretly observing sexual behavior by victims.
Both appeared to attack absent any genuine financial gain. Partially motivated to get LE's attention and mock "dumbf**ker" cops by striking again and again in their midst.
Seething anger and contempt for authority figures and cops yet obsessed with what they are doing.
Main focus of attack was deriving a sadistic release/thrill from seeing victims controlled and afraid- more than sexual attack - hence both devolved to killing.
In an attack on male +female, it was the females that were the focal victims and suffered most overkill.
Females were intended to be last to die to inflict maximum horror on females.
Manipulated and lied to victims to keep calm and in control before and during attack, saying they were just passing through, just needed money, won't harm them, had escaped prison, etc.
Carried both knives and guns - subdued victims with the assistance of knives, harmed victims with both, preferring gun over knives in most attacks, unless too noisy (except Zodiac's was not sourced at the scene- and it was much larger- 10 inches)
Show a savvy and conscious preoccupation with police techniques and police and taunted or misled LE at the crime scenes-Zodiac wrote a message to LE on side of victim's Karmann Gia car, EARONS left photos turned around, false evidence, staging, told police he was going to get a mafia boss's wife next, he would strike again).
Both messaged to the police that if they did or did not do something another killing would be the result of that action or inaction.
Both messaged to the police trying to control media coverage or a crime would result.
Almost evince an ambidextrous ability, to hold and aim multiple weapons and flashlight, alternating hands, keeping aim, this suggests to me that both were at least partially left handed, more deft than most (either retaught to use left due to, say, a finger injury, or was a lefty taught to use right hand due to screwed up 1950s-1960s era scholastic retraining of lefties )
At at least some crimes, used a vehicle and parked it at a distance to crimes, for purpose of making it difficult to connect them to vehicle or alert victims of their impending attack.
Turned victims on stomach's simultaneously, had woman bind man, then Zodiac/EARONS would bind female right after male was bound.
Blinded intended victims with flashlights when initiating an attack (a police academy/military technique).
Were bold enough to deliberately attack and kill a male and female simultaneously (LE say a small minority of offenders will elect to do this).
Had psychological issues not concealed to victims/LE- crying on the scene, sending blatantly disturbed letters, call attributed to EAR that he was in a mental institution. Rollercoaster of raw cray-cray.
Liked to use a pay phone to taunt victims and police before and after attacks.
Wore gloves, custom sewn masks and/or hoods, long tunic or jacket, utility belt - created their own fantasy driven "attack costume" and black pants.
Exhibited high intelligence, cunning; manipulative and vindictive- exacted revenge fantasies and attacks on specific targets (husband at the community meeting); Paul Stine killing (imo) was to attract attention of SFPD and further Zodiac's infamy into new jurisdictions, Zodiac would brag about victims and specify next intended victims.
Switching jurisdictions enhancing infamy, evolving M.O. to avoid detection, changing weapons (knife, bludgeon, gun).
Possible use of disguises by both.
Took credit for attacks to police ("this is the East Area Rapist" "this is the Zodiac speaking").
Collect trophies from victims that could later be used to prove they committed these crimes, if they so chose- a piece of shirt, victim's driver's license, etc.
Prefer to attack at night after stalking: premeditated planned, organized and controlled at crime scenes - then descending into completely frenzied attacks.
Zodiac was suspected to have caused a victim's vehicle to malfunction by loosing the lugnuts on her wheel- he later claimed this attack in a letter. JJD was a mechanic, had mechanical background as far as days of service and earlier. The alleged attack (of a female and her baby) took place on the highway that leads directly to and from Sacramento- Hwy 132 near Modesto, in 1970.
One of Zodiac's victims, Darlene McFerrin, worked as a waitress an IHop restaurant in area of attack, believes she was stalked and received a strange call from unknown caller before she was killed during attack. Speculation Zodiac observed victim at her workplace and knew where she worked before calling her.
One of EARONS victims worked as a waitress at a Denny's restaurant (like JJD's mother once did) years after attack, close to area of attack, believes she was stalked and received a strange call from an unknown caller many years after attack. EARONs would have had to observe her at her workplace before calling her.
Wow you've done an amazing job of summarizing the similarities and differences. They were hoping to get new DNA off the stamps on the letters. The previous DNA evidence was from the outside so it's not surprising it didn't match anyone. I don't know if they are going to be able to get DNA off the stamps at this point.
But given all this, I don't think JJD can be eliminated as a suspect. I seriously doubt he was being a "good boy" in the years for which he is unaccounted.
