ZODIAC : A TO Z

The varying descriptions of the Zodiac have created confusion and fueled debate. Some eyewitnesses described the killer as short as 5'8" tall while others said he was approximately 6' tall. One witness thought the Zodiac weighed approximately 180 lbs. while another said he may have been as heavy as 250 lbs. Some estimates of the killer's age ranged from mid-thirties to late-forties. The now-infamous sketch produced by the San Francisco Police Department remains the only representation of the...

Over the decades, persistent theories claimed that the Zodiac crimes were part of a conspiracy orchestrated by members of a satanic cult. One of the proponents of this theory was Maury Terry, a writer who became famous for his claims that the Son of Sam murders in New York were part of a satanic conspiracy. Now, the new documentary series on Netflix inspired by Terry’s claims titled “Sons of Sam” has renewed interest in satanic conspiracy theories. In the syndicated tabloid TV show Now It...

This episode examines puzzling questions, including: Did two or more suspects commit the Zodiac crimes together? Was Arthur Leigh Allen the Zodiac? Why did police interview Allen shortly before the last known Zodiac murder? Will authorities discover “Zodiac DNA” which could finally solve the case? If so, what are some possible endgame scenarios? Was the Zodiac responsible for the murder of Cheri Jo Bates in Riverside and the strange writings associated with that unsolved case? Did the Zodiac...

This episode examines 10 popular myths about the case: The Zodiac was an expert marksman, the Zodiac crime scenes form a giant “radian angle,” the Zodiac crimes were linked to the Manson “family,” the Zodiac crimes were done by copycat killers or were a hoax, The Zodiac killed dozens of victims, The Zodiac took credit for crimes he did not commit, police were about to arrest a major suspect but he died, The Zodiac called a TV show with attorney Melvin Belli, the Zodiac investigators did not...

In this “unfiltered” review, Michael Butterfield (ZodiacKillerFacts.com) examines the FX/Hulu documentary series “The Most Dangerous Animal of All,” featuring Gary Stewart’s claims that his father Earl Van Best Jr. was the Zodiac killer. Stewart and his co-author Susan Mustafa claimed that their suspect was implicated by fingerprints and DNA evidence, handwriting analysis, and proposed cipher solutions. As usual, the facts tell a very different story.Note to the listener: A previous episode...

Listeners sent several messages requesting a new episode addressing various questions and thoughts about the new solution to the Zodiac's 340 cipher, which was recently solved by Jarl Van Eycke, Sam Blake, and David Oranchak (ZodiacKillerCiphers.com). Topics include: What does the new solution indicate about the Zodiac's skills as a code maker? Can the methods used to solve the 340 cipher be applied to the killer's two remaining unsolved ciphers? Did the Zodiac really believe that his...

The incredible story behind the solution to the Zodiac's 340 Cipher.

David Oranchak (ZodiacKillerCiphers.com) joins Michael Butterfield to talk about the new YouTube video series titled “Let’s Crack Zodiac,” an examination of the Zodiac’s ciphers as well as the proposed solutions, various theories, and possible methods to decipher the killer’s mysterious messages. Topics include: the solution to the killer’s 340 symbol cipher created by Robert Graysmith and his claim that his solution was confirmed by the American Cryptogram Association, and the recent...

The next episode of the ZODIAC: A TO Z podcast features an interview with David Oranchak (ZodiacKillerCiphers.com) about his new YouTube series “Let’s Crack Zodiac,” an examination of the Zodiac’s ciphers as well as the proposed solutions, various theories, and possible methods to decipher the killer’s mysterious messages. Produced by Michael Butterfield for ZodiacKillerFacts.com / Copyright 2020 All music licensed and used by permission. “Frozen Orb” composed and produced by Jens Kiilstofte.

On October 22, 1969, a man who claimed to be the Zodiac called in to a Bay Area TV show and talked with lawyer Melvin Belli by telephone. A surviving victim and two police dispatchers who talked with the real Zodiac all agreed that the caller known as "Sam" was an impostor, but decades of confusion and popular myths in the books written by Robert Graysmith and the film adaptation by director David Fincher left some people convinced that the real Zodiac was responsible for the telephone calls...

50 years ago, the Zodiac sent a greeting card with a cipher consisting of 340 symbols. Today, the cipher remains one of the most baffling clues in true crime history. In the next episode of the ZODIAC: A TO Z podcast, computer programmer and Zodiac cipher expert David Oranchak (ZodiacKillerCiphers.com) talks about the enduring mystery of the "Z340."Written and produced by Michael Butterfield for ZodiacKillerFacts.com / Copyright 2019Voice of "The Zodiac" by John Knight All music licensed and...

Cheri Jo Bates was murdered 53 years ago in Riverside, California, and the strange writings in the case have been linked to the Zodiac. The unsolved mystery remains a controversial chapter in the Zodiac story, and this episode includes an expanded look at the Bates murder and the so-called "Riverside connection" to the Zodiac killer.Written and produced by Michael Butterfield for ZodiacKillerFacts.com / Copyright 2019Voice of "The Zodiac" by John KnightAll music licensed and used by...