Zodiac Killer

Zodiac Killer
Sketch of the Zodiac Killer.
Killings
Number of victims	5 confirmed dead, 2 injured, possibly 20–28 total dead (claimed to have killed 37)
Span of killings	1968–1969 (confirmed)
Country	United States
State(s)	San Francisco, California US

The Zodiac Killer was an American serial killer who operated in Northern California from in the late 1960s to the late 1980's. The killer's identity remains unknown. The Zodiac murdered victims in Benicia, Vallejo, Lake Berryessa, and San Francisco between December 1968 and October 1969. Four men and three women between the ages of 16 and 29 were targeted. The killer originated the name "Zodiac" in a series of taunting letters sent to the local Bay Area press. These letters included four cryptograms (or ciphers). Of the four cryptograms sent, only two have been definitively solved.^[1]

Suspects have been named by law enforcement and amateur investigators, mainly led by Dave Toschi. Still no conclusive evidence has surfaced. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) marked the case "inactive" in April 2004, but re-opened it at some point prior to March 2007.^[2][3] The case also remains open in the city of Vallejo, as well as in Napa County and Solano County.^[4] The California Department of Justice has maintained an open case file on the Zodiac murders since 1969.^[5]

1. ↑ "Zodiac Letters". Zodiackiller.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
2. ↑ SFPD News Release, March 2007
3. ↑ "Zodiac: The killer who will not die". sanfranmag. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011.
4. ↑ Napa PD Website, Vallejo PD Website and "Tipline," Solano County Sheriff's Office
5. ↑ California Department of Justice Website