The Zodiac Killer was thought to be one of the world’s most elusive serial killers, having never been caught for decades. It’s believed that he is responsible for five murders from 1968 to 1969 in Northern California.
An independent team of investigators, known as the Case Breakers, consists of more than 40 law enforcement investigators, journalists, and military intelligence officers who have investigated other mysteries such as the mysterious D.B. Cooper and the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, believe they have solved the identity of the Zodiac Killer. They believe the killer to be Gary Francis Poste, who passed away in 2018. While five murders can be linked to the Zodiac Killer, it is believed he may have committed dozens more murders miles away from the original five.
The case of the Zodiac Killer has spawned books, movies, and documentaries, and has been a subject of interest for amateur and professional sleuths everywhere. The investigative team uncovered evidence in Poste’s darkroom that had never been found before. One such piece of evidence is a photo of Poste with scars on his forehead that match the scars on the forehead of a sketch of the Zodiac Killer. Using Poste’s full name, Jen Bucholtz, a former Army counterintelligence agent who now works on cold cases, was able to decipher an alternative message in the Zodiac Killer’s ciphers.
The Case Breakers believe that Cheri Jo Bates, who was murdered on Oct. 31, 1966, was the Zodiac’s sixth victim, despite the Riverside, CA police department stating that her murder had nothing to do with the Zodiac Killer. The Case Breakers have attempted to get her DNA compared to Poste’s, but have been unsuccessful. A 1975 memo from the FBI claims that Bates is indeed a Zodiac victim. The team claims that there are connections between Bates and Poste. Poste, an Air Force veteran, received medical care at a facility 15 minutes away from the Bates murder scene. A watch that was found at the scene was splattered with paint, and Poste painted homes for nearly four decades. A military-style boot print that was found matched not only later Zodiac crime scenes, but Poste’s shoe size as well.
In 2020, a team of code-breakers solved the 340-character cipher that had been sent to the San Francisco Chronicle by the Zodiac Killer. Those who knew Poste now believe that it makes sense for him to be the killer. A woman named Gwen claims that Poste and his wife babysat her in the ’60s and ’70s and that Poste taught her how to shoot firearms in addition to being controlling and abusive towards his wife.
Despite the Case Breakers claiming that they know the identity of the Zodiac Killer, the FBI still declares the case to be open, with no known suspects. Whether or not Poste will be revealed as the Zodiac Killer remains to be seen.
Jeri Hensley
Executive Editor/Creative Director.