My mom lived in San Francicso at the time this was going on. She and my aunt were like 8 yrs old but like every kid that lived there back then, they were convinced their stepdad was the Zodiac. Good thing they never asked.
New book reveals the identity of the Zodiac Killer
- Thread starter demoncore1031
- Start date
Whoa! That is no myth! I unknowingly walked across the Zodiac my first time through the Union on my way to take my first test at ISU. Sure enough, failed my first test. I had never failed a test prior to that and never failed very many afterward.
Well, lets see. How about there is no proof??? The guy did kinda look like the Zodiac sketch, but so did a ton of men back in those days. This guy had no violent charges on his record. The Zodiac researchers have been looking into all of Stewart's claims and many of them are false. The ones that have been confirmed as true do not prove a thing. From what I have seen of the handwriting samples, I can't tell how close of a match it is. Stewart posted his father's writing right on top of Zodiac's so it's hard to tell. It all comes down to DNA. Stewart claims he is waiting for DNA results to come back, but all of the police departments have said that they never even heard of Mr. Stewart. Why would someone just come out and say "my dad was the Zodiac" instead of "I think my dad may have been the Zodiac"? Book sales. And if he really did have his DNA tested and is waiting on results, well DNA tests do not take that long. Why put a book out before getting those results back? Book sales.
If you really want to see some handwriting comparisons then check out Ted Kaczynski's handwriting. May have spelled his name wrong. He is the Unabomber. His handwriting is pretty much identical. He also mailed taunting letters to the SF Chronicle same as Zodiac, and he was into codes and ciphers. The FBI found notebooks full of different codes and whatnot. I'm not saying he was Zodiac, but he is a much better suspect than Earl Van Best Jr.
When we've looked for houses, I have tons of trouble even looking at houses with a crawl space, since Gacy lived in Iowa for a while. Totally irrational, I know.
I'd have trouble looking at houses with a crawl space simply because they have a crawlspace.
I think so, I knew it was eastern Iowa. I still even worry about it in the Ames area, which is silly - but you never know.
This, too, to be honest!
Well he claims he offered his DNA and they haven't run it. He suspects because his biological step father was the Deputy Mayor, former lead investigator on the case, these same detectives helped his mother find him 12 years earlier. The mayor willie brown was good friends with his wife's new husband as was Diane Fienstien. This isn't your run of the mill detective. Their is a plausible motive to let sleeping dogs lie with the sfpd. Not saying it is but the evidence is more compelling than yo present. Without DNA all evidence is circumstantial at this point with any theory.
http://m.sfgate.com/news/article/Rotea-Gilford-former-deputy-mayor-dies-at-70-3100127.php
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He CLAIMS he had his DNA tested. Doesn't mean it actually happened. SFPD claims they never heard of the guy until his book came out. Too many things about this story do not add up. It's a well written book with a damn good story, but that's about it.
I can toss around dozens of names for you all to read up on and you would come back saying "oh wow, that's the guy!" But unfortunately the ONLY way to prove who Zodiac is/was would be to match the DNA or fingerprints that law enforcement has on file, and I'm not 100% convinced that they even have any. Either that or the killer(s) make a confession on their deathbed or something like that. In reality, this case is over 40 years old and will likely never be solved. That's probably why I am so drawn to it. It's one of the biggest crime mysteries in our countries history.
I just don't get what doesn't add up. 95% of time these things are bogus but that doesn't mean it's bogus. It means it's probably bogus. I have read upon the zodiac killer and the various theories and am well versed. I just think this one is as plausible as the others. Possibly more so.
A good summary if why it is at least intiguing from http://altereddimensions.net/2014/book-author-claims-zodiac-killer-is-his-father
-In addition to being rather odd and eccentric, Best was known to have a violent streak, especially towards animals and women.* Stewart wrote that on several occasions, Gilford (Chandler) caught Best locking his young toddler son (Stewart) in a small wooden trunk (nearly suffocating him) and that she herself, was terrified of him.
-Best was paroled from prison on July 12, 1965, two days before his thirty-first birthday.* With pressure from her family and the police, his true-love, Judith Chandler, cut off all ties with him.* Less than one year later, the first suspected Zodiac murder occurred.The Zodiac Killer’s female victims all bear a close resemblance to Best’s shunted lover, Judith Gilford.
-Earl Van Best bears a striking resemblance to sketches of the Zodiac Killer.
-Both Zodiac’s and Best’s fingerprints featured the same diagonal scars (a fingerprint match could not be made because of blood on the print).
-Best’s*ability to evade police is easily explainable – he*studied forensics in college.
-Best’s friends recalled him having an unusual, and sometimes creepy, interest in the occult and noted that he often joked about sending “slaves†into the afterlife (a claim Zodiac often made in his letters to the police).
-Best had more than a passing relationship with Anton Lavey (founder of the Church of Satan) and even ensured his second marriage took place on 6/6/66 (known by Satanists as Year One of the Age of Satan).* At one point, LaVey contacted SFPD telling them that he believed one of his “parishioners†might be the Zodiac killer.* To date, the police detective has refused to divulge the name LaVey gave him.
-Best likely had a keen interest in serial killers.* He once used the false name ‘Henry Lee†[Lucas] on a fraudulent check.
-After the final Zodiac letter was sent (and about the time that SFPD Detective Rotea began a courtship with Best’s ex-wife Judy Chandler), Van left the country, travelling and spending time in both Austria and Mexico.After Earl Van Best Jr. returned to the United States from Mexico, he was arrested several times for drunk driving and is believed to have slipped into a alcoholism. *This could be interpreted as Zodiac shifting from serial killing to a life of drunken stupor.
-Darlene Ferrin (victim of the July 5, 1969 shooting) told friends that a menacing stranger had been following her and gave her gifts he had purchased in*Mexico. *Her friend,*Linda told investigators*that the man bought the*presents from Tia Juanna*and*said that the man had a short name, like “Leeâ€. *Van made frequent visits to Mexico, purchasing books and historical documents that he brought back to America for resale.
-SFPD closed the Zodiac case on April 6, 2004, the same day that the author’s mother visited friends (police detectives) at SFPD asking for help in locating the author’s birth father (Earl Van Best Jr.).One of the Zodiac’s favorite symbols was a “dotted Vâ€, potentially indicating the nickname that Best often went by: Van.* In another letter, the signature at the bottom is the combination of an inverted E and a sideways V, a “thinly disguised symbol for “Earl Vanâ€.
-Van’s best friend recalled Van’s obsession with*The Mikado. *As children, they learned every word of the comedic opera. *Zodiac used lines from The Mikado in his letters and ciphers.
-During the Zodiac murders, Zodiac targeted*San Francisco Chronicle*reporter Paul Avery with a taunting letter campaign.* Unknown until now, Paul Avery had interviewed Best seven years before the Zodiac murders in an article about Best’s love affair with 14-year-old Judith Gilford (Chandler) titled, “He Found Love in Ice Cream Parlor“.* According to Stewart, Avery’s account of the affair greatly upset Best.
-Judy Chandler went on to marry one of the lead homicide investigators on the Zodiac case, Rotea Gilford. Stewart suggests this connection could have embarrassed the San Francisco Police Department and caused them to “shut down†the investigation.
-A handwriting expert, Michael N. Wakshull (author of*Line by Line), matched writing from Zodiac’s letters to Best’s signature from his marriage certificate. *In a sixty-five page report, he concluded that he was virtually certain that the person who filed out Best’s marriage certificate was the writer of the Zodiac letters.
-According to friends and family, when the home of noted Zodiac Killer suspect, Arthur Leigh Allen, was searched by police, documents with identical symbols used in Zodiac’s ciphers were found.* According to Allen, he had been given the symbols by “someone in*Atascadero State Hospital.* Best served time at Atascadero, a maximum security facility in California. [see the Zodiac article for more details
-Best’s father was an expert military cryptographer in the Army.* He taught Best cryptography and they often worked ciphers together as part of a childhood game. Cryptic ciphers were often included in Zodiac’s communications to police and the press.* Many of the ciphers have never been solved. Earl Van Best Jr.’s name (with purposeful misspellings, a common trait in the Zodiac’s ciphers) is found hidden in at least two of the Zodiac’s cryptograms and his partial name is found in several of the ciphers and cipher keys.*
-In the July 31, 1969 cipher sent to the San Francisco Examiner, his name appears in the cipher and cipher key no less than eight times.The count of letters in “Earl Van Best Jr†matches the count of the as-yet-unsolved “My name is: “ Zodiac cryptogram. [see possible solution].
He actually makes a better case for Best than the author does Imo with a better Cypher answer. Still doesn't prove anything but there is circumstantial evidence that makes Best a compelling suspect. Clear this guy did the research too. From his ancestry.com profile etc. Doesn't seem like someone researches for 12 years about their dad because they want a book deal. Again you say everything has been debunked but I read the thread you posted from the zodiackiller.com and see why all the amateur sleuths were skeptical but nobody really debunked any think that I can tell. Only were suspect of motive or protecting their own pet theory.
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The thing about everything you said is that Stewart provides no proof to any of his claims. Do you know how many suspects there are who look just as compelling as Earl Best Jr.? Dozens. This handwriting expert compared ONE piece of Best's handwriting, a marriage license application. I have seen it, and it does look close, but it is weird how Best's writing is laid on top of Zodiac's. Never seen anyone directly do that before. And why is this handwriting expert writing a book of his own now about the whole thing? That is WEIRD!! If Stewart did TWELVE YEARS of research, why does he only have ONE writing sample? The Zodiac researchers come up with tons of writing samples on suspects, and Stewart would have access to more than a researcher would, because a lot of stuff is only given to family members as far as documents and things like that. And speaking of documents (I'm a nerd when it comes to this), why doesn't Stewart provide any type of documentation to back up any of the claims he has made? If you're going to make an accusation, and a serious one at that, then you need to provide proof. All we have is a game of 'he said-she said.' In the book, it states a lot of different things that were said by Judith Chandler, but a Zodiac researcher who interviewed her said that she said the book was mostly stuff that Stewart made up. So somebody is lying, but who? I have seen actual documented proof of several things over the years that back up things against a bunch of suspects. I have not seen a single thing to back up any of Stewart's claims. The handwriting is close yes, but Ted Kaczynski and Fred Manalli have even closer handwriting IMO. The scar on Best's finger? I want to see a comparison. I have been told that the scar is not even in the same spot on the finger as Zodiac's. Another thing that Stewart needs to prove. I have seen new names pop up in the case and within a week there is all kinds of evidence, with the documents to go with it. In 12 years, this guy can't provide anything more? A researcher has sent out a request for Best's SSN application, so we should get more jandwriting there if it goes through.
Best had a violent streak? Prove it. He was a tiny little guy. Much smaller than the Zodiac was described as. He does look like the sketch. Can't argue that. But most men in 1969 did. I have seen a bunch of pictures of people (some are not even suspects in the case) that look like similar. He studied forensics in college? Doesn't prove he killed people. And I have not seen proof that he studied forensics in college. Did Stewart provide any paperwork or anything to prove that? No. Not that I have seen. Are we just supposed to take his word on all these claims? Best once used the false name ‘Henry Lee” [Lucas] on a fraudulent check? Henry Lee Lucas was not know nationally until the early 80s IIRC. I don't think his early 60s murder really made national headlines. And remember, there was no internet or anything back then. I do chuckle when I read about Darlene Ferrin's family saying anything. Apparently every single suspect that has come along has somehow known Darlene. I saw newspaper articles about Best and him marrying a 13 year old, but have not seen one with Paul Avery's name on it. I also have not seen proof that Best's name shows up in any cipher. If an EXPERT on the subject confirms that then I will look at this in a whole new light. I have seen hundreds of people try to solve the ciphers and have magically found names of suspects. I can probably find my own name if I tried. I have also seen no proof that Best learned cryptography from his father.
If you want, I can show you the "evidence" against some other suspects and maybe you will change your mind about who Zodiac is/was. I will provide actual documents and everything. Sorry but I just don't get how 12 years of research and nothing to show as far as documentation. I'm not just gonna take someone's word for it, ya know? I want actual evidence. The things Stewart has presented are interesting, but could just be coincidental. Until the case is solved (if ever), we will never know.
Best had a violent streak? Prove it. He was a tiny little guy. Much smaller than the Zodiac was described as. He does look like the sketch. Can't argue that. But most men in 1969 did. I have seen a bunch of pictures of people (some are not even suspects in the case) that look like similar. He studied forensics in college? Doesn't prove he killed people. And I have not seen proof that he studied forensics in college. Did Stewart provide any paperwork or anything to prove that? No. Not that I have seen. Are we just supposed to take his word on all these claims? Best once used the false name ‘Henry Lee” [Lucas] on a fraudulent check? Henry Lee Lucas was not know nationally until the early 80s IIRC. I don't think his early 60s murder really made national headlines. And remember, there was no internet or anything back then. I do chuckle when I read about Darlene Ferrin's family saying anything. Apparently every single suspect that has come along has somehow known Darlene. I saw newspaper articles about Best and him marrying a 13 year old, but have not seen one with Paul Avery's name on it. I also have not seen proof that Best's name shows up in any cipher. If an EXPERT on the subject confirms that then I will look at this in a whole new light. I have seen hundreds of people try to solve the ciphers and have magically found names of suspects. I can probably find my own name if I tried. I have also seen no proof that Best learned cryptography from his father.
If you want, I can show you the "evidence" against some other suspects and maybe you will change your mind about who Zodiac is/was. I will provide actual documents and everything. Sorry but I just don't get how 12 years of research and nothing to show as far as documentation. I'm not just gonna take someone's word for it, ya know? I want actual evidence. The things Stewart has presented are interesting, but could just be coincidental. Until the case is solved (if ever), we will never know.
One thing I will say that I found when researching Best myself, and is probably just a coincidence, is that his great great grandfather was famous Army General Earl Van Dorn. Van Dorn is actually really fun to read about. Van Dorn made a war flag that had a moon and 13 stars. Zodiac sent a Halloween letter that had 13 creepy looking moons that were made into eyes. Could be a connection, but probably just coincidence. Van Dorn was born and raised in Mississippi and is buried there. A Zodiac researcher found something about Earl Best being in a car accident in Mississippi. Maybe he was out there paying respects and visiting an ancestors grave. If so, he probably found out about this war flag if he didn't know of it already. Maybe it inspired the Halloween card, assuming Best was Zodiac, which I don't think he was. Just saying. If I can find "evidence" then it can't be that hard, because I am not the sharpest tool in the place where they keep the tools.
Now lets talk about Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. Just so I can show you that there are far more compelling suspects. With Best, we don't know much about him. We don't know what is true and what is false. With Ted, we have actual proof to back up certain things. Lets take a look at his handwriting. On the left is a letter mailed to Melvin Belli, a man that I personally believe that Zodiac really admired. Notice the writing is "neat" compared to most Zodiac letters. The letters stand straight up as opposed to leaning to the right. Most Zodiac letters start off with the straight up letters and then eventually lean to the right. Maybe he was lazy or had problems holding a writing device for too long? Couldn't tell ya. I think he took his time writing this particular letter because of his admiration for Mr. Belli.
On the right is writing from Ted Kaczynski. Looks similar right? The spelling errors are interesting in all of Zodiac's letters. Was he dumb? Or was he covering his tracks by doing this on purpose so that they would not look for someone who was, I don't know, lets say a teacher or professor? Kaczynski was very smart. Had a high IQ. Lets state some more FACTS about Ted that could tie him to the Zodiac case.
- Was a math genius! Graduated from Harvard at the age of 20. PhD in math from the University of Michigan. Is actually noted as being a very brilliant mathematician (sp?)
- Lived in S.F. during the murders.
- Youngest professor ever hired at University of Cal Berkley, but resigned at an early age because it was suspected that he was mentally unstable.
- Was into codes and ciphers. The FBI found notebooks full of such things that he had created on his own.
- Knew how to make bombs, and the FBI also found diagrams of bombs that he had drawn.
- Wrote anonymous taunting and threatening letters to newspapers including the S.F. Chronicle.
- Was a social outcast, big time! He felt he did not belong in society so he build and lived in a shack in Montana.
These are just the things off the top of my head, and I know I am missing a lot. FBI cleared Kaczynski because of non-matching fingerprints and handwriting. I think the writing is pretty dang close, but if the fingerprints don't match then nothing you can do. I personally question the whole fingerprint thing. And the DNA. How they know for sure that Zodiac left that print? How do they know HE was the one that licked those envelopes? And unfortunately those are the only two things that will put this case to rest. Handwriting will not seal the deal. An expert can say "I'm 99% positive that this writing is a match" but it will do no good.
Kaczynski is just one of a bunch of suspects that we could discuss. I was just pointing out that Best is not the only good suspect in the case.
Me and a few people are doing some research into a some different people because we believe that the Zodiac was not just one person. I have caught a lot of crap for this theory, but I'm not giving up on it until it is proven to be false.
On the right is writing from Ted Kaczynski. Looks similar right? The spelling errors are interesting in all of Zodiac's letters. Was he dumb? Or was he covering his tracks by doing this on purpose so that they would not look for someone who was, I don't know, lets say a teacher or professor? Kaczynski was very smart. Had a high IQ. Lets state some more FACTS about Ted that could tie him to the Zodiac case.
- Was a math genius! Graduated from Harvard at the age of 20. PhD in math from the University of Michigan. Is actually noted as being a very brilliant mathematician (sp?)
- Lived in S.F. during the murders.
- Youngest professor ever hired at University of Cal Berkley, but resigned at an early age because it was suspected that he was mentally unstable.
- Was into codes and ciphers. The FBI found notebooks full of such things that he had created on his own.
- Knew how to make bombs, and the FBI also found diagrams of bombs that he had drawn.
- Wrote anonymous taunting and threatening letters to newspapers including the S.F. Chronicle.
- Was a social outcast, big time! He felt he did not belong in society so he build and lived in a shack in Montana.
These are just the things off the top of my head, and I know I am missing a lot. FBI cleared Kaczynski because of non-matching fingerprints and handwriting. I think the writing is pretty dang close, but if the fingerprints don't match then nothing you can do. I personally question the whole fingerprint thing. And the DNA. How they know for sure that Zodiac left that print? How do they know HE was the one that licked those envelopes? And unfortunately those are the only two things that will put this case to rest. Handwriting will not seal the deal. An expert can say "I'm 99% positive that this writing is a match" but it will do no good.
Kaczynski is just one of a bunch of suspects that we could discuss. I was just pointing out that Best is not the only good suspect in the case.
Me and a few people are doing some research into a some different people because we believe that the Zodiac was not just one person. I have caught a lot of crap for this theory, but I'm not giving up on it until it is proven to be false.
