FBI Tests Could Reveal Zodiac Killer's Identity

By Hum
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Grand Master

Hum

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SACRAMENTO -- The Zodiac Killer attacked at least eight people, terrorizing the Bay Area and taunting police in the 60's and 70's. Thursday, the FBI confirmed to CBS13 they are now running laboratory tests on some items that may link a suspect to the killer.

The evidence was given to the FBI by a Pollock Pines man who also claims he recently found the disguise worn by the Zodiac Killer during one of his attacks.

"The identity of the Zodiac Killer is Jack Tarrance. He's my stepfather," says Dennis Kaufman.

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Eight years of Dennis Kaufman's life has been consumed with attempting to prove the only father he's known since he was five-years-old is none other than the Zodiac Killer.

"This a handwriting comparison I did," says Kaufman, showing handwriting samples claiming to be his father's and the Zodiac Killer's, which bear a striking similarity. Kaufman says it's no coincidence.

"The composite is a dead ringer," says Kaufman, showing composite sketch of the killer next to his stepfather's -- a resemblance that is undeniable between pictures of Jack Tarrance and descriptions of the zodiac.

Kaufman also claims his stepfather, in a taped phone conversation, indirectly admitted being the zodiac killer.

"If I wrote a book and said I think my stepfather is the Zodiac Killer they wouldn't believe me," says Kaufman.

Jack Tarrance died in 2006. Kaufman claims that while going through Tarrance's belongings, there were disturbing findings including a knife still covered with what could possibly be dried blood.

"It could be a knife he barbecued with or a knife he murdered someone with," says Kaufman.

Jack also left behind rolls of undeveloped film. Kaufman plans to hand over the film to the FBI. On one of the rolls he did develop, there were numerous gruesome images.

"Appeared to be people who were murdered," he explains.

Just recently, Kaufman remembered his stepfather asking him several times about the old PA system, which led him to take it apart.

"When I first opened it up that did affect me. My heart skipped a couple of beats when I saw it," he says.

The material folded and tucked inside, Kaufman believes, may unmask the zodiac killer.

"It was a black hood with a zodiac on it," Kaufman explains.

It's similar to the hood worn during the vicious 1968 Lake Berryessa attack, which is the possible key evidence connecting his stepfather to the killings. He also believes there are dozens more victims which were never linked to the Zodiac, including Kaufman's own mother who, he claims, was suffocated.

"She sat there and told me Jack was trying to kill her and I didn't listen. I can only imagine how she felt. Imagine how scary that would be. That is what kept me going this whole time," he says.

The FBI confirmed they are running DNA tests on items that Kaufman gave them.

Kaufman says there are postage stamps sent to him by his stepfather. Authorities are trying to get DNA profile of Jack Tarrance to compare to A DNA profile of the Zodiac Killer. The FBI told CBS13 they could get those results back any day.

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gadean

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I would be nice to finally find out who he was. For our curiosity and as TheNay said, for some closure. I am surprised, however, by how much evidence this suspected killer kept for others to later discover. During the Zodiac's reign of terror he was very careful to cover his tracks and not be caught. These relics of the past do not seem to match his character profile.

Grand Master

DrunkenMaster

Posted
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Wow, that is freaky. If the evidence is confirmed to be valid, I wouldn't see how he wouldn't be the Zodiac killer. I'd have to assume its taken the FBI a while since its been a cold case for a long time. Post 9-11 I'm sure they've had a lot of other unrelated work to do. I don't think 30 year old cold-cases were a priority. But if its proved to be him, its great news.

Grand Master

Scirwode

Posted
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I remember reading about it during my younger years. I also seem to recall a news piece about it in 93 if I'm not mistaken. If it is true, it will certainly be great news, especially considering how long it has become unsolved.

Scirwode

Grand Master

DirtyLarry Veteran

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How did he get the name 'The Zodiac Killer' sounds like a movie lol

It was a recent movie (and the premise itself inspired several other movies), and I believe an older movie, but the most recent movie is called "Zodiac."

But that is what he wanted the press to specifically call him if I recall correctly.

Grand Master

DrunkenMaster

Posted
Posted
It was a recent movie (and the premise itself inspired several other movies), and I believe an older movie, but the most recent movie is called "Zodiac."

But that is what he wanted the press to specifically call him if I recall correctly.

Its a name he gave himself in a letter to either the media or targeted to police or the FBI. It has a spooky look it kinda look to it too. He becomes the symbol kind of like Batman or the name association.

Grand Master

Hum

Posted
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:blink:

The killer did not identify himself, but signed his letters with a symbol -- a circle with a cross drawn through it. He included a three-part cipher which supposedly contained the secret of his identity and demanded that each of the three newspapers publish one part on their respective front pages, threatening a dozen more murders if his request was not met.

The cipher was quickly translated, but it apparently failed to disclose the identity of the killer. Instead, it presented a short, chilling exposition of the murder's psychosis, including the killer's trademark bad spelling:

I LIKE KILLING PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH FUN IT IS MORE FUN THAN KILLING WILD GAME IN THE FORREST BECAUSE MAN IS THE MOST DANGEROUE ANIMAL OF ALL

TO KILL SOMETHING GIVES ME THE MOST THRILLING EXPERENCE IT IS EVEN BETTER THAN GETTING YOUR ROCKS OFF WITH A GIRL

THE BEST PART IS THAE WHEN I DIE I WILL BE REBORN IN PARADICE AND ALL THE I HAVE KILLED WILL BECOME MY SLAVES

I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY NAME BECAUSE YOU WILL TRY TO SLOI DOWN OR STOP MY COLLECTING OF SLAVES FOR MY AFTERLIFE EBEORIETEMETHHPITI

Grand Master

Hum

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Update:

FBI: 'Open Investigation' Into Zodiac Suspect

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) The FBI collected more evidence this weekend in an attempt to establish a DNA link between Jack Tarrance and the Zodiac Killer.

Dennis Kaufman, Tarrance's stepson, turned over the black hood he claims to have recently discovered. He believes it is the same hood the Zodiac Killer wore when he stabbed Bryan Hartnell and murdered Cecelia Shepard, a couple picnicking at Lake Berryessa.

The FBI is facing a major challenge in their investigation: Jack Tarrance died in 2006 and was cremated. Investigators are attempting to build a DNA profile using old letters sent to Kaufman.

"On the envelopes and letters, especially on the envelopes, you would be looking for saliva," said Bob Jarzen, the man who runs the Sacramento County Crime Lab and has 33 years in forensic science experience.

Jarzen said there are three possible results from a DNA comparison to the Zodiac Killer. It could eliminate Jack Tarrance as a suspect, come back inconclusive if there is not enough DNA or a problem with the DNA on the envelopes, or the results could point to Jack Tarrance as a possible suspect.

It would not conclude 100 percent if he is the Zodiac Killer.

There is no complete DNA profile of the Zodiac Killer for comparison. San Francisco authorities developed only a partial DNA profile taken from postage stamps.

Scientific tests may be able to determine if the black hood is authentic, but Jarzen warns that it will not be easy.

"The dark color and the color of the blood blends in so well," he said. Jarzen demonstrated on a black article of clothing how difficult it is to find DNA on dark material.

But he said that it may be possible to locate usable DNA, even 40 years later.

"You are going to have to go over inside and outside," Jarzen said. "Presumably, if he's wearing it over his head, you may have saliva transferred, and if he's stabbing there's blood being spattered. There is potential for blood on the outside."

The Zodiac Killer's true identity has never been proven. Jack Tarrance knew his stepson believed he was the Zodiac Killer long before he died, and now it will be up to science to prove or disprove whether he was a sadistic man who enjoyed the comparison, or if he is the true monster behind the mask.

"I know the DNA will match because I know who Jack is," Kaufman said. "I'm not worried."

The FBI expects to have the results of the DNA test any day, but since the case is an active investigation, they may not release the results immediately.

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Grand Master

Hum

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I tend to think the results will be inconclusive. DNA is sparse and old.

Only the undeveloped rolls of 35mm film may be proof.

Hand-writing seems a close match.

The hood seems to be very convincing -- why would anyone else have such a thing ?

Arthur Leigh Allen & unabomber Ted Kaczynski were also thought to be the 'zodiac'.

A lull in the letters were thought to coincide with Allen's imprisonment.

I don't see why the long delay in the FBI's investigation.

Maybe they don't want to solve the case, for some unknown reason. :unsure:

  • 2 weeks later...
Grand Master

DrunkenMaster

Posted
Posted

Since Hum posted the story, I took some interest in following the updates of the case. Its a 40 odd year old cold case and its interesting that there might finally be a break.

The 2 updates were posted since Hum's original post in late August. To summarize:

1) The FBI isn't commenting its still an ongoing case. They've collected more DNA samples, etc.

2) Here's the real interesting one. If Jack Tarrence is the Zodiac, during the same period of time he resided in a trailer park in the area of the murders. The trailer park doesn't exist anymore. Its since been cleared/demolished and what now stands there is the ............. FBI Head Office (for I think) the State of California.

Here is the CBS13 link to all the latest news: http://cbs13.com/search/Default.aspx?Searc...iac&TabId=0

Mentor

kazuyette

Posted
Posted
...

2) Here's the real interesting one. If Jack Tarrence is the Zodiac, during the same period of time he resided in a trailer park in the area of the murders. The trailer park doesn't exist anymore. Its since been cleared/demolished and what now stands there is the ............. FBI Head Office (for I think) the State of California.

...

This one is priceless .

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