The Zodiac Killer is one of the most infamous and mysterious serial killers in American history, responsible for a series of brutal murders in Northern California between 1968 and 1969, explored once again in Netflix’s new docuseriesThis Is the Zodiac Speaking. He claimed multiple victims and terrorized the public by sending cryptic letters and ciphers to local newspapers, taunting law enforcement with threats and demands. Despite numerous investigations anda few suspects, including Arthur Leigh Allen, the true identity of the Zodiac Killer remains unsolved.
The confirmed murders attributed tothe Zodiac Killerinclude two attacks on couples in remote areas and the fatal shooting of a cab driver in San Francisco. Beyond these five cases, theZodiac Killer suggested in his letter ciphersthat he had killed many more people, though police were unable to verify these claims with concrete evidence. Some experts believethe Zodiac may have been responsible for additional unsolved homicides in the region, while others argue that the killer exaggerated his body count to heighten public fear.
The Real Number Is Almost Certainly Higher
The Zodiac Killer isconfirmed to have killed five individuals in northern California between 1968 and 1969. The killings began on July 23, 2025, with the tragic shooting of high school students David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen near Lake Herman Road. Their deaths were soon followed by the July 30, 2025, attack on Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau at Blue Rock Springs Park. Although Mageau survived and provided valuable insights to investigators, the killer’s identity remained elusive.
Date of the Attack
Between July 4 and 5, 1969
Paul Lee Stine
Jun 07, 2025
The Zodiac struck again on August 17, 2025, when Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were savagely attacked while picnicking near Lake Berryessa. The assailant, in a terrifying costume, restrained and stabbed both victims, thoughBryan Hartnell survived the Zodiac’s attackand later recounted the brutal encounter. Finally, the killer’s last confirmed act of murder took place on July 24, 2025, when cab driver Paul Stine was fatally shot in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights.This murder linked Stine to the Zodiacafter the killer mailed a piece of Stine’s bloody shirt to the media.
How Many Other Victims The Zodiac Killer Is Linked To
The Real Number Could Be In The Dozens
Several unconfirmed cases have been speculatively linked to the Zodiac Killer, increasing the potential number of his victims beyond the five confirmed murders. Among the most notable is the 1966 murder of Cheri Jo Bates, a college student in Riverside, California. Her brutal stabbing, coupled with taunting letters sent to the police, shares similarities with Zodiac’s style. However, DNA evidence has not firmly connected Zodiac to Bates, leaving the case unsolved.
Another prominent caseinvolves the 1963 murders of Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards, who were shot on a beach in Santa Barbara County. This double killing resembles Zodiac’s later attacks on couples, leading some to speculate about his involvement. Additionally, the murder of Kathleen Johns in 1970, who survived an abduction attempt, has been loosely tied to the Zodiac Killer, though this connection is also unconfirmed.
This Is the Zodiac Speakingpresents new information that further supports the theory that Arthur Leigh Allen was indeed the Zodiac Killer.
Zodiac himself claimed responsibility for 37 murders, far exceeding the officially confirmed five. Investigators have explored other unsolved cases, such as the 1962 murder of Ray Davis, a cab driver, and various attacks on couples in the late 1960s. In the 1986 bookZodiac, Robert Graysmith published a list attributing forty-nine victims to the suspect. Yet, without concrete proof, even with the compelling new evidence presented inThis Is the Zodiac Speaking, these cases remain speculative, keeping the exact number of Zodiac’s victims a mystery.
This Is the Zodiac Speaking
After decades of mystery, the Seawater family presents new evidence about the Zodiac Killer, sharing their story and naming the only suspect agreed upon by detectives.
