The Killer Who Wrote Riddles: The Zodiac Killer Letters

 

Between 1968 and 1969, Northern California faced a chilling series of attacks. The man behind them called himself “Zodiac.” His first victims were young couples, shot or stabbed in seemingly random attacks. His last confirmed victim was Paul Stine, a San Francisco cab driver, killed in October 1969. Yet despite survivors, witnesses, and evidence, the killer always slipped away.

What made Zodiac infamous wasn’t just the crimes, but the letters. He sent taunting notes to newspapers, marked with a crosshair symbol and signed “This is the Zodiac speaking.” Some included strange ciphers. The first, the “408 cipher,” was solved quickly. But another, the “340 cipher,” remained a mystery for decades until finally decoded in 2020.

And still, the biggest puzzle remains unsolved: who was Zodiac? Over the years, suspects like schoolteacher Arthur Leigh Allen have been named, but no proof ever stuck. Some say he vanished after 1969, others believe he kept killing under the radar. What’s certain is this — the Zodiac’s identity is still a secret, buried somewhere between fact, fear, and speculation.

All images are Ai generated and for illustrative purposes only.