Unsolved Codes: The Zodiac Killer's Letters

In the late 1960’s a serial murderer named the Zodiac Killer was on a spree in Northern California. The identity of this person remains unknown today, as do solutions to three of his coded messages sent to the press and investigating authorities during that time. It’s possible solving these ciphers might reveal or confirm who the Zodiac Killer was. Can you help bring a murderer to justice by solving the Zodiac Ciphers?

The Zodiac Killer is linked to 4 confirmed attacks. These incidents included seven victims, two of which survived. Although the Zodiac Killer is suspected to be responsible for more deaths, without conclusive evidence, authorities are not willing to conclude he was involved in any other crimes, even though he has claimed to have killed 37 people through his more than twenty disturbing letters sent to authorities.

The incidences confirmed to be that of the Zodiac Killer are the following:

Shooting on December 20, 1968: The shootings, resulting in the deaths of David Faraday, 17, and Betty Lou Jensen, 16, are confirmed to be that of the Zodiac Killer.
Shooting on July 4, 1969: The shootings of Michael Mageau and Darlene Ferrin are that of the Zodiac. Mageau survived. Ferrin died from the gunshot wounds. Mageau later described his attacker as a white male, possibly 30 years old, less than 200 pounds, around 5 feet 8 inches tall, and with short light brown curly hair.
Stabbing on September 27, 1969: Bryan Hartnell and Cecilia Shepard were stabbed repeatedly by the Zodiac Killer. Hartnell survived. However, Shepard died a few days later from her injuries. The Zodiac was described by both of them to be a white male with brown hair of similar height and weight as Mageau had previously described his attacker.
Shooting on October 11, 1969: A taxi cab driver by the name of Paul Stine was shot and killed by the Zodiac. This is the last confirmed murder.

Although the Zodiac Killer is not linked to as many murders as say serial killer Ted Bundy, his taunting of police and press with his letters have left just as wide a mark.

Over the course of many years, over twenty confirmed letters from the Zodiac were sent to authorities. The first three were sent on July 31, 1969, soon after the shootings of Mageau and Ferrin. (Shown above) They were sent to the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Examiner, and the Vallejo Times. Each included a piece to a 408 character cipher, and a letter which claimed responsibility for shooting Mageau and Ferrin, and also Faraday and Jensen.

The cipher was solved quickly. And although the accompanying letters suggested they would reveal his identity, a name was not deciphered. However, at the end of the cipher were 18 letters which were not understood. EBEORIETEMETHHPITI- Many feel these could reveal his identity and need additional deciphering.

The solution read: 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 anamal 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 of it is thae when I die I will be reborn in paradice and all thei have killed will become my slaves I will not give you my name because you will try to sloi down or atop my collectiog of slaves for my afterlife ebeorietemethhpiti,

The other three codes, which remain completely unsolved, were sent on the following dates:

On November 8, 1969, the cipher often known as the 340 character cipher was sent.

On April 20, 1970, a letter with a 13 character cipher was sent to the San Francisco Chronicle. Written before the line of the cipher was , My name is —-. Could this reveal the Zodiac’s Name if solved??

The last unsolved cipher was sent on June 26, 1970 to the San Francisco Chronicle. This cipher is often referred to as either the Map Cipher or the 32 character cipher.