Zodiac Killer
Unidentified California slayer
The Zodiac Killer was an unidentified serial murderer active in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s, known for taunting police and newspapers with cryptic letters and ciphers.
The case remains officially unsolved.
The Zodiac Killer sent coded messages to San Francisco newspapers.
The name comes from one of the killer's symbols, a crossed circle resembling a zodiac sign.
Deliberate unlawful killing
- shootingDischarging a weapon
- stabbingWounding with a blade
- victimOne harmed by another
- attackAggressive act against another
rampage · Bay Area · Vallejo · San Francisco · crime scene · ballistics · forensics · evidence
Coded message puzzle
- codeSymbolic communication system
- encryptionConverting data into code
- symbolsMarks conveying meaning
- decryptionConverting ciphertext to plaintext
cryptanalysis · ciphertext · plaintext · key · puzzle · substitution · transposition · homophonic
Unsolved crime, investigation suspended
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- detectivesThose who solve crimes
- suspectsThinks someone's guilty
- profilersThose who build psychological portraits
DNA · fingerprints · witnesses · manhunt · timeline · polygraph · search warrant · tip line
Not yet discovered
- unidentifiedNot yet recognized
- maskFace-worn concealment
- pseudonymFictitious professional name
- suspectBelieve to be likely
composite sketch · voice · eyewitness · description · theories · true crime · speculation · confession
murder
Deliberate unlawful killing
attack · rampage · Bay Area · Vallejo · San Francisco · crime scene · ballistics · forensics · evidence · handwriting
cryptogram
Coded message puzzle
- codeSymbolic communication system
- encryptionConverting data into code
- symbolsMarks conveying meaning
decryption · cryptanalysis · ciphertext · plaintext · key · puzzle · substitution · transposition · homophonic · letter
cold case
Unsolved crime, investigation suspended
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- detectivesThose who solve crimes
- suspectsThinks someone's guilty
profilers · DNA · fingerprints · witnesses · manhunt · timeline · polygraph · search warrant · tip line · reward
unknown
Not yet discovered
- unidentifiedNot yet recognized
- maskFace-worn concealment
- pseudonymFictitious professional name
suspect · composite sketch · voice · eyewitness · description · theories · true crime · speculation · confession · hoax
letters
Alphabetic characters or mail
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- boastsSpeaks with self-praise
- body countTally of the deceased
newspaper · media · publicity · signature · deadline · demands · ego · cat and mouse · notoriety · infamy
- mysteriesmystery, enigma, enigmas, puzzle, riddle
- mysterious figuresenigma, phantom, shadowy figure, mysterious stranger, mystery man
Zodiac Killerdetective
Professional crime investigator
investigator · homicide detective · victim advocate · survivor · law enforcement
zodiac, killer, kill, zodiacal, kills, killed, killing, killers