The case of the Zodiac Killer: a riveting criminal case that remains unsolved to this day.
The Zodiac Killer is one of the most notorious serial killers in U.S. history. Over about ten months, between 1968 and 1969, he committed a series of gruesome murders and left behind mysterious messages that remain unsolved to this day. This criminal case has not only terrified the public but has also posed a major challenge to the investigating authorities.
A mysterious beginning
The Zodiac Killer case began on December 20, 1968, in Vallejo, California, when two teenagers and a young adult were shot in a park. The killer sent a coded letter to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, calling himself "Zodiac." In the letter, he claimed responsibility for the murder and stated that he enjoyed killing people.
Enigmatic communication
During his crime spree, the Zodiac Killer sent a series of coded messages to various newspapers and police departments. In one letter to the San Francisco Examiner newspaper, he threatened to kill a school busload of children. The cryptograms he enclosed posed a challenge to code breakers and added to the public's fascination.
More murders and a killing spree
In the months and years that followed, the Zodiac Killer murdered at least five people and injured several more. The victims were shot or stabbed in brutal ways. Most of the murders occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area. Despite an intensive investigation and numerous suspects, authorities failed to catch the killer.
Coded messages and letters
One of the most striking features of the Zodiac Killer was his communication with the media and the police. He regularly sent encrypted messages and letters that have not been fully decrypted to this day. Probably the most famous cryptogram, the so-called "Zodiac Killer Z340 code", remains unsolved and represents one of the great challenges for amateur code breakers and cryptanalysts.
The end of the murders and an unsolved case
In 1974, the Zodiac Killer's murders suddenly stopped, and no further murder was attributed to him. However, he continued his mysterious letters and messages into the 2000s. Despite an intense investigation and countless suspects, the Zodiac Killer was never identified or caught. The case remains unsolved to this day.
A legacy of fear and fascination
The case of the Zodiac Killer not only created a wave of fear and dread among the public, but also sparked the interest of mystery lovers, amateur detectives, and true-crime enthusiasts around the world. The fascination with this puzzling criminal case and the hope that one day the mystery of the Zodiac Killer will be solved live on to this day.