Zodiac Designator Atlas: Identity, Name Withholding, Threat, and Afterlife
This page is a catalog of words and phrases from the Zodiac's letters and from the solved cipher plaintexts. Entries are grouped by function and dated. It is not a decrypt, not a suspect theory, and not a full psychological profile. It is the evidence base for the Zodiac's closed content repertoire analysis.
1. IDENTITY
1a. Killer / murderer / same man
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
I am the killer of the 2
teenagers last Christmass at Lake Herman and the Girl last 4th of July |
July 31, 1969 VTH |
Self-label as the
offender of named crimes. |
|
This is the
murderer of the 2 teenagers last Christmass at Lake Herman + the girl on the
4th of July near the golf course in Vallejo |
July 31, 1969 SFC |
Same self-label;
“murderer” instead of “killer.” |
|
I am the killer of the 2
teenagers last christmass at Lake Herman + the girl last 4th of July |
July 31, 1969 SFE |
Same as VTH above. |
|
To prove I
killed them / To prove this I shall state some facts… |
July 31, 1969 (all
three) |
Ties Zodiac to
the killings as identity claim. |
|
the good times
I have had in Vallejo |
Aug 4, 1969 SFE |
Claims ownership
of the Vallejo crimes as personal experience. |
|
cene of the
killing |
Aug 4, 1969 SFE |
Speaks as the
person present at the murder scene. |
|
my victoms |
Aug 4, 1969 SFE |
Possessive:
victims as his. |
|
I am the murderer of the taxi
driver over by Washington St + Maple St last night |
Oct 13, 1969 SFC |
Self-label for
Stine. |
|
I am the same man who did in the
people in the north bay area |
Oct 13, 1969 SFC |
Links Stine
offender to North Bay offender - one identity. |
|
up to the end of
Oct I have killed 7 people |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Body-count claim
as who he is. |
|
when I comitt
my murders |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Murders framed as
his ongoing practice. |
|
my killings |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Possessive
offender identity. |
|
I have killed ten
people to date |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
Updated kill count
identity. |
|
I shot a man sitting in a
parked car with a .38 |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
Claims a specific
shooting as his act. |
|
my riverside
activity… a hell of a lot more down there |
Mar 13, 1971 LAT |
Claims Riverside
crimes as his. |
|
I have decided to
begin Killing again |
May 2, 1978 KHJ |
Reasserts killer
identity. |
|
I like killing
people because it is so much fun… |
408 plaintext |
Offender identity
in cipher text. |
|
That wasn't me on the TV show which brings up a point about me |
340 plaintext |
Explicit “me” as
distinct person / persona. |
1b. Zodiac persona / brand / symbol
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
This is the zodiac
speaking |
Aug 4, 1969 SFE |
First use of
public persona title as speaker ID. |
|
This is the Zodiac
speaking |
Oct 13, 1969; Nov
8; Nov 9; Dec 20 Belli; Apr 20; June 26; July 24; July 26, 1970; Mar 13,
1971; May 2, 1978 |
Repeated persona
brand. |
|
To prove that I
am the Zodiac |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Explicit claim of
the Zodiac identity. |
|
Zodiac butons / my buton |
Apr 28, 1970 SFC |
Brand name on
objects others must wear. |
|
nice (crosshair)
buttons / any type of (crosshair) buttons |
June 26; July 24;
July 26, 1970 |
Symbol = stand-in
for the name / brand. |
|
(Crosshair Symbol) on letters |
July 31, 1969
onward (many) |
Signature mark of
the persona. |
|
hood… symbol…
symmetrical cross in center |
Sept 27, 1969
(victim-reported) |
Physical brand at
the scene. |
|
whoever plays
me |
May 2, 1978 KHJ |
Persona as a role
that can be “played.” |
1c. Clever / uncaught / control of
image
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
the police shall
never catch me, because I have been too clever for them |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Self as
uncatchable intellect. |
|
I look like the
description… only when I do my thing, the rest of the time I look entirle
different |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Dual appearance =
controlled identity presentation. |
|
descise |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Disguise as
identity tool. |
|
no fingerprints…
finger tip guards… airplane cement |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Forensic
invisibility as part of who he is operationally. |
|
leaving fake
clews |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Controls what
police think they know about him. |
|
I am crack
proof |
Mar 13, 1971 LAT |
Unbreakable
identity vs police. |
|
do my Thing |
Nov 8, 1969 SFC |
Coded label for
his killing persona / activity. |
|
do my thing |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Same. |
|
SFPD=0 / =10 / –12
/ =13 / –17+ / Me – 37 |
Apr 20; June 26;
July 26, 1970; Mar 13, 1971; Jan 29, 1974 |
Scoreboard
identity: me vs police. |
|
NO ADDRESS |
Aug 4, 1969 SFE |
Withholds
locatable civic identity. |
1d. Scene cover story (Berryessa,
victim-reported)
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
I want your money |
Sept 27, 1969 |
Claimed
motive / role at scene. |
|
needed a car
and money / keys |
Sept 27, 1969 |
Robbery-escape
identity. |
|
I am a convict trying to get to Mexico |
Sept 27, 1969 |
False personal
identity offered to victims. |
|
car was hot |
Sept 27, 1969 |
Supports
convict / escape story. |
|
lodge state
prison, Montana / killed a guard (as reported) |
Sept 27, 1969 |
Elaborated false
bio. |
|
I’m getting
nervous |
Sept 27, 1969 |
Self-description
in role (not letter persona). |
1e. Proof of identity (authentication)
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
facts which only I
+ the police know |
July 31, 1969 (all
three) |
Proves speaker =
offender. |
|
Brand name of ammo
Super X / Western; 10 shots; body positions; patterned
pants/slacks |
July 31, 1969 (all
three) |
Secret knowledge
proof items. |
|
blood stained
piece of his shirt |
Oct 13, 1969 SFC |
Physical proof of
Stine murder identity. |
|
Ask the Vallejo
cop about my electric gun sight… |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
External
verification challenge. |
|
Des July Aug Sept
Oct = 7 |
Nov 8, 1969 SFC |
Count presented as
his accounting of deeds (identity as score). |
2. NAME WITHHOLDING
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
In this cipher is
my idenity |
July 31, 1969 SFC
only |
Teases that
identity / name content is inside the cipher - not a delivered legal name. |
|
when they do crack
it they will have me |
Aug 4, 1969 SFE |
Solving =
capturing identity; still not giving a name string. |
|
By the way have
you cracked the last cipher I sent you? |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
Opens the
name-game block before “My name is.” |
|
My name is – [Z13 symbols] |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
Explicit name
prompt; denial/withhold is structural (no clear public plaintext name). |
|
I will not give
you my name because you will try to slow down or stop my collecting of
slaves for my afterlife |
408 plaintext |
Direct refusal of
a name. |
3. THREAT
3A. More killing / rampage / general
violence
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
kill ram page / kill rampage
/ kill ram-Page Fry night |
July 31, 1969 VTH,
SFC, SFE |
Threat of mass
killing if cipher not printed. |
|
whole week end
/ weekend / Sun Night |
July 31, 1969 (all
three) |
Duration of
threatened rampage. |
|
cruse around… stray people
or coupples / lone People / people who are alone |
July 31, 1969 (all
three) |
How the rampage
will be carried out. |
|
dozen people |
July 31, 1969 (all
three) |
Scale of threat. |
|
take my nineth
+ posibly tenth victom |
Dec 20, 1969 Belli |
Threat of next
murders. |
|
loose control again… |
Dec 20, 1969 Belli |
Violence framed as
impending loss of control (coercive plea / threat). |
|
more glory in
killing a cop then a cid |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
Hierarchy of who
he may kill - threat coloring. |
|
I promiced to punish
them if they did not comply |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
Explicit
punishment threat (also 3D). |
|
punished them in an
another way… shot a man… .38 |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
Claimed punishment
shooting. |
|
little list, starting with
the woeman + her baby… burning her car |
July 24, 1970 SFC |
Threat list /
claimed past violence as pressure. |
|
torture all 13 of my
slaves… |
July 26, 1970 SFC |
Future pain as
threat (also Afterlife). |
|
I’ve got a little
list… would never be missed |
July 26, 1970 SFC |
Hit-list style
threat rhetoric. |
|
I will do something
nasty |
Jan 29, 1974 SFC |
Vague coercive
threat. |
|
begin Killing
again… kill five people… |
May 2, 1978 KHJ |
Future kill
threat. |
|
I like killing
people… most thrilling experience |
408 plaintext |
Celebrates killing
(supports threat persona; dual with Identity). |
|
gun / get down
/ tied up |
Sept 27, 1969
Berryessa |
Immediate violent
coercion at scene. |
3B. School bus / school children
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
School children make nice targets |
Oct 13, 1969 SFC |
Children as attack
targets. |
|
wipe out a school
bus some morning |
Oct 13, 1969 SFC |
Bus as target. |
|
Shoot out the
frunt tire… kiddies… bouncing out |
Oct 13, 1969 SFC |
Method against bus
children. |
|
take on a bus
the way I stated I was |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Refers back to bus
threat. |
|
re schedule the busses |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Bus system as
operational target. |
|
the children
are safe from the bomb |
Dec 20, 1969 Belli |
Children + danger
state (also 3C). |
|
killing school
children with one |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
School children as
bomb victims. |
|
a cid |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
Child as lesser
target vs cop. |
|
bus bomb was a dud |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
Bus + bomb (also
3C). |
|
the bus bomb
with all the details |
Apr 28, 1970 SFC |
Same (also 3C). |
|
anilating a full School
Buss |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
School bus
annihilation threat. |
|
school is out for the summer |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
School calendar
tied to bus threat logic. |
|
All children
who are up in dates… |
July 26, 1970 SFC |
Song lyric;
weak/non-operational - listed only for completeness. |
3C. Bomb / bus bomb / map-code
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
the Blast |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Explosive effect. |
|
set the shit off |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Detonation
language. |
|
ventalate… of the Blast |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Blast effect. |
|
rather messy
if you try to bluff me |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Consequence of
ignoring bomb threat. |
|
ammonium nitrate fertlizer; stove
oil; gravel |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Bomb materials. |
|
death machiene |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Device name. |
|
masterpiece |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Device as his
creation (threat object). |
|
open market |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Parts
obtainable - device credibility. |
|
bat. pow clock; photoelectric
switch; copper leaf springs; car bat; flash light bulb
+ reflector; mirror; cardboard tubes; shoe polish |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Components list. |
|
the system
checks out… tests |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Claimed working
mechanism. |
|
at the sight
/ basement |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Placement states
of device. |
|
searching the road
sides |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Search for device. |
|
the bomb
can be adapted to new conditions |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Adaptation + core
token bomb. |
|
safe from the bomb;
set the bomb up |
Dec 20, 1969 Belli |
Core token; arming
the device. |
|
triger mech… dig in |
Dec 20, 1969 Belli |
Mechanism /
emplacement. |
|
bomb at the cop
station (denial) |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
Word bomb
in denial context. |
|
bus bomb was a dud |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
Failed
bus-directed bomb. |
|
The new bomb
is set up like this; photo electric swiches; cloudy day
disconnect; won’t go off by accid |
Apr 20, 1970 SFC |
New device logic. |
|
when I have my Blast |
Apr 28, 1970 SFC |
Threatened
explosion event. |
|
bus bomb with all the
details |
Apr 28, 1970 SFC |
Bus bomb demand. |
|
where the bomb
is set |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
Placement claim. |
|
The Map
coupled with this code will tell you where the bomb is set |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
Map-code bomb
system. |
|
dig it up… next Fall |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
Recovery / placement
framing. |
|
Mt. Diablo Code… Radians +
# inches along the radians |
July 26, 1970 SFC |
Measuring rule for
map-code (bomb system follow-up). |
3D. Buttons / compliance
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
Zodiac butons wandering about
town; my buton |
Apr 28, 1970 SFC |
Demand to display
his brand. |
|
If you dont want
me to have this blast you must… butons |
Apr 28, 1970 SFC |
Buttons as
condition to avoid blast (also 3C). |
|
have not complied…
wear some nice (crosshair) buttons |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
Non-compliance
stated. |
|
punish them if they did
not comply… School Buss |
June 26, 1970 SFC |
Compliance failure
→ bus punishment (also 3B). |
|
will not wear some
nice (crosshair) buttons |
July 24, 1970 SFC |
Continued
non-compliance complaint. |
|
nasty (crosshair)
buttons… any type of (crosshair) buttons |
July 26, 1970 SFC |
Expanded
compliance demand. |
|
If you do not wear
any type of (crosshair) buttons I shall… torture… slaves…
Paradice |
July 26, 1970 SFC |
Non-compliance →
afterlife torture threat (also Afterlife). |
3E. Print / publicity coercion
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
print this cipher on
your frunt page by Fry… or kill rampage |
July 31, 1969 (all
three) |
Publication forced
by threat. |
|
print this new cipher
on your frunt page… lonely… do my Thing |
Nov 8, 1969 SFC |
Print demand tied
to violence persona. |
|
Print the part I marked
out on page 3 or I shall do my thing |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Print or else. |
|
They dont bury
me on the back pages |
Mar 13, 1971 LAT |
Demands public
placement / status. |
4. AFTERLIFE
|
Phrase (key bold) |
Date / source |
Reasoning |
|
change the way the
collecting of slaves |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC |
Slave-collecting
project (tied later to afterlife; dual Identity). |
|
start my collecting
of slaves |
Nov 9, 1969 SFC
(P.S.) |
Same project. |
|
when I die I will
be reborn in paradise and all the I have killed will become my slaves |
408 plaintext |
Explicit afterlife
system. |
|
afterlife (collecting of
slaves for my afterlife) |
408 plaintext |
Explicit word. |
|
NOT AFRAID OF THE GAS
CHAMBER BECAUSE IT WILL SEND ME TO PARADICE… SLAVES… NEW
LIFE… PARADICE DEATH |
340 plaintext |
Death → paradice;
slaves there. |
|
torture all 13 of
my slaves… in Paradice |
July 26, 1970 SFC |
Slaves located in
Paradice (also Threat). |
|
pain to my Slaves |
July 26, 1970 SFC |
Same system. |
|
more slaves
I will collect for my after life |
Mar 13, 1971 LAT |
Explicit afterlife collecting. |
This atlas supports the article The Zodiac’s Closed Content Repertoire. It
does not by itself solve Z13, Z32, or the 408 final eighteen.