Crimes of the Times
Episode: The Dahlia Zodiac Connection – Part One
Host: Christopher Goffard (L.A. Times Studios)
Date: April 7, 2026
Overview
In this episode, L.A. Times reporter Christopher Goffard delves into a provocative new theory linking two of America's most notorious unsolved cases: the 1947 Black Dahlia murder and the Zodiac killings of the late 1960s. Goffard introduces Alex Baber, a self-taught analyst who claims to have cracked the infamous Zodiac "Z13" cipher, uncovering a name with connections to both crimes—Marvin Margolis (alias Marvin Merrill). Throughout, Goffard, Baber, and a roster of seasoned homicide detectives and cryptography experts unravel the evidence and skepticism around this bold claim.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Zodiac and the Z13 Cipher
- Introduction to the Z13 Cipher (00:22)
- Goffard contextualizes the Zodiac’s cryptic communications, focusing on the brief but infamous Z13 cipher, which purportedly contained the killer's real name.
- Quote:
"The toughest to decipher and the most tantalizing was the letter he sent to the San Francisco Chronicle in April 1970... The killer seemed to be answering a public challenge... dared him to put his real name in a code." — Christopher Goffard (00:22)
- Alex Baber's Approach (01:28)
- Baber, an amateur sleuth, employs AI and computational analysis to winnow down possible name combinations from the Z13 cipher, starting with 71 million and narrowing to just one: Marvin Merrill.
- Quote:
"With the help of AI and C computing and progressions, I was able to eliminate 93, almost 94% of the field... eventually I would get down to only one being left." — Alex Baber (01:28, 02:42)
2. Meet Alex Baber: Outsider, Analyst, and Advocate
- Background & Methods (01:48, 02:57)
- Baber's path from high school dropout to self-styled modern Sherlock Holmes, driven by his autism and fascination with puzzles and true crime.
- Quote:
"There was a moment I remember waking up and saying, look, you have somewhat of a gift... And it was an uphill battle from the moment I said go." — Alex Baber (04:16)
- Community Skepticism (03:29)
- Baber's lack of conventional credentials leads to criticism and skepticism.
- Quote:
"One critic said, 'This guy is a great smooth talker, but it's a lot of empty calories.'" — Christopher Goffard (03:29) "That's difficult for people... They don't want to accept me right away and they try to attack me." — Alex Baber (03:44)
3. Uncovering Marvin Margolis: The Alleged Link
- Cipher Solution and Revelation (04:53)
- Baber claims the Z13 cipher yields the name "Marvin Merrill," revealing ties to "Marvin Margolis," a former Black Dahlia suspect.
- Black Dahlia Case Background (08:14)
- Goffard recounts Elizabeth Short’s murder and its sensational aftermath.
- Margolis as a Suspect (08:53)
- Margolis surfaces as an early suspect, closely associated with Short but dismissed due to an alibi. He later changed his name, relocated, and faded from the investigation.
- Quote:
"He became one of the top suspects. But at one point, he seemed to have an alibi... Margolis disappeared, moved states, changed his name, and was never charged." — Christopher Goffard (09:28)
4. Connecting the Black Dahlia and Zodiac Cases
- M.O. and Personality Overlaps (10:58)
- Retired homicide detective Rick Jackson and his partner Mitzi Roberts describe similarities: both killers craved attention, taunted the press, and featured suspect surgical skill.
- Quote:
"He attacked three couples in their teens and early 20s by gun and by knife, and then shot to death a San Francisco cab driver. This killer, too, craved attention..." — Christopher Goffard (09:46) "Everybody agreed that whoever did this back in 1947 had to have some kind of medical training..." — Rick Jackson (12:10)
5. Law Enforcement Reacts
- Initial Skepticism and Gradual Buy-In (10:50–14:33)
- Jackson and Roberts examine Baber’s hypothesis. Jackson, initially doubtful, is won over by Baber’s amassed evidence; Roberts remains hesitant without cryptologic understanding.
- Quote:
"If we could substantiate it and corroborate it, it's knocked out of the park." — Rick Jackson (11:07) "I was fascinated... but I honestly, I didn't understand a lot of the cryptology and how he broke the code." — Mitzi Roberts (18:55)
6. Cryptography Community Weighs In
- Expert Review (19:33)
- Crime writer Michael Connolly involves Ed Giorgio, ex-NSA codebreaker, who brings in additional cryptography experts to vet Baber’s solution.
- Z13 as “Holy Grail”
"Is it fair to say that the Z13 cipher is kind of regarded as the Holy Grail of Zodiac studies?" — Christopher Goffard (19:33)
"Yes, because ultimately people worked on him... because they wanted to know who he was." — Ed Giorgio (19:55)
- Breakthrough with the Keyword "Elizabeth" (20:52)
- Patrick Henry and team confirm Baber’s method using standard cryptographic texts, revealing "Elizabeth" as the keyword inside the cipher, tying the solution to both the Zodiac and Black Dahlia cases.
- Quote:
"If you go the other way to get from the plaintext to the ciphertext, that permutation is constructed using, using the word Elizabeth. And as soon as I saw that, I realized, oh, this has to be onto something here." — Patrick Henry (21:15) "There’s been a few of these aha moments... a discovery that will change history." — Alex Baber (21:45)
- Statistical Weight
- Giorgio cites probability, estimating the odds as overwhelming in favor of the solution’s validity.
- Quote:
"The probability of anything else being true is so much smaller that this is clearly the winner... something between a thousand to one and a million to one." — Ed Giorgio (22:41)
7. How Complex Was the Cipher?
- Technical Assessment (23:22–24:32)
- Experts conclude the cipher used standard, accessible techniques—a smart but not extraordinarily complex puzzle.
- Quote:
"This 13 long one? No, it's pretty simple." — Patrick Henry (24:15)
- Profile of the Possible Killer
- Margolis’ medical knowledge and cryptography skills match up with the expertise needed for both crimes.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the Z13’s Mystique:
"It became the ultimate prize in Zodiac studies because it promised to reveal the killer's identity." — Christopher Goffard (00:22)
- On Baber's Drive:
"My mind. Once I start on something, Chris, it's hard to stop. Puzzles are what stimulates my mind..." — Alex Baber (00:11)
- On Outsider Status:
"People see me, they see me either... as a threat, right, Because I have no traditional background. But they don't want to accept me right away and they try to attack me rather than them taking the time to get to know me." — Alex Baber (03:44)
- On Law Enforcement Skepticism:
"We say, okay, you can lay it out as simply as you want, but we'll need to get some verification on this code." — Rick Jackson (11:07)
- On Forensics and Medical Skill:
"He had the background to do that, not only from his short time in medical school, but from his military service, where he was a medic and a corpsman who did autopsies and surgeries and things in the field." — Rick Jackson (12:10)
- On the "Aha" Moment:
"For them to come back and discover Elizabeth was a moment... a discovery that will change history." — Alex Baber (21:45)
- On Probability:
"The probability of anything else being true is so much smaller that this is clearly the winner." — Ed Giorgio (22:41)
Important Timestamps
- 00:22 — Introduction to the Z13 cipher and its significance
- 01:28 — Baber discusses AI-assisted code breaking
- 03:29–04:16 — Baber’s background, outsider status, and drive
- 08:14–09:46 — Summary of the Black Dahlia murder and Margolis’ connection
- 10:50–12:37 — Jackson and Roberts discuss crime linkages and medical evidence
- 14:33 — LAPD resource constraints on the Black Dahlia cold case
- 18:55 — Roberts’ skepticism and the difficulty of cryptologic proof
- 19:33–21:39 — NSA codemakers/cryptographers evaluate Baber's solution
- 22:16–22:41 — Statistical support for the solution/leap in confidence
- 23:22–24:32 — Technical assessment of the Z13 cipher’s complexity
Tone & Language
Goffard maintains a factual, methodical, and investigative tone. The episode mixes analytical precision with the human drama of obsession, skepticism, and the quest for truth. Guest experts share technical insight, but the narrative threads compelling human stories throughout.
Conclusion & What’s Ahead
The episode closes by underscoring the perceived breakthrough—Marvin Margolis as a link between the Black Dahlia and Zodiac—while acknowledging decades of missed connections. The podcast teases the next installment, promising a deeper dive into Margolis’s life and his elusiveness as a suspect.
End of Summary.