The Doodler | 3. The Zebra Diversion - The Binge Crimes: Cut, Color, Kill

Summary

The Binge Crimes: The Doodler | Episode 3: The Zebra Diversion

Introduction

In Episode 3 of "The Binge Crimes: The Doodler," titled "The Zebra Diversion," listeners are delved deeper into the harrowing investigation of a forgotten serial killer who terrorized San Francisco's gay community in the mid-1970s. Hosted by Sony Music Entertainment and produced in association with The San Francisco Chronicle and Ugly Duckling Films, this episode uncovers the complexities that allowed the Doodler to evade capture amidst a climate of widespread fear and systemic oversight.

The Third Victim: Klaus Christman ([00:57] – [09:38])

The episode begins on a fateful night, July 7, 1974, when Klaus Christman, a 31-year-old German tourist, becomes the Doodler's third known victim. The narrative sets a chilling scene:

"4am on July 7, 1974... Taube Weiss was walking on Ocean Beach with her German shepherd Moondance before she went to work. And all of a sudden I see." ([00:57])

Taube Weiss recounts chasing her dog and discovering the lifeless body, leading to a brutal discovery where Christman's throat was slashed multiple times and he was stabbed at least fifteen times. Despite the gruesome nature of the murder, the lack of immediate identification due to the absence of ID and inadequate records complicated the investigation.

Inspector Dan Cunningham provides crucial insights into Christman's background:

"He had been working for an automotive company back in Germany... living with a man and his wife somewhere in the area of Church Street, I believe, over the Castro." ([07:11])

The victim's attire, including a wedding ring and a makeup tube, suggested homosexual tendencies, aligning with the Doodler's targeted attacks on gay men. However, the SFPD struggled to connect the dots due to prevailing societal prejudices and systemic inefficiencies.

SFPD's Struggle with Concurrent Zebra Murders ([10:23] – [16:10])

Simultaneously, San Francisco was gripped by the Zebra murders, a violent spree perpetrated by a group known as the Death Angels, targeting predominantly white individuals. Former SWAT Sergeant Bob Del Torre reflects on the chaos:

"When we went back to the station... we felt like, oh my God, five people got shot and we couldn't catch them." ([11:19])

The Zebra murders demanded significant police resources, causing the Doodler case to be sidelined. Despite recognizing patterns in the murders targeting gay men, the SFPD's lack of communication and absence of a centralized database hindered the investigation. Criminologist Mike Rustigan emphasizes the impact of societal attitudes:

"The status of the victim is extremely important in terms of mobilizing both law enforcement and the media." ([14:21])

The episode underscores how discriminatory biases and limited investigative tools of the 1970s prevented a robust pursuit of the Doodler, allowing him to remain elusive.

Investigative Shortcomings of the 1970s ([15:11] – [16:10])

Frank Falzon, a former SFPD homicide inspector, highlights the operational challenges:

"We weren't doing that." ([16:00])

He elaborates on the lack of inter-departmental communication:

"You could have a case and the guy sitting right across from you could have a related case and you wouldn't know it." ([15:37])

This fragmentation, combined with the absence of advanced forensic techniques like DNA analysis, made it nearly impossible to link the Doodler's crimes efficiently.

Mike Taylor's Renewed Investigation ([18:15] – [23:23])

Fast forward nearly 50 years later, private investigator Mike Taylor embarks on a renewed quest to uncover the truth behind the Doodler. His journey leads him to Helen Christman, the daughter of Klaus Christman, who provides personal insights into her father's life and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his murder.

Helen shares poignant memories:

"He wanted to give his children a better life than he had in the 60s. The United States still had a post-war presence in Germany." ([20:55])

The narrative reveals Klaus Christman's connections to Booker T. Williams, an American soldier, suggesting a complex network of relationships that might hold clues to the Doodler's identity and motives.

Insights from Relatives and Possible Motivations ([22:55] – [23:23])

Helen grapples with the possibility that her father might have been targeted due to his perceived sexuality:

"But Klaus was found at a known hookup spot, killed by someone who targeted gay men. We had to broach the subject." ([22:55])

The episode raises critical questions about the Doodler's motivations, speculating whether he might have been gay himself or driven by internal conflicts about his sexuality. This exploration underscores the intricate interplay between personal identity and criminal behavior.

Conclusion and Teasers for Next Episode ([24:46] – End)

As the investigation progresses, the SFPD assigns Rotay Guilford and Earl Sanders to the case, symbolizing a glimmer of renewed hope. Bob Del Torre shares anecdotes about these dedicated investigators:

"They always were in a suit... a presence like, oh, here they are, man, homicide's here." ([24:46])

The episode concludes by hinting at upcoming developments, promising deeper exploration into the lives of those involved and the elusive nature of the Doodler.

Production Credits

"The Doodler" is meticulously crafted by a team of dedicated professionals:

Reported by: Kevin Fagan and Mike Taylor
Produced and Written by: Tanner Robbins
Co-Producer: Natalie Wren
Supervising Producer: Odelia Rubin
Associate Producers: Bennett Purser, Chloe Chobel, and Ryan J. Brown
Sound Designer and Composer: Hansdale Su
Editor: Nick White
Executive Editor: Kathryn St. Louis
Editorial Support: King Kaufman and Tim O'Rourke for the San Francisco Chronicle
Executive Producers: Sophia Gibberish and Lena Bowseger for Ugly Duckling Films and Jonathan Hirsch for Neon Hum Media

Reflections

Episode 3, "The Zebra Diversion," adeptly highlights the intersection of two terrorizing forces in 1970s San Francisco—the Doodler and the Zebra murderers. It underscores how societal prejudices and investigative shortcomings can allow heinous crimes to go unresolved. The episode not only revisits a dark chapter in true crime history but also chronicles a modern-day quest for justice and closure, offering listeners a comprehensive and engaging exploration of a case that time nearly forgot.

Transcript

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Narrator (0:31)

The Binge.

Podcast Host (0:36)

You'Re listening to the Doodler a re release series from the Binge Archives. If you're a subscriber to the Binge, you can listen to all episodes ad free right now. Visit the Binge channel on apple podcasts or getthebinge.com to browse all the great shows on the channel. The Binge Feed your true crime obsession.

Narrator (0:57)

This series contains depictions of violent assault and murder. Listener discretion is advised 4am on July 7, 1974, a little more than five months after the murder of Gerald Kavanaugh, only 10 days after the murder of Joseph J. Stevens, the sun was still below the horizon and the waning moon was hanging over the Pacific where the sea meets the sand. 49 year old Taube Weiss was walking on Ocean beach with her German shepherd Moondance before she went to work. And all of a sudden I see.

Taube Weiss (1:34)

The dog was smelling running, running I couldn't figure out. So I was walking, running after the dog.

Narrator (1:42)

She chased Moondance over some sand dunes and that's when she saw him, a man lying face down on the beach. She called the police, she gave her name, but she didn't wait around for them to show up. Taube was a survivor of Auschwitz. She told me a body didn't shock her. One of the inspectors on the scene that morning wore a signature bow tie and brown leather shoulder holster. His name was David Taske, a charismatic cop well known for his work on the Zodiac case. Standing on this beach in front of this particular murder scene. It was too early to tell whether Toschi was looking at the work of someone like the Zodiac, a serial killer, but there were signs this killing was especially brutal. The victim's throat was slashed in three places and he had been stabbed at least 15 times. The cops were not immediately able to identify the body. He had no ID on him, finger and dental records didn't bring back any names. The victim was wearing a tan leather jacket, blue jeans and orange bikini briefs. Police found a makeup tube in his pocket and a gold wedding ring on his finger. But based on his clothes, the makeup tube and the fact that Ocean beach was a known cruising spot. Inspectors wrote that the victim had homosexual propensities. A pattern was emerging. This was the third man stabbed to death at a gay hookup spot within six months. The murders were especially brutal rage killings with no clear motive but to kill. A few weeks after Dave Toske saw that body on the beach, the city's crusading gay newspaper, the San Francisco Sentinel, published an article, police investigating Link in three Recent stabbings. In the article, the police listed the names of Gerald Kavanaugh and Joseph Stevens, two men they described, with that language I mentioned before, homosexual propensities. And the cops wanted help from Sentinel readers, help identifying this third victim. Altogether. You might think the SFPD was hot on the Doodler's trail. But that wasn't the case at all. This murder and the two before it were sidelined in a big way. Kevin I'm Kevin Fagan and from the San Francisco Chronicle, Ugly Duckling films and Neon Hum Media, this is the untold story of the Doodler.