True Crime All The Time Unsolved

The Zodiac Killer Part 3

Episode 402 | Released: February 17, 2025
Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Gibson
Special Guest: "Morph" (Mike Morford, Zodiac researcher and co-host of Criminology)

Episode Overview

In this concluding part of the Zodiac Killer trilogy, Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson delve into the most enduring mystery in American true crime: the identity of the Zodiac Killer. The episode focuses on the key suspects considered over decades, why each has drawn attention—and doubt—and what recent investigative efforts, including breakthroughs in genealogy and cipher-solving, may finally bring resolution. Joining the discussion is "Morph," noted Zodiac researcher and podcast host, who shares his deep insights into the suspect landscape and the ever-evolving investigation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of Previous Parts & Episode Focus

• Previous episodes: Timeline of attacks, ciphers, final confirmed victim, more correspondence, and suspected cases.
• Part 3: Deep dive into top suspects and those who helped solve ciphers.
  (03:00)
  Mike Ferguson: "In part three, we're going to dive in and cover some of the top Zodiac suspects, including the only man publicly named by authorities in connection with the case..."

2. The Vast Suspect Landscape

• Authorities considered over 2,500 suspects; estimates run as high as 4,000.
• Wild theories have included famous criminals like Ted Kaczynski and Charles Manson.
• The hosts stress how the case’s fame and longevity have inspired countless confessions and accusations—even familial claims.
  (04:10–08:14)

3. Detailed Profiles of Key Suspects

Lawrence Kane

• Worked at Lake Tahoe hotel; suspected victim Donna Lass worked there too.
• Arrest history: Peeping (1961) and prowling (1968).
• Suspected by multiple witnesses: Darlene Farren’s sister, an officer at Stine scene, and abduction survivor Kathleen Johns.
• Died in 2010.
  (04:15–06:01)

Ross Sullivan

• Library employee where Sherry Jo Bates was last seen, disappeared after her murder.
• Wore army-style boots matching Lake Berryessa crime scene prints.
• Suffered from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia.
• Formerly favored by "Morph" but later mostly ruled out due to lack of evidence placing him at key locations.
  (06:01–07:33, 49:11–51:01)

Earl Van Best Jr. (via son Gary Stewart)

• Stewart alleged his biological father was Zodiac.
• Basis: Resemblance to sketch, interest in ciphers, similar acquaintances, handwriting "matches".
• Ruled out due to unreliable cipher-solving and forensic inconsistencies (marriage certificate writing wasn’t Best’s, fingerprints reversed). (07:33–11:00)

Louis Myers (via friend Randy Kinney)

• Deathbed confession: Claimed he was Zodiac, started killing at 17 for revenge.
• Links: Knew some victims, worked at same restaurant, possible access to boots.
• Spent suspected Zodiac "downtime" years overseas in Army, which aligns with Zodiac’s letter gaps—but witness descriptions don’t fit.
• Authorities doubtful a teenager could be Zodiac; no confirming evidence.
  (11:00–18:43)

Richard Marshall

• Ham radio operator, projectionist; lived near suspected Zodiac activity.
• Owned typewriter, teletype, discussed finding something “more exciting than sex.”
• Liked films and literature referenced in Zodiac letters; ruled out by most experts.
  (19:14–20:48)

Richard Gaikowski

• Counterculture newspaper editor, accused by “Gold Catcher” after suspicious behavior and vocal similarity.
• Ruled out: Lack of credible evidence; DNA not compared.
  (20:48–21:43)

Jack Terrence (via stepson Dennis Kaufman)

• Physical and circumstantial resemblance, claimed possession of incriminating evidence.
• Handwriting "matched" by only a challenged expert; claims dismissed by law enforcement.
  (21:43–24:07)

Donald Lee Bujok

• Former convict tied in theory via cipher interpretations and allegedly Zodiac-like ideas in prison.
• Points debunked by physical evidence and timeline. (24:07–26:37)

Arthur Leigh Allen (Most Notorious Suspect)

• The only publicly named Zodiac suspect by authorities.
• Taught codes to school children; owned cross-circle Zodiac watch.
• Behaviors, comments, and alibi details match Zodiac themes (“Most Dangerous Game”, murder-focused music, ideas for school bus attacks).
• Underwent multiple searches; items and behaviors suspicious, but forensic comparison (DNA, handwriting, fingerprints) never matched Zodiac evidence.
• Strongest circumstantial case yet always lacking definitive proof.
  (26:37–37:37)

  Mike Gibson: “He’s the only one the police have ever came out and mentioned.” (41:03)

William Mac Andrew (Special segment by Morph, 50:39–57:23; see below)

4. Suspect Theories: Patterns, Pitfalls, and Motivation

• Common thread: Partial matches. Each suspect is compelling yet fatally flawed for various reasons.
• Host skepticism toward “publisher-driven” suspect claims (books, confessions for profit).
• The challenge of memory after decades, and the ease of reading modern Zodiac evidence and then “finding” it in a suspect’s past.
  (18:43–24:07, 37:44–38:21)

5. DNA and Investigative Breakthroughs

• Recent DNA advances using genealogy (Vallejo police efforts) could yield a profile.
• Previous DNA attempts yielded partial, inconclusive results (e.g., Allen’s DNA).
• Progress mirrors other cases (Golden State Killer) but evidence may be compromised by how Zodiac handled his mail.
• Law enforcement suggests most likely killer: local, military or police background. (41:29–45:33)

  Mike Ferguson: “It really comes down to DNA. Without it, you have nothing. It’s a 50 years old case.” (42:06)
  Mike Gibson: “If they could figure out the [stamp] licker, then the licker could tell them…” (44:46)

6. Insights from Special Guest “Morph” (Mike Morford)

Morph’s Evolution as a Zodiac Researcher

• Initially favored Ross Sullivan, but re-examined and ruled him out due to lack of physical presence and schizophrenia-related absences.
• Advises focusing on confirmed Zodiac attacks, not speculative Riverside links.

Morph’s Current Top Suspect: William Mac Andrew

• Lived within 280 feet of the phone booth where Zodiac made a call after Blue Rock Springs attack.
• Handwriting: “Looks remarkably like Zodiac’s.”
• Physical match: Height, weight, glasses, shooting expertise, code/cipher obsession.
• Life changes align with Zodiac's letter-writing gaps (job changes, engagement).
• Theory: Mac Andrew possibly went home, changed, then made the “infamous” phone call to police—explaining the timeline discrepancy.

  Morph: “I thought he walked to that phone booth, called the police, and then walked back to his house so he could watch the police responding to that phone booth. That’s in my mind what I think he did.” (55:42–56:28)

• Openly shares findings on online forums, seeking truth, not fame.

7. Cipher Breakthroughs

• 2023: Zodiac’s “340 cipher” finally solved by David Oranchak, Jarl Van Eyck, and Sam Blake after 50 years.
• Message: Zodiac taunting police, not afraid of death, references “paradise”, and addresses false claims to his crimes.

  Mike Ferguson: “The cipher said, ‘I hope you are having lots of fun in trying to catch me... I am not afraid of the gas chamber, because it will send me to paradise all the sooner…’” (58:37)

• Cipher breakthrough a rare bright spot but didn’t yield direct clues to his identity.
• Listener voicemail: "The epitome of the behemoth" claimed as a solution to a cipher, hosts intrigued.
  (65:40)

8. Recent Developments & Ongoing Debunkings

• 2021: "Casebreakers" named Gary Francis Poste as Zodiac—dismissed by Riverside PD as unrelated to the Bates murder and lacking real evidence.
• Modern documentaries and Netflix series continue exploring old and new suspects, many centering on Arthur Leigh Allen.
• Siblings of Seawater family (formerly close to Allen) recall chilling encounters and later alleged confessions, but official skepticism remains. (38:21–41:16, 61:06–61:19)

9. Closing Reflections

• Zodiac’s confirmed body count stopped in 1969, claims of 37 victims.
• Possible reasons for stopping: Death, prison, age, outside life changes, or moving to new crimes in other locales.
• Punishing the killer now seems unlikely, but solving the case would be an extraordinary victory for the public and victims’ families.

  Mike Ferguson: "To me, the punishment part is probably out the window… It’s more about solving this mystery that has consumed so many people for so many years." (63:43)

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|-----------------|-------| |05:46 | Mike Gibson | "Sounds promising." (On Lawrence Kane)| |13:44 | Mike Ferguson | "...maybe one of the females was actually known by the killer. That's been a theory."| |28:13 | Mike Ferguson | "...To me, it did seem like the writer of the letters was a fairly intelligent person, maybe a very intelligent person who was trying to pass themselves off as unintelligent by misspelling words on purpose."| |41:03 | Mike Gibson | "And the only one the police have ever came out and mentioned." (Arthur Leigh Allen)| |44:53 | Mike Ferguson | "If you don’t have the licker, you’ve got nothing."| |49:11 | Morph | "My favorite suspect was Ross Sullivan... In the year since... I pretty much ruled him out."| |55:24 | Mike Ferguson | "That is one person we did not talk about. I don’t think he’s a real top-of-mind guy..." (On Mac Andrew)| |55:42 | Morph | "I thought he walked to that phone booth, called the police, and then walked back to his house so he could watch the police responding... that’s in my mind what I think he did."| |63:43 | Mike Ferguson | "To me, the punishment part is probably out the window… It’s more about solving this mystery that has consumed so many people for so many years."| |65:40 | Listener Kaisha | "If you use each [cipher] letter individually, it spells the sentence 'the epitome of the behemoth.'..."| |67:21 | Mike Gibson | "Sorry, I was falling asleep." (Joking that the hosts’ voices are soothing to listeners)|

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 03:38 – Show kicks off top suspects
• 05:08 – Lawrence Kane discussion
• 06:01 – Ross Sullivan profile
• 07:33 – Stewart/Best theory
• 11:00 – Deathbed confession: Louis Myers
• 15:27 – Zodiac’s break in letters aligns with Myers’ Army service
• 19:14 – Richard Marshall
• 20:48 – Richard Gaikowski/Jack Terrence
• 24:07 – Donald Lee Bujok
• 26:37 – Arthur Leigh Allen: deep dive
• 38:21 – Cold case investigation, DNA, jurisdiction problems
• 41:29 – Genetic genealogy and DNA possibilities
• 46:30 – Special guest "Morph" joins
• 49:11–57:23 – Morph’s suspect analysis (Ross Sullivan to Mac Andrew)
• 58:37 – 340 cipher solved
• 61:06 – Gary Francis Poste theory, Casebreakers’ claims
• 67:21 – Listener voicemails

Episode Tone and Style

The hosts blend irreverent asides (“You were two and you jumped out of that airplane.”) with an earnest dedication to true crime detail and victim advocacy. The episode is conversational and friendly, welcoming of speculation but skeptical of far-fetched claims. “Morph’s” passion and expertise add gravitas.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a comprehensive examination of the Zodiac Killer suspect pool, explaining why each has drawn both suspicion and skepticism—while emphasizing how, even today, the case continues to frustrate investigators and fascinate the public. The hosts carefully weigh the evidence, highlighting advances in forensic science and cipher-solving, and hear from Zodiac expert "Morph" about new theories and overlooked suspects.

While no “final answer” is given—the saga remains unsolved—the episode leaves listeners with a sense of ongoing hope that one day, advanced technology or new confessions might bring closure to one of America’s greatest mysteries.

For More:

• Listen to past Zodiac episodes for chronology, ciphers, and suspected attacks.
• Check out Morph's contributions on the podcast "Criminology" and Zodiac forums for deep research.
• Stay tuned for developments in DNA technology and genealogy that could finally unmask the Zodiac.

Stay safe—and, as always, keep your own time ticking.