Unforgotten CasebookThe cases. The books. The screen stories.Northern California · 1968–1969
Disappearances & cold cases
The Zodiac attacked people in Northern California in the late 1960s and sent threatening letters and ciphers to newspapers. Five deaths are commonly attributed to the confirmed attacks. The killer’s identity remains unresolved, despite decades of suspects, books, films, and amateur investigations.
Content note: violence, abuse, or loss. Linked material may contain graphic descriptions. Screen dramatizations may change events and dialogue.
Northern California. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.
Map sources checked September 14, 2026. 3 individual Odd Stops location pages matched this case.
The additional Blue Rock Springs candidate page could not be opened; it is excluded from the verified location count.
Unverified candidate: blue rock springs ↗. Excluded from the verified location list.
“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.
See the full case checklist →
Public recreation area
Western Lake Berryessa, Napa County, California
Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were attacked beside the lake on September 27, 1969. Hartnell survived; Shepard died from her injuries.
Check the official visitor information for closures and restrictions. Public recreation at a park or lake does not guarantee access to the precise historical site.
Sources reviewed September 14, 2026. Check access information before traveling.
Lake Herman Road, Benicia, California
Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday were shot at this turnout in December 1968. The killings became part of the Zodiac investigation.
No visitor facilities, legal stopping place, or access beyond public roads have been verified. Respect traffic rules and surrounding property.
Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗Washington Street near Cherry Street, San Francisco, California
Cab driver Paul Stine was killed here in October 1969. The location identifies the street encounter, not a crime inside a neighboring home.
No visitor facilities, legal stopping place, or access beyond public roads have been verified. Respect traffic rules and surrounding property.
Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
No verified fictional adaptation or inspiration has been identified in this collection. Nonfiction coverage is listed in the other media sections.
Robert Graysmith
Book-length account or personal perspective. This link provides bibliographic details; compare the author’s account with reporting and records.
Explore this bookWatch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
IMDb · Screen title
IMDb title reference connected to the Zodiac killings case. Listed release: 2023. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Credits & title details on IMDbWatch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
Netflix
Nonfiction screen coverage of this case. The linked page identifies the program or episode; playback, subscriptions, and regional availability vary.
Viewing options & episode detailsOriginal newspaper coverage, hosted by Newspapers.com. Read each article in the context of its publication date; later findings may differ. Full-page access may require sign-in.
Featured newspaper clipping
Read a featured clipping here, then explore more reporting in the newspaper archive.
Napa Valley Register · 2018-05-03 · Page A3
A feature examines whether genetic methods used in the Golden State Killer case could help the Zodiac investigation.
A continued 2018 article about possibilities, not an identification.
Continue with these dated reports on Newspapers.com.
The San Francisco Examiner · 1999-12-09 · Page 6
A continued report compares investigators’ views with theories circulated by authors and researchers.
The people discussed as suspects were not established as the Zodiac.
Read this article on Newspapers.comSearch original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.
Explore more on Newspapers.comNewspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.
Los Angeles Times
Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.
Read sourceDirect links open the selected episode in Apple Podcasts or on its publisher’s site. Some editions may require a subscription.
Apple Podcasts
Direct episode page for this case or its screen adaptation. Open it for listening options and the publisher’s episode notes.
Listen to the episodeMorbid
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released April 28, 2025. About 69 minutes.
Listen to the episodeThe Casual Criminalist
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released December 15, 2023. About 171 minutes.
Listen to the episodeMorbid
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released May 1, 2025. About 75 minutes.
Listen to the episodeRedHanded
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released May 22, 2025. About 59 minutes.
Listen to the episodeTrue Crime with Kendall Rae
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released October 31, 2023. About 29 minutes.
Listen to the episodeRedHanded
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released May 29, 2025. About 64 minutes.
Listen to the episodeCrime Stories with Nancy Grace
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released January 26, 2026. About 66 minutes.
Listen to the episodeCasefile True Crime
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released February 26, 2022. About 117 minutes.
Listen to the episodeBlack Box: True Crime, Serial Killers, Infamous Cases
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released December 23, 2025. About 31 minutes.
Listen to the episodeMurder, Mystery & Makeup
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released November 18, 2025. About 59 minutes.
Listen to the episodeSerial Killers & Murderous Minds
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released June 5, 2025. About 43 minutes.
Listen to the episodeClues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released June 4, 2025. About 86 minutes.
Listen to the episodeMurder: True Crime Stories
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released February 13, 2026. About 53 minutes.
Listen to the episodeMK True Crime
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released April 30, 2026. About 65 minutes.
Listen to the episodeOutside blogs, personal essays, and creator write-ups. These reflect each author’s perspective. Check publication dates and compare claims with reporting and court records.
Zodiac Killer Research · Blog / essay
An outside blog or essay discussing Zodiac killings. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription.
Read the blog or essayIndividual records from Internet Archive: library books, historical broadcasts, and preserved web pages. A catalog listing does not guarantee free reading or full playback. Access, previews, and borrowing are controlled by Internet Archive.
Internet Archive · Library record · 2006
Newton, Michael, 1951-. A library catalog record for a book connected with Zodiac killings. The record may offer a preview or borrowing options; full reading access is not guaranteed.
View the library recordInternet Archive · TV News Archive
The archive indexes this broadcast under Zodiac Killer. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Explore the archived broadcastInternet Archive · TV News Archive
The archive indexes this broadcast under Zodiac Killer. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Explore the archived broadcastThis section is awaiting its first entry.
New material will appear here after editorial review.Court opinions, filings, transcripts, and dockets, alongside clearly labeled parole records, released investigative files, and courtroom recordings. Each item identifies its source and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. These selections are not complete case files. Where an online document could not be verified, a separate guide identifies the records office or archive to contact.
Officially released investigative records, with a PDF download on the FBI page. These are FBI files, not a criminal judgment or proof that a named suspect committed the killings.
No sourced nickname has been added for this case.
New material will appear here after editorial review.The latest information verified for this collection is listed below. Each source has its own date; these are not live custody records.
A current-status update has not been verified for this case yet.
New material will appear here after editorial review.Documented laws, advocacy, and reforms connected to this case. Changes do not undo the harm, and listing a law does not claim that it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific law, reform, or advocacy initiative has been verified for this collection yet. This does not mean that none exists.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
07Social Media
11 itemsCase videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.
Absolute Crime
Catching The Zodiac Killer: Cracking The Murder Code
Video from Absolute Crime covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 50:04.
Watch on YouTubeKallmekris
Did A TikToker Solve The Zodiac Killer Case??
Video from Kallmekris covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 59:20.
Watch on YouTubeBailey Sarian
The ONLY Zodiac Killer Theory That Makes Sense
Video from Bailey Sarian covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 1:01:02.
Watch on YouTubeCrime 360
Inside the Hunt for the Zodiac Killer (S3, E2) | Cold Case Files | Full Episode
Full episode or film as labeled by the publisher from Crime 360 covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 43:23.
Watch on YouTubeFilmRise True Crime
Heriberto Seda: New York’s Zodiac Killer | World's Most Evil Killers
Video from FilmRise True Crime covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 43:42.
Watch on YouTubeBuzzFeed Unsolved Network
The Horrifying Murders Of The Zodiac Killer
Video from BuzzFeed Unsolved Network covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 21:28.
Watch on YouTubeBuzzFeed Unsolved Network
Criminal Psychologist Explains Twisted Mind Of The Zodiac Killer
Video from BuzzFeed Unsolved Network covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 12:52.
Watch on YouTubeMegyn Kelly
The Zodiac Killer: A Megyn Kelly Show True Crime Special
Video from Megyn Kelly covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 1:44:55.
Watch on YouTubeDoctorOz
Can DNA Finally Unmask the Zodiac Killer? | Oz True Crime
Video from DoctorOz covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 19:10.
Watch on YouTubeInvestigation Discovery
Man Confesses To Zodiac Killings | Before They Kill Again | ID
Video from Investigation Discovery covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 3:07.
Watch on YouTubeTikTok · Creator channel
MK True Crime — TikTok channel
Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “New Kohberger Evidence Questions, Horrifying Athena Strand Details, and Zodiac Killer REVEALED? With Alex Baber.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.
Visit the TikTok channel