WILLIAM  HEIRENS ARRESTED AS A TEENAGER OF 17, IS NOW SERVING HIS SIXTY-THIRD YEAR FOR CRIMES I (and many others) BELIEVE HE DID NOT COMMIT

 

 

In Most Evil I devote three chapters to my investigation of the 1945-1946 Chicago, “Red Lipstick Murders” 

Based on my now six-years investigation and a review of the original facts, police reports, and autopsy findings related to  those three murders, it is my professional opinion that: 1) William Heirens could not possibly have committed the three separate murders as alleged by the Chicago P.D. and  2) Dr. George Hill Hodel, based on compelling evidence presented in my investigation, most probably DID COMMIT THOSE CRIMES.  

The facts establishing Bill Heirens innocence and pointing towards George Hodel’s guilt can be found summarized both in Most Evil and in author Dolores Kennedy’s  book, William Heirens: His Day in Court (Bonus Books Inc., Chicago, 1991).

I will be presenting a blog in the near future on the WILLIAM HEIRENS STORY which to my mind IS THE REAL HEADLINE and an ONGOING TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.

In the below interview I provide a quick overview of the facts related to Bill Heirens and Chicago’s Red Lipstick Murders.   

Chicago Public Radio interview with Steve Hodel

Below photograph shows teenager Bill Heirens surrounded by 21 “spectators” in what can only be described as a circus-like atmosphere, where he is about “to confess.” In trade for his “confession” the Chicago DA has agreed to not execute him and will “let him live.”

 

July 30, 1946: Heirens in white shirt (center ring) about to give his “confession”

 

Bill Heirens is today serving his r 63-year in the Illinois State prison system.

He will be 81 in a few days.

Bill Heirens 2003

 

One of my favorite radio people is Michael Shinabery, a very cool guy. Michael is an education specialist with the New Mexico Museum of Space History and host of his own AM radio show in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Michael initially interviewed me five-years ago shortly after Black Dahlia Avenger published. He then reinterviewed me in 2006 on the updated chapters included in the HarperCollins paperback, and yesterday, we did a third interview on MOST EVIL. (Click on below link to hear that interview. It runs about 45 minutes.)

Michael Shinabery KRSY AM-1230

 Michael Shinabery has been broadcasting in radio since the 1970s, more than 10 of those years doing news and entertainment in Alamogordo. Michael is a former award-winning staff writer with the Alamogordo Daily News. The Michael Shinabery Show airs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 until 8AM. On Tuesday and Thursday’s he is joined by co-host Jean Vallance. Jean is a retired nurse who was active in local politics. Both conservatives, they combine humor, the unusual in music and news, and an array of local and nationally-known guests for early-morning listeners. Join the conversation during their program by calling 437-1230.

Mike Shinabery/Steve Hodel interview 7.27.09  (45 minutes)

25-Year-Old Case Solved Thanks to Crime Scene DNA being placed in National Data Base.

 On my October 15, 2009 blog I wrote about the importance of getting Zodiac’s DNA into CODIS, (Combined DNA Index System). Existing Partinal DNA a Catch 22 

 I quoted  Dr. Richard Walton’s textbook, Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques (CRC Taylor & Francis 2006 NY) Page 351- 

  “The importance of this investigative tool in cold case homicide investigation cannot be overstated. In thepast, jurisdictions tended to act independently in homicide investigations, failing to realize or admit that another jurisdiction might hold the key to solving their case. DNA and the CODIS system force the issue, bringing together the scene and offender.”

Today, just eight days later, this article appeared on Page One of the Los Angeles Times:

The article say’s it all.  How many ZODIAC crimes are waiting to be connected and cleared by one simple act? All that needs to happen is for law-enforcement to obtain and enter Zodiac’s DNA into CODIS. The talented crime-technicians and their national  data base will do the rest.

 As mentioned in previous blogs, many of my investigative findings and theories due to space restrictions were not able to be included in the final pages of MOST EVIL.  From time to time I will present what I consider to be some of the more important and relevant sections of my First Draft here for your review and consideration. The section below was originally included to underscore my belief that my father, an acknowledged cinephile, was both plagiarizing and editing his M.O. from classic-films and incorporating them into  his real life crimes as a variation on his original theme- MURDER AS A FINE ART.

Below MOST EVIL additional section was included in my original draft:

 

1930s Films as MO:

     We have examined two 1930s-period films, The Most Dangerous Game (1932) and Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (1939) and I have suggested that Zodiac, in his 1960s murders, was borrowing themes and characters from each film. Let us now examine two additional films from that period, which I believe buttress my theory.

     In February, 1934, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studio distributed a U.K. made film, The Mystery of Mr. X. The film starred a young Robert Montgomery, as Sir Nicholas Revel. The story involved a mad serial killer, “Mr. X”, who uses a rapier-like sword to stab and slay unsuspecting uniformed policemen, walking their beats in different sections of London. Mr. X, after slaying his victims, then mails taunting cut-and-pasted notes to the press, and as the film rushes to its climax, our hero, Sir Nicholas, by plotting the locations of the murder victims on a city map, cleverly deduces that the killer is constructing a giant letter X, with only one killing more needed to complete his “project.” Sir Nicholas, disguised in the uniform of a Bobbie, decides to use himself as bait, and drives to the anticipated final location, where he confronts Mr. X  for a fight-to-the-finish finale.[1] 

                                             A                                                                                                              B

  

 

In the above film clips, we see: (a) Mr. X’s cut and pasted notes, mailed to the police, which read: “Tonight X”, and “With kindest Regards from X.” In (b) we see Mr. X slaying a downed policeman with his long sword,[2] and Sir. Nicholas, using a London town map to deduce the exact location where Mr. X is planning to slay his final victim. 

Just 14-months prior to the release of The Mystery of Mr. X, the same studio (MGM) released another film. The name of this film was, Red Dust (1932). The film starred, Clark Cable and Jean Harlow, in a romantic drama which takes place on a rubber plantation in Indochina. The story line as best I can tell, is unimportant to our investigation. However, there is a scene in the film that I consider to be exactly—on point. Again, I believe Zodiac has plagiarized and incorporated a small scene from the film and incorporated it into his real life killing spree.

In Red Dust, a man-eating tiger has attacked some villagers, and the protagonist, Dennis Carson (Clark Gable) is determined to hunt it down. He solicits the help of a plantation visitor, Gary Willis (co-star, Gene Raymond) and together they set out into the jungle, to track and kill the beast.

They decide of a set trap by tying an animal to a tree in hopes that the tiger will attack the prey by night and they can shoot it. They stake-out the location by climbing the tree (a blind) and wait for nightfall. Because it would be a difficult shot in the dark of night, Gable shows his younger, inexperienced hunter an old trick. He attaches a flashlight to both of their rifle barrels, so they can simply point and shoot. The below clips from Red Dust, show their plan worked. In pitch dark, the tiger moves in for the kill, they turn on their flashlights and shoot it dead. The villagers are avenged and safe.  

 (Red Dust- 1932) – Gable attaching the flashlight to his weapon for a night shot and the kill 

Let us reexamine some excerpts from Zodiac’s boastful handwritten, three-page letter to the San Francisco Examiner on 8/4/69:

…

“Last Christmass

In that episode the police were wondering as to how I could shoot & hit my victoms in the dark…   What I did was tape a small pencel flash light to the barrel of my gun.  … When taped to a gun barrel, the bullet will strike exactly in the center of the black dot in the light. All I had to do was spray them as if it was a water hose; there was no need to use the gun sights.”

 Throughout the 1930s, while attending medical school, George Hodel maintained close personal ties and connections to the Hollywood film studios.  His high school friend, John Huston was a screenwriter and in 1932 had just completed writing the script dialogue for Universal’s, Murders in the Rue Morgue, released in February of that same year. At that time, my mother, still married to Huston, was also a screenwriter (uncredited) doing freelance writing for: Universal, MGM and RKO. By 1932, Dorothy and John, after a very rocky six-year marriage, were on the verge of divorce. By then, both had been long involved in multiple affairs. Dorothy was intimate with a number of celebrity actors, which, by her own account included: Johnny Weissmuller, Sam Jaffe, and noted screen writer/director, Rowland Brown.[3] In both the Dahlia and now the Zodiac investigation, I keep returning to a statement made by Joe Barrett, who was a roomer/tenant at the Franklin House from 1948-1950, and in a 1999 conversation with me, shortly after my father’s death, made, what I now consider an exceptionally astute observation. Joe in describing my father’s mental brilliance and genius– put it this way:  [Black Dahlia Avenger, pg. 211]

“You know Steve, George was gifted with a perfect photographic memory, that permitted him to absorb ideas from other people, and make them sound as if they were his own. He was super intelligent, but not particularly original. ” 

Joe’s description is exactly what has been presented to us. Zodiac’s mind is not original, but, rather it is a moviola.[4] Cursed with “a perfect photographic memory” he has extracted scenes and frames from this film and that one, and edited them into his own—noir horrors.

Zodiac’s 1960s serial killings are a diabolical remake of his past favorites, using real locations, real crimes, and real victims!  

---

[1] In 1952, the film was remade for the big screen as, The Hour of 13, this time starring Peter Lawford as, Sir Nicholas. In the remake, the serial killer, renamed “The Terror” chose his victims locations throughout 1890 London town, to form the letter “T”.

[2]“By Knife”- I believe Zodiac used a sword to stab his victims in the Shepard-Hartnell crimes, because—the script called for it! Mr. X used a sword, and so too would Zodiac.

[3]Rowland Brown, though mostly unknown today, in the 1930s was a true rebel, and quite well known to the public. In the 20s he had been a Chicago sportswriter, and like his good friend, Ben Hecht, had come west to check out the birth of Hollywood and film making. Like most of the “Front Page” pioneers, he was a hard drinking, pugnacious, iconoclast. Brown loved women, gangsters, (credited with discovering George Raft) and fast horses. He would fight to the death for “the little guy” which was oftentimes the theme in his films. Brown’s filmology included such greats as: Quick Million (1931)), States Attorney (1932), Oscar nominated, What Price Hollywood (1932, co-written with Gene Fowler), Blood Money (1933) and Angels with Dirty Faces (1938, co-written with Ben Hecht.) Brown and Huston would be regular attendees at my father’s Hollywood parties, at his Franklin House during the mid-to-late 1940ss, and in the spring of 1950, the DA surveillance tapes would capture my mother in conversation with Rowland Brown, just prior to Father fleeing the country. Shortly after the 1947 Black Dahlia murder, two of Hollywood’s top screenwriters, Ben Hecht and Steve Fisher, (Lady in the Lake, 1947, Song of the Thin Man, 1947) would both provide their “expert opinions” in separate newspaper articles. Both indicated they believed they knew the identity and actual name of the Dahlia killer, and reassured the public that the police were just about to arrest him. Steve Fisher, (also a good friend of Rowland Brown), in his article wrote, “…I think I know who the killer is. I’m sure the police do, too, and that in a very short time, they will have his name…..When the killer-suspect’s name is published, a lot of people who know him, and who do not now suspect he has anything to do with the case, are going to be surprised and terrified….The man will have to flee….he will never get out of the city.”

[4] Moviola - A special projection machine (used by film editors) that holds several reels of film simultaneously and can run at variable speeds, backward or forward, and stop at any frame.

Those of you that have read BDA and  MOST EVIL know that I am not a huge fan of handwriting analysis. That is not to say that I totally discredit it- I DO NOT.  It has its place and can be a veru effective tool in the investigative process. As long as the QDE (Questioned Document Examiner) findings are not elevated to an absolute.

For me handwriting analysis remains a half-science, not an exact science. Why? Because of its subjectivity.  HW for me, is like the polygraph. A great investigative tool, but cannot and should not be relied on by itself. Two different QDE’s of equal stature will and often do provide “expert testimony” that a specific questioned document,  “WAS” and “WAS NOT”  written by a specific individual.   Who to believe?  Flip a coin? That’s not science.  Same with polygraph examiners testimony, Examiner #1 says’s,  ”He’s lying.”   Examiner #2, “No, he’s telling the truth and was not at the crime-scene.”  The same can be said of psychiatry. The prosecutor’s doctors testify, “He’s sane. He knew right from wrong when he stabbed her.” The defense psychiatrist, “Psychotic and insane during the commission of the act.” Because of this inherent subjectivity, one must  use great caution when considering the results of any single QDE’s findings. (That includes my own expert’s opinions and reports as presented in BDA and MOST EVIL.)

With that disclaimer, let me add that as far as handwriting is concerned, I believe that in both its psychology and technical writing aspects one cannot ignore the fact that each of us does frequently use and repeat unique “characteristics” in both our cursive and printed writings. Consider them similar to the “points” in a fingerprint. The more unique points one finds in a HW sample, the stronger the case becomes that he or she is ”"probably” the writer. (But, unlike fingerprints where a “make” or positive can be scientifically verified to a certainty, HW cannot.

Bottom Line:  In my opinion, HW analysis and findings should be considered as a piece of the overall puzzle and circumstantially relevant, but the “expert findings” should never be over-weighted to the point where they become the major consideration in determining  an individuals guilt or innocence.

Handwriting is such a large part of the ZODIAC INVESTIGATION that is has and remains a major factor. Zodiac separate mailings include over 4000 words! (That is approximately 10 times the amount of words written in Abraham Lincoln’s GETTYSBURG ADDRESS.)

In the EVIDENCE ROOM HANDWRITING section I have just now posted 26 separate “known” samples of my father’s handwriting that cover a 73-yeear period. See link below. I offer them for your individual consideration and analysis.

As some readers may know, I do subscribe to Dr. David Van Nuy’s diagnosis that Zodiac (and George Hodel) may well have been suffering from DID. (Dissociative Identity Disorder) I highly recommend his summary on this in his book, This is The Zodiac Speaking…”  DID is what we used to think of and call “multiple personalities,” As in Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, or Eve White and Eve Black. (They are now referred to as “alters.”) Interestingly, there have been some recent articles published addressing the possibility that true DID patients handwriting can completely change. In other words, though written by the same hand, Dr. Jekyll’s and Mr. Hyde’s would analyze as different writers. Definitely food for thought.

George Hill Hodel Handwriting Samples 1925-1998

 AVENGER -KERN LETTER  -ZODIAC-BATES POEM

Los Angeles’ 1948 Gladys Kern victim, was a real-estate agent stabbed multiple times in the back with a long-bladed knife after the suspect, posing as a prospective buyer,  met her at her office and had her take him to a Hollywood vacant house for sale. (Not unlike Zodiac’s asking cab driver Paul Stine to take him to a specific location where Stine was then slain.) Shortly after the killing the suspect, (using the same downtown L.A. mailbox from where the earlier Black Dahlia letter was mailed, a box three blocks from George Hodel’s medical office) mailed the Kern note to the police. The police had the killer’s note before the body was discovered the following day.  (See MOST EVIL pg.37 for typed version.)

                                Avenger  Kern Note 1948                                                  

 

 

                                                                   

1967 Bates Poem

 

 Lower Case letter comparisons of  Eureka 1990 postcard, Kern letter, and Bates poem:

 KERN-ZODIAC  R & G

 

Q:  Can the unique writing variations found  in the Kern Letter be explained simply because the writer may have been “wired differently” than most?

In BDA I expressed my belief that the Kern Avenger Letter was written by my father, George Hodel.  Let’s examine what I (admittedly no expert on the subject) consider to be some unusual variations of writing/printing  found in the Kern Letter.  I would suggest that these “characteristics” which seem to set the writer apart from “the norm” may be the result of my father’s extremely high-intelligence (186 IQ) which led to the fact that he was simply, “wired differently.”  I do know he was ambidextrous and had unusually well developed “eye-hand-coordination” which obviously contributed to his skill as a natural born surgeon. (According to June his medical professors at UCSF vied for him to be their “assistant” because of this inherent skill.) Let’s take a look at what I consider to be some of the standout writing. (I’m sure you will find additional examples on your own.):

 Letter M variations within the same sentence:

 Letter R change from Upper Case to lower in same sentence

 

Letters A  and N changes in same sentence.  Here we see him use four different styles of the letter A in the same sentence. One with the tail up, one down, one with the tail to the left, and one block printed. Secondly, note  the backward or “mirrored”  letter r.  To my eye this is one of the most unusual characteristics of all. I haven’t seen it appear a second time anywhere in any writings and it does not appear to be written intentionally.  (Appears smooth and natural without any hesitation.) Again, I ask the question:  Is this apparent unconscious writing sample the result of a brain that is simply wired slightly different?

Finally, we see a comparison to my of my father’s 1998 “Conference Notes Heading” to that of the “Bates Poem Heading,”  both of which are divided by a “slash” / mark. (Also note the use by George Hodel of the   ”less than” symbol also used by Zodiac in his cryptograms. )

I encourage readers/reseachers to do their own comparative analysis. As indicated previously, there is a vast  amount of Zodiac/Avenger/Red lipstick/Riverside HW comparisons that have yet to be done. This and the additional comparisons in MOST EVIL are simply “scratching the surface.”

George Hill Hodel Handwriting Samples 1925-1998

Friday, October 16, 2009  8:00 AM PST

             BILL HANDEL

CLICK ON BILL HANDEL INTERVIEW  8-8:30 AM  10.16.09

http://www.kfi640.com/pages/podcasting/ 

Interview with popular radio host, Bill Handel on his morning show.

catch-22 situation 

    a. A situation in which a desired outcome or solution is impossible to attain because of a set of inherently illogical rules or conditions 

                                                                                  The Free Dictionary by FARLEX

In my September 27, 2009 blog, ZODIAC DNA & THE “ CSI EFFECT” I summarized what I believe to be the current status of the Evidence DNA in the Zodiac investigation. (At least as reported by SFPD criminalist, Dr. Cydne Holt in 2002.) Obviously, I am not privy to any updated information. Hopefully, more DNA and a fuller Zodiac “profile” has been developed in the past seven-years.

That said, let’s assume for the moment that there has been no advancement and the status of the DNA remains as discussed in my previous blog. That being that law-enforcement still has only 4-markers which Dr. Holt informed were left :

“by a male individual who at sometime has had contact with the stamp.”

As explained in my Conclusion chapter of  MOST EVIL and in my earlier blog, the current state of affairs as relates to Zodiac DNA testing-is a Catch-22 – a “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” situation.

Let’s say, no further testing is done to obtain Zodiac’s full DNA profile and we decide to go with just the 4 markers.  We compare George Hodel’s known DNA to the sample. And let’s say the results come back positive and all four markers match Dr. Hodel’s genetic loci. Will that change anything?  No. Why?  Because law-enforcement has already told us, and will tell us again that, “four markers are insufficient to identify anyone as the suspect.”  Their position will be, “Interesting, but no cigar.”

Now let’s reverse the results and say that none of the four markers match those of Dr. Hodel’s DNA. What will law-enforcement opine? Same thing they have said on the previous three “eliminations” in 2002. “Dr. Hodel has been eliminated as a Zodiac suspect as his DNA does not match that of the sample in SFPD’s possession.”

THAT’ IS A CATCH-22.   As things stand now- “Illogical rules – Rule.”

This  is  why I continue to urge  the powers that be ( preferably the California Department of Justice, who has no horse in the race) to continue to coordinate (as they did in the 1970s) to develop a FULL ZODIAC PROFILE. (Or at least a fuller one.)

As I understand it, much of the existing Zodiac evidence is at the DOJ laboroatory already.  Certainly there is no lack of additional untested evidence.  20 Letters!  The gloves left by Zodiac on October 11, 1969,  in the Paul Stine murder would in my judgment, be the place to start. The probability of developing a full DNA profile from the sweat left inside the fingers of these evidence gloves, would seem to me to be very high.

I quote from MOST EVIL- Conclusion Chapter- page 285:

“I find the gloves to be an especially tantalizing piece of evidence. Why? Because my father regularly carried with him and frequently wore black leather gloves. I checked with a London glove expert and discovered that a man’s size 7 glove is somewhat unusual. Unusual not because of the size, but because in her words, “Size-seven gloves would be the type worn by a man with long, slender fingers–like those of a concert pianist.”  Pictured above is George with his characteristic pair of black leather gloves, his concert days long behind him, and his wife, June, captured on my home video recorder in November 1995, some four years before his death.”

 CODIS

 The main reason for developing a complete profile on ZODIAC has nothing to do with me, or any other individual.  It is not about any one person.  IT IS ABOUT SOLVING CRIMES AND HELPING TO BRING CLOSURE TO THE VICTIMS. IT IS ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT’S NEED TO FULFILL THEIR SWORN OATH TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE. 

We have local, state, and national data bases available which may well hold the key and answer to ZODIAC’s identity. THEY NEED TO BE UTILIZED. 

 Here is a quick definition and description of CODIS from Dr. Richard Walton’s textbook, Cold Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques (CRC Taylor & Francis 2006 NY)*

 Page 351-  HOW CODIS IS USED

“CODIS is a collaborative effort among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. It is similar to the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), also operated by the FBI. Just as fingerprints from crime scenes are run through a computer system in search of a known individual with matching prints on file, CODIS allows a DNA profile found at a crime scene to be entered into a computer database in search of an individual with that DNA profile. …

“The importance of this investigative tool in cold case homicide investigation cannot be overstated. In thepast, jurisdictions tended to act independently in homicide investigations, failing to realize or admit that another jurisdiction might hold the key to solving their case. DNA and the CODIS system force the issue, bringing together the scene and offender.”

Below is a diagram prepared by Dr. Walton included in his book and demonstrates how CODIS is a 3-tiered system which can take a DNA search  from local to state to national.

 

 *

(SKH Note - Dr. Walton in selecting a photograph for the cover of his textbook, selected an actual LAPD crime-scene photograph. But not just any crime-scene. As the fates would have it, he selected  the February 10, 1947 “Red Lipstick Murder” photo. A crime I and Head Deputy District Attorney Stephen Kay say was committed by the “Black Dahlia Avenger”, aka, Dr. George Hill Hodel. (This was the second case that DDA Kay indicated he would file charges on had George Hodel still been alive. Critics and naysayers to this crime argue that a partial heel-print, “projected and estimated to be a man’s size 7 shoe (junk science) would automatically eliminate George Hodel who, like Zodiac, wore a size 10 shoe. ” Good luck with that one. Obviously crime-scene protection was a little lax in the “old days.” I count 14 heel prints standing around the body. How many to you see?

Thanks to an anonymous viewer/researcher recognizing artist’s distinctive “style” we have more answers

My earlier  blog post (Zodiac Police Composites)  has led to a tentative identification of well-known comic-book artist, NEAL ADAMS as the creator of Composite #2.  (Originally seen on the 1974 cover of true-crime book, Great Crimes of San Francisco. (Ballantine, NY)

It appears (I have emailed and am awaiting  direct confirmation from Mr. Neal Adams himself) that we have an answer which may contradict ex-San Francisco Chronicle reporter, Duffy Jennings memory that, “it originally came from law enforcement.” (Understandable since Mr. Jennings was attempting to recall a source from 40-years ago.)

I say “may” because I am still unaware of what Mr. Adams original source was for this composite drawing.  We  can’t completely rule out law enforcement until I hear back from him.  I voiced my original skepticism in my comments on this in Chapter 9 of  MOST EVIL .(see below) Could this composite simply have come from the imagination of an unidentified, unknown artist ?  Knowing now that it was done by a civilian and not a police artist, we have to ask: What was the artist’s source for the likeness?  If purely imaginary, why would the publisher put it on an official SFPD Wanted Bulletin, and use the actual case number?

Hopefully, Mr. Adams will contact me and we can discover the facts behind the sketch.  

If it turns out that Neal Adams drawing was purely imaginary, and if it turns out that a full profile DNA links George Hodel as ZODIAC, I can guarantee you Mr. Adams will be able to get a gig anywhere, anytime as, “Psychic Artist Extraordinaire” and write his own ticket to his own Network Show. (*s* joke)

After initially seeing the book referenced on the Internet I was able to locate and order an original copy from on-line. Upon receipt, I noted that the book provided no cover-art credit, which weighed in favor of Duffy Jennings recollection that it “came from law-enforcment.”

A second printing of GCSF in May, 1981 did credit an artist, “Bill Yenne” with new cover design.

TO BE CONTINUED…..

 (See full blog- here- Zodiac Police Composites)

Composite #2  

The above composite appeared on the cover of a  book, Great Crimes of San Francisco (Ballantine Books, NY 1974.) The book is an anthology of San Francisco area true-crime essays edited by Dean W. Dickensheet. 

I quote from my book, MOST EVIL,  Chapter 9, page 107, where I reference the above drawing:

   …The original police source of this composite drawing (one of several) is still in question.[emphasis mine] To my knowledge, it first appeared publicly on the 1974 paperback cover of Great Crimes of San Francisco. The book was an anthology of San Francisco area true-crime essays written by various authors and edited by Dean W. Dickensheet. The crimes spanned eight decades. The essay on Zodiac was entitled “This is the Zodiac Speaking…” and was written by then San Francisco Chronicle reporter Duffy Jennings, who had replaced Paul Avery. In January 2007, a confidential source of mine contacted Duffy Jennings who verified that the composite originated from law enforcement. Jennings could not recall which agency; however SFPD would be the most likely, as their name is shown on the bulletin.

(SKH Note-  In MOST EVIL, despite Mr. Jennings clear statement that “it came from law enforcement” In my book, I document my skepticism and my attempts to further establish provenance on this composite. The fact that it had never appeared in any of the official police reports bothered me. In my follow-up investigation to Ballantine Publishers I determined that the editor, Dean Dickensheet had died in the 1990’s.  Ballantine staff could not provide any direct knowledge relating to the 1974 publication, but expressed doubt that the 1974 editor would have an imaginary artist rendition created and placed on what appears to be a real SFPD police bulletin in a true-crime story.  To further my efforts, I also obtained an actual printed copy of the original 1974 book and noted that there is no accreditation for the jacket cover “artwork.” Mr. Jennings is a highly reliable journalist and an expert on the Zodiac investigation. He also was in possession of a vast amount of Zodiac material which he inherited from Paul Avery, which is likely his original  source of the composite in question. Absent a denial from law enforcement, or a change or modification from Mr.  Jennings on this, I stand by his statement.)

 

Q:   Do you have any thoughts on the strange symbol that Zodiac wrote at the bottom of  his Exorcist Letter?  

 A:   I do have some thoughts. I did not include them in MOST EVIL but will here as - “food for thought” so to speak.

Hollywood, California 1949

We know that George Hodel in 1947, as “The Black Dahlia Avenger” was at the top of his “GAME” in marketing HIMSELF to the press. His taunts and letter writing ”campaign” achieved his goal-  NATIONAL HEADLINES.

But, he didn’t stop there.  In the late 1940s, as a side-business to his medical practice, he introduced California to  a new product – FIVE DYNASTY TEA.  And with the introduction he also invented a legend to market his product and then placed it in many of the state’s major restaurants, food and high-end Department stores in both the Bay Area and Southern California.

George Hodel did it all!  Created the marketing brochures and advertising, and even designed his own labels for the tea tins and boxes.  His marketing campaign ad read:

 ”As served and sold in the world’s leading restaurants, hotels, and exclusive shops.”

 

(See  Impressive List of  Retail Distributors below.)

 

 

 

When I  first saw  the EXORCIST LETTER SYMBOL, my initial thought and impression was that it resembled a Chinese character. Further, it is not unlike the one seen on my father’s FIVE DYNASTY LABELS from the 1940s. (I and my brother’s spent many long hours in the basement putting these very same  labels on tins and boxes for father.) Perhaps there is a secret message in ZODIAC’s symbol that someone familiar with the Chinese language might be able to “crack.”  Remember also that George Hodel studied Chinese “taking a crash course back east”  in preparation for his trip to Hankow, China with UNRRA in 1946. (His widow June informed me of this after my father’s death and added, “George had a difficult time with trying to learn Chinese and never really learned the language.”)

 

 Just five days before George Hodel’s  arrest for incest and child-molestation the below article  appeared in the Los Angeles Times which mentions Dr. Hodel by name and provides readers with the “LEGEND OF THE FIVE DYNASTY TEA” which was obviously narrated (and invented) by Dr. George Hodel. I recommend reading it to get a deeper understanding of how his mind worked. No wonder his later endeavors would focus on the world of MARKETING.  He was a natural. (Also note in the article that the rare shipment of tea was purchased by George Hodel after he discovered it stored in San Francisco. In his promo material in addition to our Franklin House address, 5121 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, we see listed  a second address of: 735 Stockton St., San Francisco.)

THE LEGEND OF DR. HODEL’S FIVE DYNASTY TEA

Los Angeles Times, Oct 1, 1949

 LIST OF RETAIL DISTRIBUTORS OF DR. HODEL’S FIVE DYNASTY TEA:  (SKH- Note the date in the lower left corner 1/3/50, just 45 days before the DA/LAPD would install the electronic surveillance in the Franklin House and assigned 18 detectives to an around the clock,  24/7  five-week  stakeout of George Hodel as the prime-suspect in the murder of Elizabeth “Black Dahlia” Short.)

Was Zodiac’s mysterious Exorcist symbol a Chinese character cryptogram or will it link to something else? We may never know.  It is a riddle, an enigma. But, I for one am confident that like everything that ZODIAC did or said- IT HAS A MEANING. 

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 THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTFUL COMMENT AND IMAGE REC’D FROM VIEWER  “T.A. SCOTT” ON 10/06/09 which I am posting here for all to see/read:

 Comment:
I was aware of the Zodiac Exorcist symbol but somehow missed your father’s Five Dynasty Tea marketing graphic.  Here is my interpretation which is based on surrealism.  The Zodiac Exorcist symbol appears to be a deconstructed version of your father’s earlier ad image.  Such disintegration is a well known surrealist technique used extensively by Salvador Dali during his Atomic Phase in the 1950s, a period when he was exploring advances in science, especially quantum physics.  This scientific decomposition derives from earlier themes of decay and death found in earlier works featuring insects, mainly flies and ants.  His painting process breaks subject matter down into atomic particles, and Dali often re-interpreted his past material.  I do emphasize this last observation, because it appears the Zodiac Exorcist symbol is a surreal re-interpretation of your father’s earlier Five Dynasty ad graphic.  I think both Zodiac and Dali are creating a variation on earlier themes o!
 f decay and death.  I have emailed you an image that depicts two famous paintings by Dali that illustrate this clearly.