People that knew Ross

[Paul_Averly]

Read the Little List letter again with Ross in mind. It really feels like childish threats of a disturbed person. Ross might have flown under the radar for the reasons JeffP mentions.

But we need to stick with facts. Ross's mental conservatorship began in late 1970, not 1969. If we find out Ross was under care throughout 1969, then I would drop him.

But we also know one more fact. He wasn't listed in the Polk directory for 1969. This directory was likely compiled in late 1968, so Ross was already gone by then. So where was he? He had been in Santa Cruz for school. If he was sent to jail or care and let out in mid 1968, he might not have a reason (or means) to move on back to Santa Cruz.

I bet something happened to him by late 1968 that connects him to the Vallejo/Napa area.

[Nick, no Nora]

It might be a good idea to ask old Santa Cruz cops about Ross. The new info suggests he was a "regular customer." Ross seems to stand out, and it would not be surprising if an officer remembered him.

[Nick, no Nora]

Also, what halfway house would he have been released to?

Also, could the apartment resident remember even the season this occurred?

[JeffP]

Read the Little List letter again with Ross in mind. It really feels like childish threats of a disturbed person. Ross might have flown under the radar for the reasons JeffP mentions.

But we need to stick with facts. Ross's mental conservatorship began in late 1970, not 1969. If we find out Ross was under care throughout 1969, then I would drop him.

But we also know one more fact. He wasn't listed in the Polk directory for 1969. This directory was likely compiled in late 1968, so Ross was already gone by then. So where was he? He had been in Santa Cruz for school. If he was sent to jail or care and let out in mid 1968, he might not have a reason (or means) to move on back to Santa Cruz.

I bet something happened to him by late 1968 that connects him to the Vallejo/Napa area.

Another thing, Schizophrenics are known to act in a detached way around people they don't know or in social situations because their stimuli is affected by their disease. Their senses don't respond to things the way it does with normal people and they become confused. They simply don't know HOW to act in such situations, that's why they act they way they do. When they are alone, they can be far more normal. That's why schizophrenics typically "live in their own heads." So Ross didn't know this person visiting him, or these people who were living in the house he once lived in. That's why he reacted so bizarre. He was likely confused.

That doesn't mean he couldn't read or write or had somehow unlearned to read or write.

[morf13]

But my question is, would he have the mind set & capability to write long taunting letters to the Chronicle, remembering & citing details from earlier? If the Guy was eating butter & singing Beatles songs,and in the state of mind he was when this man was almost stabbed by him, then I doubt he could have authored the Z letters,just my personal take. But that's the big question, was he in that mind set at that time? Did being on Meds help him, and clear his mind enough?

[JeffP]

But my question is, would he have the mind set & capability to write long taunting letters to the Chronicle, remembering & citing details from earlier? If the Guy was eating butter & singing Beatles songs,and in the state of mind he was when this man was almost stabbed by him, then I doubt he could have authored the Z letters,just my personal take. But that's the big question, was he in that mind set at that time? Did being on Meds help him, and clear his mind enough?

The better question was when those letters were written and the state of mind of the killer into 1970s when Ross began to deteriorate. Most letters were cards, etc., in 1970. Short notes asking people to wear buttons, etc. Nonsensical cryptograms. Poems and song lyrics. Designs that may or may not have been bombs. Claims that he murdered people he didn't murder. The killers coherent letters, if you want to call them that, came in 1969. Those were the ones where he presented information or made specific claims.

There was only a three month period he was writing letters at all in 1970 (April to July). There were no letters between Dec 69 and April 70 and there was one card sent in October 70, otherwise no letters from July 70 to March 71. Ross' mental state might explain those lapses.

My point is, as someone mentioned, it's just a piece of the puzzle.

[morf13]

But my question is, would he have the mind set & capability to write long taunting letters to the Chronicle, remembering & citing details from earlier? If the Guy was eating butter & singing Beatles songs,and in the state of mind he was when this man was almost stabbed by him, then I doubt he could have authored the Z letters,just my personal take. But that's the big question, was he in that mind set at that time? Did being on Meds help him, and clear his mind enough?

The better question was when those letters were written and the state of mind of the killer into 1970s when Ross began to deteriorate. Most letters were cards, etc., in 1970. Short notes asking people to wear buttons, etc. Nonsensical cryptograms. Poems and song lyrics. Designs that may or may not have been bombs. Claims that he murdered people he didn't murder. The killers coherent letters, if you want to call them that, came in 1969. Those were the ones where he presented information or made specific claims.

There was only a three month period he was writing letters at all in 1970 (April to July). There were no letters between Dec 69 and April 70 and there was one card sent in October 70, otherwise no letters from July 70 to March 71. Ross' mental state might explain those lapses.

My point is, as someone mentioned, it's just a piece of the puzzle.

Maybe somebody will come forward to fill us in on more of the timelines for Ross.

A reminder, I reached out to 3 women & 3 men that worked at Terry's restaurant in Vallejo from 69-70 on the off chance that somebody remembers Ross from there.

[Norse]

This is clearly a matter of interpretation, if you will, but for my money all of Z's communications from the "golden" period (1969-1971) are coherent (enough). And most of them are linked to something beyond themselves. They constitute a series (one which is, to a sufficient degree, internally linked). Even a small detail like the buttons is part of a pattern. He doesn't talk about buttons randomly, on one occasion, he does so on several occasions - coming back to the subject, referring to his last mention of the subject, etc.

[morf13]

This is clearly a matter of interpretation, if you will, but for my money all of Z's communications from the "golden" period (1969-1971) are coherent (enough). And most of them are linked to something beyond themselves. They constitute a series (one which is, to a sufficient degree, internally linked). Even a small detail like the buttons is part of a pattern. He doesn't talk about buttons randomly, on one occasion, he does so on several occasions - coming back to the subject, referring to his last mention of the subject, etc.

Funny you mention Buttons, but Zodiac first mentioned 'buttons' in his Belli letter. That was the day after Elaine Louise Davis was found murdered in Santa Cruz-
http://www.zodiackiller.com/mba/opzv/364.html

It wasn't mentioned at the time, but there were buttons missing from her jacket(or maybe it was can't remember). Coincidence? Maybe, but the timing is interesting. I think they found a button near where she was abducted from. BUT, worth noting, she WAS abducted from Walnut Creek (20 miles from Vallejo) & found in Santa Cruz(90 miles from Vallejo). Did her killer have some tie to Santa Cruz??

[Tahoe27]

It's not just about writing letters though, it's about the case as a whole--it's about everything Zodiac got away with. My concern is Ross being able to pull all of this off without getting caught in the mind-set he was in and out of. Zodiac had to be lucky at times...just don't know if he was that lucky.