Ross main suspect on History Channel series

[Paul_Averly]

My question is there something I'm missing regarding Sullivan? Anything people generally cite to rule him out? I've read through the dissenters thread. He just seems like such a strong suspect with what has been presented so far.

He is a great suspect and many of us knew he might be Z since day one.

Here are the pros and cons
viewtopic.php?f=106&t=2292

There are many Pro's. The only Cons seem to be members saying "I don't think he was Z"

[checkmate]

My question is there something I'm missing regarding Sullivan? Anything people generally cite to rule him out? I've read through the dissenters thread. He just seems like such a strong suspect with what has been presented so far.

He is a great suspect and many of us knew he might be Z since day 1.

Here are the pros and cons
viewtopic.php?f=106&t=2292

There are many Pro's. The only Cons seem to be members saying "I don't think he was Z"

It's just so eerie how everything seems to fit together. He worked in the library at RCC where Cheri Jo is killed. She was killed between two vacant houses which the library used to keep overflow books. Studied cryptography.
He fits the physical description. He wore an army jacket and army boots everyday until after the murder. (didn't show up the day after her murder) The misspellings, and then you see how he spelled SERACUSE, NY.
The similarities to the sketch.

I just can't believe someone in his family tree hasn't had their DNA checked.

Anyone interested in the show will be brought to this site. Much of things they are referencing lead right back here and to all the fine work you guys have done. It's really astonishing.

[morf13]

I am glad to see Ross get the attention he deserves after so many worthless suspects over the years have been looked at repeatedly. There are still obstacles.Was Ross in Vallejo & SF during 68-74?? Does the show reveal that info? If he wasnt there, then he wasnt Z. However, that Ross cryptography stuff was pretty amazing

[masootz]

i want the same thing as any reasonable person - proof that ross was zodiac or evidence that eliminates him.

my understanding of the evidence from strongest to weakest -

he generally fits the description
he is a viable suspect for bates' murder (lived in the area, went to the same school, had connections to her)
others who knew him considered it a possibility that he murdered bates, or otherwise could be a murderer
the le involved at the time thought enough of him to at least do some sort of background check
he was arrested for exposing himself or threatening someone (going off of memory, correct me if i'm wrong)
he had psychiatric issues
he disappeared for a few days after bates' murder
his brother (right?) reportedly told someone he thought ross could be zodiac
he took a class in cryptography
he spelled words wrong
he wore military boots

my understanding of the information that is lacking -

no evidence he lived, worked, or was ever in san francisco and no evidence of where he was during the necessary timeframe
no evidence that he was available during the timeframe of the attacks (we still don't know when he was incarcerated, right?)
no evidence that he owned cars or guns described in the attacks
rumor that he was schizophrenic, and we lack the information to know whether he had the mental capacity to complete the attacks, letters, codes, etc
no handwriting sample to make a comparison
nothing that connects him to anything related to the zodiac attacks, writing, codes, etc other than his connection to riverside/bates

is this a fair assessment?

[Paul_Averly]

my understanding of the information that is lacking -

no evidence he lived, worked, or was ever in san francisco and no evidence of where he was during the necessary timeframe
no evidence that he was available during the timeframe of the attacks (we still don't know when he was incarcerated, right?)
no evidence that he owned cars or guns described in the attacks
rumor that he was schizophrenic, and we lack the information to know whether he had the mental capacity to complete the attacks, letters, codes, etc
no handwriting sample to make a comparison
nothing that connects him to anything related to the zodiac attacks, writing, codes, etc other than his connection to riverside/bates

is this a fair assessment?

There is some handwriting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-W6g-Hbxcg

It basically comes down to no one knows where Ross was in 1969-73. Right when the Z crimes happened. Ross's brother we know for a fact lived in SF in 1969. He believed Ross was Z, so he would also have to know Ross was in SF for some parts of 69-71.

The only question I want to know is why did Dave Peterson have all this info and never connect the dots? Perhaps he came across some misinformation?

[Paul_Averly]

Anyone interested in the show will be brought to this site. Much of things they are referencing lead right back here and to all the fine work you guys have done. It's really astonishing.

Past TV specials on Z have always focused on weak suspects and no real basis as far as background links to Z.

With Ross, this special has benefited from the years we spent digging into his background and all the great finds we have made. There is much more that I hope they cover and get into.

[masootz]

my understanding of the information that is lacking -

no evidence he lived, worked, or was ever in san francisco and no evidence of where he was during the necessary timeframe
no evidence that he was available during the timeframe of the attacks (we still don't know when he was incarcerated, right?)
no evidence that he owned cars or guns described in the attacks
rumor that he was schizophrenic, and we lack the information to know whether he had the mental capacity to complete the attacks, letters, codes, etc
no handwriting sample to make a comparison
nothing that connects him to anything related to the zodiac attacks, writing, codes, etc other than his connection to riverside/bates

is this a fair assessment?

There is some handwriting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-W6g-Hbxcg

It basically comes down to no one knows where Ross was in 1969-73. Right when the Z crimes happened. Ross's brother we know for a fact lived in SF in 1969. He believed Ross was Z, so he would also have to know Ross was in SF for some parts of 69-71.

The only question I want to know is why did Dave Peterson have all this info and never connect the dots? Perhaps he came across some misinformation?

thanks for the handwriting information. is that enough for a handwriting specialist to do anything with (do handwriting specialists even exist anymore)?

i'm hoping the show can use its resources to find information that we are unable to access - address history, more details on his arrest, a timeline of him being in mental institutions, etc. a lot of those types of things are available to le but not to us.

[Zamantha]

So, episode 1 is finally over. As you know, Ross Sullivan starts off the History channel Zodiac documentary as suspect #1. I've had to keep this stuff all close to the vest. but Ross is finally being noticed and looked at on a larger scale. Finally, I can tell you- we did get our hands on Vallejo Times Herald reporter Dave Peterson's Zodiac stuff including notes about Ross. Still some surprises in store.

So....did you see the part about Ross taking cryptography courses?

My good, but now deceased friend, worked at the VTH for years. He told me that Dave Peterson was obsessed with the Zodiac Case Research. In as much as the VTH staff started to wonder if he was the Zodiac.
Zamantha*

[JeffP]

So, episode 1 is finally over. As you know, Ross Sullivan starts off the History channel Zodiac documentary as suspect #1. I've had to keep this stuff all close to the vest. but Ross is finally being noticed and looked at on a larger scale. Finally, I can tell you- we did get our hands on Vallejo Times Herald reporter Dave Peterson's Zodiac stuff including notes about Ross. Still some surprises in store.

So....did you see the part about Ross taking cryptography courses?

My good, but now deceased friend, worked at the VTH for years. He told me that Dave Peterson was obsessed with the Zodiac Case Research. In as much as the VTH staff started to wonder if he was the Zodiac.
Zamantha*

Dave Peterson would have known about the library connection but I doubt he knew about Bonnie and Timothy and their connection to Cheri. That's what makes that other information so much more compelling. Two independent sources believed Ross was the killer for completely different reasons and neither knew of the other.

[JeffP]

I wonder what other evidence was found in the box from Dave Peterson's investigations. I'm guessing there are school transcripts. Since Ross was still living, I wonder if he spoke with Ross at the Live Oak Rest Home. I wonder if we can still get out hands on that information now that the show has aired?

I have a feeling this episode might be the only one dedicated to Ross, there seem to be other suspects. How many episodes are there all together?