Trav wrote:-
So I guess that what I'm asking is - why should we pick something as significant because it appears different when it appears different in the midst of an approach that seems based on different? Or...is it different? or is it based on variation.
Smithy wrote:-
There doesn't HAVE to be a pattern, but there has to be some kind of progression, or some kind of related MO.
I'll get back to "pattern" in a minute and what I meant.....all just opinion of course. I'm with Smithy here because I believe the more important definition to begin with is "progression". For me the simplest explanation relies on a progression. While not married to it ,I'm most inclined to believe Z first killed at LHR
( a couple, for reasons I do not know) because he was familiar with it. He passed on a regular basis, he seen couples there on a regular basis, he lived and/or worked in the area. Vallejo/Benicia. I don't know whether he killed or not before (CJB best argument), however regardless, I believe this was his first murder as Z /Z plan. I have two reasons why we didn't hear from him after LHR.... either he was close enough to be considered a suspect and/or in the greater plan, he wanted a second set before he announced himself. Second murders BRS, same methodology...he was familiar with the area. Once he announced himself and police knew what they were dealing with, Vallejo became a no go area for him for obvious reasons. He moved further afield to LB, again because he was familiar with it. I wouldn't disagree with anything already opined upon with regard to the costume, I expect he expected to be recognised and he needed something to disguise himself in daylight. The only pattern that is broken at this stage, is the move from night time to Daytime, we are still dealing with couples in remote areas and the switch to knife, is understandable in the circumstances. Stine still fits part of the pattern in that he can isolate a vunerable target. But now it's a single person as opposed to a couple. However when I spoke of "pattern", I was referring to it in the context of his behaviour, in that he reacted to stories and claims in the media. When the second male survived, it was questioned and we begin to see the psychoanalysis. I think he reacted to that, went and proved he could kill a male and done so clinically and brutally and in the heart of San francisco. When he learned of young witnesses, he threatened to first shoot them as they exited a bus and then took it further to using explosives. When Avery took him to task, he followed that up.
For me at least, that is the progression. Pattern is relative. My overall point, if he reacted in the manner I think he did, perhaps there were past specific incidents that made him target couples and the police to begin with. All just thoughts!!!
