Zodiackillersite.com

The reason I felt compelled to write a book rather than just share the information with the investigators was a decision I made after much thought. I even write about in the book my concern that the investigators would dismiss me. And in fact, San Fran is the only department that even responded to me. This is not at all a criticism of any of the investigators. I understand how hard it is to work a full case load and have cold cases on top of that.
This is just based on my experience. Even if an investigator was gun-ho about investigating my theory, there could be supervisors who put a stop to it for a plethora of reasons. I felt truly the only way for this theory to be seriously investigated is for "amateur sleuths" and or the media or the family members to pick the theory apart. I knew it would be impractical if not impossible for me to prove the theory due to resources or lack thereof and because I do not have access to the case, evidence, etc.
Another reason I wrote the book was in the hopes of gaining more assistance for the working of cold cases in general. My philosophy is these victims are often forgotten and not enough resources are allocated for these victims. It is also my belief that citizens, members of the community are of great assistance to police and often solve cases on their own and are a vital part of the process. I am advocating for more public involvement.
I understand many people have spent years working this case whether they are law enforcement, citizens, etc. I don't ever think it is a waste of time because experience gained helps with other cases whether a particular case is solved or not.
I am open to a myriad of possibilities and only hope that my theory either helps solve the case or creates more of a buzz about other cold cases or helps in some way to further the understanding of serial killers. It is in the analysis of the serial killer's mind that assists in solving and even sometimes preventing other crimes. If a serial killer is caught earlier, victims can be spared. These are of course my hopes not saying any of my goals will ever be reached, but that was my intention.
I would not have proposed the theory, however, if I did not think I presented a very strong circumstantial case. I believe based on my experience at the minimum there was enough for a judge to sign a court order. There are hundreds if not thousands of things connecting the two men and it got to the point whenever I looked at something else, I found more similarities. I could have spent the rest of my life researching, trying to prove it, etc. but I have other cases and felt it was time to move on.

EndOfTheWorld wrote:Is there any evidence at all that Dennis Rader ever set foot in the state of California---ever? Even if he was only taking his scout troop to Disneyland?

It's interesting you brought up the boy scouts because Lake Berryessa I believe had a boy scout facility there, of note too the location of the murders in 1963 is about one hour north of the film location of Beach Party which was released in 1963. The movie was not out yet but the trailer had been released. Rader was obsessed with Annette Funicello and confessed to an FBI agent that he fantasized about driving out to California, kidnapping her, bonding her up, etc. I believe Rader first became interested in murdering couples because he fantasized about his favorite mouseketeer and when he saw "his girl" with Frankie Avalon he may have incorporated getting Frankie out of the picture so to speak, just a thought

Imagine this; Dennis Rader is sitting in his cell, isolated and segregated. He is most certainly going to spend the entirety of his life in prison. What could possibly be greater than admitting he was the Zodiac, all that extra notoriety and attention that Zodiac would have loved. Dennis Rader could solve the 340 Cipher, and the other two codes for us, explain the Mount Diablo Map, explain the Halloween Card etc etc and run us through all the murders and answer all the questions everybody has been asking for 50 odd years. Dennis Rader or the Zodiac, if you believe they are one and the same, would love the attention and infamy all over again, the publicity would go through the roof, after all what have you got to lose. On the other hand you can sit in your cell sucking your thumb, counting the cockroaches and staring at cement walls. Both Rader and Zodiac courted and bathed in the attention, yet here is Rader failing to capitalize on the greatest mystery in the last 50 years, the reason, because he isn't the Zodiac, and that goes for Ted Kaczynski too.

Hi Kim,

Seeing you won't take an active role in getting information about Rader being in California makes it much harder to accept your theory as truth.

I see being him in California as the most important fact that should be checked. This piece of evidence is one of the cards in the lower level of the cardhouse called your theory. If that card is not existing your cardhouse falls apart really quickly.

I hope you will take an active role in finding your missing card of your cardhouse or be prepared to pick the fallen cards up to put them away from the playing table.

It is very common for criminals to distance themselve from their crimes once they are incarcerated. Rader quickly learned that he lost his wife, his job, his family, and based on his writings once in jail it is apparent he at least through his writings identified with his Christian "side" Check out his jail mail and you will see what I mean.

Often murderers confess and then almost immediately once in jail recant. Rader only confessed to the murders in which he was confronted with DNA.

As far as proving he was in California, the only way this will happen is if someone comes forward with information. There are not any records that I am aware of, just are there are no records of where a lot of people were in the 60, 70's etc. But there is no evidence to the contrary either.

Just some thoughts

Kim, when you say "There is no evidence to the contrary" that Dennis Rader was in California to commit the Zodiac crimes and write all the Zodiac letters, I have to disagree vehemently. What about his military record, which documents that he was across the Pacific Ocean in Japan at the time?

Yes, I will concede he was stationed overseas, what I mean by that is that no one has offered evidence where he was on a particular date, keeping in mind the military map showing Riverside, Montana, Lackland, etc. but how bout this what if we agree at this point I cannot prove he was in California but I can show some supporting evidence that he was there
Rader told one of his victims that he was "wanted" out of California, wanted his keys, his wallet, etc.
Very reminiscent of what Z told his victims that he was wanted out of Montana, wanted his keys, his money etc.
I believe Rader said California is because he knew he had committed crimes there and never expected this victim to survive

But how bout if we can just agree at this point I can't prove he was in California and no one at least to my knowledge can prove he wasn't on a certain date, yes he was "stationed" overseas but of course it is part of my theory he traveled while in the military,

how bout we consider other evidence.... let me know what you think

Well that is not true. You could do a FOIA for Rader's DD 214 and other records. They would show how much leave he had available in 68-70 and how much he used.

We know where Rader was, he was in Japan. If you do what I did in this thread, count the confirmed Zodiac murders and mailings that happened when he was in Japan, you come to the conclusion it was impossible for him to have been Zodiac.

A 747 can go from Tokyo to SF in 10-11 hours. For a big, slow military cargo plane like a C-130, it would take at least 18 hours. Also this period is the height of the Vietnam War. Planes would be coming back empty sometimes from Japan. But planes going into Japan would usually be full of men and equipment for the war and our Japanese bases. Did you make any inquiry into how often planes with space available left from SF to Japan? Did you research what were the policies and practices for enlisted men to get rides on military planes? Based on my military experience what you are proposing is incorrect. Rader could not come to SF, do a murder, then go to a base and expect to hop on a plane the next day. Planes with space available would not be leaving the SF area every day. If he got approval he would go on a space available wait list. He might have to wait several days, or several weeks. Even if he lucked out and only had to wait a day each time, the Z murders and mailings would require him to be in California two to three times as much as his maximum leave would allow.

In a 12 month period, from July 1969 to July 1970, there were 4 Zodiac attacks and 10 confirmed mailings. Some were days apart. Some of the mailings reference newspaper accounts that came out days after the murders. How much time would a killer need to get to know the area, know the location and hours of make out spots, cruise the areas, get a car, get a gun? In that one year period Rader would need to be on the ground in SF at least 80 days. Really I think it would be more like at least 120, but let's stick with 80. During the war leave time was often cancelled or restricted. But even assuming peacetime leave and him not using any before or after, Rader would have a maximum of 30 days leave in that 12 month period.

It is simply impossible for him to have been the Zodiac.

But yes lay out your evidence. The wallet thing is interesting but likely a product of Rader reading about Zodiac and copying that phrase. Unless you have evidence to the contrary, I and I think most Z researchers will not be able to get over him being in Japan.

It is not up to us to find evidence that he was in Japan on a specific day. The burden of proof rests with you to show he was in California, or at least based on flight practices and his leave time it was possible for him to have been in California for the confirmed Zodiac murders and mailings. From what I know and see, IMO and based on the facts, it is impossible for him to have been Zodiac.

But yes, feel free to lay out your case and other evidence.

You have to prove he was in California. Otherwise you don't even have a theory. If somebody was actually doing a real book on this subject they would research whether Rader even traveled at all from Japan. This (hypothetical) writer/researcher would find Rader's fellow airmen in Japan and find out his travelling habits. They're still alive. They would remember.

Well, I've explained why I couldn't do that, so guess there's not much more I can say on that but I do agree with you, if it's proven he was not there, no matter how much circumstantial evidence I have, the house of cards as was put will fall

Hope you guys are having a happy Valentine's Day