Zodiac
Robert Graysmith
A book-length account for readers who want more detail.
1968–1969 · Northern California
Zodiac killings
Disappearances & cold cases
Photo credit
James Postema CC BY 4.0. Resized to fit.The Zodiac attacked people in Northern California in the late 1960s and sent threatening letters and ciphers to newspapers. Five deaths are commonly attributed to the confirmed attacks. The killer’s identity remains unresolved, despite decades of suspects, books, films, and amateur investigations.
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The Story
When1968–1969
WhereNorthern California
In this collection38 resources
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Zodiac (2007)
David Fincher · Investigative Drama
A dramatized interpretation; compare it with the reporting.
Killers at Large — The Zodiac Killer: Unsolved
Apple Podcasts
An audio option for exploring this case while listening.
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Where are they now?
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Nicknames & media names
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Blogs & Essays
Read our articles here and explore outside perspectives, credited to their writers and publications. See this case in the Journal →
From the journal
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Blogs & essays
1 itemsAbout these sources
Outside essays and reading guides reflect their authors’ perspectives. Compare claims with reported and primary sources.
Zodiac Killer Research · Blog / essay
Zodiac Killer Research
An outside blog or essay discussing Zodiac killings. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription.
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Books
CONTINUE YOUR READING
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Books
1 itemsRobert Graysmith
Zodiac
Book-length account or personal perspective. This link provides bibliographic details; compare the author’s account with reporting and records.
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Movies & TV
Movies
2 itemsAbout these sources
Watch links, previews and title listings are identified below. Rentals or subscriptions may be required.
IMDb · Screen title
Deciphering the Zodiac Killer (2023)
IMDb title reference connected to the Zodiac killings case. Listed release: 2023. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
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Search Amazon · paid linkCredits & title details on IMDb
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
David Fincher · Investigative Drama
Zodiac (2007)
A scripted account of the investigation and the people pursuing the Zodiac killer. Its presentation of suspects and theories should not be mistaken for a proven identification of the killer.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle & Source Information
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TV & documentaries
1 itemsAbout these sources
Episodes, documentaries and title listings. Season and episode numbers follow the linked catalog and can differ by service. Air dates are separate from crime dates. Playback availability varies by service and region.
Netflix
This Is the Zodiac Speaking
Nonfiction screen coverage of this case. The linked page identifies the program or episode; playback, subscriptions, and regional availability vary.
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Search Amazon · paid linkView on Netflix
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
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Audiobooks
Listen to a book connected to this story. Each edition below is matched to its author and audiobook source.
Audiobook
Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Nation’s Most Bizarre Mass Murderer
Audio edition verified at the linked source. The Amazon button is a title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed.
Edition checked 2026-10-12
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Fiction Work
Fiction Work
Browse all →Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
David Fincher · Investigative Drama
Zodiac (2007)
A scripted account of the investigation and the people pursuing the Zodiac killer. Its presentation of suspects and theories should not be mistaken for a proven identification of the killer.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle & Source Information
Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
View on Amazon · paid linkViewing options & film details
DVD · Widescreen · Check current price and availability on Amazon.
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Podcasts
Podcasts
15 itemsAbout these sources
Audio episodes and oral histories. Personal recollections are attributed perspectives; some services require sign-in.
Apple Podcasts
Killers at Large — The Zodiac Killer: Unsolved
Direct episode page for this case or its screen adaptation. Open it for listening options and the publisher’s episode notes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Morbid
The Zodiac Killer (Part 1)
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released April 28, 2025. About 69 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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The Casual Criminalist
The Zodiac Killer
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released December 15, 2023. About 171 minutes.
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Morbid
The Zodiac Killer (Part 2)
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released May 1, 2025. About 75 minutes.
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RedHanded
The Zodiac Killer: Part One | #400
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released May 22, 2025. About 59 minutes.
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True Crime with Kendall Rae
Zodiac Killer: Still Unsolved!
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released October 31, 2023. About 29 minutes.
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RedHanded
The Zodiac Killer: Part Two | #401
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released May 29, 2025. About 64 minutes.
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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
ZODIAC SERIAL KILLER CASE CRACKED? LINKED TO DISMEMBERED ACTRESS?
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released January 26, 2026. About 66 minutes.
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Casefile True Crime
Case 200: The Zodiac (Part 4/4)
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released February 26, 2022. About 117 minutes.
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Black Box: True Crime, Serial Killers, Infamous Cases
Zodiac Killer: Suspect Marvin Margolis - An Introduction
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released December 23, 2025. About 31 minutes.
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Murder, Mystery & Makeup
The Chilling Code That Was Never Cracked... Or Was It? - The Zodiac Killer
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released November 18, 2025. About 59 minutes.
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Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
SERIAL KILLER: Zodiac Killer Pt. 2
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released June 5, 2025. About 43 minutes.
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Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore
SERIAL KILLER: The Zodiac Killer
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released June 4, 2025. About 86 minutes.
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Murder: True Crime Stories
MYSTERY: The Zodiac Killer
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released February 13, 2026. About 53 minutes.
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MK True Crime
New Kohberger Evidence Questions, Horrifying Athena Strand Details, and Zodiac Killer REVEALED? With Alex Baber
Podcast coverage of the Zodiac killings case. Released April 30, 2026. About 65 minutes.
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Social Media
BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
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Talk about sources and storytelling with care for the people affected. A documentary, a book and a court record serve different purposes.
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News & Reading
More Reading & Audio
4 sourcesExplore book records, previews, library audiobooks and selected documents. Access labels distinguish free material from library loans and paid subscriptions.
OverDrive · Library Access
Zodiac — Audiobook
Robert Graysmith. Related reading for Zodiac killings. Check participating libraries for this edition. Borrowing requires an eligible library card; availability and waits vary. The author’s interpretation should be read alongside the case’s official records; it is not a court finding.
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Google Books · Catalog / Availability
Zodiac
Related book record. Google may offer selected pages or another edition; full-book access is not confirmed.
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Google Books · Catalog / Availability
Zodiac Unmasked
Robert Graysmith. Related reading for Zodiac killings. Book information and any pages made available by Google Books; this is not a promise of full-text access. The author’s interpretation should be read alongside the case’s official records; it is not a court finding.
View Catalog & Access Options ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Everand · Subscription Access
Zodiac Unmasked — Ebook
Robert Graysmith. Related reading for Zodiac killings. Check the current subscription terms and available sample; trial offers are not permanent free access. The author’s interpretation should be read alongside the case’s official records; it is not a court finding.
View Subscription Options ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Reading Access Notes
Search reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine, Google Books (case/title search), Scribd, Everand, OverDrive and hoopla (combined title search). Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait. Everand titles may need a paid subscription; a trial is not permanent free access. Scribd documents are third-party uploads, with uploader details noted where checked. We link to source pages and write our own descriptions rather than reproducing copyrighted books.
A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.
News & reporting
1 itemsLos Angeles Times
Reporting on Zodiac killings
Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.
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Newspaper clippings
2 itemsFeatured newspaper clipping
Read our original summary below. The archive link opens the newspaper’s own clipping viewer.
Napa Valley Register · 2018-05-03 · Page A3
Could DNA methods help identify the Zodiac?
A feature examines whether genetic methods used in the Golden State Killer case could help the Zodiac investigation.
A continued 2018 article about possibilities, not an identification.
Newspaper ReportingAccess Varies · Check Source
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Read the original at Newspapers.com. Access and subscription requirements are set by the archive.
Open full clipping at Newspapers.comMore from the newspaper archive
Continue with these dated reports on Newspapers.com.
The San Francisco Examiner · 1999-12-09 · Page 6
The Zodiac mystery endures
A continued report compares investigators’ views with theories circulated by authors and researchers.
The people discussed as suspects were not established as the Zodiac.
Read this article on Newspapers.comKeep following the newspaper trail.
Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.
Explore more on Newspapers.comNewspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.
Internet Archive
3 itemsAbout these sources
Library records and preserved media. A catalog listing does not guarantee full reading or playback.
Internet Archive · Library record · 2006
The encyclopedia of serial killers A study of the chilling criminal phenomenon, from the "Angels of Death" to the "Zodiac" killer
Newton, Michael, 1951-. A library catalog record for a book connected with Zodiac killings. The record may offer a preview or borrowing options; full reading access is not guaranteed.
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Internet Archive · TV News Archive
Today : KNTV : February 19, 2011 5:00am-7:00am PST
The archive indexes this broadcast under Zodiac Killer. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
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Internet Archive · TV News Archive
Very Scary People : CNNW : December 14, 2024 8:00pm-9:00pm PST
The archive indexes this broadcast under Zodiac Killer. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
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Court & Files
Court records & documents
1 itemsAbout these sources
Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.
Released investigative fileGovernment repository
Zodiac investigation — released FBI file, Part 1
Officially released investigative records, with a PDF download on the FBI page. These are FBI files, not a criminal judgment or proof that a named suspect committed the killings.
- Court / agency
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Document date
- Historical file; multiple dates
- Case / citation
- FBI Vault · The Zodiac Killer, Part 01
- Hosted by
- FBI Vault
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Roads Traveled
Roads Traveled
Open case map →Northern California. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.
Where this story happened
Northern California
Highlighted states show regional context, not exact addresses. Ontario and regions outside the contiguous U.S. are listed by name.
Explore the interactive case atlas →Boundaries: Natural Earth · public domain
Location research & source notes
Map sources checked September 14, 2026. 3 individual Odd Stops location pages matched this case.
See this case’s source review
- Odd Stops
- Location pages found · 3 location pages. Read the location summaries in our place guides; photographs appear where reuse rights are verified.
- MurderData
- No verified match found.
- ArcGIS essay
- Not included in this essay.
- Reddit map
- Reviewed as a general resource. Its coordinates and victim counts were not adopted as case evidence.
The additional Blue Rock Springs candidate page could not be opened; it is excluded from the verified location count.
Unverified candidate: blue rock springs ↗. Excluded from the verified location list.
“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.
See the full case checklist →Public recreation area
Lake Berryessa attack area
Western Lake Berryessa, Napa County, California
Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were attacked beside the lake on September 27, 1969. Hartnell survived; Shepard died from her injuries.
Planning a visit
Explore This Place →Check the official visitor information for closures and restrictions. Public recreation at a park or lake does not guarantee access to the precise historical site.
Sources reviewed September 14, 2026. Check access information before traveling.
Lake Herman Road turnout
Roadside historical referenceLake Herman Road, Benicia, California
Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday were shot at this turnout in December 1968. The killings became part of the Zodiac investigation.
No visitor facilities, legal stopping place, or access beyond public roads have been verified. Respect traffic rules and surrounding property.
Explore This Place →Paul Stine shooting area
Roadside historical referenceWashington Street near Cherry Street, San Francisco, California
Cab driver Paul Stine was killed here in October 1969. The location identifies the street encounter, not a crime inside a neighboring home.
No visitor facilities, legal stopping place, or access beyond public roads have been verified. Respect traffic rules and surrounding property.
Explore This Place →EXPLORE THE CASE
Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
0 itemsAbout these sources
Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific reform has been verified for this collection yet.
Social Media
11 itemsAbout these sources
Case-specific posts, videos and communities. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting. Platforms may require sign-in.
Absolute Crime
Catching The Zodiac Killer: Cracking The Murder Code
Video from Absolute Crime covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 50:04.
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Kallmekris
Did A TikToker Solve The Zodiac Killer Case??
Video from Kallmekris covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 59:20.
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Bailey Sarian
The ONLY Zodiac Killer Theory That Makes Sense
Video from Bailey Sarian covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 1:01:02.
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Crime 360
Inside the Hunt for the Zodiac Killer (S3, E2) | Cold Case Files | Full Episode
Full episode or film as labeled by the publisher from Crime 360 covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 43:23.
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FilmRise True Crime
Heriberto Seda: New York’s Zodiac Killer | World's Most Evil Killers
Video from FilmRise True Crime covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 43:42.
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BuzzFeed Unsolved Network
The Horrifying Murders Of The Zodiac Killer
Video from BuzzFeed Unsolved Network covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 21:28.
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BuzzFeed Unsolved Network
Criminal Psychologist Explains Twisted Mind Of The Zodiac Killer
Video from BuzzFeed Unsolved Network covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 12:52.
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Megyn Kelly
The Zodiac Killer: A Megyn Kelly Show True Crime Special
Video from Megyn Kelly covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 1:44:55.
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DoctorOz
Can DNA Finally Unmask the Zodiac Killer? | Oz True Crime
Video from DoctorOz covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 19:10.
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Investigation Discovery
Man Confesses To Zodiac Killings | Before They Kill Again | ID
Video from Investigation Discovery covering the Zodiac killings case. Length: 3:07.
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TikTok · Creator channel
MK True Crime — TikTok channel
Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “New Kohberger Evidence Questions, Horrifying Athena Strand Details, and Zodiac Killer REVEALED? With Alex Baber.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.
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