The Mysterious Case of Arthur Leigh Allen and the Zodiac Killer

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who terrorized Northern California in the late 1960s. He killed at least five people and possibly more. The killer sent taunting letters and codes to local newspapers, calling himself "Zodiac." Despite a long investigation, police never caught the Zodiac Killer. The case remains unsolved today.

Arthur Leigh Allen became the main suspect in the Zodiac case. Police investigated him for many years but never charged him with the crimes. Some people strongly believe Allen was the Zodiac Killer. Others think the evidence against him is weak. Let's look at the facts about Arthur Leigh Allen and why he was suspected of being the Zodiac.

Arthur Leigh Allen was born on December 18, 1933 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He grew up in Vallejo, California. Here are some key facts about Allen's life:

• He served in the U.S. Navy from 1957 to 1958
• He worked as an elementary school teacher in the early 1960s
• In 1968, he lost his teaching job after being accused of sexual misconduct with students
• He lived with his mother in Vallejo for many years
• He worked various jobs including as a janitor and gas station attendant
• In 1974, he was convicted of child molestation and spent time in prison
• He died of a heart attack in 1992 at age 58

Allen had a troubled life with legal problems. This made him seem suspicious to some investigators looking into the Zodiac case.

Several things made police consider Allen as a possible suspect:

• In 1971, Allen's friend Don Cheney told police that Allen had talked about wanting to kill people and use the name "Zodiac"
• Allen lived close to where some Zodiac attacks happened
• He owned a Zodiac brand watch with the crossed-circle symbol used by the killer
• He was seen with bloody knives on the day of a Zodiac stabbing attack
• Police found bomb-making materials in Allen's home, similar to what the Zodiac described
• Allen mentioned liking "The Most Dangerous Game" story, which the Zodiac referenced
• A survivor of a Zodiac attack identified Allen as the shooter in 1991

These connections made Allen the top suspect for many years. However, there were also problems with the case against him.

Despite the suspicions, some key evidence did not point to Allen as the Zodiac:

• Allen's fingerprints did not match prints found at Zodiac crime scenes
• His handwriting did not match the Zodiac's distinctive writing style
• DNA from Zodiac letters did not match Allen's DNA
• Eyewitness descriptions of the Zodiac did not match Allen's appearance
• Allen was left-handed, but the Zodiac was likely right-handed

This conflicting evidence has led to debate about whether Allen was really the Zodiac or not.

Police first looked at Allen as a suspect in 1971 after his friend's tip. Here's how the investigation unfolded:

• 1971 - Police interview Allen for the first time
• 1972 - Search warrant executed on Allen's home
• 1974 - Allen convicted of child molestation, goes to prison
• 1978 - Allen released from prison
• 1991 - New search warrant on Allen's home
• 1992 - Allen dies before police can build a full case

Despite years of investigation, police never had enough evidence to charge Allen with the Zodiac crimes. The case went cold after his death.

Many theories try to explain the evidence for and against Allen:

Allen Was the Zodiac

Those who believe Allen was guilty argue:

• He had inside knowledge of the crimes
• He matched the killer's profile
• He lived near the crime scenes
• The survivor's identification was accurate
• He used techniques to disguise his writing and prints

Allen Was Innocent

Those who think Allen was not the Zodiac say:

• The physical evidence cleared him
• Eyewitness descriptions didn't match
• He was too obvious a suspect
• The case against him was circumstantial
• Other suspects are more likely

The debate continues today about Allen's true connection to the case.

While Allen was the main suspect, police looked at many other possible Zodiac Killers over the years:

• Rick Marshall - A film projectionist who matched some descriptions
• Lawrence Kane - Had connections to a Zodiac victim
• Ross Sullivan - Worked at a library where a possible Zodiac victim was killed
• Richard Gaikowski - Worked for a newspaper and resembled police sketches
• Earl Van Best Jr. - Identified by his son as the Zodiac in a book

None of these other suspects were ever charged. The true identity of the Zodiac remains unknown.

To understand the case against Allen, it helps to know the Zodiac's confirmed attacks:

Lake Herman Road (December 20, 1968)

The Zodiac shot and killed teenagers David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen on a lover's lane.

Blue Rock Springs (July 4, 1969)

The killer shot Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau in their parked car. Ferrin died but Mageau survived.

Lake Berryessa (September 27, 1969)

Wearing a hood and costume, the Zodiac stabbed Cecelia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell. Shepard died from her wounds.

Presidio Heights (October 11, 1969)

The Zodiac shot and killed taxi driver Paul Stine. This was his last confirmed murder.

The killer sent many letters about these crimes to local newspapers. He included coded messages and threats of more violence.

The Zodiac's letters were a key part of the case. They showed the killer's personality and writing style. Some important letters included:

• The first letter in July 1969 - Claimed credit for the first two attacks
• The "Dripping Pen" card in November 1969 - Included a 340-character cipher
• The "Belli Letter" in December 1969 - Asked for help from a famous lawyer
• "My Name Is" letter in April 1970 - Threatened to kill schoolchildren
• The final authenticated letter in January 1974

These letters were studied carefully to try to identify the Zodiac. Handwriting experts said Allen did not write them.

Investigators created a profile of the Zodiac Killer based on evidence. Here's how Allen compared:

Allen matched some aspects of the profile but not others. This fueled debate about his guilt or innocence.

In 1991, Zodiac survivor Michael Mageau identified Allen as the shooter from the Blue Rock Springs attack. This seemed like strong evidence. However, there were issues with the identification:

• It happened 22 years after the crime
• Mageau had only seen the shooter briefly in the dark
• The identification was from an old driver's license photo
• Mageau had given a different description right after the shooting
• Police did not consider the identification reliable evidence

While dramatic, most experts do not view this late identification as proof of Allen's guilt.

Physical evidence is crucial in solving crimes. In the Zodiac case, key evidence included:

• Fingerprints from crime scenes and letters
• DNA from saliva on letter stamps
• Handwriting samples from many letters
• Bullet casings from shooting scenes
• A bloody piece of Paul Stine's shirt
• A pay phone recording of a Zodiac call

None of this physical evidence was ever matched to Allen. This is the main reason he was never charged with the crimes.

When questioned by police, Allen made some strange statements:

• He admitted having bloody knives on the day of the Lake Berryessa attack
• He said his favorite book was "The Most Dangerous Game" which the Zodiac referenced
• He mentioned fantasies about killing people
• He wore a Zodiac watch, saying the brand name was "just a coincidence"

Allen denied being the Zodiac Killer. He said police were harassing him unfairly. In one interview he said "I'm not the Zodiac. And if I was, I certainly wouldn't tell you."

Police searched Allen's home twice looking for Zodiac evidence:

1972 Search

• Found a Royal typewriter similar to one used in Zodiac letters
• Discovered bomb-making materials
• Seized weapons including guns and knives

1991 Search

• Found more bomb-making materials
• Discovered Zodiac-related newspaper clippings
• Seized Allen's writing samples for comparison

These searches provided circumstantial evidence but no smoking gun linking Allen to the crimes.

Despite being the main suspect, there are several reasons to doubt Allen was the Zodiac:

• Physical evidence like DNA and fingerprints didn't match
• Handwriting experts cleared Allen as the writer of the Zodiac letters
• Allen was much larger than eyewitness descriptions of the Zodiac
• He was left-handed but the Zodiac was likely right-handed
• Some of Allen's alibis for the time of the murders checked out
• Allen may have been too obvious a suspect for the clever Zodiac

These factors have led many researchers to conclude Allen was not actually the killer.

The investigation of Allen had a big impact on the Zodiac case:

• It consumed police resources for many years
• It brought new attention to the cold case
• It inspired books and movies about Allen as the Zodiac
• It remains controversial among Zodiac researchers
• It shows the difficulty of solving the case after so much time

While Allen is no longer considered a prime suspect by police, the debate about his involvement continues today.

Many myths have developed about Allen and the Zodiac case:

Myth: Allen confessed to being the Zodiac

Fact: Allen always denied being the Zodiac Killer

Myth: Allen's DNA matched Zodiac evidence

Fact: DNA tests cleared Allen as the source of Zodiac letter DNA

Myth: Allen was charged with being the Zodiac

Fact: Allen was never officially charged with any Zodiac crimes

Myth: The case against Allen was strong

Fact: The evidence was mostly circumstantial with no physical proof

Myth: Allen matches all Zodiac eyewitness descriptions

Fact: Allen was much larger than how witnesses described the Zodiac

These myths show how the facts of the case often get distorted over time.

The Zodiac case remains unsolved today. Here's the current status:

• It is still an open case with the California Department of Justice
• Police occasionally get new tips but no major breaks
• DNA and fingerprint evidence is still being analyzed with new technology
• Amateur sleuths continue to investigate and propose new theories
• Books and movies keep public interest in the case alive
• The true identity of the Zodiac Killer remains unknown

Unless dramatic new evidence emerges, the Zodiac's identity may never be conclusively determined.

Was Arthur Leigh Allen ever charged with being the Zodiac Killer?

No, Allen was never officially charged with any Zodiac crimes. Police investigated him for many years but never had enough evidence to bring charges.

Did Allen's DNA match Zodiac evidence?

No, DNA testing done in 2002 did not match Allen to DNA found on stamps of Zodiac letters.

Why do some people still think Allen was the Zodiac?

Allen remains a suspect to some because of circumstantial evidence like having bomb materials, living near crime scenes, and being identified by a survivor. However, physical evidence cleared him.

Are there any other strong Zodiac suspects?

Other suspects like Rick Marshall, Lawrence Kane, and Ross Sullivan have been investigated. But no one has been conclusively linked to the crimes.

Could the Zodiac Killer still be alive today?

It's possible but unlikely. If alive, the Zodiac would likely be in his 80s or 90s now. Most investigators believe the killer is probably deceased.

Will the Zodiac case ever be solved?

It's hard to say. Unless new evidence emerges or the killer confesses, the Zodiac's true identity may never be known with certainty.

The case of Arthur Leigh Allen and the Zodiac Killer remains one of America's most infamous unsolved mysteries. While Allen was the primary suspect for many years, the physical evidence ultimately did not support charging him with the crimes. The investigation of Allen shows the challenges of solving a complex case after so much time has passed. Unless major new evidence comes to light, the true identity of the Zodiac Killer may never be known. The case continues to fascinate the public and inspire debate among researchers and amateur sleuths. The legacy of the Zodiac and the investigation of suspects like Allen serves as a reminder of the limits of criminal investigations and the enduring nature of some mysteries.