The zodiac chart is a famous tool people use to find out more about their personalities, birthdays, and at times, futures. And I’ll admit, I’ve delved into the zodiac a bit, but whether it be out of sheer curiosity or reverence, I’ll leave that to you. However, the zodiac can also be used for more macabre reasons, such as murder. There was a killer like this, appropriately called the Zodiac Killer.

The Zodiac Killer was the nickname of an unknown murderer in California who killed at least 5 people, though many speculate there to be more. The killer often left letters for the San Francisco press, all of which contained cryptograms and strange symbols. When the press decided to dub this person the Zodiac Killer, the killer took up the namesake, and referenced it multiple times in their letters. This went on between 1969 to 1974, and though there were multiple investigations, the killer was never caught.

There have been a few suspects. One of these was a man named Arthur Leigh Allen, first presented through the book Zodiac by Robert Graysmith. However, the evidence was circumstantial at best, and after a DNA test, he was released. Another man, Jack Tarrance, was accused of being the Zodiac Killer by his stepson. Others, including a mariner and a newspaper editor, were accused. Again, there was no convincing evidence to arrest these men.

No one knows why the killing spree ended. However, many people came up with reasons why the Zodiac Killer stopped, some of which include that he’d left the San Francisco area, that he was mentally ill and was institutionalized, or that he managed to claim enough lives to be satisfied. However, some believe he hadn’t stopped at all; rather, he stopped giving out the locations of his murders. Even so, the Zodiac Killer left a dark legacy. Below are the confirmed victims:
- Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday, teenagers who were found in Benicia.
- Paul Lee Stine, who was found shot and killed in San Francisco.
- Bryan Hartnell and Ceceila Shepard, who were found stabbed in Napa County. However, Hartnell survived.
- Michael Mageau and Darlene Ferrin, who were found shot in a parking lot.

The Zodiac Killer has inspired many artists and writers. The Zodiac Killer, directed by Tom Hanson, was a film that was released in order to try to capture the killer himself, though it ultimately failed. Obviously. Dirty Harry was another film that was released during the time when the Zodiac Killer was still active.The Exorcist III used a character called the Gemini Killer, which was inspired by the Zodiac Killer himself. Musicians such as Macabre and Guns N’ Roses were also based on the Zodiac Killer.

The Zodiac Killer’s identity remains a mystery today. Similar to that of Jack the Ripper, the Zodiac Killer has continued to confound police and the public for years on end. Although many people continue to speculate on the killer’s identity, it’s clear that no one is getting closer to the answer. Despite this, as writers, we can’t help ourselves. Though we’re imaginative, we can’t help but want some semblance of real life in our stories.