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It’s no real secret to my family that out of every unsolved mystery/crime case in history, the one that I’ve become quietly obsessed with over the years is that of the “Zodiac Killer”.

Which is why when the media recently reported of a man revealing the actual Zodiac killer to be his stepfather, let’s just say my interest finally peaked. To the point where I blew the dust off my mind’s shelving of this obsession and now with this re-examining of the case I hope to file it away for good. Of course I said that the last time and if this trails off to nowhere I’ll be doing this again.

For those without any knowledge of the Zodiac case, the oracle of digital insight and magic Wikipedia says this:

The Zodiac Killer is a serial killer who operated in Northern California in the late 1960s. His identity remains unknown. The Zodiac coined his name in a series of taunting letters he sent to the press. His letters included four cryptograms (or ciphers), three of which have yet to be solved.

Creepy? Check. Despite the fact it’s unsolved it still remains an open case, unlike the stockpile of cold cases that may never see the light of day. As Hank Hill would say, “That ain’t right.”

I’ve even rented the movie, Zodiac, with Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey, Jr. just to reacquaint myself with a fascinating (and yes, morbid) crime with a deranged man responsible for several deaths sending letters and greeting cards to authorities. It was all very Jack the Ripper but in modern times.

There’s also another thread to this that hits close to home. Her name was Cheri Jo Bates, a student at Riverside Community College and a purported victim of the Zodiac killer. Even though he claimed to be responsible for the murder, Riverside police were convinced his confession to be false.

I believe my obsession with this case has more to do with the air of mystery surrounding it rather than the gritty details, I’ll leave that to Hollywood and the media. Yet I do want to see it solved once and for all, if anything to provide some resolve for the victims and their families.