The Most Dangerous Game

For years, I have always been fascinated with murder mysteries and what makes serial killers tick. Become who they are. When I was 11, my father had a close friend named Bob. He worked for the Chicago Tribune for many years. He used to tell me a story, of a psychopath killer that was notorious during his time in Northern California. During the 60's and 70's, obviously there was no social media and cellphones. The only source of information was the newspaper. This man, The Zodiac killer. Was a master of manipulation. Using the San Francisco Chronicle, as his personal pawn. All these mind games in his disposal. Whether it was letters, riddles, puzzles, or a piece of clothing from his victims. Even saying he was threatening the newspaper to publish articles about him, or a school bus full of children would see his wrath. Zodiac was insane, and not right in the head. He wanted the people to guess his next move. Grasping the spotlight, any chance he got. Seeing his picture on the 5 o'clock news. Waiting for fear and panic, to reach the streets of California. That's the kind of man, The Zodiac killer was.

As a child, I was intrigued with all the details, stories and bloody history, That Bob was giving me. Visualizing this, all in my mind. How someone like this, can be that sick and twisted. Honestly, having nightmares for a while. 4 years later, The Zodiac movie came out in 2007. Everything Bob said about The Zodiac killer, coming to life again. Obviously comparing a movie, to what these victims and their families went through. Doesn't do their life's justice. But with my generation, and everyone who wasn't alive during that period. They can be alert, and see, a coworker, a family member, a friend. Is not always what they seem. Someone who can fool everyone, even themselves, like John Wayne Gacy for example. Feeling the torment of those people during that time, in the San Francisco area. They didn't even want to leave their home for anything. And we just saw a glimpse of that, from the movie.

For years, people, detectives, and the media. Always spectated, Arthur Leigh Allen as The Zodiac Killer. Getting his name from Seawolf, a Zodiac model watch he wore. In 1972, the San Francisco police had a search warrant for his home. He was arrested for sexually assaulting a 12 year old boy. Doing 2 years in person. And during that time, no killings or notes to the newspaper from The Zodiac killer. When the police went to his home, they found rifles, dead animals, and finding some items that belonged to some of the victims that died in Benicia, Vallejo and Napa counties.

Thinking they found their guy, after years of searching, years of investigating. Yet not enough evidence to lock him away forever. Even handwriting experts saying, Arthur's didn't match with The Zodiac killer. Nor did the DNA match. Many policeman and writers were convinced, that it wasn't him. Another suspect, was Ross Sullivan. A library assistant at Riverside city collage. Many of his coworkers, suspected him. Saying he went missing after some of the murders. Ross even resembled sketches, and same military boots as the suspect, in the crime scenes. Being hospitalized multiple times for bipolar and schizophrenia. But not enough detail to lock him away. Countless others were suspected as The Zodiac killer. But no one came as close as Arthur Leigh Allen. I know in my heart, he was the true Zodiac Killer.

Arthur died in 1992. The killings started in the late 60s, and the case finally inactive in 2004. But reopened in 2007. With 5, confirmed dead, 2 injured, 20 - 28 total dead, and having claimed, 37 were killed. A psychopath through and through. But unlike Gacy, my other example. This man didn't receive his justice, for all the families he hurt and destroyed. And still remains a unsolved mystery.