I need you to find a quiet place and get comfortable. Here’s my theory on Zodiac. Please read this with an open mind and let’s solve this case. For this exercise, we will refer to Zodiac when he’s not in killing mode, by the made up name, Bill. Stick with me on this one. Bill is an overweight, unattractive (at least very plain), 30 something male. He works as a security guard or something that requires minimal thought and movement. He still lives with his parents in his childhood home. He has few if any friends. His father is a retired military man. One who requires discipline. He has always treated his son badly. Likes to remind him of the nobody he turned out to be. Bill stops by the diner each day before or after work. He sits watching the pretty girls with their boyfriends. The giggling, arms around each other, maybe the occasional kiss. “What makes them so special!” He asks himself. “Why can’t that be me?” But there’s a glimmer of hope. The waitress always gives him a smile and asks about his day. “Could it be possible she likes me?” After many weeks and days, he finally gets the courage to ask her out. He’s never been so nervous and excited. “I’m so sorry Bill, I didn’t mean to give you the wrong impression. I’m just not into you in that way” he felt the world cave in on him. A searing heat rushed through his body. An anger like no other, started to rise within. A few weeks later his father passed away. The tormentor was gone. Something was changing in Bill. That loser background guy, was about to take center stage. He went through his fathers things and found his gun collection. He was ever allowed to touch his fathers things before. Now he was able to do whatever he wanted. He loved how they felt in his hands. A sense of power.
His mind was set on a girl he used to see at the diner all the time. She was so pretty. He used to follow her around. Watching her every move. He was infatuated. Tonight was the night. He pulled his car over just in time to see her get picked up by some guy. Keeping his distance, not to be noticed, he watches as they pull into a desolate spot where everyone goes to get it on. Yes, he knows this spot well. How he wished he would be there with someone. But knew this was never going to happen. And then, just like that night at the diner, he felt that rush of anger moving down his body. “That *advertiser censored*!” He screamed. His car pulls up behind them. “No,no” I can’t do it. I’m such a wimp” he quickly drives away. About a mile down the road he turns his car around. “You’re doing this Bill” he said to himself. Once again he pulls up behind their car, but this time he forced himself out the door. He says her name and then starts shooting. He can’t believe he has actually did it. He’s shaking from the excitement. He screams on the way back home uncontrollably. Bill is a changed man. A metamorphosis has occurred. The more he kills the more confidence he gains in himself. He walks the streets with his head up now. Knowing he has the power of life and death in him. Everyone that knows Bill, sees this change. He is mr cool now.
I’m not here to write the entire story. My point to this is there is someone out there that remembers a change like this in someone they knew during that time. Someone who fits the character in my theory. People always wonder if and how he would be able to stop killing. It’s possible that this new found confidence was able to find him a girlfriend and then a wife. All he ever wanted was to be loved by someone. I think once he had that, he no longer had that anger in him. Yes, the fame and power was still an addiction. However, he was still able to get that by mailing the letters. I also, believe he had 2 close calls. The Stine murder was way too close to home for him. and That was it. I have so much more to talk about, but I have to end somewhere.
