Zodiac Killer Case: New Evidence Links to Black Dahlia Murder

Recent investigations suggest that the Zodiac Killer’s infamous cryptic messages were more than just taunts to law enforcement; they may also reference his earliest victims. Independent researchers claim they’ve solved a Zodiac code and uncovered details indicating that the chilling serial killer may have started with the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, famously known as the Black Dahlia, in California.

According to Alex Baber, co-founder of Cold Case Consultants of America, it took around nine months to decode the two-layer cipher, which utilized a transposition and permutation method on a 2-by-7 grid. He shared during an interview at the Hamptons Whodunnit event that, for the first time, Los Angeles police have approached a suspect’s family for DNA testing, a significant step that was never taken in the Black Dahlia investigation. “I think we’re onto something here,” he remarked.

However, the Los Angeles Police Department did not provide any statements in response, and an FBI spokesperson also declined to comment.

Decoding the Zodiac’s Messages

Baber made headlines by revealing that the Zodiac’s “Z13” code contains the name of a primary suspect from the Black Dahlia case. He presented his findings at the East Hampton Library recently. Through his own artificial intelligence software and self-taught cryptography skills, he deciphered the 13-character message, which he read as “Marvin Merrill.” Further investigations indicated that this name is an alias for Marvin Margolis, who had connections with Short and was listed as a suspect by the LAPD after her tragic murder.

After identifying Margolis as a suspect, Baber visited his son, where he noticed a handwriting sample that aligned suspiciously with Zodiac’s style. His son’s reaction was quite emotional. “He turned pale, shaking, and held my hand,” Baber recounted. In that moment, he expressed his relief by saying, “It’s okay.”

Linking Evidence

Handwriting samples revealed common phonetic errors in both Margolis’s and Zodiac’s writings. Baber recalled a startling moment during his conversation with Margolis’s son, revealing a striking sketch that featured the name “Elizabeth.” Baber described his shock upon seeing this, exclaiming, “Oh my God.” He noted that the drawing incorporated indentations and features that mirrored injuries associated with Short, revealing the hidden word “Zodiac” in the drawing’s background.

After decoding the message, Baber collaborated with the FBI and consulted experts, including a former NSA code-breaker. They concluded that the key to unlocking the Z13 code was surprisingly straightforward: the victim’s first name, Elizabeth, allowed for the arrangement of numbers crucial for deciphering the code.

Another noteworthy connection was Margolis’s association with a friend who specialized in cryptography during WWII. Baber explained that Margolis lived with someone involved in high-level cryptographic work at the time Short was murdered and was among the early suspects in the case.

Criminal profiler John Kelly reviewed Baber’s findings and remarked that they seemed well-substantiated. He pointed out that while Margolis had a successful career, it was his military service during WWII that contributed to a profile fitting for a potential serial killer.

“Historically, the medical field has produced a surprising number of serial killers,” Kelly noted, mentioning notorious figures like Harold Shipman and Charles Cullen. Interestingly, several of Short’s initial suspects were also in the medical profession. “In my opinion, this guy fits like a glove,” Kelly concluded.