The 1st victim of the Zodiac Killer
(Wark, 2012)
Cheri Jo Bates was 18 years old when she was murdered on October 30, 1966. She was murdered near the parking lot of Riverside City College's library annex. The murder was very brutal, as she was choked, beaten, slashed in the face, and almost decapitated. Her murderer didn't really seem to have a motive as there were no signs of rape and nothing was stolen from her. The murder was seen as just a random act of violence at first because of the lack of any other motive, but 1 month after the murder a letter was mailed to the police department that was written by the murderer. It was a very violent and angry letter and was written in all capital letters. The letter described the murder in detail and how the murderer did it. He ends the letter by saying "I AM STALKING YOUR GIRLS NOW" after saying multiple times that he will be murdering again. No one knew it at the time, but Ms. Bates was to be the first victim of a man who was later known as the "Zodiac Killer". After Bates, he goes on to kill 5 more people and severely injure 2 more. He always follows up the murders with letters and phone calls to the police and, although there are many suspects, the true culprit has never been found. (Wark, 1012)
Additional Victims of the Zodiac
In order of occurance:
David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen
-Both were killed
Michael Renault Mageau and Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin
-Mageau survived and Ferrin died
Brian Calvin Hartnell and Cecilia Ann Shepard
-Hartnell survived and Shepard died
Paul Stine
-He died
David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen
-Both were killed
Michael Renault Mageau and Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin
-Mageau survived and Ferrin died
Brian Calvin Hartnell and Cecilia Ann Shepard
-Hartnell survived and Shepard died
Paul Stine
-He died