TRUE CRIME ATLAS

Zodiac Killer

Published February 21, 2026Updated March 26, 2026

Overview

Case Overview

The Zodiac Killer case concerns a string of confirmed attacks in Northern California in the late 1960s, including the murders of five victims, along with a campaign of letters and ciphers sent to police and the press. Some of the ciphers were decoded decades later, but the killer's identity has never been established, keeping the case among America's most famous unsolved homicide investigations.

Cover of Zodiac

Featured Book

Zodiac

by Robert Graysmith

The defining popular Zodiac book and still the clearest default choice for readers who want the case's most influential narrative in one volume.

Best for readers who want the classic Zodiac book that shaped public understanding of the suspects and investigation.

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Case At A Glance

Core canonical Zodiac attacks were committed by one offender

Moderate confidence

Compare theories
Status
Unsolved
Primary location
Gaviota State Park Beach
Open question
Which later letters, if any, were written by the same offender?
Latest timeline item
Jan 29, 1974: Exorcist Letter Sent

Key Facts

Status: Unsolved

Also known as: The Zodiac, Zodiac murders, Zodiac case

Coverage: 22 timeline events, 17 persons, and 13 locations

Sources collected: 447 sources

Categories

Most FamousTop UnsolvedSerial Killer

Tags

California1960scipherunsolvedRiversideSan FranciscoDNAGenetic Genealogy