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Quiz about The Case Of The Zodiac Killer
Quiz about The Case Of The Zodiac Killer

The Case Of The 'Zodiac' Killer Quiz


This quiz is about the case of one of America's most infamous serial killers. Who is the 'Zodiac' Killer? Is he still alive? Is he still killing today? Take this quiz to find out the answers. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by JuniorTheJaws. Estimated time: 9 mins.
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Time
9 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
58,870
Updated
Apr 01 23
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
9 / 20
Plays
5614
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 89 (20/20), Guest 62 (16/20), Guest 77 (14/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. On October 30, 1966, the first killing in this case occurred. The victim was an 18 year old girl. What was her name? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. On November 29, 1966, the Riverside Police and the Riverside Enterprise Newspaper received a letter from the killer. What title did the killer give the letter? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. On December 20, 1968 a couple parked in a brown Rambler were shot to death. What were the names of the couple? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. On Saturday, September 27, 1969. Cecelia Ann Shepard and Bryan Calvin Hartnell
were parked at Twin Oak Ridge, which is on the western shore of the lake. The couple were stabbed. What type of weapon was thought to have been used?
Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. On Saturday, October 11, 1969, Paul Stine, a San Francisco cab driver, was killed. At 9:58 P.M. the police were called. Two patrolmen responded to the call. What were the names of the two patrolmen? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. All the evidence early in the 'Zodiac' Case was properly typed and handled?


Question 7 of 20
7. Shortly after Paul Stine's murder, a letter was sent to a newspaper. What was the name of the newspaper? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. On December 27, 1969, the 'Zodiac' sent a letter, containing another piece of Stine's shirt, to a famous lawyer. What was the name of the lawyer? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. On Sunday, March 22, 1970, a woman and her baby were driving in a car along Highway 132, when a man in an American looking car flashed his lights and honked his horn for her to pull over. The man told her that one of her wheels was loose, and offered to fix the wheel. The man did not fix the wheel properly and the wheel came off. He then offered the woman and her child a ride to a gas station. This woman is the only known survivor who was not injured in any way. What is the name of this woman and child? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. In the 1970's, the police named a possible suspect. This man matched almost everything about the 'Zodiac' known to the police. What is the name of this man? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. In January 1974, the killer sent another letter entitled 'The Exorcist'. In the letter there were symbols. What did the symbols read? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. At one time the police suspected Ted Kaczynski, the convicted 'Unabomber', as being the 'Zodiac'.


Question 13 of 20
13. In October of 1969, Arthur Leigh Allen became the prime suspect of the 'Zodiac' murders. On the night that Hartnell and Shepard were attacked, Allen was first brought to the police's attention. What was the cause of this? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. On July 15, 1971, a California businessman went to the police with information about Arthur Leigh Allen. What is the name of the businessman? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. In the 1980s, the police thought that another infamous serial killer was really the 'Zodiac'. Which serial killer was thought at one time, by the police, to be the 'Zodiac'? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. On June 26, 1970, the killer sent another letter to the newspapers. In the letter a mathematical symbol was uncovered. What was the symbol? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. In the 1990s the 'Zodiac Killer' reappeared in New York.


Question 18 of 20
18. On Saturday, July 5, 1969, a young couple were in the parking lot of the Blue Rock Springs Golf Course when the killer came upon them. What were the names of the victims? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. At 12:40 A.M. on July 5, 1969, the 'Zodiac' called the police station to let them know what he had just did. What was the name of the police station he called? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. When was the last time that police or newspapers heard from the 'Zodiac'? Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. On October 30, 1966, the first killing in this case occurred. The victim was an 18 year old girl. What was her name?

Answer: Cheri Jo Bates

Cheri Jo Bates was murdered on October 30, 1966, and her body was discovered that same day. The killer had made her car unusable, by disconnecting the distributor coil and the condenser. The killer waited near Cheri's car for her to leave Riverside City College's library. Robbery did not seem to be the motive. Why was a young girl, in the prime of her life, killed? Did she know her killer?
2. On November 29, 1966, the Riverside Police and the Riverside Enterprise Newspaper received a letter from the killer. What title did the killer give the letter?

Answer: The Confession

Here are excerpts from the famous 'Confession' letter: 'She was young and beautiful, but now she is battered and dead. She is not the first, and she will not be the last. I lay awake nights thinking about my next victim. Maybe she will be the beautiful blonde that babysits near the little store, and walks down the dark alley each evening about seven. Maybe she will be the shapely brunette that said 'no' when I asked her for a date in high. Maybe it will be neither. Don't make it too easy for me. Keep your sisters, daughters, and wives off the streets and out of the alleys.

Miss Bates was stupid. She went to the slaughter like a lamb. She did not put up a struggle, but I did. It was a ball! I first cut the middle wire from the distributor, then I waited for her in the library and followed her out after about two minutes. The battery must have been dead by then. I offered to help, and she was very willing to talk to me. I told her that my car was down the street, and that I would give her a lift home. When we were walking away from the library I said, 'it's about time'. She asked me, 'about time for what?' and I said that it was about time for her to die.

I am not sick. I am insane, but that will not stop the game. This letter should be published for all to read. It just may save that girl in the alley, but it's up to you. It will be on your conscience, not mine. Yes, I did make that call to you also. It was just a warning. Beware ... I am stalking your girls now'.

This letter was edited for content.
3. On December 20, 1968 a couple parked in a brown Rambler were shot to death. What were the names of the couple?

Answer: David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen

Just north of San Pablo Bay and The Carquinez Strait, 20 miles northeast of San Francisco, lies Vallejo and Benicia. Lake Herman Road runs from east Vallejo to north Benicia. On Friday, December 20, 1968 at approximately, 9:00 P.M., a light-colored four-door, Chevrolet Impala, was spotted parked near the east side gated entrance to the pumping station off Lake Herman Road. That same evening, around 10:00 P.M., the same car was also seen.

In between these two sightings, a couple was parked in the road leading toward Vallejo. The brown colored Impala gave the couple such an odd feeling, that they immediately pulled out of the area and drove off toward Benicia. The strange car was following the couple, until they took the first exit. The couple watched the Impala go east on Lake Herman Road at 11:10 P.M. Unfortunately for David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen, they were parked in the same place as the Chevrolet Impala when they were shot to death. Could the owner of the Chevrolet Impala possibly be The 'Zodiac'? Was the killer from some branch of law enforcement?
4. On Saturday, September 27, 1969. Cecelia Ann Shepard and Bryan Calvin Hartnell were parked at Twin Oak Ridge, which is on the western shore of the lake. The couple were stabbed. What type of weapon was thought to have been used?

Answer: Bayonet

Police believe the knife used was double-edged and about a foot long, possibly a bayonet. Hartnell described it as looking like it was made by hand or possibly to have been repaired. Hartnell was stabbed six times. A former police source confirms that Shepard was stabbed a fatal ten times. Shepard died of her wounds two days later.

The person who perpetrated these crimes left both for dead, and then inscribed the coded seal and the date of the attack on the door of Hartnell's car. The attacker then went to a phone booth to call police. Upon arrival, they found a series of clear footprints in the sandy shore line. From these footprints, the police investigating team were able to find out a few facts about the attacker: The shoes that formed them were determined to have been Wing Walkers, a style of low-cut military boot, size 10 and a half. The deep set of the prints, suggested a heavy man. Police believed the man responsible was the 'Zodiac'. Did Hartnell really see the 'Zodiac'? Could there be two killers working together?
5. On Saturday, October 11, 1969, Paul Stine, a San Francisco cab driver, was killed. At 9:58 P.M. the police were called. Two patrolmen responded to the call. What were the names of the two patrolmen?

Answer: Donald Foukes and Eric Zelms

On Saturday, October 11, 1969, Paul Stine picked up a passenger at the corner of Mason and Geary Streets in Union Square. Upon entering the intersection of Washington and Cherry Streets, Stine was shot point blank in the head. Three teenagers who witnessed the killing called the police. Officers Donald Foukes and Eric Zelms responded to the dispatch call. Upon arrival at the scene, they noticed a heavyset white male walking slowly east on Jackson Street.

They did not think to stop him because the APB was incorrect.

The description of the killer that Foukes and Zelms received was that of a heavyset black male. Was the white male that Foukes and Zelms seen really the 'Zodiac'? Was the description listed in the APB correct?
6. All the evidence early in the 'Zodiac' Case was properly typed and handled?

Answer: False

The bullet that killed Stine was mistakenly mistyped at the scene as a .38, but the ballistics tests that were performed later determined it to be a 9mm.
7. Shortly after Paul Stine's murder, a letter was sent to a newspaper. What was the name of the newspaper?

Answer: San Francisco Chronicle

This is the letter that was sent: 'This is the Zodiac speaking. I am the murderer of the taxi driver over by Washington St and Maple Sts. last night, to prove this here is a blood stained piece of his shirt. I am the same man who did the people in the north bay area. The S.F. Police could have caught me last night, if they had searched the park properly instead of holding road races with their motorcycles seeing who could make the most noise. The car drivers should have just parked their cars and sat there quietly waiting for me to come out of cover. School children make nice targets. I think I shall wipe out a school bus some morning. Just shoot out the front tire and then pick off the kiddies as they come bouncing out'.

Enclosed in this letter was a piece of Stine's bloody shirt. When the letter was sent to the police crime lab, three latent fingerprints were found. However, the fingerprints did not match any suspects thus far.
8. On December 27, 1969, the 'Zodiac' sent a letter, containing another piece of Stine's shirt, to a famous lawyer. What was the name of the lawyer?

Answer: Melvin Belli

This is the letter that was sent to him: 'Dear Melvin, this is the Zodiac speaking, I wish you a happy Christmas. The one thing I ask of you is this, please help me. I cannot reach out because this thing in me won't let me. I am finding it extremely difficult to keep in check. I am afraid I will lose control again and take my ninth and possibly tenth victim. Please help me, I am drowning. At the moment the children are safe from the bomb, because it is so massive to dig in and the trigger mech' requires so much work to get it adjusted just right. If I hold back too long from no' nine I will lose all control of myself and set the bomb up. Please help me, I cannot remain in control for much longer'.

It is interesting to note that in this letter, the word complete was crossed out. Also, the 'Zodiac' wrote to Melvin Belli in the hopes that Belli would represent him. Belli was never contacted by the killer again.
9. On Sunday, March 22, 1970, a woman and her baby were driving in a car along Highway 132, when a man in an American looking car flashed his lights and honked his horn for her to pull over. The man told her that one of her wheels was loose, and offered to fix the wheel. The man did not fix the wheel properly and the wheel came off. He then offered the woman and her child a ride to a gas station. This woman is the only known survivor who was not injured in any way. What is the name of this woman and child?

Answer: Kathleen and Jennifer Johns

Kathleen and her baby daughter, Jennifer, accepted the man's offer. When he passed gas station after gas station, Kathleen became scared and when the man made a full stop at a stop sign, Kathleen used this opportunity to escape. Kathleen and Jennifer are the only known survivors not to be harmed by the 'Zodiac'. Kathleen then went to the police station and gave a detailed description of the man.

This is the only full description of the 'Zodiac' that the police had to date. It is interesting to note that the story that Kathleen gave to the police has varied over the years. Was Kathleen really a victim of the 'Zodiac'? Is it possible that she was partners with the killer, and gave the police different versions to confuse them?
10. In the 1970's, the police named a possible suspect. This man matched almost everything about the 'Zodiac' known to the police. What is the name of this man?

Answer: Rick Marshall

In the 1970s, the police thought they had the 'Zodiac' in a man named Rick Marshall. Marshall fitted everything that the police knew about the 'Zodiac' at that time. Rick Marshall was born in Texas in 1928. He matched, almost identically, the description of the 'Zodiac' that witnesses had given to the police.

At the time of Cherie Jo Bates' murder, Marshall lived in the immediate area. Marshall had also disappeared from the San Francisco Bay area for a couple of years, right around the time that the 'Zodiac' did.

However, due to lack of evidence, no charges have ever been brought against Marshall. Is Rick Marshall really the 'Zodiac'?
11. In January 1974, the killer sent another letter entitled 'The Exorcist'. In the letter there were symbols. What did the symbols read?

Answer: KTIM

The 'Exorcist' letter that the 'Zodiac' sent to the Chronicle had the letters 'KTIM' inscribed in the symbols. This is another piece of evidence that the police tried to use against Rick Marshall. Marshall worked for KTIM radio station.
12. At one time the police suspected Ted Kaczynski, the convicted 'Unabomber', as being the 'Zodiac'.

Answer: True

At one time, the police suspected Ted Kaczynski as being the 'Zodiac' killer. They thought this because he also lived in the same area as Cherie Jo Bates and knew how to construct bombs. Ted Kaczynski has been taken off the suspect list because it was found that he was not in San Francisco at the time of five of the murders. Ted Kaczynski has been convicted of being the 'Unabomber', and is now serving a life sentence.
13. In October of 1969, Arthur Leigh Allen became the prime suspect of the 'Zodiac' murders. On the night that Hartnell and Shepard were attacked, Allen was first brought to the police's attention. What was the cause of this?

Answer: Pulled over for speeding in the same area that Hartnell and Shepard were attacked

On the night that Shepard and Hartnell were attacked, Allen received a speeding ticket in the Lake Berryessa area. For two years the police had nothing else to go on, but in 1971 Allen became the prime suspect once again.
14. On July 15, 1971, a California businessman went to the police with information about Arthur Leigh Allen. What is the name of the businessman?

Answer: Santo Panzarella

Santo Panzarella told the police that Allen had incriminated himself in the 'Zodiac' murders. Panzarella's story about Allen was second hand information. Panzarella heard the story from Donald Cheney, who was friends with Allen. Allen told Cheney that he wanted to hunt humans, shoot the tires out of school buses full of children, and that he was in fact the 'Zodiac'.

When Panzarella told this information to the police, Allen immediately became the prime suspect once again.
15. In the 1980s, the police thought that another infamous serial killer was really the 'Zodiac'. Which serial killer was thought at one time, by the police, to be the 'Zodiac'?

Answer: The Green River Killer

In the 1980s, the police thought that the 'Green River Killer' was really the 'Zodiac Killer'. They thought this because the physical description in both cases matched closely, and because the 'Zodiac's last known killing was in 1969. Although the 'Zodiac' kept in touch with the police throughout the 1970s, the police believed he had started killing again when the 'Green River Killer' surfaced.
16. On June 26, 1970, the killer sent another letter to the newspapers. In the letter a mathematical symbol was uncovered. What was the symbol?

Answer: A Radian sign

It was discovered in late 1980 that the June 26, 1970 letter had a radian sign hidden inside the letter. Gareth Penn, a free-lance writer, discovered that the California Attorney General's office had this information. Penn discovered that a radian is a specific angular measurement based on the transcendental number pi. Was the 'Zodiac' a murderous mathematician? If not, how did he know about the radian sign?
17. In the 1990s the 'Zodiac Killer' reappeared in New York.

Answer: False

The real Zodiac has not resurfaced since a letter he sent in 1978. However, in 1990 in New York, a copycat killer murdered several people before police apprehended him. Heriberto 'Eddie' Seda was 22 years old when he began his career of copycating the real 'Zodiac'.
18. On Saturday, July 5, 1969, a young couple were in the parking lot of the Blue Rock Springs Golf Course when the killer came upon them. What were the names of the victims?

Answer: Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin and Michael Renault Mageau

At midnight on July 5, 1969, Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau were sitting in Ferrin's car when the killer shot them. Unfortunately, Darlene was pronounced dead on arrival to Kaiser Foundation Hospital at 12:38 A.M. Michael lived. Michael was able to describe the killer and his car.
19. At 12:40 A.M. on July 5, 1969, the 'Zodiac' called the police station to let them know what he had just did. What was the name of the police station he called?

Answer: Vallejo Police Headquarters

When the 'Zodiac' called the Vallejo Police Headquarters he said, 'I want to report a double murder. If you go one mile east on Columbus Parkway to the public park, you will find kids in a brown car. They were shot with a 9mm Luger. I also killed those kids last year. Good bye'.

The 'Zodiac' wanted the police to know that he was indeed smarter. The police believed that the 'Zodiac Killer' was like the 'Son of Sam', always near the murder scene when the police came.
20. When was the last time that police or newspapers heard from the 'Zodiac'?

Answer: In a letter sent in 1978

In 1978, the 'Zodiac' sent the police and newspapers his final letter. The letter said: 'Dear Editor, this is the Zodiac speaking. I am back with you. Tell Herb Caen I am here, I have always been here. That city pig, Toschi, is good but I am smarter and better.

He will get tired, then leave me alone. I am waiting for a good movie about me. Who will play me? I am now in control of all things'. Since this letter the 'Zodiac' has not been heard from. Is the 'Zodiac' still alive today? No one really knows.

The police believe that the 'Zodiac' just faded away, waiting to resurface once again.
Source: Author JuniorTheJaws

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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