Zodiac Killer, The

The Zodiac Killer remains one of the most infamous and elusive criminals in American history, a figure who cast a shadow of fear over Northern California in the late 1960s. This unidentified serial killer left a trail of violence and mystery, baffling law enforcement and becoming a notorious fixture in popular culture. To this day, the Zodiac's true identity remains unknown, fueling endless speculation, theories, and attempts by amateur sleuths to solve the mystery. Between December 1968 and October 1969, the Zodiac Killer murdered five people across the San Francisco Bay Area, targeting victims in a range of environments—from rural settings to suburban neighborhoods and the heart of San Francisco itself. His known attacks occurred in Benicia, Vallejo, unincorporated Napa County, and San Francisco, where he preyed primarily on young couples, with the exception of a lone male cab driver. Miraculously, two of his intended victims survived, providing law enforcement with chilling first-hand accounts of the attacks. Despite the known body count of five, the Zodiac claimed responsibility for the deaths of 37 people, and over the years, investigators have linked him to several additional cold cases, some stretching as far as Southern California and even beyond the state's borders.