Cecelia Shepard (pictured) and Bryan Hartnell were attacked on ...

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The Case of the Zodiac Killer 1 small peninsula of l<strong>and</strong>. There they spread a blanket under the trees. <strong>Hartnell</strong> remembered,“It was really beautiful out there. . . . I lay down on my back <strong>and</strong> she lay down on her stomach, you know, kind of resting her head on my shoulder, <strong>and</strong> we <strong>were</strong> talking, kind of reminiscing about old times, <strong>and</strong> stuff.” 12 Hooded Killer The spot was somewhat remote, but it was only 4:00 p.m. when they arrived, <strong>and</strong> both felt perfectly safe. Sometime around 6 p.m., however, <strong>Hartnell</strong> heard a noise behind him <strong>and</strong> asked <strong>Shepard</strong>, who was facing that way, what it was. She looked <strong>and</strong> saw a man st<strong>and</strong>ing behind a tree. A few seconds later, <strong>Hartnell</strong> heard her exclaim, “Oh my God, he has a gun!” 13 Call from a Killer The Zodiac not only made an anonymous call taking credit for the Ferrin/Mageau attack, but he also claimed responsibility by phone for the <strong>Shepard</strong>/<strong>Hartnell</strong> attack. At 7:40 p.m. on September 27, 1969, he called the Napa Police Department switchboard. The operator heard a voice state calmly, “I want to report a murder, no, a double murder. They are two miles north of Park Headquarters. They <strong>were</strong> in a white Volkswagen Karmen-Ghia.” When the operator asked “Where are you now?” the caller ans<strong>were</strong>d “I’m the one that did it.” The phone was put down, not hung up. Police <strong>were</strong> not quick enough to catch the Zodiac that night, but they consoled themselves at the thought that he was not infallible. He believed he had killed <strong>Hartnell</strong> <strong>and</strong> he had not. If he had made one mistake, it was likely he would make more. Then they would catch him. D. Slaight, “Napa Police Department Supplementary Report,” September 27, 1969. Zodiackiller.com. www.zodiackiller.com/LBReport32.html.
The man not only had a gun, but also a black cloth hood covering his face <strong>and</strong> extending over his chest.The hood was flat <strong>and</strong> rectangular, like a paper bag on top. A white crossed-circle symbol was stitched across the chest. The man’s eyes <strong>were</strong> hidden by a pair of clip-on sunglasses. He also had a foot-long (0.3m) knife in a riveted sheath hanging at his waist. As the intruder approached, he pointed the gun at the couple, explaining that he had just escaped from prison <strong>and</strong> needed money <strong>and</strong> a car. <strong>Hartnell</strong> thought the incident was just a robbery, <strong>and</strong> was not alarmed when the intruder ordered him <strong>and</strong> <strong>Shepard</strong> to lie down. <strong>Shepard</strong> was ordered to tie <strong>Hartnell</strong>’s h<strong>and</strong>s behind his back, then the stranger tied <strong>Shepard</strong>’s. “He Was Killing Me” <strong>Hartnell</strong> had no money on him, but, in an attempt to maintain friendly relations with the stranger, he offered to help in some other way. The stranger refused. Then, without warning, the stranger swiftly drew his knife <strong>and</strong> began plunging it viciously <strong>and</strong> repeatedly into <strong>Hartnell</strong>’s back. <strong>Hartnell</strong> tried to describe the scene:“CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMP . . . you know, that kind of sound . . . <strong>and</strong> <strong>Cecelia</strong> turned to see . . . <strong>and</strong> she just about fainted. She went hysterical.” 14 Rather than try to fight, <strong>Hartnell</strong> lay still.“I didn’t holler, I didn’t move. I was just waiting for him to finish—for it to be over. He was killing me.” 15 Worked into a frenzy, the stranger turned from <strong>Hartnell</strong> to <strong>Shepard</strong>, who was writhing <strong>and</strong> screaming. Furiously, he stabbed her over <strong>and</strong> over in the back, chest, side, <strong>and</strong> lower abdomen. Then, just as abruptly as he started, he stood up <strong>and</strong> walked away. <strong>Hartnell</strong> estimated that the attack had lasted about fifteen minutes. He struggled to his feet <strong>and</strong> called to a couple in a boat just offshore, asking for help.They indicated they would go for a park ranger. <strong>Hartnell</strong> then tried to walk to his car. Good-bye, Young Lovers By the Numbers 2,500 Number of suspects interviewed in the Zodiac case 19
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