Zodiac Killer

Slenderman has a long and complex history. Some people think he was present in Germany in WWII, and that's where he started; others believe he is a Tulpa, and has come because we believe in him. Yet, if we look through our historical record, there is both no mention of a Slender Man, prior to the SomethingAwful forum that dreamed him up, yet there are so many mentions of things that may, very possibly, be him. 

The further I get into this Slenderman thing, the more I see him everywhere I look. No, not physically, though, if he exists I'm sure it'll only be a matter of time. No, rather, I see him in the books I read, or the places I go. "This mythical monster sounds like Slenderman", or "This place looks like He belongs there".  It doesn't help that I have a fascination with the historically morbid. Humankind can be a dark and evil thing, when it really wants to be, and Slenderman, in all his evil, menacing vagueness, fits right in there.

Part of what drove me to create this blog, more that just an outlet for my overblown opinions, is the places that I began to see Him, long before I really knew what He was. In the historical oddities, mysterious and the darker proclivities of human nature.

In all degrees of deeper meaning, Slenderman represents that sort of urge or instinct. Vague, faceless, dark, authoritarian in both his height and accoutrement.  He doesn't attack, or act out. He just stands there and judges. Silently. Impassively . Inhumanly. He's everything we're really afraid of. Slow, but inescapable. He's a twisted version of what we are, physically and abstractly.

Robert Graysmith's infamous representation of the Zodiac killer, taken from Bryan Hartnell's eyewitness testimony of the Lake Berryessa killing.

 It was 1969. Nixon was just entering the White House, The Beatles give their last performance on the roof of the Apple Records, Led Zeppelin makes their first album, The first moon landing is taking place, the first known case of AIDS is documented, California is beset by the murders of the Sharon Tate and her household by the Manson family.

Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepherd are approach by a man wearing an executioner's hood bearing a circle and cross hairs mark on his chest. They are on the shores of Lake Berryessa, in the Bay Area of San Fransisco. He ties them up, explaining that he needs their money. Hartnell offers him his wallet, in hopes that he and Cecelia Shepherd will be left alone. The robber seems nervous, and Bryan Hartnell is confident that the situation will be defused. The man will eventually stab them repeatedly, before leaving, without taking a dime from either. Bryan survives, but Cecelia eventually succumbs to her injures and dies in the hospital.

This is not the first time this man has attacked. In fact, we know he had killed two times prior, likely more. He will eventually become immortalized as the Zodiac Killer.

The Zodiac Killer became famous for terrorizing the outskirts of San Fransisco from 1968 to 1979. Part of the reason for his infamy lies not only in his rather mundane style of killing, but rather his tireless self-promotion in the form of letters, codes, and bizarre clues. In fact, he seemed to feed off of the fame that his demand of the press had brought him. He perpetually sent codes, letters and cards to the police and, most notably, the local newspapers.

It's actually a fascinating case, filled with mystery and intrigue and extreme examples of the kind of narcissistic, obsessive behavior that results in a truly psychotic individual. More so, for the fact that the case was never solved.

So why are we including the zodiac killer here? Interesting note. Has anyone ever read about the Zodiac with the idea of Slenderman lodged firmly in their brains? I assure you, there are an odd number of similarities. Lets discuss.

- Fact: The Zodiac killer has never been identified.
- Fact: He most commonly killed young couples on dates.
- Fact: Often these dates were held in secluded outer regions of the San Fransisco Area. The three murders most attributed to him (excluding that of Paul Stine) were committed in park-like, wooded regions.

Lake Herman Road, the approximate location of the first known Zodiac Murder. Victims: David Arther Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen.

The parking lot of Blue Rock Springs Park, location of the second known Zodiac Murder. Victims: Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin and Michael Mageau Renault (survived).

Lake Berryessa, location of the third known Zodiac Murder. Victims: Bryan Calvin Hartnell (survived) and Cecelia Ann Shepard.

Only Paul Stine, a young cab driver was killed in the city. Most of the other suspected killings took place in wooded areas, late at night.

Fact: The Zodiac also tended to attack places heavily related to water. Lake Berryessa, Lake Herman Road, Blue Rock Springs Park, Paul Stine was killed on Washington street, which is a stretch, but he was also found near a fire hydrant. Now, this can either be a detraction or a supporting clue, depending on what Slendy-explination you believe in. Many Slendy theories invoke a relation to light and water. Either he likes them or is deterred by them, take your pick.

Fact: The zodiac killer often hid his face. His executioner's hood being his primary method of covering. He did not always hid his face, and was often seen, but his face covering antics are often seen among Proxies and the like.

Fact: Although his face was frequently seen, no one could ever identify him, even the woman who had reportedly been given a three hour hell-ride in the man's car.

Detraction: Potential detraction from a Slender theory is that Kathleen Johns, who was given a three hour car ride by, many believe, the Zodiac, was spared by the present of her infant child who likely unnerved the man. However, it didn't prevent her from having to escape the car when the man slowed. However, this doesn't detract altogether from a proxy theory. Or even fully Slendy, has it been shown that he attacks infants? Only children.

Fact: And this is the clincher for me. The letters.

Halloween card sent to San Fransisco Newsman Paul Avery

Who else besides me can think of people who taunt their hunters with bizarre codes and creepy misspelled messages? Anyone? Anyone at all?

Fact: Uh. How about that symbol guys? How about the fact that he would mark the sites of his killings with it?



I'm not saying the guy is Slendy, or even a proxy. I'm just saying...well...it's interesting. Isn't it?

If you have anything to add to this discussion, please! Add them in the comments or message them to me. I'll add them in the body here. I'm sure there are many other similarities and detraction-s. I'm just too tired to think of them at the moment.