Preview

Serial Killers: The Zodiac Killer

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
275 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Serial Killers: The Zodiac Killer
As quoted from the Vancouver Sun, “A serial killer is one who commits more than three murders over a period that spans more than one month. For the most part, serial killers commit murder for some sort of psychological benefit.” Looking at a serial killer’s motives, their choice of torture, and the ending of their spree, this definition will be brought to life.
In order to carry out an act one must have a motive. Serial killers are prime examples of someone who finds not only motivation to kill, but a thrill from it. The Zodiac Killer was never caught, so finding out what drove him to kill was a challenge. In one of the first letters he sent he stated, “I like killing people because killing is the most dangerous game in the world” (Zodiac).
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Similarities Between The Boston Strangler And The Zodiac
    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Similarities Between The Boston Strangler And The Zodiac

    Just as a predator stalks its prey before making its kill, a serial killer searches for victims to torment for pleasure. In most cases the motive can never truly be identified due to the fact no one really knows why serial killers kill in the first place. This can be seen in the cases of the Boston Strangler and the Zodiac.…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Sophomore Thesis: The Zodiac Killer
    • 1270 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Sophomore Thesis: The Zodiac Killer

    Not much is known about the Zodiac Killer other than general knowledge of the patterns killers and psychopaths seem to follow. The mystery that is The Zodiac Killer continues to befuddle law enforcements, forty years later, as the murders occurred in the 1960’s-70’s. Even the letters that he sent in were coded so well that investigators were unable to discover the important information hidden by taunting symbols and marks. But, it is not impossible to solve this strenuous case, in spite of all the possibilities of suspects and amount of time passed.…

    • 1270 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Arthur Leigh Allen: The Zodiac Killer
    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Arthur Leigh Allen: The Zodiac Killer

    One man responsible for several individuals being murdered, taunting letters being sent to police, living in constant fear of what this killer would do next: sounds like a plot line to a serial killer movie. To the people of west coast California, however, this was very real. One unidentified individual was on a killing spree and was enjoying it too. This man, known as the Zodiac Killer, was a mystery to the police department, but theories were brought up about possible suspects. Even though some people believe Arthur Leigh Allen was the infamous Zodiac Killer, through eye witness accounts and forensic proof, it can be proven that the Zodiac Killer was actually Earl Van Best, Jr.…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Zodiac Killer: Ciphered Connections
    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Zodiac Killer: Ciphered Connections

    Arthur Leigh Allen, a maleficent man with a twisted past that directly leads to the ruthless killer that claimed the lives of many innocent victims. The monster called the “Zodiac” first gained public attention at the murders of young couples, regardless the identity was still concealed from the public. Soon the pattern began to break and the man once hidden in the shadows of these treacherous crimes came in to view as the primary suspect.…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Zodiac Killer Research Paper
    • 5110 Words
    • 21 Pages

    Zodiac Killer Research Paper

    The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in Northern California for ten months in the late 1960s. He coined his name in a series of taunting letters he sent to the press until 1974. His letters included four cryptograms or ciphers, three of which have yet to be solved.…

    • 5110 Words
    • 21 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Zodiac Killers: A Documentary Analysis
    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Zodiac Killers: A Documentary Analysis

    Now let's get something straight, when I say I like serial killers it doesn’t mean I have an obsession with John Wayne Gacy, or a shrine for The Zodiac Killer. It does not mean that I see Aileen Wuornos as a role model. It means the way they think interests me like no other. The psychology behind it. How could someone torture and kill another living, breathing human being? What's the difference between…

    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Serial Killers: Charles Manson's Murders
    • 1461 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Serial Killers: Charles Manson's Murders

    A serial killer is a person who kills more than two to three times with a cooling time in between his murders. The ironic thing about this statement is that Charles never killed anyone, he instead persuaded people to do it for him. Manson’s murders were also organized. Organized murder is defined in our textbook…

    • 1461 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Zodiac Serial Killer
    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Zodiac Serial Killer

    In 1968 through 1969 a serial killer known as The Zodiac committed five murders in the San Francisco, California area. The Zodiac first murder was in 1966 the victims name was Cheri Jo Bates. Bates was killed outside her schools library, when the police arrived they found a man’s watch at the scene. In 1968 The Zodiac struck again this time shooting a teenage couple in Vallejo, California. The victims were David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen. In 1969 Zodiac attacked another young couple, Mike Mageau and Darlene Ferrin. Mike Mageau survived the attack while Darlene died at the scene. The killer late then wrote a letter to each newspaper describing in detail of the crime he had committed. The killer also wrote a code or cipher, which was later decoded by a high school teacher. On September 1969, the Zodiac killed again. The killer targeted another young couple, rather than shooting the couple the killer stabbed both Bryan Hartnell and Cecilia Shepard. Bryan survived the stabbing however Cecilia died two days later. Both of the survivors provided a sketch of a heavyset white male, in his late twenties or early thirties with short brown hair and thick-rimmed glasses. In October of 1969 the Zodiac killed a taxi cab driver. Two days later he wrote another letter to the newspaper taking credit for the murder.…

    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Lovely Bones
    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Lovely Bones

    They often see a category of people, such as women or prostitutes, as “unclean”, and see their removal of those beings as improving the world. Or, they think that killing the victim, usually in some sort of a ritualistic manner, redeems the victim their wrongdoings. In that case, the killer is a special being and the victim is “chosen” and should be grateful. They often find the victim’s ingratitude infuriating, though unfortunately foreseeable. Serial killers must continuously kill simply because they are addicted to the feelings they get when they do. They also rationalize every aspect and detail of their behavior so there is no reason in their head as to why they should stop. They know what they’re doing, the consequences of their actions, and how to avoid getting caught. Most serial killers, and psychopaths in general, are “consummate chameleons” who are able to hide their rage and true intentions behind a charismatic, civilized facade called the “mask of sanity” (Newton). Psychopaths are amoral and though they knowing the difference between right and wrong, they do not care and lack feelings of remorse or guilt. They tend to objectify other people and treat them as if they were…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Zodiac Killer
    • 1095 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Zodiac Killer

    Who was the deadliest killer of the late twentieth century? The Zodiac Killer operated in northern California during the late twentieth century, killing at least five known victims. The killer was able to send letters to newspapers without being caught. Many were suspected to be the famous Zodiac Killer, but nobody has ever been identified to be one of the most well-known killers of all time. Even though many people believe that the Zodiac Killer was someone such as Richard Gaikowski, Ted Kaczynski, or a multitude of other suspects, there is evidence proving that Arthur Leigh Allen was the Zodiac killer, based on his actions and similarities to the patterns of the killer.…

    • 1095 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Zodiac Killer
    • 1193 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Zodiac Killer

    The first official killing happened to a 18 year college student Cherri Jo Bates who was in the Riverside College library near Riverside, California. When she was done it was about midnight and she was walking back to her car and a strange man drove up next to her and got into her car with her and started stabbing her repeatedly. She fought back and managed to scratch and claw to fight back but could not over power him. He sent a letter to the Riverside press and said "Bates had to die there will be more". two years later The Zodiac came back on the 4th of July and stalked Darlene Ferrin and Mike Mageau up to "lovers lane" in Vallejo county, he pulled up behind them and shined a flashlight in their eyes making it hard for them to see his face. He then walked back to his car and drove off down the road but then he turned around half way and came driving back. He got out and pulled out his 9mm and began firing in the car killing Ferrin and fatally injuring Mageau. He then drove off and the police arrived. He calls the police saying he murdered two kids in lover’s lane and then hung up. He sends a letter to the chronicle saying he had evidence only him and the police knew and gives them a code to crack saying that if they crack it it'll reveal his name and identity.…

    • 1193 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Serial Killer Vs Mass Murderers Essay
    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Serial Killer Vs Mass Murderers Essay

    Serial Killers usually murder not for terror or revenge, but instead for the thrill of taking lives. Approximately two- thirds of serial killers find motivation by the thrill of power or sexual sadism (Buss 106). Serial Killers enjoy the excitement, the sexual satisfaction, as well as the dominance and power that they achieve over the lives of their victims. On the other hand, the reason mass murders kill can range from revenge to hatred. The most publicized type of mass murder involves the indiscriminate shooting of strangers in a public place by a lone gunman. Many massacres are considered suicidal rampages because before the gunman takes their own life; the gunman intends to get even with everyone he or she holds responsible. Thus, showing even though mass murderers and serial killers have different reasons for the actions they take, the reasons are still beyond understanding for…

    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Zodiac Killer
    • 150 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Zodiac Killer

    Many murders are left as a mystery. One of the famous unsolved murder cases was the Zodiac Killer. In the San Francisco Bay area at least five murders were made between 1968 and 1969. He sent letter to newspapers that threatened innocent people and mocked the police. December 20, 1968 was the first incident that started the killing spree. The Zodiac killer shot two young teenagers near their car. Later on July 5, 1969, the killer came back and fired at a young couple. One was killed and the other one was severely injured. The killer usually sent letters to the San Francisco Editor, San Francisco Chronicle and and many other companies. If his letters weren't published on the front, the killer threatened them with attacks. The killer struck a…

    • 150 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Zodiac Killer
    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Zodiac Killer

    The Zodiac Killer was a man that went around killing unsuspected people and then taking credit for them as if it were a game. He would write letters to the police and local newspaper. He would occasionally make phone calls to the police with in hours of his murders. The Zodiac was believed to being a man that just wanted to see his name is the paper. Then it was also believed that he was a man with a mental disorder. No matter what he was a man that was playing a sick and twisted game. A man that enjoyed to kill people for the fun of it, to see people die, because he was to scared of his own death. Over the 4 years from the start of his killing spree he had changed the lives of eight different people. His name has appear in the newspaper over a thousand times in the last 42 years since the begin. Where is started with a simple revenge or jealousy murdering.…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Countess Elizabeth Bathory Serial Killers
    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Countess Elizabeth Bathory Serial Killers

    Mission driven killers kill to eradicate a certain group of people. Terrorists are an example of this kind of motive. Their murders are hate crimes. Financially motivated killers kill to gain money. Women are usually this type of killer. They kill family members for inheritances. Thrill seekers kill because it makes them feel powerful. They enjoy how they feel when they kill someone. Mentally ill serial killers kill because of their own psychosis. They hallucinate that a deity is telling them to commit murder. These killers are usually found incompetent to stand trial. Sadists achieve a sexual release while killing. Similarly to thrill seekers, they kill for the feeling of power, but the power for sadists is…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics