Other Possible Zodiac Killer Victims — And The Ongoing Hunt For The Killer
South Lake Tahoe Police DepartmentDonna Lass, another possible Zodiac Killer victim.
In addition to the seven official Zodiac Killer victims (including the two survivors), and potential victims like Bates and Johns, there are a number of other unsolved crimes that have been linked to the Zodiac Killer.
One involves Donna Lass, a 25-year-old nurse who disappeared while working a shift at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel & Casino on Sept. 6, 1970. A letter purportedly from the Zodiac Killer later seemed to claim responsibility for her demise. Eventually, Lass’ skull was found along a highway in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains in 1986, and it was later confirmed to be hers in 2023. However, it’s still unknown exactly what led to her death years ago.
Other possible victims more closely match the Zodiac Killer’s modus operandi of targeting couples, including the 1963 murders of Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards, and the 1964 double homicide of Johnny and Joyce Swindle, who had just gotten married before they were killed.
Ultimately, however, investigators only agree on the seven official victims — even if they don’t agree on who the Zodiac Killer really was.
Over the last several decades, a number of different suspects have emerged. In addition to Arthur Leigh Allen, other Zodiac suspects have included Richard Gaikowski, a newspaper editor with mental health problems, Lawrence Kane, whose name possibly appears in one of the Zodiac’s ciphers, and Earl Van Best Jr., who was accused of the crimes by his own son.
Wikimedia CommonsCipher Z13, which one code breaker believes links the Zodiac to Lawrence Kane (who also went by the name Kaye).
In recent years, a group of cold case investigators also suggested another suspect: Gary Francis Poste. The group claimed that Poste had scars that matched some depictions of the Zodiac, and that removing his name from the Zodiac’s ciphers changed their message. Poste was also an Air Force veteran, which could potentially link him to the Bates crime scene.
Ultimately, however, the Zodiac’s real identity remains a mystery. While many continue to search for clues to unmask him, the stories of the Zodiac Killer victims have often become a footnote. And sadly, if he murdered more victims, it’s possible their stories will never be heard at all.
After reading about the victims of the Zodiac Killer, discover the stories of the victims of Jack the Ripper, another unidentified serial killer. Or, read about the many victims of serial killer Ted Bundy.
