This Is The Zodiac Speaking.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I finished the series last night and I have to say that I enjoyed it. The connection with the family and their ‘revelations’ are intriguing and I’m wondering what would be the odds of one of the cyphers being solved to reveal the name of the mother of the family who Allen was in a relationship with? Albeit one letter out. Possibly not as impressive as it appears on the surface? Although I’ve never studied the case closely it’s always seemed to me that Allen is a strong suspect although I accept of course that there are points against him. I’m assuming that they intend a second series where they track down relatives of the victims and compare DNA with that from the knife?

[Abby Normal]

Allen is the best suspect. But why do some experts (e.g., Tom Voight of the zodiackiller website) seemingly prefer Gaikowski?

because everyone wants there own, new and improved! pet suspect. especially to promote a website, a book, their ego etc. you see the phenomenon here lol

[Filby]

I’m half way through the second episode of this new Netflix series based on the recollections of a family that knew Arthur Leigh Allen well. He’s always seemed a good suspect to me but I’m no expert on the case and I’ve read that many experts dismiss him. I once spent an hour or two reading stuff on a Zodiac forum and saw that Robert Graysmith came in for some serious criticism.

He also wrote a ripper book of course.

Thanks, Herlock, for the link. I just starting watching this. I'm no expert either, but old enough to remember the havoc and chaos it created in SF.

[Filby]

I just finished the Netflix series - thanks to Herlock for mentioning it. Spoiler here, so read at your own desire: Allen as the Z was especially convincing. But I am easily convinced. So I watched with skepticism best I could as Jeff suggested:

For me, the Seawater family relationship was a strange situation at first, and possibly became a more fluid situation through the active years of Z. The fact all three confirmed they were at the murder locations on these "trips" with Allen - at one point on the same day (with blood present) was chilling. What I cannot come to terms is for their holidays, Allen had the rest of the entire state of California to travel within. Perhaps one location is forgivable as coincidental, but all? This was extremely difficult for me to be skeptical about. I believe Allen eventually came to use the children being a sick predator, and also their presence as a cover. The ciphers used during Allen's classroom days cannot be ignored. While not impossible, quite improbable such a method was used in basic high school education in the 60s, even in mathematics, algebras or science. Given the rest of the evidence against Allen, this is very convincing.

What i cannot come to terms with regarding the series was the convenient absence of handwriting forensics and that mismatch. The inconvenient mismatch of the police ID with Allen's likeness.

I'm an amateur - I wouldn't even call myself an amateur rather an interest I have with certain crimes ever since I began reading about Manson in the 60s. But at times certain aspects of a case I cannot abandon as evidence no matter how skeptical I am: For me this one includes the fact that Allen went so far to alienate himself as the Z, but continues to wear his Zodiac watch. If you really, honestly didn't want to be connected with the murder, wouldn't you perhaps put it away for good?

Looking at the videos, Allen was under severe mental duress. I am not a psychiatrist but I have been married to a psychiatrist for decades and transcribed probably 50 or 60 mental status exams for him. I believe Allen could have been suffering from some form of dissociative disorder. Dissociatives (sorry not to sound derogatory - even I have this a hint of this where I forget where I'm going when I drive) where we become "separate" from ourselves. Many have different ego states, may act like a child or even be an aggressor but it is basically two more more distinct personalities with marked discontinuity and sense of self and a related "other." Traumatic events can be blocked and symptoms are not caused by any type of stimulant, etc.

P.S. My other would be furious with me for commenting on such without an official clinical evaluation, I might add

Overall I'm 80% convinced, 20% not convinced and need to read further and hope, like the series stated, something or someone shows up.