The Zodiac Killer was active primarily in late 1968 through early 1970 , targeting couples in remote areas of Northern California with shootings and stabbings.

Confirmed Timeline

This notorious, unidentified serial killer struck at least five times, taunting police with cryptic letters and ciphers. Key attacks include:

Date| Victims| Location| Method
---|---|---|---
Dec 20, 1968| Betty Lou Jensen, David Faraday| Lake Herman Road, Vallejo| Gunshot 75
Jul 4, 1969| Michael Mageau (survived), Darlene Ferrin| Blue Rock Springs, Vallejo| Gunshot 1
Sep 27, 1969| Cecelia Shepard (died), Bryan Hartnell (survived)| Lake Berryessa, Napa County| Stabbing 3
Oct 11, 1969| Paul Stine| Presidio Heights, San Francisco| Gunshot 2

He claimed up to 37 victims in letters, but only these are definitively linked.

Taunting Letters

Post-murder missives to newspapers amplified his infamy. A famous 408-symbol cipher, cracked by a teacher couple, chillingly read: "I like killing people because it is so much fun... man is the most dangerous animal of all."

Why Activity Stopped

No confirmed kills after 1969, though some speculate later ones or that he died, was jailed, or simply quit. Recent forum chatter debates pre-1968 "smaller crimes," but evidence points to 1968-1969 as the core spree.

Modern Interest

As of 2026, the case fuels podcasts, films like David Fincher's Zodiac (2007), and DNA hunts—yet he's never caught.

TL;DR : Active late 1960s (1968-1969 mainly), 5 confirmed murders, endless mystery.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.