The short answer is: we still do not know who the Zodiac was , and there is no widely accepted, confirmed identity for the Zodiac Killer as of 2026.

Who (or what) was “the Zodiac”?

When people ask “who was the Zodiac,” they almost always mean the Zodiac Killer , a serial killer who operated in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He taunted police and newspapers with letters and cryptograms signed with a distinctive crosshair-like symbol and the name “Zodiac.”

Separately, the word “zodiac” itself means a band of constellations used in astrology, divided into 12 signs like Aries, Taurus, and Gemini.

What we know about the Zodiac Killer

Key points about the killer often called “the Zodiac”:

  • He is linked to several confirmed murders in Northern California between 1968–1969, with possible additional victims.
  • He sent coded messages to newspapers, some of which have been solved, describing his urge to kill and mocking the authorities.
  • He called himself “Zodiac” in his letters and used the crosshair symbol as his signature.
  • Despite decades of investigation, books, documentaries, and online sleuthing, his true identity has never been proved in court.

Suspects and theories (why it’s still unsolved)

Over the years, several men have been proposed as suspects, but none has been conclusively identified as the Zodiac:

  • Some suspects matched partial evidence (location, handwriting, appearance) but lacked solid forensic proof.
  • Other suspects emerged later from amateur investigations, true-crime forums, and documentaries, often relying on circumstantial connections or pattern-reading in the letters and ciphers.
  • Modern techniques like DNA analysis have offered hints but not a universally accepted, law‑enforcement‑confirmed solution.

Because of this, law enforcement and major reference sources still treat the case as officially unsolved.

If you meant “zodiac” in astrology

If instead you meant “what is the zodiac?” in general:

  • The zodiac is an imaginary celestial belt divided into 12 signs , associated with constellations and used in Western astrology.
  • These signs (Aries through Pisces) are tied to birth dates and are often used to describe personality traits and daily horoscopes.

Quick forum-style scoop

On forums and in recent documentaries, “who was the Zodiac?” is still a hot debate topic: people trade suspect names, compare cipher theories, and argue over DNA hints, but there is no consensus and no official naming of the killer.

TL;DR:

  • “The Zodiac” as a killer: infamous, letter‑writing serial murderer from late‑1960s California, identity still unknown.
  • “The zodiac” in general: the 12‑sign astrological circle (Aries to Pisces) used in horoscopes and personality discussions.

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