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Zodiac Killer's Identity And Weapon Uncovered? Local Man: Zodiac Killer Was My Stepfather
CBS13 ^ | 8/28/08 | Kris Pickel

Posted on 08/29/2008 3:23:39 PM PDT by LibWhacker

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) Exclusive; The Zodiac Killer attacked at least eight people, terrorizing the Bay Area and taunting police in the 60's and 70's. Thursday, the FBI confirmed to CBS13 they are now running laboratory tests on some items that may link a suspect to the killer.

The evidence was given to the FBI by a Pollock Pines man who also claims he recently found the disguise worn by the Zodiac Killer during one of his attacks.

"The identity of the Zodiac Killer is Jack Tarrance. He's my stepfather," says Dennis Kaufman.

Eight years of Dennis Kaufman's life has been consumed with attempting to prove the only father he's known since he was five-years-old is none other than the Zodiac Killer.

"This a handwriting comparison I did," says Kaufman, showing handwriting samples claiming to be his father's and the Zodiac Killer's, which bear a striking similarity. Similarities Dennis says are no coincidence.

"The composite is a dead ringer," says Kaufman, showing composite sketch of the killer next to his stepfather's -- a resemblance that is undeniable between pictures of Jack Tarrance and descriptions of the zodiac.

Dennis also claims his stepfather, in a taped phone conversation, indirectly admitted being the zodiac killer.

"If I wrote a book and said I think my stepfather is the Zodiac Killer they wouldn't believe me," says Kaufman.

Jack Tarrance died in 2006. Dennis claims that while going through Tarrance's belongings, there were disturbing findings including a knife still covered with what could possibly be dried blood.

"It could be a knife he barbecued with or a knife he murdered someone with," says Kaufman.

Jack also left behind rolls of undeveloped film. Dennis plans to hand over the film to the FBI. On one of the rolls Dennis did develop, there were numerous gruesome images.

"Appeared to be people who were murdered," explains Dennis.

Just recently, Dennis remembered his stepfather asking him several times about the old PA system which led Dennis to take it apart.

"When I first opened it up that did affect me. My heart skipped a couple of beats when I saw it," he says.

The material folded and tucked inside, Dennis believes, may unmask the zodiac killer.

"It was a black hood with a zodiac on it," Dennis explains.

Dennis holds up a black hood with the zodiac sign on it. It's similar to the hood worn during the vicious 1968 Lake Berryessa attack, which is the possible key evidence connecting his stepfather to the killings. He also believes there are dozens more victims which were never linked to the Zodiac, including Dennis' own mother who, he claims, was suffocated.

"She sat there and told me Jack was trying to kill her and I didn't listen. I can only imagine how she felt. Imagine how scary that would be. That is what kept me going this whole time," says Dennis.

The FBI confirmed they are running DNA tests on items that Dennis gave them.

Dennis says there are postage stamps sent to him by his stepfather. Authorities are trying to get DNA profile of Jack Tarrance to compare to A DNA profile of the Zodiac Killer. The FBI told CBS13 they could get those results back any day.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; garyfrancisposte; identity; jacktarrance; killer; sanfrancisco; tarrance; uncovered; zodiac; zodiackiller
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To: IndyTiger; driftless2
Dennis Miller had him on his show a couple of months ago, and it was a great interview. He said Don Siegel chose him for the part because of his 'Catholic schoolboy look', which he said he actually was in real life. I've seen the movie 2 dozen times, and he never fails to creep me out. Another role he did very well was the lead in the Liberace movie.
21 posted on 08/29/2008 4:45:25 PM PDT by Jackknife ( "The Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, and Firearms should be a department store, not a gov't agency.")
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To: Earendil

Plus, if I read the article correctly, it’s saying he has a “hood” with the Zodiac’s symbol. I believe the symbol, as described by the survivor, was on the chest plate, not the hood.

Even though he’s supposedly been ruled out by DNA on an envelope, I still like Arthur Leigh Allen. (It’s been speculated that Allen had others “seal” his envelopes, saying the taste of the glue made him sick.

Kaufman is well known in Zodiac circles as a nut job.


22 posted on 08/29/2008 4:46:51 PM PDT by Right Cal Gal (Abraham Lincoln would have let Berkeley leave the Union without a fight)
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To: driftless2
"Andy Robinson, who played the psycho killer in the first Dirty Harry said the role severely typecast him and virtually shot down his acting career. He played his role so well he was always asked to be a psycho killer. He did have a co-starring role as Walter Matthau’s criminal sidekick in “Charlie Varrick.”

He was also in the first "Hell Raiser" movie.

23 posted on 08/29/2008 4:50:50 PM PDT by StormEye
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To: LibWhacker

BOOKMARK


24 posted on 08/29/2008 4:53:13 PM PDT by BunnySlippers
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To: LibWhacker

Yup, it’s worth reading the whole article.


25 posted on 08/29/2008 4:58:23 PM PDT by BunnySlippers
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To: LibWhacker

I think it was in 1972, I was walking home from the bus stop after school, and someone stopped to offer me a ride. He’d pulled his car off the road and was leaning across the front seat to open the passenger door. I looked at him, stammered some excuse about my house being very close by, so I didn’t need a ride, and backed away. A look of incredible, absolute rage came over his face, and he slammed the door and pealed out, kicking up dust and rocks behind his car.

A few days later, a picture was printed in the newspaper, asking if anyone had seen a particular car. A 15 year old girl, hitchhiking, had gotten into the car and no one knew where she was. I don’t know why someone had taken a picture, but it was the same car I had seen. Her body was found about a year later.

I told my friends at school that I had come face to face with the Zodiac... but in truth, I don’t know. I do know that the guy I saw was never caught.


26 posted on 08/29/2008 5:02:32 PM PDT by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: LibWhacker

So, is Jack Tarrance alive or dead and, if the former, where is he?


27 posted on 08/29/2008 5:15:50 PM PDT by muir_redwoods (Free Sirhan Sirhan, after all, the bastard who killed Mary Jo Kopechne is walking around free)
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To: Jackknife
"Liberace"

Really!!! I guess there is some sort of resemblance. I've seen the first (and best) Dirty Harry flick at least ten times if not more. I'm always amazed at people who refuse to see a good movie more than once.

28 posted on 08/29/2008 5:16:35 PM PDT by driftless2
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To: LibWhacker
If true, I hope they throw his butt in jail for a good long time!

"Jack Tarrance died in 2006".

29 posted on 08/29/2008 5:17:59 PM PDT by Clovis_Skeptic
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To: driftless2

“I got’s to know”


30 posted on 08/29/2008 5:18:19 PM PDT by word_warrior_bob (You can now see my amazing doggie and new puppy on my homepage!! Come say hello to Jake & Sonny)
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To: beaversmom
I don't remember his name, but that same guy wrote a book called, "The Black Dahlia Avenger" and it's very good.

He also thinks his father and his circle of friends maybe be responsible for other killings as well.

The house that he alleges the murder took place in is a very famous house in LA called, "The Franklin House." It's in a ton of movies and commercials. The contestants on America's Next Top Model lived there for a season. Now every time I see it, I think, "That's the murder house!"


31 posted on 08/29/2008 5:23:49 PM PDT by retrokitten
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To: Right Cal Gal
Even though he’s supposedly been ruled out by DNA on an envelope, I still like Arthur Leigh Allen. (It’s been speculated that Allen had others “seal” his envelopes, saying the taste of the glue made him sick.

I'm not that familiar with the Zodiac case, but from what I do know, he seemed to be a terrific fit. It's just too bizarre that they could never pin it on him.

32 posted on 08/29/2008 5:27:49 PM PDT by retrokitten
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To: Right Cal Gal
Kaufman is well known in Zodiac circles as a nut job.

I suspect that those in "Zodiac circles" may be a little unbalanced themselves.

33 posted on 08/29/2008 5:29:23 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: driftless2

While I wouldn’t say that”Dirty Harry” is one of my favorite movies, I do agree that it is worthwhile to view good movies again. I see so much more, and get so much more out of the dialogue of good movies on the 3rd or 4th time seeing them.


34 posted on 08/29/2008 5:30:18 PM PDT by DeweyCA
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To: Clovis_Skeptic
Did you bother following the links to see who the hell I was talking about???

DUH!

Hint: It wasn't Jack Tarrance!

35 posted on 08/29/2008 5:31:05 PM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: exDemMom
A friend of mine had almost exactly the same experience... Except in her case, the guy got out of the car and tried to drag her into it. But she fought him off and he fled.

The cops never found him but told her in all likelihood it was the Zodiac killer and that she was a very lucky girl.

36 posted on 08/29/2008 5:35:39 PM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: Jackknife

Great movie! One of my favorite Dirty Harry movies. The guy was a total creepazoid.


37 posted on 08/29/2008 5:37:51 PM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: IndyTiger

I wonder if it was the limp? ;-)


38 posted on 08/29/2008 5:39:44 PM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: muir_redwoods; word_warrior_bob
Died in 2006.

I'm now pretty much convinced this story is totally bogus and I'm very sorry I ever posted it (see word_warrior_bob's post #9). Damned liars! What a waste of time.

39 posted on 08/29/2008 5:51:48 PM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: beaversmom

If he didn’t die, they speculated that he was a type og killer known as a sexual sadist, and they often stop killing in middle age, because their inclination to do so dies.


40 posted on 08/29/2008 6:46:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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