Arthur Leigh Allen
Encyclopedia
Arthur Leigh Allen was the primary suspect in the Zodiac Killer
investigation. While being investigated, Allen passed a polygraph test, had his fingerprints compared to those at the murder scene of known Zodiac victim Paul Stine and had his handwriting examined. In 2002, a DNA
comparison to a sample found on one of the stamps of the Zodiac letters did not match Allen's.
to Ethan and Bernice Allen, and had one younger brother named Ronald. Allen's father was a lieutenant
in the Navy who had witnessed the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 1943, Allen moved with his family to Vallejo, California
and lived near a naval base where his father was stationed.
Allen graduated from Vallejo High School
in 1949 and attended Vallejo University, majoring in art and literature. He graduated from Vallejo University in 1957 and shortly after joined the Navy. He was dishonorably discharged on December 27, 1957 after serving less than a year. In early 1958, Allen enrolled in California Polytechnic State University
and received an undergraduate degree in teaching in 1960.
On June 15, 1958, Allen was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct after an altercation with an acquaintance, but the charges were later dropped.
In 1960, Allen got a job teaching at the Santa Rosa Elementary School in Atascadero, California
, but was soon fired. He got a job working as a nurse at Atascadero State Hospital
, but only worked there during the summer of 1962. One year later, Allen was hired as a teacher at Travis Elementary School. He was fired and arrested shortly after for having firearms in his car while parked on school grounds. In 1966, Allen got another job teaching at Valley Springs Elementary School in Valley Springs, California
and worked there until 1968, when he was fired and subsequently arrested for molesting a female student.
In 1969, Allen went back to living with his parents and worked part-time at a gas station for the next six months. He was fired from his job as a gas station attendant because of his alcoholism
. In 1970, Allen got a job working as a janitor at Elmer Cave Elementary School in Vallejo. Afterwards, Allen went back to college and attended Sonoma State University
and graduated in 1974 with a bachelor's degree
.
On September 27, 1974, Allen was arrested again and charged with the molestation of a young boy. He pleaded guilty to all of the charges against him and was confined to Atascadero State Hospital
(where he once worked) on March 14, 1975. On August 31, 1977, Allen was released on parole
. On June 25, 1978, Allen was hired at ACE hardware store in Vallejo, where he remained employed until he died from kidney failure (from diabetes) on August 26, 1992 at the age of 58.
, which was outlined and explored in Robert Graysmith
's book Zodiac
. The brand of typewriter used to type a letter sent to the Riverside Police Department from Cheri Jo Bates's killer was identified as a Royal with an elite type, the same brand of typewriter which was found during a search of Allen's residence in February 1991. He owned and wore a Zodiac brand wristwatch. Allen lived in Vallejo and worked minutes away from where one of the first victims (Darlene Ferrin) lived and where one of the killings took place.
In January 1969, Allen reputedly had a conversation with a coworker, Donald Cheney, describing an idea he had for a novel. He described how the killer in the novel would call himself "Zodiac" and use the Zodiac watch
symbol as his mark. He also described how he would kill people in lovers' lanes using a weapon with a flashlight attached to it. According to Cheney, Allen also indicated he would write letters to the police to confuse and taunt them, mentioned shooting children as they got off school buses and detailed how to get women to stop on the freeway by indicating they had problems with their tires. After they stopped, Allen said one could loosen the lug nuts so their tire would later fall off and he could then take them captive. All of these actions were later carried out or threatened by the Zodiac killer.
However, there is no proof this conversation between Allen and Cheney ever occurred and the latter never offered any explanation for why he didn't contact authorities until 1971 when that was two and a half years after the murders had begun. The only evidence was Cheney's own statement to the police, in which there was an inconsistency with the date on which the conversation supposedly happened, as Cheney originally said the conversation took place on January 1, 1968 instead of a year later.
The Zodiac stated, "You don't know if the bomb is at the site or stored in my basement for future use," in a letter dated November 9, 1969. The same letter also stated that the killer's firearms were bought through mail order. During a police search of Allen's residence in February 1991, pipe bombs were found in Allen's basement, as well as formulas for ammonium nitrate and stove oil bombs. The search also found mail order catalog pages regarding bombs, booby traps, and guns.
In July 1971, Donald Cheney reported his suspicions to the Manhattan Beach
Police Department and the report was forwarded to the San Francisco Police Department
. When questioned later, Allen claimed without prompting that the bloody knives he had in his car the day of the Lake Berryessa attack had been used to kill chickens; and when asked if he had read "The Most Dangerous Game
," he replied affirmatively and said it had made an impression on him. This interested the police, as the 408 character cipher appears to reference that short story.
Allen had search warrants filed on him three times: 14 September 1972; 14 February 1991; and 28 August 1992 with this last warrant being served two days after he died. Police never found any physical evidence to prove that Allen was the Zodiac Killer and the Vallejo Police Department chose not to press any charges against Allen despite finding firearms and small pipe bombs in his home during the 1991 search. Since Allen was a convicted felon, possession of these firearms was a felony. Allen's fingerprints didn't match those found at the Paul Stine murder scene nor was his handwriting the same as Zodiac's correspondence. In 2002, DNA
recovered from a stamp on one of the Zodiac letters failed to match Allen's DNA profile.
's book names Allen as a Zodiac killer suspect under the name "Robert 'Bob' Hall Starr." In 2007, the film Zodiac
, directed by David Fincher
, dramatizes Graysmith's attempts to build a case for Allen as the killer; Allen is portrayed in the film by John Carroll Lynch
.
Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The killer's identity remains unknown. The Zodiac murdered victims in Benicia, Vallejo, Lake Berryessa and San Francisco between December 1968 and October 1969. Four men and three women...
investigation. While being investigated, Allen passed a polygraph test, had his fingerprints compared to those at the murder scene of known Zodiac victim Paul Stine and had his handwriting examined. In 2002, a DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
comparison to a sample found on one of the stamps of the Zodiac letters did not match Allen's.
Life
Allen was born in Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
to Ethan and Bernice Allen, and had one younger brother named Ronald. Allen's father was a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Navy who had witnessed the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 1943, Allen moved with his family to Vallejo, California
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
and lived near a naval base where his father was stationed.
Allen graduated from Vallejo High School
Vallejo High School
Vallejo High School is a high school located in Vallejo, California. It is part of the Vallejo City Unified School District. Vallejo High has been in the heart of Vallejo for more than 100 years. It is home to many athletic teams, and home to the Vallejo High School Proud Heritage Marching Band and...
in 1949 and attended Vallejo University, majoring in art and literature. He graduated from Vallejo University in 1957 and shortly after joined the Navy. He was dishonorably discharged on December 27, 1957 after serving less than a year. In early 1958, Allen enrolled in California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
and received an undergraduate degree in teaching in 1960.
On June 15, 1958, Allen was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct after an altercation with an acquaintance, but the charges were later dropped.
In 1960, Allen got a job teaching at the Santa Rosa Elementary School in Atascadero, California
Atascadero, California
Atascadero is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, about equidistant from San Francisco and Los Angeles on U-S Highway 101. Atascadero is farther inland than most other San Luis Obispo County cities, and as a result, usually experiences warmer, drier summers and cooler winters than...
, but was soon fired. He got a job working as a nurse at Atascadero State Hospital
Atascadero State Hospital
Atascadero State Hospital is located on the central coast of California, in San Luis Obispo County, half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It is an all-male, maximum-security facility, that has patients from all over the state...
, but only worked there during the summer of 1962. One year later, Allen was hired as a teacher at Travis Elementary School. He was fired and arrested shortly after for having firearms in his car while parked on school grounds. In 1966, Allen got another job teaching at Valley Springs Elementary School in Valley Springs, California
Valley Springs, California
Valley Springs is a census-designated place in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 3,553 at the 2010 census, up from 2,560 at the 2000 census. The town is located at the intersection of State Route 12 and Route 26...
and worked there until 1968, when he was fired and subsequently arrested for molesting a female student.
In 1969, Allen went back to living with his parents and worked part-time at a gas station for the next six months. He was fired from his job as a gas station attendant because of his alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. In 1970, Allen got a job working as a janitor at Elmer Cave Elementary School in Vallejo. Afterwards, Allen went back to college and attended Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
and graduated in 1974 with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
.
On September 27, 1974, Allen was arrested again and charged with the molestation of a young boy. He pleaded guilty to all of the charges against him and was confined to Atascadero State Hospital
Atascadero State Hospital
Atascadero State Hospital is located on the central coast of California, in San Luis Obispo County, half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It is an all-male, maximum-security facility, that has patients from all over the state...
(where he once worked) on March 14, 1975. On August 31, 1977, Allen was released on parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
. On June 25, 1978, Allen was hired at ACE hardware store in Vallejo, where he remained employed until he died from kidney failure (from diabetes) on August 26, 1992 at the age of 58.
Circumstantial evidence
The case for Allen being the Zodiac is based on circumstantial evidenceCircumstantial evidence
Circumstantial evidence is evidence in which an inference is required to connect it to a conclusion of fact, like a fingerprint at the scene of a crime...
, which was outlined and explored in Robert Graysmith
Robert Graysmith
Robert Graysmith is an American true crime author. He was working as a political cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle in 1969 when the Zodiac Killer case came to light. Graysmith attempted to decode letters written by the killer...
's book Zodiac
Zodiac (book)
Zodiac is a non-fiction book written by Robert Graysmith about the unsolved serial murders committed by the "Zodiac Killer" in San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Since its initial release in 1986, Zodiac has sold 4 million copies worldwide...
. The brand of typewriter used to type a letter sent to the Riverside Police Department from Cheri Jo Bates's killer was identified as a Royal with an elite type, the same brand of typewriter which was found during a search of Allen's residence in February 1991. He owned and wore a Zodiac brand wristwatch. Allen lived in Vallejo and worked minutes away from where one of the first victims (Darlene Ferrin) lived and where one of the killings took place.
In January 1969, Allen reputedly had a conversation with a coworker, Donald Cheney, describing an idea he had for a novel. He described how the killer in the novel would call himself "Zodiac" and use the Zodiac watch
Zodiac Watches
Zodiac Watches is a brand of watches manufactured by Fossil, Inc. Prior to its acquisition by Fossil in 2001, Zodiac SA was a Swiss manufacturer of high quality wristwatches.-History:...
symbol as his mark. He also described how he would kill people in lovers' lanes using a weapon with a flashlight attached to it. According to Cheney, Allen also indicated he would write letters to the police to confuse and taunt them, mentioned shooting children as they got off school buses and detailed how to get women to stop on the freeway by indicating they had problems with their tires. After they stopped, Allen said one could loosen the lug nuts so their tire would later fall off and he could then take them captive. All of these actions were later carried out or threatened by the Zodiac killer.
However, there is no proof this conversation between Allen and Cheney ever occurred and the latter never offered any explanation for why he didn't contact authorities until 1971 when that was two and a half years after the murders had begun. The only evidence was Cheney's own statement to the police, in which there was an inconsistency with the date on which the conversation supposedly happened, as Cheney originally said the conversation took place on January 1, 1968 instead of a year later.
The Zodiac stated, "You don't know if the bomb is at the site or stored in my basement for future use," in a letter dated November 9, 1969. The same letter also stated that the killer's firearms were bought through mail order. During a police search of Allen's residence in February 1991, pipe bombs were found in Allen's basement, as well as formulas for ammonium nitrate and stove oil bombs. The search also found mail order catalog pages regarding bombs, booby traps, and guns.
In July 1971, Donald Cheney reported his suspicions to the Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
Police Department and the report was forwarded to the San Francisco Police Department
San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...
. When questioned later, Allen claimed without prompting that the bloody knives he had in his car the day of the Lake Berryessa attack had been used to kill chickens; and when asked if he had read "The Most Dangerous Game
The Most Dangerous Game
"The Most Dangerous Game", also published as "The Hounds of Zaroff", is a short story by Richard Connell. It was published in Collier's Weekly on January 19, 1924....
," he replied affirmatively and said it had made an impression on him. This interested the police, as the 408 character cipher appears to reference that short story.
Allen had search warrants filed on him three times: 14 September 1972; 14 February 1991; and 28 August 1992 with this last warrant being served two days after he died. Police never found any physical evidence to prove that Allen was the Zodiac Killer and the Vallejo Police Department chose not to press any charges against Allen despite finding firearms and small pipe bombs in his home during the 1991 search. Since Allen was a convicted felon, possession of these firearms was a felony. Allen's fingerprints didn't match those found at the Paul Stine murder scene nor was his handwriting the same as Zodiac's correspondence. In 2002, DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
recovered from a stamp on one of the Zodiac letters failed to match Allen's DNA profile.
Book and film
Robert GraysmithRobert Graysmith
Robert Graysmith is an American true crime author. He was working as a political cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle in 1969 when the Zodiac Killer case came to light. Graysmith attempted to decode letters written by the killer...
's book names Allen as a Zodiac killer suspect under the name "Robert 'Bob' Hall Starr." In 2007, the film Zodiac
Zodiac (film)
Zodiac is a 2007 American mystery-thriller film directed by David Fincher and based on Robert Graysmith's non-fiction book of the same name. The Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros...
, directed by David Fincher
David Fincher
David Andrew Leo Fincher is an American film and music video director. Known for his dark and stylish thrillers, such as Seven , The Game , Fight Club , Panic Room , and Zodiac , Fincher received Academy Award nominations for Best Director for his 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and...
, dramatizes Graysmith's attempts to build a case for Allen as the killer; Allen is portrayed in the film by John Carroll Lynch
John Carroll Lynch
John Carroll Lynch is an American actor, known for his role as Drew Carey's cross-dressing brother on The Drew Carey Show, and for his role as Norm, the unassuming husband of Margie Gunderson in Fargo....
.