The discrepancies pointed out in the 2007 Zodiac documentary have been extensively covered on this site- and will be again, when we examine another section of the dialogue regarding the two main protagonists. It has been stated innumerable times, the contention that Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms not only stopped Zodiac, but were directed away from the crime scene by the killer toward Arguello Boulevard.
Donald Fouke stated in the 1989 'Crime of the Century' documentary "We proceeded on Jackson Street towards Arguello continuing our search, as we arrived at Arguello Street the description of the suspect was changed to a white male adult, believing this suspect was possibly the one involved in the shooting we entered the Presidio of San Francisco and conducted a search on West Pacific Avenue, the opposite side of the wall and the last direction we observed the suspect going, we did not find the suspect."
We shall focus on the part of the 2007 documentary beginning at 1:18:09.
After noticing a white male adult walking along Jackson Street, Donald Fouke proceeded onward, stating "Seeing that it was a white male in an affluent neighborhood walking along the street, we didn't think it was the suspect. So we proceeded the next block at...which was Jackson and Cherry. Turned southbound on Cherry Street and saw Armond Pelissetti, one of the officers who had responded directly to the scene" Was he about to say proceeded the next block at Arguello.
Armond Pelissetti picks up the story "At that point Officer Dan Fouke, who was accompanied by what I believe was a rookie officer Eric Zelms at the time, pulled up very quickly in their police car, called out to me did I see anybody, did I know anything about where the suspect could be and I told him no."
Donald Fouke continued "He stopped us (Pelissetti) and said he was looking for the white male that had just gone down the street. There was a little conversation about what the initial description was, and he said no, he was a white male. I then used a slang term and said 'oh that was the suspect'" Armond Pelissetti responded "He did not mention to me that he had seen anybody at that point or stopped anybody."
Donald Fouke stated in the 1989 'Crime of the Century' documentary "We proceeded on Jackson Street towards Arguello continuing our search, as we arrived at Arguello Street the description of the suspect was changed to a white male adult, believing this suspect was possibly the one involved in the shooting we entered the Presidio of San Francisco and conducted a search on West Pacific Avenue, the opposite side of the wall and the last direction we observed the suspect going, we did not find the suspect."
We shall focus on the part of the 2007 documentary beginning at 1:18:09.
After noticing a white male adult walking along Jackson Street, Donald Fouke proceeded onward, stating "Seeing that it was a white male in an affluent neighborhood walking along the street, we didn't think it was the suspect. So we proceeded the next block at...which was Jackson and Cherry. Turned southbound on Cherry Street and saw Armond Pelissetti, one of the officers who had responded directly to the scene" Was he about to say proceeded the next block at Arguello.
Armond Pelissetti picks up the story "At that point Officer Dan Fouke, who was accompanied by what I believe was a rookie officer Eric Zelms at the time, pulled up very quickly in their police car, called out to me did I see anybody, did I know anything about where the suspect could be and I told him no."
Donald Fouke continued "He stopped us (Pelissetti) and said he was looking for the white male that had just gone down the street. There was a little conversation about what the initial description was, and he said no, he was a white male. I then used a slang term and said 'oh that was the suspect'" Armond Pelissetti responded "He did not mention to me that he had seen anybody at that point or stopped anybody."
We know that Armond Pelissetti was told the suspect was white by the three teenagers at the crime scene, and in his words "couldn't get to the radio fast enough at that point to let everybody else know."
Armond Pelissetti stated "The kids had told me whoever had done this crime had left the cab, went out the door and seemed to be wiping the cab down and reaching into the cab and ambling or walking down Cherry Street in a northerly direction, kind of towards the Presidio. I walked that way myself, I did not run because there are innumerable alcoves and parked cars, so I went down following every technique I knew so I didn't get my head blown off."
We know that walking Cherry Street at a normal speed would take approximately one minute, but at least 90 seconds to 2 minutes if you were "following every technique" in the police manual.
So, after updating everybody to the new white male description, Armond Pelissetti likely informed his partner Frank Peda of the amended description and asked him to secure the crime scene, before heading off up Cherry Street. Therefore, by the time he met Officer Donald Fouke at the top of Cherry Street, at least 2 minutes must have elapsed. Assuming that Donald Fouke received the amended white male description almost immediately, then he must have received it before Armond Pelissetti headed up Cherry Street (approximately 90 seconds to 2 minutes ago). That is, 90 seconds to 2 minutes prior to meeting Armond Pelissetti. The journey time from Donald Fouke spotting Zodiac to reaching this section of Cherry Street (440 feet), traveling at 30 mph, takes only 10 seconds. Even if we gave Donald Fouke 30 seconds, one can see that by the time he spotted Zodiac, he would have already received the amended white male description at least 1 to 1 1/2 minutes prior to spotting Zodiac. So why didn't he stop him? The answer being; that Donald Fouke didn't turn down Cherry Street, but continued on to Arguello Boulevard (where Zodiac directed him) and down West Pacific Avenue, before returning to Cherry Street, where he met Armond Pelissetti. This diversion by Donald Fouke took just over 2 minutes. We know this, because, in the 1989 documentary Donald Fouke stated "as we arrived at Arguello Street the description of the suspect was changed to a white male adult." Donald Fouke, realizing this was the man he had just seen on Jackson Street turn up Maple Street moments earlier and may be the possible killer, swung into West Pacific Avenue toward Julius Khan playground. After an unsuccessful search in this area, he returned toward the crime scene and bumped into Armond Pelissetti at the top of Cherry Street. This 2 minute diversion of Donald Fouke from Arguello, would corroborate Armond Pelissetti's 2 minute journey up Cherry Street after updating Donald Fouke over the radio from the crime scene, enabling them to meet at this exact point.
Armond Pelissetti stated "The kids had told me whoever had done this crime had left the cab, went out the door and seemed to be wiping the cab down and reaching into the cab and ambling or walking down Cherry Street in a northerly direction, kind of towards the Presidio. I walked that way myself, I did not run because there are innumerable alcoves and parked cars, so I went down following every technique I knew so I didn't get my head blown off."
We know that walking Cherry Street at a normal speed would take approximately one minute, but at least 90 seconds to 2 minutes if you were "following every technique" in the police manual.
So, after updating everybody to the new white male description, Armond Pelissetti likely informed his partner Frank Peda of the amended description and asked him to secure the crime scene, before heading off up Cherry Street. Therefore, by the time he met Officer Donald Fouke at the top of Cherry Street, at least 2 minutes must have elapsed. Assuming that Donald Fouke received the amended white male description almost immediately, then he must have received it before Armond Pelissetti headed up Cherry Street (approximately 90 seconds to 2 minutes ago). That is, 90 seconds to 2 minutes prior to meeting Armond Pelissetti. The journey time from Donald Fouke spotting Zodiac to reaching this section of Cherry Street (440 feet), traveling at 30 mph, takes only 10 seconds. Even if we gave Donald Fouke 30 seconds, one can see that by the time he spotted Zodiac, he would have already received the amended white male description at least 1 to 1 1/2 minutes prior to spotting Zodiac. So why didn't he stop him? The answer being; that Donald Fouke didn't turn down Cherry Street, but continued on to Arguello Boulevard (where Zodiac directed him) and down West Pacific Avenue, before returning to Cherry Street, where he met Armond Pelissetti. This diversion by Donald Fouke took just over 2 minutes. We know this, because, in the 1989 documentary Donald Fouke stated "as we arrived at Arguello Street the description of the suspect was changed to a white male adult." Donald Fouke, realizing this was the man he had just seen on Jackson Street turn up Maple Street moments earlier and may be the possible killer, swung into West Pacific Avenue toward Julius Khan playground. After an unsuccessful search in this area, he returned toward the crime scene and bumped into Armond Pelissetti at the top of Cherry Street. This 2 minute diversion of Donald Fouke from Arguello, would corroborate Armond Pelissetti's 2 minute journey up Cherry Street after updating Donald Fouke over the radio from the crime scene, enabling them to meet at this exact point.
Donald Fouke memorandum. Click to enlarge. One thing has always perplexed when we consider Zodiac's movements that night. Whether you believe that Zodiac had blood on his clothing that night or not, why would a killer who must have seen and heard Donald Fouke's approaching police car 'red light and siren' from quite a distance (possibly blocks away), as shown here on Google maps, why didn't he attempt to conceal himself. Not only that, why was he walking on the north side of the street in full glare of approaching vehicles, when the obvious choice would have been to turn from Cherry Street and stay on the south side until he reached Maple Street or his required turn off.
If we take a look at the memorandum on the right, it is signed by Donald Fouke, but appears to be written on his behalf. Nevertheless, it states "a suspect fitting the description of the Zodiac Killer was observed by Officer Fouke walking in an easterly direction on Jackson Street and then turn north on Maple Street." But there is no mention of which side of the street the suspect was on-bearing in mind this was dated November 12th 1969. Only later would it be mentioned that the Zodiac was apparently on the north side. With ample time to spot the approaching police car, this seems on the face of it, a strange choice by the Zodiac Killer, particularly if you are an advocate of a killer smothered in the victim's blood.
Considering Donald Fouke was driving that night, coupled with his extensive description of the killer, wouldn't it be more likely the Zodiac Killer was walking on the south side of Jackson Street that night.
In the Zodiac Killer's November 9th 1969 'Bus Bomb' letter, he stated "p.s. 2 cops pulled a goof abot 3 min after I left the cab. I was walking down the hill to the park when this cop car pulled up + one of them called me over + asked if I saw anyone acting suspicious or strange in the last 5 to 10 min + I said yes there was this man who was runnig by waveing a gun & the cops peeled rubber + went around the corner as I directed them + I disappeared into the park a block + a half away never to be seen again".
When you read the last line of the memorandum it states "My partner that night was officer E. Zelms #3248 of Richmond Station. I do not know if he observed this subject or not." This appears a stretch, when you consider the detailed description of the subject given by Donald Fouke from the seat furthest away from the north sidewalk, especially when he claimed he slowed down for 5,10, 15 seconds. It is more believable if Eric Zelms is scanning the north side from the passenger seat and Donald Fouke is scanning the south side from the driver seat, and Zodiac is walking on the south side.
If we believe Eric Zelms was being shielded from the events that night, and equally believe Zodiac's claims of being "called over" to the police car- and meshing it with Donald Fouke's extensive description of the subject- then it could be argued that the Zodiac Killer was called over from the south sidewalk by Donald Fouke.
The Zodiac Killer would then direct Donald Fouke to Arguello Boulevard, and the article can begin again.
If we take a look at the memorandum on the right, it is signed by Donald Fouke, but appears to be written on his behalf. Nevertheless, it states "a suspect fitting the description of the Zodiac Killer was observed by Officer Fouke walking in an easterly direction on Jackson Street and then turn north on Maple Street." But there is no mention of which side of the street the suspect was on-bearing in mind this was dated November 12th 1969. Only later would it be mentioned that the Zodiac was apparently on the north side. With ample time to spot the approaching police car, this seems on the face of it, a strange choice by the Zodiac Killer, particularly if you are an advocate of a killer smothered in the victim's blood.
Considering Donald Fouke was driving that night, coupled with his extensive description of the killer, wouldn't it be more likely the Zodiac Killer was walking on the south side of Jackson Street that night.
In the Zodiac Killer's November 9th 1969 'Bus Bomb' letter, he stated "p.s. 2 cops pulled a goof abot 3 min after I left the cab. I was walking down the hill to the park when this cop car pulled up + one of them called me over + asked if I saw anyone acting suspicious or strange in the last 5 to 10 min + I said yes there was this man who was runnig by waveing a gun & the cops peeled rubber + went around the corner as I directed them + I disappeared into the park a block + a half away never to be seen again".
When you read the last line of the memorandum it states "My partner that night was officer E. Zelms #3248 of Richmond Station. I do not know if he observed this subject or not." This appears a stretch, when you consider the detailed description of the subject given by Donald Fouke from the seat furthest away from the north sidewalk, especially when he claimed he slowed down for 5,10, 15 seconds. It is more believable if Eric Zelms is scanning the north side from the passenger seat and Donald Fouke is scanning the south side from the driver seat, and Zodiac is walking on the south side.
If we believe Eric Zelms was being shielded from the events that night, and equally believe Zodiac's claims of being "called over" to the police car- and meshing it with Donald Fouke's extensive description of the subject- then it could be argued that the Zodiac Killer was called over from the south sidewalk by Donald Fouke.
The Zodiac Killer would then direct Donald Fouke to Arguello Boulevard, and the article can begin again.