On September 27th 2018, the third installment of Dr. Mark Hewitt's trilogy of Zodiac books was released, entitled 'EXPOSED: The Zodiac Revealed. He has also outlined the focus of 'Exposed', naming Theodore Kaczynski as the most likely candidate for the Zodiac Killer in a blogtalkradio edition of True Murder, hosted by Dan Zupansky.
Dr. Mark Hewitt has dedicated many years to the Zodiac field from the standpoint of neutrality, and his first two books 'Hunted' and 'Profiled' are well researched using sourced material, police reports and FBI files, to name but a few. That impartiality has now changed with the release of his latest book 'Exposed'.
Dr. Mark Hewitt has dedicated many years to the Zodiac field from the standpoint of neutrality, and his first two books 'Hunted' and 'Profiled' are well researched using sourced material, police reports and FBI files, to name but a few. That impartiality has now changed with the release of his latest book 'Exposed'.
Book Three. Click for link. When asked by the host Dan Zupansky the reaction he expects from the Zodiac community upon the release of his book, Dr. Mark Hewitt replied "I expect there will be a certain contingent of people who will be so wedded to their ideas that they won't take a serious look at my work, which they're free to do that. Some people are convinced that it is their father, their birth father or stepfather, other people are very convinced of this suspect or that suspect debated online. So, if you want to do research that contradicts my research - go for it - show me your evidence and explain to me how my arguments are wrong. I think I've been very reasoned and very careful about laying out facts using reason to come to the conclusions that I do. If my reasoning is faulty, or my conclusions are wrong, by all means point them out to me. There may be a contingent who say 'wow Mark you've been very thorough in your research and make a very compelling case.'"
I have not read the book as yet, but I am sure Mark has made a very compelling case for Theodore Kaczynski as the Zodiac Killer, as he is an extremely intelligent and thoughtful individual. There is certainly no way I could, or want to explain how his arguments are right or wrong, because opinions or arguments drawn from facts about the Zodiac case, are just that - an opinion. And as such, are perfectly acceptable. I could argue that the Zodiac Killer entered the Presidio Park after the murder of Paul Stine, and present many arguments to support such an opinion, but it can neither be proved right or wrong at this juncture.
I am confident Dr. Mark Hewitt's reasoning is not faulty, however, proving his conclusions or otherwise is akin to proving Zodiac didn't enter the park. Disproving Theodore Kaczynski as the Zodiac Killer, without DNA or conclusive fingerprint evidence, is as difficult as proving he was. Having seen many debates about suspects in the Zodiac case, the lack of certainty in the scientific evidence, means these sort of discussions produce little in the way of clarity or resolution one way or the other.
The best suggestion I could give to negate the premise of Theodore Kaczynski as the Zodiac Killer, would be to ask Mark to write a fourth book, presenting a solid case of why his suspect isn't the Zodiac Killer. I am confident Mark could achieve this, given his level of intelligence, and based on what I have read so far in his writings. Suspect driven books are wholly devoted to highlighting the arguments for the case, while the negative aspects that don't favor the suspect are routinely overlooked or casually ignored. That is the objective of any prosecutor or defense lawyer in most murder cases - presenting your case in the most favorable light - and as such, the true picture is rarely revealed. This extends to all aspects of the Zodiac case, including this website.
I have not read the book as yet, but I am sure Mark has made a very compelling case for Theodore Kaczynski as the Zodiac Killer, as he is an extremely intelligent and thoughtful individual. There is certainly no way I could, or want to explain how his arguments are right or wrong, because opinions or arguments drawn from facts about the Zodiac case, are just that - an opinion. And as such, are perfectly acceptable. I could argue that the Zodiac Killer entered the Presidio Park after the murder of Paul Stine, and present many arguments to support such an opinion, but it can neither be proved right or wrong at this juncture.
I am confident Dr. Mark Hewitt's reasoning is not faulty, however, proving his conclusions or otherwise is akin to proving Zodiac didn't enter the park. Disproving Theodore Kaczynski as the Zodiac Killer, without DNA or conclusive fingerprint evidence, is as difficult as proving he was. Having seen many debates about suspects in the Zodiac case, the lack of certainty in the scientific evidence, means these sort of discussions produce little in the way of clarity or resolution one way or the other.
The best suggestion I could give to negate the premise of Theodore Kaczynski as the Zodiac Killer, would be to ask Mark to write a fourth book, presenting a solid case of why his suspect isn't the Zodiac Killer. I am confident Mark could achieve this, given his level of intelligence, and based on what I have read so far in his writings. Suspect driven books are wholly devoted to highlighting the arguments for the case, while the negative aspects that don't favor the suspect are routinely overlooked or casually ignored. That is the objective of any prosecutor or defense lawyer in most murder cases - presenting your case in the most favorable light - and as such, the true picture is rarely revealed. This extends to all aspects of the Zodiac case, including this website.
Book Two. Click for link. I am not sure what level of confidence Dr. Mark Hewitt could give to his belief that Theodore Kaczynski was the Zodiac Killer, but now, he has a lens through which he will view the case, as with all Zodiac researchers who align to a particular suspect. When you approach any topic in the case, your suspect may bias your answer. This is best explained when we consider the sketch drawn up from eyewitness recollections at Presidio Heights.
Proponents of Ross Sullivan will augment their belief in him as the Zodiac Killer by stating the unmistakable likeness to the Presidio Heights sketch, while playing down the significance of the height difference. Ross Sullivan was 6'2" (6'3" in shoes), but the eyewitnesses described the suspect as between 5'8"-5'10". Every effort is made to mention this likeness in every argument, while the height difference is routinely explained away by the angle the eyewitnesses viewed the suspect. The teenagers were 50-60 feet away, viewing top-down, while Officer Donald Fouke was seated in a moving police vehicle. Nevertheless, their recollection of facial features in dim lighting under the same circumstances is unquestionably and routinely taken as accurate.
If Ross Sullivan had been 5'9" tall, I am confident this height match would have been undeniably given as further corroborating evidence to support Ross Sullivan as the Zodiac Killer, not explained away. Had Ross Sullivan not looked like the sketch, then the eyewitness recollection based on facial features would have been equally argued against based on the above reasons - and this reasoning is always tailored to each and every suspect to keep them in the frame. This explains why having a suspect alignment clouds your judgement when approaching the Zodiac story. You view the different aspects of the case through the lens of your suspect.
Dr. Mark Hewitt stated "show me your evidence and explain to me how my arguments are wrong." Unfortunately, with the DNA findings in 2002 being routinely dismissed as manufactured, the fingerprint evidence (even from the taxicab) being questioned as originating from the hand of our killer, and the subjective interpretation of handwriting, I'm afraid there is probably little else that can be described as evidence to convince anybody their argument is wrong. It simply boils down to a matter of opinion.
I wish Dr. Mark Hewitt every success with his latest book, and am certain it will be a very clever and articulate presentation of Theodore Kaczynski as the Zodiac Killer, but without undeniable scientific corroboration linking an individual to the crimes, it will always remain a compelling case crafted by Dr. Mark Hewitt, until such a time.
Hunted: The Zodiac Murders - Revised Edition (The Zodiac Serial Killer Book 1)
Proponents of Ross Sullivan will augment their belief in him as the Zodiac Killer by stating the unmistakable likeness to the Presidio Heights sketch, while playing down the significance of the height difference. Ross Sullivan was 6'2" (6'3" in shoes), but the eyewitnesses described the suspect as between 5'8"-5'10". Every effort is made to mention this likeness in every argument, while the height difference is routinely explained away by the angle the eyewitnesses viewed the suspect. The teenagers were 50-60 feet away, viewing top-down, while Officer Donald Fouke was seated in a moving police vehicle. Nevertheless, their recollection of facial features in dim lighting under the same circumstances is unquestionably and routinely taken as accurate.
If Ross Sullivan had been 5'9" tall, I am confident this height match would have been undeniably given as further corroborating evidence to support Ross Sullivan as the Zodiac Killer, not explained away. Had Ross Sullivan not looked like the sketch, then the eyewitness recollection based on facial features would have been equally argued against based on the above reasons - and this reasoning is always tailored to each and every suspect to keep them in the frame. This explains why having a suspect alignment clouds your judgement when approaching the Zodiac story. You view the different aspects of the case through the lens of your suspect.
Dr. Mark Hewitt stated "show me your evidence and explain to me how my arguments are wrong." Unfortunately, with the DNA findings in 2002 being routinely dismissed as manufactured, the fingerprint evidence (even from the taxicab) being questioned as originating from the hand of our killer, and the subjective interpretation of handwriting, I'm afraid there is probably little else that can be described as evidence to convince anybody their argument is wrong. It simply boils down to a matter of opinion.
I wish Dr. Mark Hewitt every success with his latest book, and am certain it will be a very clever and articulate presentation of Theodore Kaczynski as the Zodiac Killer, but without undeniable scientific corroboration linking an individual to the crimes, it will always remain a compelling case crafted by Dr. Mark Hewitt, until such a time.
Hunted: The Zodiac Murders - Revised Edition (The Zodiac Serial Killer Book 1)