Click image to enlarge A while ago I had a discussion with Thomas Horan on the YouTube channel of Ross Geraci called Planet X Filmworks, in which Thomas claimed that Michael Mageau was shot four times while in the backseat of Darlene Ferrin's Corvair and was never in the front seat of the vehicle. Here is that part of the discussion. Thomas also claimed that ten bullets had been fired (and therefore ten casings must have been ejected). Even though only nine casings were detailed in the police report, I will go with the notion that ten bullets were fired into the Corvair and show how it is impossible (even with an extra bullet) that Michael Mageau was shot while located exclusively in the backseat of the vehicle.
The autopsy report clearly details 5 entry wounds to the mid-axillary and posterior-axillary line of Darlene Ferrin's right side. This means that 5 bullets entered the right side of her body. If Michael Mageau was shot four times in the back seat (because he had 4 entry wounds), this means that there is a total of 9 entry wounds and 9 bullets fired so far. We now have one bullet remaining (to complete the ten shots fired) to produce 4 entry wounds and four exit wounds to Darlene Ferrin's right and left arm, which again was detailed in the autopsy report here (or see below). Thomas Horan's claim of Michael Mageau being in the backseat throughout is therefore impossible from a ballistics standpoint. It's cannot happen with ten shots, never mind nine.
The reason Darlene Ferrin had 9 entry wounds and 7 exit wounds is because the two shots fired at Michael Mageau in the front seat, passed through his body and entered Darlene Ferrin. They were two of the bullets that entered her right side, producing 5 entry wounds to her torso. Add these 5 entry wounds to the 4 entry wounds in her arms and we have a total of 9 entry wounds. Of the 5 entry wounds to her torso, 3 exited her body on the left side. Add these 3 exit wounds to the 4 exit wounds in her arms and we have a total of 7 exit wounds. Michael Mageau had to be in the front seat during the initial part of the attack to produce the wounds of Darlene Ferrin noted at autopsy. Anybody telling you otherwise is just plain wrong.
The autopsy report clearly details 5 entry wounds to the mid-axillary and posterior-axillary line of Darlene Ferrin's right side. This means that 5 bullets entered the right side of her body. If Michael Mageau was shot four times in the back seat (because he had 4 entry wounds), this means that there is a total of 9 entry wounds and 9 bullets fired so far. We now have one bullet remaining (to complete the ten shots fired) to produce 4 entry wounds and four exit wounds to Darlene Ferrin's right and left arm, which again was detailed in the autopsy report here (or see below). Thomas Horan's claim of Michael Mageau being in the backseat throughout is therefore impossible from a ballistics standpoint. It's cannot happen with ten shots, never mind nine.
The reason Darlene Ferrin had 9 entry wounds and 7 exit wounds is because the two shots fired at Michael Mageau in the front seat, passed through his body and entered Darlene Ferrin. They were two of the bullets that entered her right side, producing 5 entry wounds to her torso. Add these 5 entry wounds to the 4 entry wounds in her arms and we have a total of 9 entry wounds. Of the 5 entry wounds to her torso, 3 exited her body on the left side. Add these 3 exit wounds to the 4 exit wounds in her arms and we have a total of 7 exit wounds. Michael Mageau had to be in the front seat during the initial part of the attack to produce the wounds of Darlene Ferrin noted at autopsy. Anybody telling you otherwise is just plain wrong.
Above is page 20 from the Blue Rock Springs police report detailing the removal of two "slugs" from the inside of the vehicle, including the seat where Darlene Ferrin was positioned (driver side), and the left hand door. Two bullets remained in Darlene Ferrin's body. One bullet remained in Michael Mageau's left thigh. One was discovered by his person when lying outside the Corvair (that exited his body in the back seat and was trapped in his clothing until he vacated the vehicle, where it fell onto the parking lot). This means that a total of six bullets are accounted for. Where are the other three bullets? By knowing where these three bullets ended up, could shed light on whether Darlene Ferrin was shot first and whether her hands were on the steering wheel when the Zodiac Killer began firing that morning. There was an entry wound 3.5 inches above her right wrist and an entry wound 2 inches above her left wrist, strongly suggesting her wrists were in alignment with one another when the Zodiac Killer took his first shot (with Darlene possibly holding the steering wheel). As she turns away with her right arm coming across her body, the second shot is fired. The approximate images below brings to life this concept. If anybody can shed light on these three remaining bullets, feel free to post in comments.
Possible first shot with Darlene Ferrin holding the steering wheel
Possible route of second shot as Darlene Ferrin turns away
There were 9 entry wounds and 7 exit wounds to the body of Darlene Ferrin noted at autopsy. There were 2 bullets recovered from her torso at autopsy. The right arm has 2 entry wounds; one is 5 and 1/2 inches above elbow on right lateral side, fracturing the humerus shaft and exiting anteriorly and medially 1 and 1/4 inches distal to the elbow. The second entry wound to the right arm is behind the forearm, 3 and 1/2 inches above the wrist (exiting opposite side).
The left arm has two entry wounds; one is medially located in the upper arm, 3 and 1/4 inches above the elbow and exiting the opposite side. The second entry wound is located medially on the forearm, 2 inches above the wrist, fracturing the radial and ulnar bones, and exiting above and laterally at 3 inches above the wrist.
The left arm has two entry wounds; one is medially located in the upper arm, 3 and 1/4 inches above the elbow and exiting the opposite side. The second entry wound is located medially on the forearm, 2 inches above the wrist, fracturing the radial and ulnar bones, and exiting above and laterally at 3 inches above the wrist.
[1] Bullet passes through posterior margin of the 12th thoracic vertebra, the liver and stomach, and exits body through left rib #8 on left mid-axillary. line.
[2] Bullet passes through posterior margin of the 10th/11th thoracic vertebrae, the liver and spleen, and is recovered at autopsy in the medial margin of left rib #9.
[3] Bullet passes through posterior axillary line of the 7th thoracic vertebra, right lung, left ventricle of heart, left lung, and exits body through left rib #7 near the mid-axillary line.
[4] Bullet passes through 4th rib, right lung, the anterior shaft of right 2nd rib, where it was recovered in the subcutaneous tissue at autopsy.
[5] Bullet passes through right shoulder, the anterior chest wall to the anterior margin of the sternum, level with 4th ribs, and exits the left side of the left breast, just above the nipple.
[2] Bullet passes through posterior margin of the 10th/11th thoracic vertebrae, the liver and spleen, and is recovered at autopsy in the medial margin of left rib #9.
[3] Bullet passes through posterior axillary line of the 7th thoracic vertebra, right lung, left ventricle of heart, left lung, and exits body through left rib #7 near the mid-axillary line.
[4] Bullet passes through 4th rib, right lung, the anterior shaft of right 2nd rib, where it was recovered in the subcutaneous tissue at autopsy.
[5] Bullet passes through right shoulder, the anterior chest wall to the anterior margin of the sternum, level with 4th ribs, and exits the left side of the left breast, just above the nipple.
If Darlene Ferrin had been shot first, one might expect Michael Mageau to lean to the left away from the shooter and towards the chest region of Darlene Ferrin, with his head positioned lower. The bullets that struck his jaw and right shoulder region exiting his body and striking the right torso of Darlene Ferrin, who would be also turning away from the shooter at this point. If Michael Mageau had been shot first, one might expect the bullets that exited his jaw and right shoulder to have impacted Darlene Ferrin at a higher position on her body.