Robert Graysmith & The Zodiac Killer: A San Francisco Cold Case Road Trip

The Zodiac Killer’s cipher-laden letters and unsolved murders left a shadow over 1970s California. As a journalist covering the case for the San Francisco Chronicle, Robert Graysmith became obsessed with the mystery, eventually penning the definitive books on the killer. Here are five locations tied to his investigation that still echo with unsolved questions.

Why visit the San Francisco Chronicle Building?

The Chronicle’s headquarters at 901 Mission Street was ground zero for Graysmith’s work. As a political cartoonist, he pored over Zodiac letters delivered to the newsroom—like the infamous “My Name Is” cipher mailed in 1969. The building’s archives still hold original correspondence, and Graysmith often retraced the killer’s taunts while cross-referencing clues from other cases. Today, the lobby’s murals depict the paper’s history, including a small nod to the Zodiac saga.

What happened at Presidio Heights?

The corner of Washington and Cherry Streets in Presidio Heights isn’t just a quiet residential block. On October 11, 1969, taxicab driver Paul Stine was shot here in what the Zodiac claimed was a “thrill kill.” Graysmith meticulously mapped the crime scene, later arguing it pointed to the killer’s local knowledge. The nearby St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has preserved the blood-stained shirt Stine wore, displayed briefly to researchers—a chilling artifact Graysmith called “the most personal piece of evidence in the case.”

How does Lake Berryessa tie into the story?

Nestled in the Napa Valley foothills, Lake Berryessa was the site of the Zodiac’s only confirmed attack on a couple. On September 27, 1969, he stabbed Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard after carving his signature symbol into Hartnell’s car door. Graysmith visited the spot repeatedly, interviewing Hartnell before his death and analyzing the killer’s choice of location. The boat launch area remains a popular spot for hikers, though few realize the granite outcroppings hide one of the case’s darkest chapters.

Why is the Santa Rosa Rest Area significant?

Northbound on Highway 101, the Santa Rosa Rest Area near mile marker 53.7 was where the Zodiac allegedly phoned in a bomb threat in 1970, warning that a bus carrying children from the nearby Boy Scout camp would be targeted. Graysmith believed this call—intercepted by police before the threat expired—revealed the killer’s voice for the first time. Though no bomb was found, the road’s isolation and proximity to Graysmith’s suspect list (notably Arthur Leigh Allen) made it a key stop in his theories.

What’s the connection to Riverside City Library?

While not in the Bay Area, Riverside’s Main Library (12551 Magnolia Avenue) holds Graysmith’s personal notes. He spent months here researching Arthur Leigh Allen, a convicted pedophile he implicated as the Zodiac. The library’s archives contain Graysmith’s original sketches of the killer’s symbols and annotated maps of Riverside’s landmarks. Staff occasionally point out the third-floor reading room where Graysmith camped for weeks, cross-referencing Allen’s movements with crime dates.

The Zodiac Killer’s identity remains one of America’s most tantalizing cold cases. Walking these locations with Graysmith’s theories in mind—questioning patterns, noticing overlooked details—offers a visceral link to his decades-long hunt. To dive deeper into his deductions, ask him about the cryptic Halloween card or his controversial suspect profile.