Zodiac Case: Every Suspect That Was Seriously Considered

The pool of suspects in the Zodiac case became so broad many saw patterns emerge that could have easily been explained away with coincidence. One individual who fell foul of the hunt for the killer was Ross Sullivan, a student and library assistant at Riverside City College in California.

While the Zodiac had five confirmed murders, some estimate the real number to be much higher. The Zodiac claimed his count reached 37, although it'd be risky to take his word at face value. One death that has since been linked to the Zodiac is that of Cherie Jo Bates in 1966, a student of Riverside alongside Sullivan.

Ross Sullivan wasn't described favourably by his colleagues, who were unnerved by his unusual antisocial behaviour and penchant for dark poetry. While Sullivan was investigated for Bates' murder, his alibi effectively cleared his name. That didn't stop others looking back on this case Zodiac got started: accusers looked to Sullivan's mental health history and ties to Bates, as well as his alarming resemblance to the 1969 police sketch. Sullivan's death in 1977 has been used by some to explain the end of the Zodiac's spree.

Once again, this case is purely circumstantial, and may just be an unjust judgement on a social outcast.