Zodiac Case: Every Suspect That Was Seriously Considered

You may recognise the name George Hodel from another infamous unsolved crime, that of the Black Dahlia. Hodel became publicly known as a suspect in the gruesome murder of Elizabeth Short when is son, former LAPD detective Steve Hodel, openly accused his father in his book Black Dahlia Avenger in 2003. The case for Hodel as the Black Dahlia's murderer is compelling, and he has since become the case's prime suspect for many. His son takes things a step further.

After years of investigation, Steve Hodel believes his father is responsible for a large number of crimes across the globe, of which the Zodiac are but a few. George Hodel's movements between America and other countries such as the Phillipines allegedly line up with other unsolved murders that also involved dismemberment. Steve later linked his father to the Zodiac killings when he discovered his father's old address included the word 'zodiac', arguing that his father's return stateside corresponds to the Californian crime spree in the late '60s.

Steve Hodel's case against George is largely circumstantial, and lacks concrete evidence to tie him to the case with any certainty. George Hodel's involvement with the Black Dahlia has been more readily accepted, even if both cases remain open.