A new investigation suggests a startling connection between the Zodiac Killer and the infamous 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia.

Zodiac Cipher Decoded

Alex Baber, a co-founder of Cold Case Consultants of America, claims to have decoded the Zodiac’s ‘Z13’ cipher, revealing the name ‘Marvin Merrill’ – an alias for Marvin Margolis. Baber asserts Margolis dated Short and was previously considered a suspect in her murder.

LAPD Seeks DNA Evidence

This discovery prompted the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to request DNA from a suspect’s family, marking a first in the Black Dahlia case. Baber utilized artificial intelligence alongside his cryptographic expertise to break the code.

Decoding Method

Baber employed a 2x7 grid transposition and substitution method, with the victim’s first name, Elizabeth, serving as the key to the cipher. The decryption method has been independently verified by cryptography experts, including a former NSA codebreaker.

Evidence Points to Margolis

Further investigation led Baber to Margolis’s son, who reportedly exhibited a strong physical reaction upon learning of the potential connection between his father and the Zodiac Killer. The son provided handwriting samples.

Handwriting and Sketch Analysis

Baber believes these samples show striking similarities to both Margolis’s and the Zodiac’s writing styles, including shared phonetic spelling errors. The son also presented a sketch drawn by Margolis 46 years after Short’s death, depicting Elizabeth Short.

This sketch, according to Baber, contains hidden details mirroring injuries sustained by Short and a subtle impression of the word ‘Zodiac’ within the artwork.

Wartime Connections and Police Records

Margolis’s wartime connection to cryptography through his roommate, Bill Robinson, a WWII codebreaker handpicked by General MacArthur, adds another layer to the potential link. Police records from 1951 confirm Margolis was among 22 persons of interest in the Black Dahlia case.

Expert Review and Ongoing Investigation

Baber’s findings have been shared with the FBI. Criminal profiler John Kelly, after reviewing the materials, believes the findings are credible and warrant further scrutiny. The Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI have not yet issued official comments.

The potential connection between these two notorious unsolved cases represents a significant development in true crime history, potentially bringing closure to decades-old mysteries.