This weekend, Dennis Kaufman has turned over even more items to the FBI. Earlier this week, I had asked Dennis some tough questions regarding the evidence that he claimed to have. He didn’t answer, except to say that he used gloves to handle the items. He did send a few angry words in my direction, but then, I had expressed my own scathing review of Dennis’ efforts to convince the world that Jack Tarrance is the Zodiac. Though he failed to answer the questions directly, they have been answered by the media. Q & A below (Answers have been written by me, not Dennis.):
–Why has your message board been disabled?
The message board was re-enabled August 31, so that issue is moot.
–Has the hood been turned over for testing?
The hood was turned over this weekend.
–What about the knife. I notice that you have been handling it. Has it been tested for evidence?
The knife has been turned over for evidence. While Kaufman did handle the items, he claimed to use plastic gloves, which can be plainly seen in the news video.
–Is there any sign (blood) that the hood may have been used in an attack?
The hood will be tested for blood, saliva and other evidence.
–My view has always been that the DNA and fingerprint samples are useless for ruling a suspect “out” but a match would be very supportive of a person’s involvement. What sort of results do you expect in that regard?
While I would have liked Dennis to answer this question in his own words, I think it is safe to say he expects the results of testing to help prove what he has been saying since 2000 –Jack Tarrance is the Zodiac Killer. In fact, he told CBS13, “I know the DNA will match because I know who Jack is. I’m not worried.”
I have been a critic of Dennis for years, that is no secret. He has said things that were unfounded. He has stretched the truth and exaggerated events and statements. This has had an effect on the way he has been perceived and believed. All the while, I have genuinely thought that Dennis believes that his stepfather is the Zodiac Killer.
I have doubted his proof. I have questioned why, if he had the access to items he claimed to have had, did he not act sooner. Why didn’t he confiscate certain items of “proof” when he actually saw them, instead of waiting until he was halfway across the country and they were conveniently out of reach. He says he didn’t want to offend his stepbrother. That just didn’t make sense to me. A lot of things didn’t make sense with Dennis. How come it has taken two years to come up with this stuff? Why now, just as he is releasing a DVD?
Dennis has convinced me of one thing. His stepfather was an asshole. He was a mean, vile person. He was cruel and selfish. I could identify somewhat with what Dennis grew up with. Living with spite, grudges and regrets…shit like that can eat you alive if you let it. Still, Dennis couldn’t convince me that Jack was the Zodiac. As of this writing, the results from the FBI have not been released. I have already stated that I doubt any of this pans out. Was I too bold in my criticism of Dennis? Will I be eating crow? That remains to be seen. I doubt it. As much as I want to see this resolved, I still doubt it.
Dennis doesn’t exactly have a great reputation among other researchers. His personality has led him into clashes and verbal confrontations with quite a few people. Does this make him less credible? What would we expect from the son of the Zodiac Killer? I think the son of the Zodiac Killer is bound to be a little effed-up. Why should we rule Dennis’s theory out based on the times where his temper and ego have bested him? We shouldn’t. We should look at the facts –or even the lack thereof.
So now Dennis has finally come forward with items that seem to shout out that Jack Tarrance was the Zodiac Killer. A mask –a mask similar to the one worn by the Zodiac at Lake Berryessa! But this mask doesn’t look like the one Bryan Hartnell described. It doesn’t look like the one author Graysmith drew a picture of. It has to be bogus. But wait–if Dennis was trying to fake the hood, why would it be so different? And the knife… Why, when he has so much reference material, would it not be a near perfect match? If it is the real thing, why should we expect it to match a cloudy memory an an artist’s idea? It should look different. That would actually help it look more genuine. After all, if it matched perfectly, we’d be saying “it matches too closely” or “it’s an obvious mock-up.” Dennis has almost forty years worth of Zodiac reference material to work with regarding the mask and the weapons, why would he stray from what is commonly accepted? This, I think, leans toward authenticity. However, I am not sold that Tarrance is the Zodiac.
I don’t think Dennis would really turn over a bunch of stuff he faked up just to get publicity. That didn’t work out so well for the Bigfoot guys. But the Bigfoot guys were trying to make a buck with their publicity. Dennis isn’t out for a buck. Or is he? His website says:
“August 30, 2008
My good friend, Robert Manor and I, Dennis Kaufman have completed a one hour documentary titled “ZODIAC THE UNTOLD STORY.” The documentary will soon be available to order for $24.95, which includes shipping and handling.”
Hmm… Is this a publicity stunt? Kaufman’s attempt at publishing a book was major flop –another reason why it’s so hard to take Dennis’ seriously. But if he’s jacking around with investigators, that could amount to fraud. I just don’t think Dennis would take that kind of a chance.
Perhaps, Jack is having a bit of fun with Dennis from beyond the grave. After all, Dennis accused Jack of being the zodiac while he was still very much alive. What if Jack left all of this stuff as a prank on poor Dennis? I didn’t know the man, but I don’t think that would be out of character for Jack Tarrance.
Finally, what if this is for real? What if Jack Tarrance was the Zodiac Killer. Maybe the Zodiac Killer was never caught because he couldn’t be placed at the crime scenes –just like Jack. Have we been so hung up on our own mental picture of the Zodiac that we couldn’t accept someone who fails to fit the mold in so many ways?
But what if Dennis is right? What if I am wrong? What if Robert Graysmith is wrong? What if Tom Voigt is wrong? What if all of the other Zodiac researchers are proven wrong once and for all? Would we be able to accept it?
I really don’t think that is going to be a problem. I just don’t see this being conclusive. I do not believe we will be told that Jack Tarrance has been proven to be the Zodiac Killer. I predict, at the very best, a lack of conclusions or some sort of ambiguity. In lieu of that, I can only see this being ruled out. That seems to have been the case from the beginning. I don’t see that trend changing any time soon.
The FBI should come to a conclusion at any time. I look forward to the results. I hope some conclusion can actually be drawn from what has been provided. As much as I would like to see a resolution to this case, it is hard for me to be optimistic in that regard. I’m not worried, I have eaten more exotic dishes than crow in my lifetime.
Source:
FBI: ‘Open Investigation’ Into Zodiac Suspect
Related posts:
