Was Guy Ward Hendrickson The Zodiac Killer?
Yesterday, a press conference was held by 47-year-old Deborah Perez, a real-estate agent from Southern California. She came forward to say that her adoptive father was the Zodiac Killer. Guy Ward Hendrickson, who died from cancer in 1983, is the latest suspect to be announced in the infamous case of the Bay Area killer. Perez not only says that her father, Hendrickson, was the killer, incredibly, she went further, saying that she accompanied her father when he committed the murders –and that she even wrote some of the nefarious letters.
Here’s a bit of the response to her claims thus far:
Tom Voigt, webmaster of ZodiacKiller.com, left the following message on the main landing page of his site, in anticipation of the buzz sure to be caused by Perez’s announcement:
No, the Zodiac killer has not been identified.
The story told Wednesday by Deborah Perez at the press conference in San Francisco differs from the original claims she made to me about a year ago via e-mail and voicemail, which I still have.
Why has Perez changed her story? Why did she lie about being related to the ex-husband of a Zodiac victim? Why was her spokesman disbarred from practicing law in California?
–Tom Voigt | Webmaster | Zodiackiller.com
The topic is also being discussed on Tom’s message board, under the heading, The Claims of Deborah Perez.
The New York Times quoted author Robert Graysmith as saying in an email:
"I believe the case is probably already solved, but I never say never… That’s what last chapters are for."
Over the years, many people have been named as "suspects" in the Zodiac case, not only by law enforcement, but by independent researchers. Authorities have questioned over 2,000 persons of interest in the case. Author Robert Graysmith has done much in trying to convince both the public and law enforcement alike of his suspect. Arthur Leigh Allen, a convicted child molester, was the subject of two of Graysmith’s books, Zodiac
Others have also come forward with theories. Researchers Howard Davis and Bill Nelson believe that Bruce Davis, a member of the Manson family is the killer. Author Douglas Oswell
Tom Voigt, arguably the foremost authority on the Zodiac killer, who has provided most of the information the public has about the Zodiac case, feels strongly that Richard Gaikowski, a former newspaper editor and reporter, was the Zodiac. There are many, many more suspects out there. Some of the theorists are serious, some are just plain weird (like the briefcase/bridge guy).
Those of us who follow the Zodiac case have come to be skeptical whenever someone claims to have "solved the case." The range of theories are brought forth not only from serious researchers with an understanding and thorough examination of evidence, but also from people who might possibly be mentally disturbed. And then there are the charlatans, those who are trying to seek fame and/or fortune from their claims. When it comes down to it, a suspect theory must be backed up by evidence –by cold, hard facts. Otherwise, you might as well be claiming to have seen little green men.
After looking into Deborah Perez’s story, I was amazed at the similarities she held with another person with a story very much the same, although pointing to a different suspect. One of the most publicized suspects of late has been Jack Tarrance, the stepfather of Dennis Kaufman, the man making the claim that Tarrance was the Zodiac Killer, as well as a couple of other well-known serial killers. Deborah Perez and Dennis Kaufman have a lot in common. I’m not going to march over the tired old ground of Kaufman’s claims (check out these posts), but I will point out some of the parallels that can be drawn between Perez and Kaufman before the conclusion of this post.
Deborah Perez claims that she wrote the letter to renowned attorney Melvin Belli that was signed with the cross-circle symbol, the well-known signature of the Zodiac killer. She claims to have written this letter at the age of seven. She says she wanted to help her father.
The text of that letter follows:
Dear Melvin
This is the Zodiac speaking I
wish you a happy Christmass.
The one thing I ask of you is
this, please help me. I cannot
reach out because of
this thing in me won’t let me. I am finding it extreamly dif-
icult to keep in check I am
afraid I will loose control
again and take my nineth +
posibly tenth victom. Please
help me I am drownding. At
the moment the children are
safe from the bomb because
it is so massive to dig in & the
triger mech requires so much work
to get it adjusted just right. But
if I hold back too long from
no nine I will loose complet all
controol of my self + set the
bomb up. Please help me I can
not remain in control for much
longer.
You can view a copy of the actual letter here. Envelope.
So, Perez wants us to believe that at 7 years old, she wrote to attorney Melvin Belli. While it is easy to understand why a grown man would write Belli, I find it difficult to grasp a child of seven having the rationale of contacting an attorney to help their father, especially when she claims that she did not know her father was a killer. Notice that the author of the Belli letter was writing in the first person. The author mentions bombs and a trigger mechanism. It also mentions a ninth and tenth victim. Deborah says that she did not know her father was shooting people. She claims that she thought she heard firecrackers, and only later came to discover they were shots. Even though Perez claims to have written the words "This is the Zodiac speaking," She says she never realized her father was the Zodiac. Does this make any sense?
Perez also claims she helped in the making of the Zodiac Killer’s hood. She wants us to believe that after all these years, she only recently put two and two together, when she saw a sketch on America’s Most Wanted. Remember, Dennis Kaufman only "realized" his stepfather, Jack Tarrance was the Zodiac after watching an episode of "Case Reopened.".
Also like Kaufman, Perez claims to have seen important items of evidence that are now inaccessible or lost. One of those items she claims was scrapbook kept by Hendrickson that held mementos of over 30 murders he was to have committed. Perez can’t find it now. Hmmm…
Just like Kaufman, Perez is planning on making a few business deals regarding her newly found "situation." In fact, her recent announcement was publicized by none other than Hollywood publicist Edward Lozzi. Perez is reported working on a soon-to-be-released documentary regarding her claims.
And then there’s her spokesperson. Dennis Kaufman has had some less-than-honorable people taking his side over the years, and it seems that Perez can also share distinguishing characteristic. Her spokesperson is Kevin McLean, a former partner of Belli’s. The San Francisco Examiner refers to McLean as an attorney, which he may well be –but not in the State of California. He’s been disbarred. You can read the document detailing why he’s no longer allowed to practice law in California here. In summary, his disbarment was in regards to misappropriation, misrepresentation, concealment, acts of moral turpitude, trust fund violations; offering to pay personal expenses incurred by a client; and failure to communicate. (I can hear Strother Martin’s voice…) The decision document also noted that McLean’s misconduct was surrounded by bad faith, dishonesty, concealment, and overreaching.
McLean reportedly led an independent investigation in which he offered reports from a handwriting analyst. Big deal. Kaufman has one of those, too. A forensic psychologist also supports the story. Whoopee. So far, there has been no forensic testing of DNA, fingerprints, or weapons.
Perez does claim to have Paul Stine’s glasses. Kaufman once said that he had Stine’s shirt, but I think he was kidding. Anyway, here’s a mash-up including a photo of Stine, from his driver’s license and the glasses that Perez claims her adoptive father took from the slain cab driver. I’ll admit they are similar, but I can see appreciable differences in the shape. This analysis is, of course, accepting the speculation that the glasses in the photo of Stine are the one’s he was wearing at the time of his murder.
As you can probably tell, I personally don’t buy this story –at least not at this point. I’m really not biased. I have no suspect to support and would like very much to see this case solved. I was a bit excited when I heard that a new suspect was to be announced. However, I’m not going to believe just for the sake of believing. As I have with every suspect introduced with the least bit if sincerity, I will look deeper. I’m not convinced, but I’m not blind, either. I am interested in anything that will prove that this man, or any other is the Zodiac. So far, I haven’t seen it. If Guy Ward Hendrickson is the Zodiac, prove it. Prove it with facts. Prove it with evidence. Don’t just tell a creepy tale of how you looked at a sketch and came to the horrible conclusion that your father, stepfather, brother-in-law, brother, half-brother, Uncle Bubba, or whoever is the real Zodiac Killer. That wasn’t Bigfoot in the deep freeze, and this ain’t our first rodeo.
Update (sort of) : Another note on the glasses: After getting this post published between other tasks I’ve been performing today, I finally got around to catching up on reading some of the crime blogs. True Crime blogger extraordinaire Steve Huff has been following Perez’s claims for over a year. (How’d I miss that?) If the above post wasn’t enough to cast doubt on Perez’s claims, Steve Huff’s summary of this latest "news" surely will. You can read what he has to say, especially concerning those spectacles, here and here. It looks like Huff beat me to that glasses comparison thing I tried to do, also. Be sure to read this article at the San Francisco Weekly, too.
Another Update: It seems that this wild claim is not a singular event, but a pattern. According to Steve Huff’s True Crime Report, Perez has also claimed to be John F. Kennedy’s love child. All the details and a lot more can be found here. You can also see photos of the man whose name has been so maliciously slandered post-humously. (I’m referring to Hendrickson, not Kennedy. 
It’s people like Dennis Kaufman and Deborah Perez that reflect so badly on the Zodiac research community. Those who have spent time, money, resources, blood, sweat, and tears in the search for a brutal and taunting killer are reduced to being called "buffs" by the media, while the public looks at us as if we’re obsessive serial killer fans. The truth is, the group of researchers, most of whom are associated with Tom Voigt’s website and Message Board, have uncovered more facts and evidence surrounding this case than –I dare say– law enforcement has. Yet, those in charge have closed the case without ever finding the killer, even though he may still be alive as we speak. So, if you are just now becoming familiar with this case, don’t buy into the all of the media claims, the book theories, or the movie plots –take a close look at the factual evidence and then decide. But don’t look down on those that are diligently seeking the truth. Someone is always claiming to have solved the case, but until the facts add up and the evidence points conclusively, this case will remain one of the twentieth centuries greatest unsolved mysteries.
Related posts:
