A Forensic Linguistics Case Study of the Mystery of the Golden
Coast Serial Killer: The Zodiac Presented By: Razan S. Badawi
Slide 3
no two people have the same handwriting. Thus, handwriting is
viewed as being as identifiable as a fingerprint. Nicole Letch
(2004) What is Forensic Linguistics?
Slide 4
Types of Linguistic Evidence Other Emails, Blogs, Graffiti,etc
Written Notes Suicide Ransom Letters Serial Killers Verbal Voice
Fingerprints Intellectual Property Plagiarism
Slide 5
Who is the Zodiac?
Slide 6
Main Suspects Richard Gaikowski (1936 2004) Arthur Leigh Allen
(1933 -1992)
Slide 7
Research Methodology "linguistics helps build a profile, not
identify an individual" (Leonard, 2005) - Linguistic analysis of
hand-written evidence: Spelling Punctuation Lexical Choice
Slide 8
This is the Zodiac Speaking... Spelling I Cipher + Cypher =
cyipher !?
Slide 9
noun 1a secret or disguised way of writing; a code. verb 1
[with object] put (a message) into secret writing; encode. Cipher
(cipher) Pronunciation: / sfr/ (also cypher)
oxforddictionaries.com
Slide 10
This is the Zodiac Speaking... Spelling II
Slide 11
This is the Zodiac Speaking... Punctuation The Zodiacs Bates
letter that he sent to the Riverside Police Department
Slide 12
This is the Zodiac Speaking... Lexical Choice I Kill (verb): to
deprive of life in any manner; cause the death of; slay.
http://dictionary.reference.com/ Mailed: July 31, 1969 Sent to: San
Francisco Examiner
http://www.zodiackiller.com/ExaminerLetter1.html
Slide 13
This is the Zodiac Speaking... Lexical Choice II Murder (noun):
Law. the killing of another human being under conditions
specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory
definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought,
characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during
the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arson
(first-degree murder) and murder by intent but without deliberation
or premeditation (second-degree murder)
http://dictionary.reference.com/ Mailed: July 31, 1969 Sent to: San
Francisco Chronicle
http://www.zodiackiller.com/ChronicleLetter1.html
Slide 14
Results: Creating a Profile Educated Knowledgeable Well-read
Religious Had a non-stop desire to kill Had a god complex A
linguistic prodigy