Suspects

According to the Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram, a man claiming to be the "Zodiac" slayer who has bragged of seven murders was shot to death by a policeman November 21, 1969. He had threatened to cut his own daughter's throat. At the time, authorities said that they doubted 32 year-old David O. Martin was the man responsible for a series of fatal shootings and knife attacks in the San Francisco Bay Area during the past 11 months. Police said he did not resemble the Zodiac composite. "We can't discount it at this time," a police spokesman said. "We'll launch a thorough investigation.

An unidentified San Mateo man called a telephone operator and said that he was the Zodiac killer. The caller's words were: "I'm the Zodiac. You're next on my list, Operator. The operator kept the line open and the call was traced. A police officer was dispatched to the caller's home and was met at the door by a man wielding a .22 caliber rifle. The man invited the officer inside and hung the gun on a rack. The man explained that he had been asleep. After being questioned, the man admitted making the call, but said he had "only been joking." The investigating officer said he would refer the police report to the district attorney to determine if charges were to be filed.