Netflix’s new documentary, This Is the Zodiac Speaking, dives into one of the most infamous unsolved serial killer cases, exploring the mystery of the Zodiac Killer who terrorized California in the 1960s and 1970s.
The film highlights the close connection between the Seawater family and Arthur Leigh Allen, the man they believe was the Zodiac. Known for his cryptic ciphers and taunting letters, the Zodiac Killer left behind clues that continue to baffle investigators and the public alike.
One such mystery is the chilling Albany letter, which appears to reveal a new potential victim, “Connie Henly,” and intensifies the documentary’s focus on Arthur Leigh Allen.
The Zodiac Killer’s Albany Letter Explained – What It Said
The letter sent to the Albany Times Union in August 1973 provides eerie insight into the Zodiac’s mind. According to zodiacciphers.com, this letter was potentially provoked by an article by Kermit Jaediker published in the New York Daily News on July 22, 1973, titled “A Code for Murder.”
In the article, Jaediker mocked the killer, implying he was a “screwball with two hobbies, killing, and cryptogram,” and noting that he hadn’t been active for some time.
The Zodiac’s response was swift and direct: “You were wrong, I am not dead or in the hospital. I am alive and well and I’m going to start killing again.” His letter chillingly claimed to name his next victim, revealing that he had concealed the person’s identity within a cipher.
The FBI later cracked this cryptic message but redacted portions of it. However, a History Channel documentary 2017 used supercomputers to decode the name “Connie Henly.”
This revelation was a critical moment for Tammie Lee Prueter, daughter of Connie Seawater, who found unsettling similarities between her mother’s experiences and the Zodiac’s threats.
Did The Zodiac Killer Send a Letter to Albany, New York?
While This Is The Zodiac Speaking suggests the Albany letter was authentic, some experts believe it was sent by a Zodiac copycat, spurred on by Jaediker’s provocative article. Skeptics point to the Zodiac’s period of inactivity and the letter’s inconsistencies with his usual cryptic style.
While the Zodiac often followed through on his threats, there was no immediate evidence to support the Albany letter’s warnings. Additionally, the symbols used in this cipher, such as a sun-cross character and standalone numbers, deviated from his signature style, which traditionally featured ciphertext squares with bisecting lines.
Many Zodiac researchers argue that these differences weaken the Albany letter’s credibility as a true Zodiac communication. However, This Is The Zodiac Speaking supports the theory that the letter could be authentic, pointing to compelling connections between the cryptic reference to “Connie Henly” and the Seawater family.
How the Zodiac Killer’s New York Letter Connects to the Seawater Family
The decoded message read, “Albany Medical Center. This is only the beginning…you had better hurry because I’m going to kill her on August 10th at 5:00 pm when the shifts change.”
The inclusion of “Connie Henly” immediately raised alarms for Connie Seawater’s family, given her proximity to the locations associated with Zodiac attacks.
In This Is The Zodiac Speaking, Tammie Lee Prueter notes that her grandmother’s maiden name was Hensley, drawing a disturbing similarity between “Connie Henly” and her mother, Connie Seawater.
Connie Seawater lived 300 miles from Albany in Canandaigua, New York, during the time of the letter. After the Albany letter’s arrival, she began receiving strange, menacing phone calls.
Arthur Leigh Allen, her close friend, even contacted her, ominously claiming he would come “get her.” These events added a disturbing layer of reality to the coded threats, leading the Seawater family to believe Connie Seawater may have indeed been a target.
This Is The Zodiac Speaking portrays the Seawater family as deeply impacted by these revelations, with Connie Seawater’s story standing out as a chilling example of the Zodiac’s psychological terror. While the Albany letter may or may not have come from the real Zodiac Killer, it remains a terrifying reminder of his influence over his victims and their families.
About This is the Zodiac Speaking
This is the Zodiac Speaking, is a three-part documentary out on Netflix Oct. 23. David and Connie Seawater say they would go on weekend trips with Allen, a local schoolteacher who was like a father to them, in the 1960s.
They believe Allen was responsible for killings nearby on those trips that occurred prior to the Zodiac killings that terrorized San Francisco in the late 1960s.
This is the Zodiac Speakingincludes interviews with the Seawater children, Allen’s former pupils—plus their home videos and letters from him—along with background on the case from Robert Graysmith, the journalist whose book Zodiacinspired the 2007 film by the same title.
This is the Zodiac Speaking co-director Ari Mark says his intention behind the series is to draw viewers into a bygone era of California before terrifying them.
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