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Questions remain if Zodiac Killer struck in Tahoe


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By Mike TeSelle, KCRA-TV

Why did Donna Lass disappear?

Was the then-25-year-old nurse killed?

Is she the 12th victim of Northern California’s infamous Zodiac Killer?

zodiac poster“We don’t know. … Of course it captures one’s imagination, because it’s such an intriguing case,” said Lt. Brian Williams with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

On Sept. 6, 1970, Williams said Lass signed a worker’s log inside the old Sahara casino (now the Horizon) about 1:50am.

Shortly after that, Lass was never seen — nor heard from — again, Williams said.

Six months after her disappearance, Williams said Lass’ case took a turn that, to this day, is still generating new tips, leads and theories of what happened to her.

“The Zodiac sent a postcard to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper. It suggested a Lake Tahoe location for his 12th victim,” Williams said. “Donna Lass would’ve been his 12th victim.”

The postcard contained phrases and symbols similar to Zodiac mailings.

One phrase read “Peek through the pines.” Another was written upside down: “Around in the snow.”

In 2007, acting on a tip related to the Zodiac killings, South Lake Tahoe police participated in a dig of a possible burial site near Lake Tahoe, but found nothing.

To this day, even though one investigator said his hunch is that Lass’ disappearance is not linked to the Zodiac, Williams said the department still can’t rule out that possibility.

“Stranger things have happened, as we have seen with the Jaycee Lee Dugard case. We will never give up hope in solving this case for Lass’ family,” Williams said.

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Comments (9)
  1. copper says - Posted: August 1, 2013

    There are more Zodiac “hobbyists” out there claiming to know who the Zodiac is (or, more likely, was) than there are Zodiac victims. And, sadly, there were lots of those.

  2. Zodiac Identified says - Posted: August 1, 2013

    The police don’t have a clue who Zodiac was all these years later, and need some good help,not help from people out to make profit from the case with their fake stories and wanting donations. It has been solved, and people will see.

  3. Kevin Robert Brooks says - Posted: August 2, 2013

    Zodiac was Donald Lee Bujok. I have told you all before and will prove it in my book ‘Zodiac the Montana Connection.’ He did not kill 37! He probably didn’t Kill Donna Lass either. However he would take credit for whatever the newspapers would permit him too. His story is truly a sad one and nothing like what you have read or heard before.

    Kevin Robert Brooks / Author / ‘Zodiac the Montana Connection’

  4. New to this says - Posted: August 2, 2013

    I new an ex Vallejo Calif. police officer who told me years ago that the Zodiac Killer was caught and killed in Santa Cruz and he was involved in the case for several years. He passed away 10 years ago so there is no way for me to confirm his story.He was a very honest man and a good cop for almost 30 years with the Vallejo Police Dept.

  5. Non-profit says - Posted: August 2, 2013

    Anyone claiming to know who Zodiac is or was,and wants to promote the selling of a book says it all. Save your money.

  6. Kevin Robert Brooks says - Posted: August 3, 2013

    Non-profit:

    I understand your comments completely as the world needs another “Zodiac book” like it needs more nuclear bombs… Most are full of fiction and others think they have a free pass to accuse whomever.

    So you know, part of the profits will go to charity and other monies to pay for work that has been done. This is the real deal this time and when you see our work you too will know… However, I fully understand your comments but they will be of a completely different tone when you see what evidence we have…

    I too get frustrated when I see people claiming they have found this man’s identity (Zodiac’s) with nothing to back it up. That is part of the reason this was never solved. Law Enforcement is just “over it” and treats anyone with a new theory as “another one of them.” I don’t blame your skepticism. I too would be…

    Sincerely

    Kevin Robert Brooks

  7. Mike Morford says - Posted: August 17, 2013

    Shame to see people here plugging a book on this page about Donna’s case. Save yourself some money, Donald Bujok was NOT the Zodiac Killer, police have already ruled him out. Shame on you Kevin Brooks.

    However, if you are truly interested in Donna’s case and the truth, stop by http://www.zodiackillersite.com You will find some interesting things,one of which is, we just verified that Donna Lass had a relative that lived in Vallejo, which provides a link between her and Vallejo, where Zodiac operated

  8. Susan says - Posted: August 22, 2013

    216.185.79.9 zodiac