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Operation: Gemini Fbi Special Task Force

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Operation: Gemini Fbi Special Task Force OPERATION: GEMINI FBI SPECIAL TASK FORCE TIMELINE OF EVENTS June 4, 1963 Santa Barbara, California- Lompoc High ​ ​ School students and engaged couple, Robert Domingos (18) & Linda Edwards (17) were sunbathing on a remote area of beach in Santa Barbara to celebrate their high school’s “Senior Ditch Day.” The killer approached them, bound them with rope, and then shot them when they attempted to flee. Circumstances suggest that the killer had some level of expertise with firearms. After being dragged to a nearby shack, the killer attempted to set the shack on fire, but failed to burn it down. The bodies were found the next day. October 30, 1966 (Suspected killing) Riverside, California Ramona High School graduate, 18-year-old Cheri ​—​ ​ Jo Bates, was studying in a college library. She was beaten and stabbed multiple times with a short blade knife. There was no evidence of robbery or assault. Her car was found intentionally disabled about 100 yards away from the alley. There were no witnesses. Left behind was a watch and a size 8-10 shoe print. December 20, 1968 Two high school students, Betty Benici​a, California—​ ​ ​ Lou Jensen (16) and David Faraday (17)set out on their first date. Their initial destination was the Hogan High School Christmas concert. Instead, the couple decided to grab a bite to eat and then head to Lovers Lane on Lake Herman Road. The couple arrived at about 10:15 p.m. and were found found dead by 11 p.m. Faraday was shot exiting the vehicle (one single shot to the head). Jensen was shot while fleeing from the vehicle. Jensen made it 28 feet from the car before getting five shots to the back. Both victims were pronounced dead. Ballistic evidence indicated that the killer used a .22-caliber, possibly a J. C. Higgins Model 80 semi-automatic pistol. July 4, 1969 Darlene Ferrin (22) and Vallejo, California​—​ ​ Michael Mageau (19) drove to Blue Rock Springs Park just before midnight. Around midnight, another car pulled into the lot but left minutes later. Shortly after, the car returned, Mageau was shot in the jaw, shoulder and leg. Ferrin was also shot multiple times. Both victims were shot with a 9-millimeter Luger. At around 12:40 a.m., the Vallejo Police Department received a call from a man claiming responsibility for the shooting, as well as the shooting of Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday. To prove authenticity, the man confirmed the use of the 9-millimeter Luger in the attack. Ferrin did not make it; Mageau survived. ​July 31, 1969 (1)The Vallejo Times-Herald receives a letter claiming responsibility for the shootings in Benicia and ​ Vallejo. The writer includes details about the victims, weapons, the number of shots fired, and the brand of ammunition. The letter also contains one-third of a cipher. Thus far, it is the only cipher that has been solved. (2)The San Francisco Chronicle receives a letter containing one-third of a cipher. The writer of the letter ​ demands publication of the letter and cipher by Friday, August 1st. The investigation has yet to solve this part of the cipher. (3)The San Francisco Examiner receives a letter containing one-third of a cipher. In the letter, the writer ​ threatens to kill again if the cipher is not published. The investigation has yet to solve this part of the cipher ​August 4, 1969 The San Francisco Examiner receives a three page letter in response to police asking for information to ​ ​ prove the writer actually committed the murders. The writer of the letter also refers to himself as the Zodiac killer for the first time. MAP OF ZODIAC ATTACKS August 11, 1969 A​TTN: Operation Gemini Upon public outcry, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has decided to head a special task force in the wake of several seemingly connected murders in the area. The task force consists of investigators from local police departments, newspaper writers who have received the Zodiac letters, forensic specialists as well as FBI-assigned Special Supervisory Agents (SSAs). Most recently: the attack on Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau. Ferrin is dead, and Mageau alive, but with injuries and trauma. This is the most recent suspected fourth attack, believed by some to be all connected. Newspapers in the area received three letters including a cipher claiming responsibility for the attacks, going by the name “Zodiac”. As of now, only part of the cipher has been cracked, and authorities still have no definitive lead regarding the perpetrator. The public is beginning to notice, which has created difficulties for the individual police departments. The perpetrator, who calls himself “Zodiac”, seems to thrive on attention— public intrigue, fear, and obsession gives him a certain level of control, which in turn gives him confidence to attack. Public interest, then, can at time hinder this investigation. Certainly, the public may be able to aid, but false information can also lead to confusion moving forward. Members of this operation, you have been tasked with this specialized mission to use all the resources available to each of you, track down this killer, and apprehend them. Each of you have been selected because of your abilities in law enforcement, expertise in respective fields, or familiarity with the cases at hand. It is up to you to create a plan of action, and work as a whole. Time is of the essence— this perpetrator has not only killed, but is also taunting the communities. We do not know when he will strike again, but as it is, he has the upper hand. We cannot allow this chaos to continue. Find the killer, and end the pandemonium. FBI TASK FORCE OPERATIONS: FBI-sponsored task forces utilize written agreement between the organizations involved and are fully funded by the FBI. These task forces daily operations are overseen by Supervisory Special Agents (SSAs). The SSAs delegate the administrative functions of the task force to the task force coordinator. The task force coordinator is responsible for collecting the written agreements from all agencies involved, the budget of the operation, assigning surveillance on any suspects, and are the primary line investigator liaison assigned to the unit. The Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of local field offices with assigned agents to the task force to help with the investigation. COMMITTEE LOGISTICS: The SSAs assigned to oversee the committee are present as delegates and the task face coordinator can be contacted through crisis notes. All members of the committee have access to the resources from their positions from their respective jobs. Other resources can be allocated through the task force coordinator. DEPARTMENTS NOTE: MEMBERS ARE NOT LIMITED TO CONDUCTING WORK WITH THE LISTED DEPARTMENTS EXCLUSIVELY; THE FOLLOWING HAVE EITHER DIRECTLY DEALT WITH THE SUSPECT, OR HAVE TIES TO MEMBERS OF THIS TASK FORCE, AND MAY WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND/OR AGENCIES. ● Two of the murders attributed to the Zodiac VALLEJO POLICE DEPARTMENT: ​ Killer took place within the city limits of the Vallejo PD, and are currently investigating the case. At around 12:40 a.m., the Vallejo Police Department received ​ a call from a man claiming responsibility for the shooting, as well as the shooting of Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday. The police traced the call to a phone booth at a ​ gas station at Springs Road and Tuolumne, about three-tenths of a mile from Ferrin's home and only a few blocks from the Vallejo Police Department.Ferrin was pronounced dead at the hospital; Mageau survived the attack despite being shot in the face, neck and chest. In police reports, Mageau described his attacker as a 26–30 years old, 195–200 lbs or possibly even more, 5'8" white male with short, light brown curly hair. ● The San Francisco Police Department SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT: ​ (SFPD) is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California. The SFPD should not be confused with the San Francisco Sheriff's Department, which is another county law enforcement agency within San Francisco. The SFPD serves an estimated population of 715, 674. Following the multi-part letter sent to various newspapers, two of which are based in San Francisco (as well as a following letter to the San Francisco Examiner), the SFPD has been closely monitoring the case, ​ ​ having been in contact with other police departments. The SFPD has also been in contact with staff and owners from the Examiner and the Chronicle Letter, advising ​ ​ ​ ​ on protocol about how to proceed with the letters and threats. The most recent letter, received by the Examiner, read, “Dear Editor This is the Zodiac speaking”, was ​ ​ a response to Police Chief Jack E. Stiltz’s (Vallejo PD) request for more details. ● Six months after the murder of Cheri Jo RIVERSIDE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT:​ Bates (1966), three virtually identical handwritten letters were sent to the newspaper, Riverside police and the father of Cheri Jo Bates. The text read, “Bates had to die. There will be more.” Police believed that the killer was the author of the confession letter. Each of these letters featured a small symbol at the bottom of the page which appeared similar to the letter “Z”. In 1969, the Zodiac crimes were widely reported in the news and eventually the Riverside Police Department noted similarities to the unsolved Bates case. Chief Thomas Kinkead contacted Special Agent Mel Nicolai at the California Department of Justice, who assisted the various law enforcement agencies involved in the Zodiac case. Kinkead shared the details regarding the Bates murder, and then forwarded a letter which provided the basic facts regarding the Bates murder and the written communications from someone who claimed to be the killer.
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