Arthur Leigh Allen's Zodiac “Confession” to the Seas: Everything We Know

Netflixs This is the zodiac speaking sheds new light on one of America's most notorious unsolved serial murder cases – the Zodiac Killer. Over the years, the case remained a spooky mystery, with police publicly naming only one suspect: Arthur Leigh Allen, a former elementary school teacher and convicted sex offender. But despite strong suspicions There was never enough evidence to charge Allen. The documentary delves deep into Allen's life, presenting footage and interviews with key figures, including Allen's former students, friends of the victims and investigative reporters who covered the Zodiac Killer case extensively.

At its core lies the documentary the previously unheard testimony of the Seawater familywho knew Allen personally. The family reveals startling details about their childhood interactions with Allen, including how he took them to locations later identified as Zodiac crime scenes. These revelations, combined with cryptic comments and symbols left by Allen, raise questions about his possible confession to the murders. The documentary opens up the case from new perspectives and unravels the mystery surrounding Arthur Leigh Allen's possible involvement in the Zodiac murders.

Netflix's new Zodiac Killer documentary series connects Arthur Leigh Allen with the Seawater family

He was a regular presence in her life in the early 1960s

Netflixs This is the zodiac speaking reveals that Arthur Leigh Allen developed a close relationship with the Seawater family in the early 1960s. At this time, the children's father was institutionalized and Allen became an integral part of their lives. He became friends with her mother, Phyllis Seawater, and often met the family for dinner.

Allen, an avid scuba diver, took the Seawater children on numerous excursions, including seashell hunting trips and visits to local movie theaters. These interactions, which seemed harmless at the time, are now viewed from a different perspective in light of the Zodiac Killer investigation. In addition to his family outings, Allen was a popular elementary school teacher known for his quirky and engaging teaching methods.

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According to his former students, he often sang along to songs like the Kingston Trio “Tom Dooley” and Gilbert and Sullivan The Mikado in class. Darin Alvord, a former student, remembers Allen teaching the class how to decipher codes– an activity that seemed like a harmless educational exercise, but later gained significance when the Zodiac Killer's encrypted letters were released. The documentary connects these moments from Allen's past with his possible involvement in the Zodiac case.

Did Arthur Leigh Allen confess to being the Zodiac Killer?

The Seawater siblings believe he did it

In This is the zodiac speakingThe Seawater siblings reveal Arthur allegedly confessed to Leigh Allen to being the Zodiac Killer. David Seawater recounts a one-on-one conversation with Allen as his health deteriorated, in which Allen not only admitted to being the notorious murderer, but also that he had drugged the Seawater children during their outings. David describes this confession in shocking detail and claims that Allen also admitted to abusing his sister Connie.

Meanwhile, Connie remembers asking Allen if he was the Zodiac Killer while sailing in 1991. Allen's cryptic answer was: “If I told you, I would have to kill you.” The documentary also highlights that Allen took the Seawater children to locations that were later identified as Zodiac murder sites. After watching the 2007 film Zodiac, The siblings realized that they had visited all the important murder sites with Allen before the murders took place.

Connie particularly remembers a disturbing trip to a racetrack in Riverside in late October 1966. She believes they were drugged by Allen and has fragmented memories of the events of that weekend. On October 30, 1966, Cheri Jo Bates was found murdered nearby, but no official connection was ever made between her death and the Zodiac Killer.

The Seawaters' Kodak VHS Tape Explained (and How It's Connected to the Zodiac Killer)

The Zodiac Killer was obsessed with puzzles

The Kodak VHS tape sent by Arthur Leigh Allen to Phyllis Seawater has sparked new intrigue in the Zodiac Killer case. Allen used a Memorex HS label on a Kodak cassette, which experts like Cornelius Huxtable believe was deliberate misdirection. “This is classic Zodiac.” Huxtable explained, noting that the random numbers on the label, particularly “27B,” could serve to confuse investigators, just as Zodiac did with its cryptic letters.

Cryptanalysts believe Allen used steganography to hide a mystery, similar to the Zodiac Killer's modus operandi, without making a direct confession. Allen's health at the time further supports this theory. He suffered from stage 5 chronic kidney disease and was aware of his impending death, so a direct, open confession was risky.

Investigators indicate that the tape sent to Phyllis contained:Long time no see” and omitted any mention of the enigmatic label. His conscious decision to leave the label blank while applying “27B” and other stickers is seen as an attempt to throw dust in the eyes of investigators. The Zodiac Killer's well-documented obsession with puzzles and public taunts suggest that this VHS was Allen's final cryptic message.

What happened after Arthur Leigh Allen's Zodiac Killer “Confession”?

Evidence is still missing

Based on Arthur Leigh Allen's cryptic “Confession,“Investigators tried to link him to the Zodiac murders, but there was no solid evidence. Kathleen Johns testified that her attacker was a black man, casting doubt on Allen's involvement. Allen's defense attorney, Laren LaMonica, pointed out the lack of a direct charge. LaMonica later expressed regret for allowing Allen to take the stand, as invoking the Fifth Amendment led to public skepticism.

“If you take the fifth, you must have something to hide.” remarked audience member Noel, reflecting a general sentiment, while Paul Kutner responded: “How could they prove he did it?” This tension highlighted the complexity of proving Allen's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. After Allen's death, police searched his home and discovered a Zodiac Sea Wolf watch with the same logo as in the killer's letters.

Family members later discovered letters between Allen and Phyllis Seawater that revealed he was very afraid of police scrutiny. In a letter Allen wrote: ““Every time someone mentioned the police to me, I cringed.” And “If I saw a headline about a murder, my palms would sweat.” And “The most dangerous thing was when I almost decided to confess.” Despite these findings, law enforcement authorities have struggled to build a compelling case against him, as is clear from This is the zodiac speaking.

After decades of mystery, the Seawater family presents new evidence about the Zodiac Killer, telling their story and naming the only suspect investigators have settled on.

Release date

October 23, 2024

Seasons

1

network

Netflix