FBI ‘knew mass killer but failed to arrest’
THE infamous Zodiac Killer was “secretly” identified by the FBI seven years ago – but they failed to close the case before he died, experts have claimed.
US journalist Thomas Colbert’s Case Breakers group has linked Air Force veteran Gary Francis Poste, who died in 2018 aged 80, to the 1968 killings.
They say an FBI source told them Poste was its prime suspect since 2016 – and claim the bureau failed to use his DNA to nail him for the five confirmed murders around San Francisco.
Case Breakers said: “The felon has been secretly listed as the Zodiac ‘suspect’ in HQ’s computers since 2016 – with his ‘partial DNA’ safely secured [at a lab].”
Pattern
The FBI has insisted its probe into the Zodiac – who claimed to have 37 victims, left coded messages for police – remains open.
The murders have never been solved and have been the subject of films including 2007’s Zodiac starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
Case Breakers gained its own DNA sample from Poste and want it tested against evidence from the 1966 murder of Cheri Jo Bates, 18 – which the FBI denies fits with the Zodiac’s pattern of criminality.
The group has also collected the guns and ammunition that Poste sold off to locals in his town before his death.
It added: “When someone wearing a badge or uniform works with others to avoid or hide materials, side-step difficult procedures or lie about evidence, they’re hurting the thousands of families waiting for answers.
“Sadly, the team has documented more than two dozen examples of unprofessionalism.”