The killer dismembered his victims in half and carved grotesque smiles.
A new investigation by the Daily Mail claims that the Zodiac serial killer and the Black Dahlia murderer are the same person, Marvin Margolis. The FBI and California police are reportedly "examining this sensational theory, and independent investigators have uncovered a wealth of compelling evidence that is currently undergoing forensic analysis."
"If the evidence holds up, it would mean that two of the greatest murder mysteries in the world could finally be solved," the publication states.
Between 1968 and 1969, the Zodiac serial killer terrorized Northern California, killing at least five people and claiming to have killed dozens more. The "phantom" killer taunted the media and police with letters and ciphers, challenging the public to uncover his identity.
Twenty years prior, in 1947, another murder shocked the state.
Hollywood aspiring actress Elizabeth Short, known as the "Black Dahlia," was found dead near the "Lovers' Lane" in Los Angeles. Her body was mutilated—cut in half at the waist, with a grotesque smile carved into her cheeks.
"Now, after more than half a century of mysteries, countless law enforcement and amateur investigations, failed attempts to use DNA testing, and defeats of the world's most talented codebreakers, investigative consultant Alex Baber believes he has finally solved both cases," the publication writes.
"The Zodiac killer hinted that the Z13 cipher he sent in April 1970 contained his real name. Baber, co-founder of Cold Case Consultants of America, claims he has finally deciphered it using artificial intelligence, recently released census records, and classical cryptography. His solution revealed the name of a man who was also the prime suspect in Short's murder," the publication states.
It is noted that he also deciphered the Zodiac's Z32 cipher, finding a solution that is linked to the Black Dahlia murder.
"And thanks to his years of investigation, including a comprehensive review of law enforcement files, court documents, and public records, Baber has uncovered a wealth of circumstantial evidence that he believes proves that the same person committed both barbaric crimes," the publication states.
"A man who had the medical expertise to mutilate Short's body with chilling precision and had been in a relationship with her months before her death. A man connected to military cryptography who returned from World War II with a weapon similar to the one used in one of the Zodiac's attacks. A man who left a confession on his deathbed that could link these two cases. Here, for the first time, the Daily Mail can reveal the identity of this man. His name is... Marvin Margolis," the publication writes.
The Daily Mail has spent several months examining Baber's investigation, reviewing hundreds of documents and records shared by his team.
"It's irrefutable. It's just mathematically impossible for it not to be him," Baber told the Daily Mail.
While independent investigators and amateur detectives have claimed to have solved cases in the past, Baber says his investigation is different in that it has garnered the attention of active law enforcement.
Baber stated that he met twice with representatives from California police departments responsible for the Zodiac case, and that they are currently reviewing his findings.
After the first meeting with representatives from the San Francisco Police Department, the Daily Mail confirmed that he was invited to present his evidence to an interagency group with jurisdiction over the Zodiac crimes, consisting of members from the San Francisco Police, Napa County Sheriff’s Office, Solano County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI (the Vallejo police were the only agency not present).
The Daily Mail learned that members of Baber's team also met with Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell back in October, who then tasked his robbery and homicide division to investigate findings related to the Black Dahlia.
Baber's conclusions have reportedly also been confirmed by several experts.
