Zodiac Killer docuseries highlights Atascadero suspect
Suspect Arthur Leigh Allen was local schoolteacher in the 1960s
– Deceased Atascadero resident Arthur Leigh Allen is highlighted as a suspect in the 1960s Zodiac Killer cold case in the new Netflix docuseries " This is the Zodiac Speaking ". The Zodiac Killer is linked to five murders committed in various locations throughout California. He would send threatening letters in code to local media taking ownership of the murders.
"Beloved teacher. Trusted family friend. Suspected serial killer. Was Arthur Leigh Allen the Zodiac? This docuseries unveils startling new clues," reads the Netflix description of "This is the Zodiac Speaking".
About Allen
Allen worked as a teacher at Santa Rosa Elementary School in Atascadero from 1960 to 1962. It was during this time that Allen became close with the local Seawater family, which consisted of Phyllis Seawater and her children David, Don and Connie. The three children are interviewed in the three episodes of "This is the Zodiac Speaking" and share their memories of Allen.
Former students recalled certain aspects of Allen's teaching that mimicked the Zodiac Killer case. He would have his classes decipher codes or listen to music that would later be quoted in letters from the Zodiac Killer.
Previously, Allen attended California Polytechnic State University twice in 1957; he graduated with the class of 1960.
Allen was arrested for child molestation in 1974 and spent two years at the Atascadero State Hospital. He was released on probation in 1977. Letters from the Zodiac Killer halted during this time and resumed after his release.
He died on August 26, 1992, from heart disease, with no further communication from the Zodiac Killer following his passing.
Zodiac Killings
The Zodiac Killer is confirmed by law enforcement to have killed five people, while letters confessed a minimum of 37 additional murders. The infamous Zodiac Killer letters started in July 1969 and stopped in 1974.
Three murders that occurred before the letters were sent out are believed to be associated with the Zodiac Killer, and as the Seawater children describe, with Allen.
On June 4, 1963, high school students and couple Linda Edwards and Robert Domingos were shot in Santa Barbara. While these murders were not proven to be by the Zodiac Killer, the Seawater children recount in the docuseries that they went with Allen to Tajiguas Beach around this time; he left them alone and came back bloody.
Another murder that is believed to be connected to the Zodiac Killer was 18 year old Cheri Jo Bates in Riverside on October 30, 1966. Allen had taken Connie and David on a trip on Oct. 28 and stopped in Riverside for two days. The children believe they had been drugged by Allen on Oct. 30; Connie described Allen molesting her that day. They all left Riverside on Oct. 31.
The Seawater children discussed potential admissions from Allen that he was the Zodiac Killer in the docuseries, including conversations where Allen admits or hints that he was the killer, which included instances in 1991 and 1992. Included in the docuseries are letters exchanged between Allen and Phyllis, where he mentions thinking about confessing or being nervous of the police.
