Zodiac ‘340 Cipher” Cracked by International Three Man Team of Code Breakers
December 11, 2020
Los Angeles, California
Huge Kudos to the civilian team of code-breakers that have cracked the Zodiac 340 cryptogram. Truly, an international accomplishment.
David Oranchank, VA, USA Sam Blake, Australia Jarl Van Eykcke, Belgium
Zodiac 340 Cipher mailed 1969
Text of the 340 Cipher
The solution to the 340 cipher, according to Oranchak’s team:
I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING LOTS OF FUN IN TRYING TO CATCH ME THAT WASNT ME ON THE TV SHOW WHICH BRINGS UP A POINT ABOUT ME I AM NOT AFRAID OF THE GAS CHAMBER BECAUSE IT WILL SEND ME TO PARADICE ALL THE SOONER BECAUSE I NOW HAVE ENOUGH SLAVES TO WORK FOR ME WHERE EVERYONE ELSE HAS NOTHING WHEN THEY REACH PARADICE SO THEY ARE AFRAID OF DEATH I AM NOT AFRAID BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MY NEW LIFE IS LIFE WILL BE AN EASY ONE IN PARADICE DEATH
Many had thought (hoped) that Zodiac would reveal his actual identity in this code, but as we see, that was not to be.
SFPD detectives working with sociologists back in 1969 determined the concept of “collecting slaves for paradise” originated in Negroes, Occidental in the Southern Philippines.
I included the fact that my father, George Hodel and his wife Hortensia Starke Hodel owned a large Sugar Plantation in Negroes, Occidental in the 1960s forward. (Actually, my stepmother and her family owned the plantation for many decades preceding the Sixties, and had become quite wealthy and she was elected a Congresswoman representing that region in Manila. While stationed in the Navy in Subic Bay, I visited the plantation with my father and Hortensia and spent a few days of R&R. (Rest and Relaxation.) No question that George Hodel would have been well aware of this island lore of “collecting slaves for paradise.”
The cracking of the code while itself was an amazing accomplishment adds little to what we already knew, just more ramblings by Zodiac and his “collecting slaves.”
Here is an excellent YouTube video produced by David Orachank explaining the team’s work and “how they did it.”
Today’s article in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Wow, a cipher that leads to huge clue (if you know your GHH).
Hi Steve, just wondering if you know that there is a big progress in decrypt the zodiac killer. And it looks like the name decrypted might be DR GEORGE HODEL. https://www.reddit.com/r/codes/comments/kb5hkb/one_of_the_biggest_hits_in_years/
Sam: Yes, I agree and said so in my earlier books. Thirteen letters fit for sure.
Because the murder leaves his own name as cyphertext in one letter. And use the same password book to decrypt this name cypher text. The answer is very likely to be as DR GEORGE HODEL
David Oranchank says that he thinks solving the two remaining ciphers is “hopeless”, which of course we know that it’s not. I can’t believe the cipher you cracked never got this kind of attention. I mean, I guess I can since I’m sure it’d wound more than a few egos, but still.
Also, in the statement released by the police about this they mention that the Zodiac is an ongoing investigation, which is so frustrating considering that they won’t meet with you about everything you’ve uncovered. Do you think if this renews public interest in the Zodiac, they’ll finally be willing?
Jess: Maybe? We are greenlit on the miniseries to start in January so once made that will get a lot of attention as we summarize all five books in the series. Yes, kind of like the “Jack the Ripper” is “an ongoing investigation.” But, hopefully, SFPD will take a new approach. Keeping the faith.
Yet another piece of the puzzle falls into place. When you, in your books, pointed out the references to Gilbert and Sullivan in the ZK’s notes and stated that your father was a BIG fan of G and S, , plus the particular way of phrasing things (“This is the Zodiac Killer speaking”/”This is your father speaking..”) I was gobsmacked that the police didn’t instantly take this VERY seriously- because who would know better than one’s own SON how one’s FATHER would speak? And the likelihood of these two things coming together in “one” person (in addition to all the other “evidence for the prosecution” that you provided, points inexorably to G. Hodel being the Z.K. Can’t believe that anyone is actually “contesting ” this ID, in light of all the evidence. It also must be said that having a notorious serial killer as one’s own father is hardly the sort of thing to “brag” about, and even rather embarrassing, in light of the fact of your previous occupation, let’s face it! Not to mention how exposing such a claim would alienate one from one’s own family! So I think we can dismiss “publicity-mongering” or “a desire for notoriety” as your motive for pursuing this case! Props to you for following it to the bitter end!
L. Arnold.
Thanks again. Lot more to come. Stay tuned. Steve
A most interesting read, Steve. Thanks.
Hi Jess: Yes, definitely “heating up”. I think 2021 will be the year, finally. Best to you and yours.
Steve. Haven’t posted in a while, crazy year Lol. Thumbing through your website again after reading and rereading every book and website I could find (including your own) on the BD and zodiac. Most compelling argument to date for finally deciphering your fathers code. After looking at everything I could put my amateur eyes on, there is no doubt. Well done
Bryan W:
Hi Bryan.. thanks. Yes, they did an excellent job. Lot of hard work.
Well Steve it just confirms everything you’ve been saying all these years. The “slaves in Paradice” was the clincher for me. Even though it was these other people who technically solved the cipher, it was really you who solved this case to me. As I’ve said many times before, you were the only person on earth who could have exposed the terrible crimes of GHH and you have. And for that you’ve atoned to the victims for what George did to them. And for that, you’re a man among men on this earth. Your friend,
Lucas
Hi Lucas: Good to hear from you. Thanks for your longtime support through the years.
Things look really good for moving forward on starting a miniseries come January 2021 and I’m working hard on finishing “The Early Years”. Thanks for your help in making the videos to shine more light on the subject. Happy New Year to you and yours. Steve
That’s great news Steve. I’m really happy to hear it. Looking forward to watching the mini series and let’s talk again soon my friend. Happy holidays from Kristin and I. 🎄❄️
Lucas
Who is not afraid to die? Who sees a shadow Eden? Scorpius perhaps..
And: A lucid & sane serial killer mocking half-psychotic dummy serial killers is bit creepy. It´s not supposed to exist.
Steve, That’s very exciting about the miniseries. I’ve got plenty of questions that likely cannot be answered… yet. Among them: who’s going to play YOU?
Also I’m preparing myself for the viewers who’ll be so taken by the entertainment and shock that they will not fully process the extraordinary tragedy, or sequence of tragedies, that this story presents. Just due to the nature of television, a lot of people don’t really feel the gravity of the content. I witnessed this with THE MAKING OF A MURDERER. Right here in Wisconsin, some of the people who “liked” the show talked about it merely as entertainment, ignoring the terrible ineptitude and perfidy that is required to let criminals go free. I suppose this is unavoidable….?
Will there be a shot of young GHH reading FANTAZIUS MALLARE? BEN HECHT was played in the MANK movie.
Thanks again,
Miles:
Yes, great team for the project and confident it will be something very special and a real contribution in many fields.
Who to play me? They’re having trouble finding someone as good looking and intelligent so? And also, Orson Welles is dead.
Best to you and yours.
Steve,
Glad to hear that the miniseries is about to start production. Do you have a distribution deal in place yet?
Best,
Ryan
Ryan P.C:
Hi Ryan. The production company is working on all that. Beyond my scope of knowledge, but I think that will come down the road after we get a few episodes in the pocket?
Steve, Congratulations on your investigations finally getting the pubic recognition they deserve and especially with a mini series coming up! I am looking forward to watching it. If I was the casting director I would cast Brian Dennehey to play you, but I see he died last year. He was a fantastic brooding actor, your looks are similar, it would have been a great match. I used to amuse myself by imagining the cast of the Black Dahlia Avenger story if it every came to the silver screen. Johnny Depp and Jennifer Connelly were my main stars. (Have your people get in touch with my people if you need addition ideas (lol)! Once again, congratulations on your determination to track down the mountain of evidence that you have so thoroughly presented over the years.
Kimberly:
Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.
Yes, as we approach the 74th anniversary in a few more days, I am very thankful that we now have a much clearer understanding of the WHO and WHY of LA’s most infamous whodunit.
I think the miniseries will go a long way in condensing and adapting my now six books into visual crime signatures that will go a long way in making the point of his “Murder As a Fine Art” MO.
Have a great team of top professionals who will be putting it all together, so very excited to see it unfold as an active production this year. Stay tuned, a lot more to come.
As far as “who will play me” real problem. Apparently, they are having a tough time trying to find someone as handsome and intelligent to play the role; and Orson Welles is dead, so?
Best, Steve