Nikki  Benedict - Possible Zodiac Victim?

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On May Day (the major witchcraft Sabbat of Beltane and it's Feast of Fires) 1967 (during the last quarter phase of the moon) a young hazel-eyed blond girl, 5' 6" with an athletic build (like Bates) was found on a path near a swale (water element?) bleeding from stab wounds to her chest an inch apart. (We will accept this as info is always withheld). The knife had a small blade (like the knife used on Bates.) Her name was Nikki Alexandra Benedict.

The incident took place in the town of Poway, CA (There seems to usually be a Celtic, Irish, Welsh, or  English connection to the Zodiac. Poway is the name of a county in Wales.) near Riverside just a short time after the 4/30/67 Zodiac missives were received in Riverside. The '67 note said, "There will be more". Nikki was killed a day later!

Like Bates, she had to have been stalked, as this was the first time the teen walked home and did not take the bus. The '66 Zodiac letter said "I am stalking your girls now". Homicide detectives said the girl had not been raped, but "there were indications she had been killed by a sexual psychopath (some believe Z possessed the same psychopathic behavior) who became enraged at her resistance."

The police report says, "A wound on her neck (recall Bates) indicated a sharp instrument had been used to try to force submission, and bruises on her elbows and knees indicated a struggle had taken place on the ground." (Like Bates.)

Detectives said the murder weapon was a large pocket knife or a small hunting knife. (Some people question whether or not the Bates killer brought a small knife with the intention of killing her with it.) Of course, it was adequate enough to kill with - as Bates' death certificate and autopsy report says, "Multiple stab and slashing wound[s] of the abdomen and neck inflicted with a sharp instrument or knife". This was done with a SMALL knife - she was "almost decapitated"! The same person could have committed both murders.

It was recently discovered that one of the prime suspects in the Benedict murder was the Zodiac as a man was seen watching Nikki and her friend earlier in the day. The friend's description matched that of the future Zodiac! Remember this suspect's description was given in May 1967 and Zodiac was not described or shown in the papers/posters until October 1969!

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The Water Connection

Water held a very important place in the symbolic teachings of Celtic / Druid lore. Charles Manson studied these subjects and in at least one taped interview affirmed Druidism. Manson instructed the Family that, whenever possible, they were to conduct their "activities" near water or it's symbolic representation. As Manson went so went Bruce Davis - both believed alike.

Cheri Jo Bates was killed at Riverside City College in Riverside, California. The killer's car was parked on Riverside Drive. In a typed letter the killer indicated that Bates was not the first.

Go back to 1963 and a couple was killed in Santa Barbara near water. This case is unsolved. In 1964 the unsolved Seaside Honeymoon Murders in San Diego were committed right next to the ocean. In Zodiac's 1968 attack, the couple was murdered on Lake Herman Road, very near the lake itself. In 1969 Zodiac attacked a couple at Blue Rock Springs. He may have left the area using Lake Herman Rd. The killer made his phone call from the intersection of Tuolumne and Springs Road. In September of that year he attacked another couple at Lake Berryessa and made a phone call from near the Napa Car Wash. Came October and Zodiac murdered a cab driver in San Francisco on Washington St. very near to a fire hydrant. At least one suspected Zodiac killing took place in Lake County. Donna Lass (a possible Zodiac victim) disappeared from near Lake Tahoe.

On at least one occasion the killer appeared in Navy-like clothing. Zodiac was also interested in astrology and when the attack dates and times are astrologically charted the three water signs and their associated planets figure prominently.

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