The Gaul / Sharp Murders

Pasadena, California Star-News, November 25, 1969

Pasadena, California Star-News, November 26, 1969

Hayward, California The Daily Review, December 10, 1969

Greely, Colorado Daily Tribune, December 10, 1969

Long Beach, California Independent Press-Telegram, December 11, 1969

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On November 21, 1969 Charles Manson was arraigned in Independence, California. At around 11:30 P.M. that same date the bodies of Doreen Gaul, 19, and James Sharp, 15, were found in a dark alley in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles.

Like Cheri Jo Bates, Doreen was heard screaming. She yelled out, "Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy." Gaul had been stabbed 50 times with a knife ½ to 1 inch wide and approximately 4 inches long. (This is similar in size to the knife used on Bates.) Sharp had been stabbed 45 times. Both had been struck in the face with a chain-like instrument. A short time before her murder, Gaul had been struck by a blow from behind, like what happened to Manson Family victim Shorty Shea. She had even spent some time in the hospital because of that blow.

The most startling aspect of this case occurred when a detective discovered a typed note. It was a carbon copy of the original and all in capital lettering, very much like the Bates Zodiac letter of 11/29/66. This note, complete with explanation, is found in "The Zodiac / Manson Connection" book. The note contains a threat to Gaul. It is signed "The Zodiac Killer" and a "Z" (a symbol rarely used by Zodiac) is also used. For more details click here: ZodiacKiller.com.

On 11/21/69 there was a full moon (a favorite time of the month for Zodiac's activities) and also the Sun was cusping (changing Zodiacal signs.) These are important elements in Celtic / Druid teachings and also in astrology.

The Gaul / Sharp case seems like a hybrid between the Bates 187 and Zodiac victims Cecelia Shephard and Bryan Hartnell at Lake Berryessa on 9/27/69. It is quite a coincidence that a girlfriend of hardcore Manson adherent Bruce Davis (who greatly angered him) should be found dead on the same day that Charles Manson is arraigned.

Please see the Autopsy Files for more information regarding Gaul and Sharp.

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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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