FOIA Request For 12/16/69 Fairfield Zodiac Letter "This state is in trouble...Bleeding knife of the Zodiac"

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

I sent this FOIA request to the FBI (thanks for the info Morf!):

I am requesting through the Freedom Of Information Act a record which should be in the FBI file concerning the Zodiac Killer of San Francisco.

It was a letter from the Zodiac Killer to the SF Examiner. It was postmarked 12/16/69 from Fairfield, CA, and the first page opened with the now famous line "This is the Zodiac speaking", followed by "I just want to tell you this state is in trouble", and other text that was not specified. It is indicated that the second page had a drawing and words about the "bleeding knife of the Zodiac."

Thank you.

And got the following response:

The FBI has received your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy (FOI/PA) request and it will be forwarded to the Work Process Unit for review. Your request will be processed under the provisions of FOI/PA and a response will be mailed to you at a later date.

Requests for fee waivers and expedited processing will be addressed once your request has been assigned an FOI/PA request number. You will receive written notification of the FBI’s decision.

Information regarding the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy is available at www.fbi.gov or http://foia.fbi.gov/. If you require additional assistance please contact the Public Information Officer.

Thank you,

David P. Sobonya
Public Information Officer/Legal Admin. Specialist
Service Request Unit (SRU)
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

If I ever get the letter, the first place it will be posted is right here!

I am very interested in this letter because it appears that Zodiac might be making a political or social statement of some kind.

In May 1969, someone derailed a train in Fairfield, and it was thought they were trying for a train which came right after that one that had arms for Vietnam.

I too got a similar letter. I requested any addl info on the Albany letter, as well as the Bleeding knife letter, and a 3rd request for "any & all previously unreleased documents that can now be released"

Hopefully, one of us hits paydirt. If we do, we can post it here. I also am interested in the alleged DMV letter sent by Z that was being talked about on Tom's forum.

If my POI kicks the bucket anytime soon, I will request any files pertaining to him as well.

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

Cool.

Was it from David P. Sobonya?

I think it is good if a few requests are made for various Z documents - it shows it is important and increases the chances that at least one of us will get something.

And if I get anything it will go up here first.

But because I want maximum exposure for all documents, if I get anything I will send it to other sites like Chris Y, Mike B and yes even Tom V.

Agree?

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

This memo references the letter I sent a FOIA request to the FBI to get.

FOIA Request For 12/16/69 Fairfield Zodiac Letter "This state is in trouble...Bleeding knife of the Zodiac" Fbi_me10

FOIA Request For 12/16/69 Fairfield Zodiac Letter "This state is in trouble...Bleeding knife of the Zodiac" Fbi_me10

Mmmmm I'm very interested in the Fairfield connection......................

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

Today in my mailbox, real US Postal Service, not email, I got a letter from the FBI in response to my FOIA request for the Zodiac letter with "this state is in trouble" and "the bleeding knife of the Zodiac" postmarked December 16, 1969, Fairfield, CA.

It acknowledges receipt of the request, gives it a number and while there are several BAD boxes that could be given or checked on this letter (refusal, can't give for privacy, can't give for open investigation, can't find, "processing delays by large number of requests", etc.) IMO they checked the best one:

"We are searching the indices to our Central Records System for the information you requested, and will inform you of the results as soon as possible"

I am sure there is still a ways to go in this, and who knows what twists and turns may happen.

But I am happy that, at least initially, they are NOT refusing on privacy, secrect, open investigation or other grounds. Which means, I hope, that we may finally get to see this letter!

One tip if anyone wants to do a FOIA. If you make a large request "All unreleased documents in the Zodiac case", or something like that, it may take years if ever to get anything. I requested just this single two page letter, and I am pleased with the quick responses so far.

Another tip - I told the FBI that if I get the letter, in order to have the public see it and prevent multiple requests from others, I would send a copy of the letter to all major Zodiac researchers and websites. That obviously didn't hurt, and I think it may have helped.

I may do another Zodiac FOIA - anyone have an idea or request for "most wanted to see" Zodiac document?

AK, isnt that similar to the letter they sent you already? I havent checked my mail in a couple days, so now I too am excited.

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

No, the first response I got was by email and it just said "we got your request"

This one came by real mail, assigned my request an ID number and a name ("ZODIAC KILLER LETTER") and, instead of checking the denied or refused box, or the delay box, it said they are looking for it now.

So I take that as a good sign.

What was your request for? Did you ask for multiple documents?

AK Wilks wrote:: No, the first response I got was by email and it just said "we got your request"

This one came by real mail, assigned my request an ID number and a name ("ZODIAC KILLER LETTER") and, instead of checking the denied or refused box, or the delay box, it said they are looking for it now.

So I take that as a good sign.

What was your request for? Did you ask for multiple documents?

I did 2 separate requests for the cancer FLT 555 info, the Albany letter info, and the BLEEDING KNIFE, and a general one for any "previously unreleased materials"

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

So, Morf, based on what we know, nobody has yet done a request for the LEO Horoscope page?

If we can confirm that maybe I will do a request for it.

Are there any other specific possible Zodiac letters we know of that we have not seen?

AK Wilks wrote:: So, Morf, based on what we know, nobody has yet done a request for the LEO Horoscope page?

If we can confirm that maybe I will do a request for it.

Are there any other specific possible Zodiac letters we know of that we have not seen?

THe CANCER/FLT555 card you mean?

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

No we have the CANCER - FLT 555 card.

But the FBI report also mentions a LEO card.

Did you or anybody else request the LEO card?

I dont actually think i requested LEO info, only the Cancer/555 card

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

Ok, thanks, I think I will do a request for the LEO horoscope card/page.

Does anyone know of any interesting Zodiac doucuments mentioned in the FBI or police files, but that have not been released to the public?

If so, let me know me know TODAY and I may include them in the FOIA request I will do tomorrow.

AK Wilks wrote:: Ok, thanks, I think I will do a request for the LEO horoscope card/page.

Does anyone know of any interesting Zodiac doucuments mentioned in the FBI or police files, but that have not been released to the public?

If so, let me know me know TODAY and I may include them in the FOIA request I will do tomorrow.

The letter that Z supposedly wrote to DMV. That may be the one that reads "this state is in trouble"

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

No that is the letter postmarked Fairfield CA 12/16/69.

Page one starts "This is the Zodiac speaking I just want to tell you this state is in trouble..." and page two has a drawing of a knife and the words "The bleeding knife of the Zodiac." I have already requested that one.

What is the date of this DMV letter and the postmark? If you give me those I will request it. Do you know the opening line or any words within it?

No idea about the DMV letter. It was talked about on ZK.com, but I havent heard more about it.

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

Hmm...if anyone knows the date, or even year of the dmv letter, and maybe a postmark city, I will request it.

This references 12/16/69 Fairfield, page 1 and 2. Also LEO which I will request.

Somebody help us on the dmv letter!

FOIA Request For 12/16/69 Fairfield Zodiac Letter "This state is in trouble...Bleeding knife of the Zodiac" Fbi_me11

FOIA Request For 12/16/69 Fairfield Zodiac Letter "This state is in trouble...Bleeding knife of the Zodiac" Fbi_me11

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

I am going to do another FOIA request to the FBI for Zodiac documents, including the LEO card, probably on MONDAY.

Does anybody know of any good documents to request? I will pay for copying and mailing costs and post all of them here, and send them to other Zodiac websites.

Does anyone have information about a possible Zodiac letter to the DMV, and know the date, year or postmark city of such a letter?

Chief Posts : 4294 Join date : 2010-03-05 Age : 57

WE GOT IT!

Morf got it first.

See here:

https://zodiackillersite.forummotion.com/unconfirmed-zodiac-letters-mailings-general-discussion-f6/this-state-is-in-trouble-letter-t455.htm

» FOIA Request - Atlanta "Zodiac" Letter
» "BLEEDING KNIFE OF ZODIAC" Letter
» Bleeding Knife Poll Question...Real or Fake?
» "THIS STATE IS IN TROUBLE" LETTER
» San Jose Zodiac Letter?