How the Zodiac Killer Murdered Paul Stine and Escaped

In Episode 6 of The Zodiac Killer, we return to San Francisco—two weeks after Lake Berryessa—for the case that changed everything: the murder of taxi driver Paul Stine in Presidio Heights on October 11, 1969.This attack was different. Different victim. Different setting. Different risk. Under streetlights, with witnesses watching from across the road, the killer lingered—cutting a piece of Stine’s shirt, wiping the cab, and walking away with eerie calm.We break down the full Presidio Heights timeline, what the Robbins witnesses reported, the police response, and the error that may have helped the Zodiac escape: a broadcast description that sent officers looking for the wrong suspect.We also examine the evidence that made this the most significant Zodiac crime scene: bloody latent fingerprints, the composite sketch, the shirt piece mailed to the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Zodiac’s chilling escalation—threats against schoolchildren and a school bus.Finally, Simon and Tom dig into the investigative angles: patterns, escalation, and what the “gap” before the Zodiac claimed responsibility might suggest.If you’re researching the Zodiac case, this episode is your deep dive into the murder many consider the turning point—and the last confirmed Zodiac killing.00:00 Two Weeks of Silence… Then Zodiac Strikes in San Francisco01:19 Who Was Paul Stine? The Man Behind the Fifth Confirmed Victim02:50 October 11, 1969: A Routine Fare Turns Deadly05:13 Witnesses Across the Street: Shirt Tearing, Wiping Prints, Calm Escape08:16 Police Arrive—And a Radio Description Error Changes Everything12:02 Fouke & Zelms Encounter: Did Zodiac Speak to Police or Walk Past?14:44 Best Evidence Yet: Bloody Fingerprints, Composite Sketch, and a Flood of Tips21:12 Zodiac’s Shirt-Swatch Letter & the School Bus Threat24:54 Aftermath and Meaning: Why Stine Changed the Case (and Why Zodiac Got Away)35:39 Simon & Tom React: Military Links, Fingerprints, and “Triangulation”44:31 Open-Minded Investigations: Bring in Outside Expertise & Test Your Theory46:13 Presidio Heights Patrol Stop: Why Not Talking to the Witness Matters48:29 Mistakes, Blame Culture, and Why Candour Saves Cases50:43 Surveillance Lessons: No Guesswork, Instant Comms, Total Honesty55:00 Control Room & Radio Descriptions: How One Error Warps the Search01:00:18 Forensics and Disclosure: When “No DNA” Becomes the Defense01:02:41 Zodiac’s Escape Route: The Park, the Military Angle, and Policy Files01:08:25 House-to-House Done Right: Dog Walkers, Curtain Twitchers, and Breakthroughs01:13:33 Wrap-Up Banter & Sign-OffYou can buy the books mentioned in the podcast's by clicking the links belowTom's Best Selling Book:Ruxton: The First Modern Murder Paperback EditionRuxton: The First Modern Murder Kindle EditionSimon's Best Selling Book:The Ten Percent Paperback EditionThe Ten Percent Kindle EditionOur Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us.Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey.http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-surveyAbout Crime Time Inc.Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic.This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history.Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work.Two crime worlds. One podcast.New episodes released regularly throughout the season.Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us.Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey.http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.