The Zodiac Killer’s strange Star Trek connection

In 1968, Star Trek tried to save its sinking ratings by casting celebrity lawyer Melvin Belli as a glowing space ghost. A year later, the Zodiac Killer demanded to speak with that same lawyer live on television. This episode traces the bizarre overlap between sci-fi and true crime — from stunt casting, to the Jack Ruby trial, to the hoax call on The Jim Dunbar Show — and how David Fincher turned it all into one of the best true-crime films. Credits:This episode of “The Prime Detective” was produced and hosted by Grayson Thagard.Music for “The Prime Detective” is composed by Ben Wise: https://benwise.bandcamp.com/ Website and publishing support thanks to David Moody, Producer: “Let’s Talk About Treks” The Podcast. Artwork for “The Prime Detective” is by Julie Hendrickson. Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/theprimedetective

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This episode is 8 minutes long.

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This episode was published on December 16, 2025.

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