In a development that has captured national attention, independent investigators say they may have identified a single suspect they believe is responsible for two of America’s most notorious unsolved crimes: the Zodiac Killer murders in Northern California in the late 1960s and the Black Dahlia murder in Los Angeles in 1947. This claim centers on the name Marvin Margolis, a man long discussed in true-crime circles but never officially charged in either case.
The theory and evidence have been presented publicly by Alex Baber, a self-taught code-breaking specialist and founder of Cold Case Consultants of America, who says he cracked the Zodiac Killer’s “Z13” cipher through modern analytic methods including artificial intelligence. Baber’s conclusions have garnered attention from former law enforcement and cryptography experts, though official law enforcement agencies have yet to confirm the cases are closed.
Background: The Zodiac and Black Dahlia Cases
The Zodiac Killer terrorized Northern California between 1968 and 1969, killing at least five people and injuring others. The killer taunted police and media with cryptic letters and ciphers, some of which remain unsolved or debated decades later. The identity of Zodiac has remained one of the most enduring mysteries in American true-crime history, despite extensive investigations and numerous suspects over the years.
Nearly two decades earlier, on January 15, 1947, aspiring actress Elizabeth Short — later dubbed the “Black Dahlia” by the press — was found brutally murdered and mutilated in Los Angeles. With her body severed at the waist and posed in a gruesome display, the case became one of the most infamous unsolved homicides in U.S. history. Despite a wide field of suspects and years of investigation, no one has ever been formally charged in the Black Dahlia case.
The New Claim: One Killer for Two Cold Cases
According to reporting based on interviews and documents reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, Baber spent months working to decode the Zodiac’s infamous 13-character cipher, known among enthusiasts as the “Z13” cipher. Baber says that after generating a list of millions of possible name combinations using artificial intelligence, and cross-referencing those results against historical records, he narrowed the list to a single name — “Marvin Merrill.”
Baber claims that this name was one of many used by Marvin Margolis, who had been a suspect in the Black Dahlia case more than 75 years ago. Margolis, a former Navy corpsman during World War II and once a premed student, had been interviewed by investigators in the Black Dahlia investigation, though he was never charged. Baber’s assertion is that the name revealed by the cipher was actually the alias Margolis adopted, tying him circumstantially to both cases.
Evidence and Interpretation
Baber and his supporters point to several strands of circumstantial evidence they believe connect Margolis to both murders. Among these is Margolis’ medical training as a Navy corpsman, which could explain the surgical precision seen in the Black Dahlia killing; his documented movements and aliases over the decades; and an eerie sketch left behind before his death in 1993 that some interpret as a symbolic representation of the Black Dahlia crime.
Two retired homicide detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department have been quoted in reporting as saying that in their opinion there are “too many links” between Margolis and the two cases for the connections to be mere coincidence. An ex-National Security Agency mathematician who reviewed Baber’s work on the cipher has also reportedly told reporters that the analysis “checked out,” though he acknowledged other similar claims exist in the cold case community.
Expert Views and Skepticism
Despite the strong claims made by Baber and some retired investigators, skepticism remains among many true-crime experts and researchers. For decades, many individuals have claimed to have solved aspects of the Zodiac case or to have uncovered new suspects, and some of these theories have folded under scrutiny. The history of both the Zodiac and Black Dahlia cases includes numerous competing hypotheses, none of which have ever been legally confirmed.
Other scholars and former investigators note that while the potential connections may be compelling on the surface, there remains no official law enforcement declaration that either case has been definitively solved. Both the San Francisco Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department continue to list the cases as open, and spokespeople have reiterated that any investigation remains ongoing or under review.
Marvin Margolis: Life and Suspicions
Marvin Margolis was born in the mid-1920s and served as a Navy corpsman in the Pacific theater during World War II. After the war, he pursued pre-medical studies and was in the Los Angeles area around the time of Elizabeth Short’s murder. Records show he had been questioned by investigators in that case but was never charged, and later moved and used a series of names throughout his life. His son has reportedly denied his father’s involvement in either crime.
Advocates of the theory say Margolis’ life — particularly his military experience, changing identities, and movements between California and other states — aligns with the timelines and locations associated with the Zodiac murders decades later. Margolis died in 1993 and cannot respond to the allegations; as a result, legal closure remains elusive.
Why This Matter Matters to True-Crime Communities
For enthusiasts and professionals interested in cold cases, the potential linkage between the two most famous unsolved American murders is significant. Both the Zodiac and Black Dahlia cases have spawned countless books, documentaries, and debates over the years, and any credible new angle attracts scrutiny and interest. The possibility that artificial intelligence and modern investigative techniques could provide new insights into decades-old mysteries has sparked conversations about the future of cold case research.
At the same time, the cautionary lessons of past false leads and unverified theories mean that many researchers remain measured in their response. Until formal statements are made by agencies with jurisdiction and forensic evidence is presented and vetted, the claims remain in the realm of active speculation rather than confirmed fact.
Public and Family Reactions
Reactions from the public and related family members have been mixed. While some true-crime followers have expressed excitement at the possibility of breakthroughs, others criticize the interpretation of circumstantial evidence as confirmation. Margolis’ surviving family members have reportedly rejected the claims that he was responsible for either the Zodiac or Black Dahlia murders, calling the theory speculative and lacking in definitive proof.
The ongoing discussion reflects the deep emotional and cultural resonance these cases have, not just among investigators but among the general public, as symbols of unresolved justice.
Conclusion
The claim that Marvin Margolis is the perpetrator behind both the Zodiac Killer and the Black Dahlia murders represents one of the most talked-about theories in recent memory. Drawing on decades of documented mystery, cryptographic analysis, and modern investigative tools, the theory unites two cold cases that have long fascinated and frustrated investigators and the public alike.
While some former law enforcement and cryptography experts find the connections compelling, official confirmation from police authorities remains absent. Both cases continue to be considered unsolved, with active investigations or reviews ongoing. The claims have reignited interest in the use of modern technology to revisit historical mysteries, even as they highlight the enduring complexity of criminal investigations that span generations.
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