My Dad Is Zodiac Killer, Daughter Reveals

Southern California Woman Claims Dead Father Was Infamous 1960s Bay Area Killer

(CBS/ AP)  A Southern California woman said Wednesday that her late father was the infamous Zodiac killer who terrorized the San Francisco Bay area four decades ago.

San Francisco homicide investigators said they will check into the information from Deborah Perez, who said her father, Guy Ward Hendrickson, killed at least two of the known victims 40 years ago.

Sgt. Lyn Tomioka said the investigation into the 1969 death of San Francisco taxi driver Paul Lee Stine related to the Zodiac killer remains ongoing.

"We get a significant number of calls a year. We will look into whatever evidence that is presented to us," Tomioka said about the case that also inspired a hit movie in 2007.

Ward would bring back souvenirs, like glasses he took from Stine, Perez said, CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy reports.

During a frenzied news conference outside the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday, Perez, of Corona, California, said she has given police letters she wrote - some to the newspaper - on her father's behalf about the crimes.

Perez claims she was a naive 7-year-old tagging along with her father during the killings.

"I would hear shots, and he would state that they were firecrackers," she said.

"He told me he was sick, and all I wanted to do was help my dad," said Perez, who came to her conclusion about two years ago. "He kept telling me he was sick and he killed many, many people. I had no idea."

The self-described Zodiac killer is blamed for at least five murders in 1968 and 1969. He was never caught, though many believe he was Arthur Leigh Allen, a convicted child molester who died in 1992.

Hendrickson, a carpenter with six children, died in 1983 from cancer.

Perez said she could not keep her father's secrets any longer.

[cold_case]

I agree to a point with Joni-dig. Debbie claims to have printed some of the letters so a hand writing analysis would difently play a important role in determining this. The DNA is another story and may prove nothing.
The Zodiac may have never licked the envelopes.

I agree there may have been two or more indivuals involved in the Zodiac.
At the first murder police reports talk about two males in there teens to early twenties. I believe there were two males involved.

[rachel_geiger]

I do believe that this is a publicity move by a disturbed person needing attention. Why else would she wait until this long after the murders to come forward? I cannot believe that she simply woke up one morning and said "Oh crap! My dad was the Zodiac killer!" and then decided to hold it in until now. I mean, why would someone keep a secret like that knowing that it could solve a number of crimes and bring some measure of peace to families? If that was the case (let me stress the IF), then she is a very cruel person indeed to keep this to herself for this long.

[afguy909]

Tu_eres, Bush is responsible for the deaths of every single American soldier who died in a needless war on "terrorism." How about you "inventaclue" and realize that the only person inflicting terror on the United States was George Bush by bullying his way around Washington to implement all of his failed policies and by inflicting fear and terror into the hearts and minds of every citizen in this country.

I'm still waiting to see these "weapons of mass destruction" and to see us bring Osama Bin Laden to justice, instead of fighting a war against Iraqi and Afghani citizens who are trying to protect their home from the United States Warmongers.

[lessgonza]

Do you think, that was the best for you to do. I feel by your story that you didn't help your dad as he needed and didn't help any of the victims family or any other future victim and got the guts to come out now after your dad is dead talking about you could not hold your dad secret any longer. I feel you should do time in prison for knowing and not telling the authorities and I also have a feeling that you are trying to get so publicity . I GOT NO Sympathy FOR YOU, ZODIAC DAUGHTER!!!
And yeah, I would report to the police my dad if he was a serial killer. People we are talking about a serial killer not a man that made a simple mistake, this man was a monster.

[joni36-2009]

allie girl, sorry you had the right guy. i just got up and guess still about hafe asleep, sorry again

[joni36-2009]

allie girl, you got the wroung guy. the carpenter was the frist guy they thought did it and after he died they dug him up for DNA and it was a no match. r graysmith book about the zodiac is a good book. he worked at one of the big news papers there that got some of the letters from the killer. also he talked to the people who were investigating the killer. i been to book stores trying to find this book again before this story broke but could not find it.

[joni36-2009]

livinontheedge, your right,anyone kin to me that killed and i knew about it there a-- would be in jail. also i say scam too. i would like for it to be true even if hes dead, would be case closed.

[fjinnw]

Posted by sinclairb612
While you are protecting your family, others family life wil be ruined. So thats alright for you ?

[cs4466]

She knew/participated?

Fine. String her up. Now.

[jincstress]

I agree with Joni- dig his azz up and swab ím for DNA- ( or even the daughter) end of speculation.

[Allie_Girl]

A Carpenter with six children that "took" his child with him.... that died years ago.... and it took her that long to say something about it? Eh... I doubt it, but these days I guess you never know.

[sinclairb612]

what you guys forget to remember is... that this is her father. If your father or somebody close to your family member is a serial killer, would you report them to the police? Let's be honest here.

[vagabundocosmico]

Hm, could it be true?

If it is, then one of the longest misteries held in law enforcement, can be put to rest.

[OhMy1]

If this is true, one can only imagine what this woman has gone through before admitting that her father committet such horrible crimes. She deserves our prayers because wheather she knew about this early or wheather she has just realized the importance of information she has had all along she has a terrible burden to deal with.

[joni36-2009]

bozokriki, i thought that they had DNA years ago or parts of it from letters and stamps and dug up the body of the frist person who they thought done these crimes. did not mach. dig his a-- up like i said before and see his DNA. r. gray smith will have to do part of his book over

[Dgunner]

HEY CBS PLEASE RUN THIS ARTICLE ANOTHER WEEK . THAT WILL ONLY MAKE THREE.

[erb0087]

"Let the chips fall as they should."

Sorry.

It's in the nature of chips to fall as they may, not as they should.

[bozokriki]

What this article did not mention (that was shown in the news conference footage) is that the FBI has the glasses and other evidence left from her father. Also th FBI has a picture of her father wearing the glasses that is supposed to look like the sketch of the Zodiac killer. They are also doing DNA testing on the letters and envelopes that she supposedly was involved in sending. It is no longer the San Francisco police that are looking into her claims. However the FBI will not allow her to fully disclose all of the evidence that they are testing until results are conclusive.

[jelly90010]

I heard her interviewed ths afternoon. She seems very credible to me. She's not in it for the fame or fortune. She claims she may have one of the victim's glasses (Stine) which she mistakenly believed to be her father's all these years. If the prescription or tother evidence checks out, that would be fairly conclusive. She was 7-8 years old and recalls the trips up north, father's bizarre behavior, and helping him write some of the infamous letters.. Why she would put her entire family through this, including her mom, is beyond me. She's either 100% believeable or a lunatic. I'm betting she is credible and the story checks out, let's see..

[cnmbarfoot]

almost every story is used as an excuse to make some kind of asinine remark about President Bush (who did not steal the 2000 election). Get over it, already-get therapy, or a real hobby, or something.