Killer In The Code

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Showing 14 · updated from the feed

Chapter 14: Words Matter

Professor Valerie Fridland, expert on sociolinguistics, the study of how the words we use reveal identity, reviews the words of the Zodiac, Black Dahlia and Cheri Jo Bate

Oct 12
44 min

Chapter 13: It Goes Where It Goes

The investigation leads to an examination of a murder in Los Angeles two years before Elizabeth Short was killed. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com.

Sep 10
35 min

Chapter 12: Probable Cause

Two long experienced judges weigh in on the case against Marvin Margolis. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com.

Aug 26
32 min

Chapter 11: From The Grave

Marvin Margolis’s military file is a gold mine of information, including his own description of the harrowing wartime experience that sent him down a dark path. Learn mor

Aug 26
41 min

Chapter 10: New Age Sherlock

Inspired in equal parts by Alan Turing and Arthur Conan Doyle, Alex Baber is a citizen sleuth who believes no case is unsolvable. A profile of this unconventional investi

Feb 19
23 min

Chapter 9: Last Man Standing

An update on the investigation and an interview with William J. Mann, author of Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood. Learn more on KillerI

Feb 12
29 min

Chapter 8: The Round Table Part 2

Part 2 of the discussion amongst the investigators answering questions from listeners. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com

Feb 5
34 min

Chapter 7: The Round Table Part 1

An update on the investigation. Part 1 of the discussion amongst the investigators answering questions from listeners. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com.

Feb 5
31 min

Chapter 6: A Mind For Murder

Who was Marvin Merrill? A deep dive into the suspect’s life reveals possible connections to unsolved cases from every place he ever lived. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.

Jan 29
26 min

Chapter 5: The Zodiac Motel

Alex Baber’s search for the ‘torture room’ where Elizabeth Short was murdered. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com.

Jan 15
21 min

Chapter 4: Code Makers and Breakers

When Ed Giorgio’s cryptology team confirmed Alex Baber’s codebreaking, they uncovered a key piece of evidence themselves and a startling connection to Elizabeth Short. Le

Jan 8
37 min

Chapter 3: El Diablo

Alex Baber finds a clue in the last Zodiac cipher that unlocks a direct connection to the Black Dahlia. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com.

Jan 6
42 min

Chapter 2: The Smoking Gun

Alex Baber’s gumshoe work leads to the discovery of undeniable physical evidence linking two of most infamous murder cases in history. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com.

Dec 23 2025
23 min

Chapter 1: The Hidden Beneath The Hidden

Cold case consultant Alex Baber cracks the Zodiac Killer’s most difficult cypher and it leads to a stunning revelation. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com

Dec 22 2025
30 min

Chart trend

Position in the True Crime chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#101#200AugSepOct

#16

all-time peak

days in the top 50 since Dec 2025

Chart positions

Where Killer In The Code ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 15, 2026).

#194 ▲ 5 True Crime US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

If you are familiar or not with Zodiac and Black Dahlia Avenger, you get a lot out of this fascinating exploration of these crimes. The info on breaking the ciphers is a podcast in itself. Well done.

hates_jazz17 · Sep 2026

I grew up in the East Bay in the 70s and well remember the Zodiac killings. This podcast is incredible and the evidence overwhelming. I particularly like the details around cryptography and the breaking of the codes.

Cedrik Z · Sep 2026

Michael Connelly’s works of fiction and the Bosch TV shows are fantastic but this might be his best work. Two of the most famous unsolved murder cases in history are solved, unequivocally, and the killer is the same person. Over decades Connelly’s work connects the dots in a way that is unassailable. Unreal.

jgrazie · Aug 2026

I am a career prosecutor with over 30 years experience in LA County. I have worked with Rick Jackson on homicide cases; he is the real deal and scrupulously objective. When I first heard that they were connecting these 2 murder cases together, I was highly skeptical, but gave it a listen because of Rick and Mitzi. IMHO their case is beyond compelling. You should give it a listen and reach your own conclusions.

mrboii1 · Mar 2026

When you get to the point that you are finding it significant that the Zodiac Killer killed two people on the same day that Elizabeth Short arrived in Vallejo from Florida, then you have found yourself knee deep in confirmation bias. There are many examples of this throughout the series but this is the first one that made me audibly groan, “Come on!” It is entertaining in points, but there are times when the conjecture stretches logic beyond its breaking point. Oh hey, there was a hotel called the zodiac near where some unproven tips came from. Does it have a bathtub? No. But it may have had one if it was remodeled. Does a registry exist? No. When you waste time of this sort of “material” you lose credibility in your original premise.

Crossworder Jen · Feb 2026

There is an extreme lack of evidence and placing people in the places where these murders happened. They speak confidently while providing very little evidence. Would only recommend this pod if you have to consume all things zodiac but there is nothing ground breaking proven by these people.

Dusty24024 · May 2026

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.