What specifically was it that made the description of Zodiac in early 40's?
What specifically was it that made the look of the Zodiac Killer around 40 ish years old? Does anyone know?
Was it the widows peak? If so, young people can have that, young as teens sometimes. Finding out why he was described as 40 would be very important, I don’t want to rely on “overall vibe” he gave off. I think the widows peak may have been incorrectly used as a way to try to determine his age, and if so this is faulty.
I asked Grok 3 in conversation about the Zodiac Killer:
A widow’s peak in teens isn’t rare, but its prevalence depends on genetics and how you define it — whether it’s a sharp, dramatic V-shape or just a slight dip in the hairline. There’s no exact statistic pegged to teenagers specifically, but we can extrapolate from general population data and hairline trends.A widow’s peak is a genetic trait, often tied to the same mechanisms that influence hairline shape, like the expression of certain genes (e.g., those linked to frontal hairline patterning). Studies on hairline variation — like those in dermatology or anthropology — suggest it’s present in a notable chunk of people across ethnicities. For instance, a 2013 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology on male hairlines found that about 30–40% of men (across all ages) have some degree of widow’s peak, ranging from subtle to pronounced. In women, it’s slightly less common but still significant, often masked by styling. Since teens inherit these traits directly from their parents, the frequency shouldn’t differ much from adults — though in teens, it might stand out more before age-related hair loss kicks in . In teenagers, hairlines are typically at their fullest, pre-recession, so a widow’s peak would be a natural feature rather than a result of balding (like Fouke’s later Zodiac description). Anecdotally, it’s common enough that you’d see it in high school yearbooks — think of it as frequent as, say, curly hair or dimples. Among Caucasians (relevant since Zodiac witnesses described a white male), it’s especially noticeable, with estimates from hairline studies suggesting 25–35% prevalence. In pop culture, teens with widow’s peaks — like a young Elvis Presley or James Dean — pop up often, hinting it’s not unusual.
Chat GPT:
A widow’s peak is relatively common in teenagers, as it is a genetic trait that is usually present from childhood and does not suddenly develop during adolescence. The prevalence varies, but studies suggest that around 15–35% of the population has a widow’s peak.
Since it’s a dominant genetic trait, if one parent has a widow’s peak, their child has a higher chance of inheriting it. However, it is not universal, and many people have a straight or slightly curved hairline instead.
While a widow’s peak is noticeable in childhood and teenage years, hairlines can change with age due to natural hairline maturation or hair thinning later in life.
Looks like it is not out of the question a younger person can have the widows peak. Yes, Fouke did describe a greying of the hair but added this can be due to light.
Back to the original question does anyone know specifically why he was described as being in his 40's? Or older?
On another note, the term “pulled a goof” is also a term the programs said was most likely used by a younger person. Along with “blue meanies”, “peeled rubber”, and blue pigs all suggest a younger man according to both Grok 3 and Chat GPT. I asked them specifically if someone said that in 1969, so yes that was factored in.
