Crack the Zodiac’s Unsolved Ciphers The Z13 and Z32 Challenge

The Sassy Gazette proudly presents
🕵 Dicking Around With Richie Cipher Files Edition

For over half a century, the Zodiac Killer’s taunting letters have fascinated, frustrated, and infuriated law enforcement, cryptographers, and amateur sleuths alike. While two of his infamous ciphers Z408 and Z340 have been cracked, two remain stubbornly unsolved: Z13 and Z32.

Today, we’re throwing down the gauntlet. Think you can do what the FBI, the NSA, and the world’s best codebreakers haven’t?

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EVIDENCE #1 Z13 Cipher

Date Sent: April 20, 1970
Known as: The “My Name Is” Cipher

Status: Unsolved. This cipher was sent immediately after the words “My name is” in a Zodiac letter. It’s only 13 characters long, making it extremely difficult to crack using traditional frequency analysis. Without a known key or crib, most attempts are speculative. Some believe it hides the killer’s true name, while others think it’s a deliberate taunt containing no solvable message.

Why It’s a Challenge: Ciphers this short lack enough data for definitive decoding. Unless it’s tied to a specific, known reference, it may remain unbreakable and that’s exactly why it continues to fascinate codebreakers and true crime researchers.

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EVIDENCE #2 Z32 Cipher

Date Sent: June 26, 1970
Known as: The “Map” Cipher

Status: Unsolved. This 32-character code arrived with a Phillips 66 “Mt. Diablo” road map and a note claiming that, when paired with the map, it revealed the location of a bomb. Later correspondence hinted that “radians” and “inches” were part of the key. No confirmed decryption and no bomb has ever been found.

Why It’s a Challenge: Its length allows for more analysis than Z13, but without the precise map instructions or the correct interpretive method, attempts have yielded nothing definitive. This makes it one of the most tantalizing unsolved puzzles in true crime history.

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🕵 THINK YOU CAN CRACK THE CODE?

These aren’t just puzzles they’re pieces of one of America’s most notorious cold cases.

• Z13: Thirteen cryptic symbols that may (or may not) reveal Zodiac’s name.
• Z32: A map-linked code that could point to a bomb site or be the ultimate bluff.

💻 Use AI, code-breaking software, or old-school pencil-and-paper sleuthing.
📨 Post your theory in the comments or email it to The Sassy Gazette.
🏆 The most compelling attempt will be featured in our next Cipher Files update.

Note: There is no official solution, so creativity, originality, and solid reasoning matter just as much as accuracy.

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Your Mission

The Zodiac’s mind games may have outlasted decades of investigation, but that doesn’t mean the trail is cold. Whether you’re a cryptography hobbyist, an AI enthusiast, or just someone who loves a challenge, this is your chance to step into the shoes of a codebreaker.

The question is… will you be the one to crack the uncrackable?