She just wanted to finish a paper before the library closed. She never made it home, and the letters that followed her death would haunt one of America's most famous unsolved cases for decades.
Who Was Cheri Jo Bates
Cheri Jo Bates was a student at Riverside Community College in California, hoping to eventually become a flight attendant. On October 30, 1966, she went to the campus library in the evening to work on a school paper, after being seen with a friend waiting for it to open around 5:40 p.m.
The Murder
Bates was found dead the next morning by a campus groundskeeper near a street leading from the library to a student parking area. She had suffered significant injuries in the attack. Evidence at the scene included a men's watch stopped at 9:07 p.m., footprints from a men's shoe style popular with military personnel, and strands of hair caught in her hand, later tested for DNA. Her car was found nearby with the ignition wires disconnected, apparently to prevent it from starting — suggesting the attacker had disabled it before she left the library.
The Letters
Weeks after the murder, a poem believed by some to be connected to the case was found carved into a library desk. In December 1966, typed letters claiming responsibility for the killing were sent to police and a local newspaper, describing details consistent with the crime scene. The following year, handwritten letters reading "Bates had to die, there will be more" were sent to Bates' father, police, and the press.
The Zodiac Question
Some handwriting analysis has suggested similarities between the Bates letters and later confirmed Zodiac Killer correspondence, and the Zodiac himself referenced "Riverside activity" in a 1971 letter to the Los Angeles Times. However, researchers who study the case note significant differences in style and approach between the Bates letters and Zodiac's known murders, and the connection has never been proven.
Where the Case Stands
Despite an extensive investigation, including a reenactment involving dozens of witnesses from the library that night, no one has ever been charged with Cheri Jo Bates' murder. It remains one of California's most enduring cold cases.
FAQ
Is Cheri Jo Bates' murder connected to the Zodiac Killer?
It's debated. Some evidence suggests a possible link, but researchers have identified significant differences, and no connection has ever been proven.
Has anyone ever been charged in Cheri Jo Bates' murder?
No. The case remains officially unsolved.
What evidence was found at the crime scene?
A stopped watch, distinctive footprints, and hair samples were recovered, along with evidence her car had been deliberately disabled.