Was Earl Van Best Jr the Zodiac Killer? The Gary Stewart Theory Examined

In this episode, we examine one of the most emotionally powerful and controversial theories ever attached to the Zodiac case: the claim that Earl Van Best Jr was the killer.

At the centre of the story is Gary Stewart, a man abandoned as a baby who spent decades searching for the truth about his biological father. What he found was not peace, but a theory that would become a bestselling book, a major documentary, and one of the most debated suspect narratives in true crime.

We trace the disturbing life of Earl Van Best Jr—from his relationship with 14-year-old Judith Gilford, to his arrest, disappearance, and lonely death in an unmarked grave in Mexico City.

We also revisit the Zodiac murders, the letters, the ciphers, the taunts to police and journalists, and the mystery that still grips investigators more than half a century later.

Then we break down the evidence Gary Stewart presented against his father: the resemblance to the Zodiac sketch, the alleged name hidden in the ciphers, the Paul Avery connection, the claimed fingerprint match, the disputed handwriting evidence, and Van Best’s reported interests in opera, puzzles and codes.

Finally, we examine why so much of that case began to fall apart under scrutiny—and what this story reveals about grief, identity, abandonment, and the human need to make sense of the unbearable.

This is not just a story about whether Earl Van Best Jr was the Zodiac Killer. It is a story about why someone might need him to be.

The Zodiac case remains officially unsolved. No individual has ever been formally identified as the killer.

Zodiac Killer, Earl Van Best Jr, Gary Stewart, Zodiac Killer Suspects, True Crime Podcast, Unsolved Murders, Zodiac Ciphers, Serial Killer Theories, San Francisco Murders, Paul Avery, Cold Case Investigation, True Crime Analysis, The Most Dangerous Animal of All, Zodiac Documentary

About Crime Time Inc.

Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic.

This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history.

Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work.

Two crime worlds. One podcast.

New episodes released regularly throughout the season.

Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/

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