Arthur Leigh Allen: Zodiac killer suspect

Arthur Leigh Allen
Allen In 1991
Born	Arthur Leigh Allen December 18, 1933 Honolulu, Hawaii
Died	August 26, 1992(1992-08-26) (aged 58) Vallejo, California
Cause of death	Arteriosclerotic heart disease
Body discovered	At his home
Occupation(s)	Teacher, mechanic, cashier
Known for	Being a suspect of Zodiac Killer
Conviction(s)	Child molestation
Criminal penalty	Felony probation

Allen first become a suspect when a friend of Allen’s, Don Cheney, in 1971, reported him to the police, Cheney met Allen in 1962 and became friends in 1968. Cheney visited Allen around 1968 or 1969, Cheney claimed that Allen confessed to wanting to kill couples at lovers lanes, Like Zodiac, Cheney claimed that Allen said he would use a gun with a flashlight attached to the barrel, And also he claimed that he would write letters to police under the name ‘Zodiac’. Cheney reportedly never visited Allen after the conversation. Cheney was interviewed by San Francisco Police Department inspector Bill Armstrong, Police investigated Allen in 1971, However, he was dismissed after fingerprint and handwriting comparisons didn’t match, Police also searched Allen’s trailer at the time and found nothing that was pointing him to Zodiac.

On July 1992, A victim of Zodiac, Mike Mageau picked Allen as the man that shot him at Blue Rock Springs on a police lineup saying “That’s him! He’s the man that shot me!”.

Allen was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 18, 1933. He grew up in Vallejo, California and graduated from Vallejo High School in 1950, From 1951 to 1953, Allen worked at many jobs such as a lifeguard, and a sail maker.

Allen entered the United States Navy on December 13, 1951 and served until his honorable discharge on December 12, 1959. During his time in the navy, he served mostly in the reserves but spent some time on active duty. He served on multiple submarines and earned the China Service Medal for his service in southeast Asia. On April 4, 1958, Allen faced a special court-martial at Treasure Island for bringing a loaded 45 automatic pistol onto the naval base. He was found not guilty.

He received an Associate of Arts degree from Vallejo College in 1957, He then attended California Polytechnic University however he left the university in 1957. The same year Allen enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the Navy, In 1958, During his service, Allen was arrested for Disturbing the peace.

Allen studied at California Polytechnic University again in 1958, He graduated in 1960 for which he received a Bachelor's degree.

From 1960 to 1962, Allen was an elementary school teacher at Santa Rosa Elementary School in Atascadero, California. In 1962, Allen began teaching at Travis Elementary School in Fairfield, California, However, he was fired for having a firearm on school grounds. In 1966, Allen was hired as a teacher at Valley Springs Elementary School after moving to Valley Springs, California, In 1968, Allen was fired and charged after allegedly molesting students.

In 1974, Allen was arrested for child molestation. After pleading guilty, Allen was sent to Atascadero State Hospital for pre-sentence evaluation and treatment. On May 13, 1977, Allen was given a suspended prison sentence and five years of felony probation. He completed probation successfully in 1982.

On August 26, 1992, Vallejo’s police and fire departments were notified of a person needing assistance at 32 Fresno Street. When they arrived, ambulance and fire personnel discovered Arthur Leigh Allen's lifeless body on the floor of his basement.

According to Allen's autopsy, he died of arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The original case against Allen was detailed in the book Zodiac by Robert Graysmith. In it, Graysmith laid out the circumstantial evidence against Allen using the alias Bob Hall Starr to hide Allen's identity.

David Fincher based his 2007 movie Zodiac off the Graysmith book. Allen was played by actor John Carroll Lynch.