Roll Of Film Could Hold Answers In Zodiac Case

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ― The picture is graphic; A dead, bloody body. Dennis Kaufman says the picture came from a roll of film he found in his stepfather's belongings after he died.

Dennis Kaufman agreed to show CBS13 several photographs.

The pictures are difficult to look at, but Kaufman says if just one family finds answers about a loved one who was murdered, the last 9 years he's dedicated to this case will be worth it.

Last year, Dennis Kaufman began supplying the FBI with evidence attempting to prove his stepfather, Jack Tarrance, is the zodiac killer.

The evidence included envelopes for DNA testing and a hood resembling one worn by the zodiac in 1969 during an attack.

The FBI also took rolls of film but Kaufman did not hand over all the film. "When you give something to the FBI you never know what they are going to show or reveal to you," explained Kaufman.

Kaufman says the picture of the tattooed man was on a single roll of film he developed prior to giving evidence the FBI.

He gave three rolls to the FBI and the remaining 16 rolls he turned over to Stephen Dewhurst, a professor at Northern Arizona University.

"These are colloquially called snuff films. They are films documenting the death of someone," explains Dewhurst.

Dewhurst began working with Kaufman two years ago after reading his website www.therealzodiackiller.com

Dewhurst himself has been long fascinated by the zodiac case, believing a family friend could be one of the serial killer's victims.

"She was stabbed 31 times and sexually assaulted," says Dewhurst.

Gladys Gresham was killed in Vallejo in 1971. Her case was never connected to the zodiac.

The psychotic killer is known to have attacked seven people, but in taunting letters the zodiac claimed 37 victims.

Of the 16 rolls he developed, Dewhurst believes one reveals disturbing images of murder.

Dewhurst says the pictures are graphic, but the film is deteriorated and many images appear to be a haze of colors.

The first picture on the roll is the clearest. A stained baseball cap near what could be blood spatter.

The rest of the images are blurry, but Dewhurst believes they show two people being murdered.

"There are two victims apparently on the film. Both of whom are minors. There are pictures of them before and after their deaths," says Dewhurst.

In one photo Dewhurst believes he see the face of a young woman who disappeared from San Francisco in the 1970's.

"The pictures are open to interpretation. With how cloudy they are, why do you think she was tortured? What kind of mutilation do you see?" asked cbs13 reporter Kris Pickel.

Dewhurst responds, "She was cut up. She was decapitated. Body parts were cut off."

In one hazy photo, Dewhurst believes he see a woman's naked, decapitated body from the stump of her neck to her mid torso.

He says he is able to see that her right breast has been removed and a knife is being held above her left breast.

"The film proves in my mind Jack Tarrance was a serial killer," says Dewhurst.

He adds, "This is a monster in human form that went out and did horrible things to people for pleasure."

In another photo you can see the image of a boy.

Dewhurst says other pictures show the child's murder.

"The little boy was strangled," says Dewhurst.

Even the clearest image leaves a haze of questions.

Is the tattooed body with a peace sign the victim of an unsolved murder?

Do the ghostly images show the murders of a girl and boy or are they just hazy images?

Perhaps the biggest question: if Jack Tarrance took the pictures could he be a previously unknown serial killer or one of the most infamous in history.

Dennis Kaufman believes the evidence is overwhelming. "I know my stepfather is the zodiac. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever," says Kaufman.

The FBI told Kaufman the three rolls he gave them had nothing but family pictures on them.

They currently have the photos developed by Dewhurst and may be able to make the images shaper.