Net Sleuths Newsletter #4: Cold Cases, Hot Takes & Unraveled Threads

 

🕵️‍♀️ Net Sleuths Newsletter #4: Cold Cases, Hot Takes & Unraveled Threads

Welcome back, sleuths. In this issue, we revisit recent investigations and cultural reflections tied to unsolved cases, courtroom scrutiny, and enduring questions. From new trial commentary to a lesser-known Zodiac lead, we've gathered a set of stories that invite curiosity and closer inspection.

🧑‍⚖️ Trial Watch: Karen Read & the Limits of Justice

Harvey Levin and Mark Geragos sat down to dissect the fallout from the Karen Read trial—and they didn’t hold back. From eyebrow-raising commentary on expert witnesses to critiques of systemic dysfunction in U.S. courts, this conversation blends media analysis with legal insight.

🎥 Watch the segment:
Harvey Levin & Mark Geragos on the Karen Read Trial (YouTube)

🧾 Case File: The Boelter Letter

When alleged gunman Vance Boelter abandoned his vehicle, authorities uncovered a letter claiming Governor Tim Walz ordered him to assassinate Senator Amy Klobuchar. The letter—rife with delusion and lacking credibility—has become a disturbing artifact in a case already thick with tragedy.
Officials stress there's no evidence supporting Boelter’s claims, but the episode raises questions about threat assessment, mental health, and political misinformation.

📰 Read the full story:
Vance Boelter’s Letter to FBI (MSN News)

✈️ Flight Path to Tragedy: The Air India 171 Crash

In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory, Air India Flight 171—a Boeing 787 Dreamliner—crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. The lone survivor described the surreal moment the aircraft “came to a standstill” midair before plummeting into a medical college hostel.

Aviation YouTuber Dan Millican released a detailed breakdown of the crash, analyzing the aircraft’s final moments using flight data, eyewitness accounts, and cockpit audio. His video explores potential causes, including FADEC system failure, thrust loss, and the final nine words spoken by the captain.

🛫 Watch the analysis:
Death By Computer?? NEW Updates Air India Flight 171 (YouTube)

🕵️‍♂️ Suspect Spotlight: Chester Klingel & the Eureka Card

Ned Dehan of Black Box Radio Online recently took another look at a lesser-known Zodiac lead: Chester Clark Klingel, aka “Sam from Eureka.” In 1990, the San Francisco Chronicle received a mysterious greeting card postmarked from Eureka, California. Inside was a photocopy of a set of keys—later traced to Klingel. Though police questioned him and reportedly ruled him out, the card’s eerie timing and contents have kept sleuths intrigued.

Forum contributor Antisquid highlights several reasons Klingel remains a compelling person of interest:

• His handwriting couldn’t be ruled out by the DOJ—which is rare among Zodiac suspects.
• He worked just three blocks from the Paul Stine crime scene and was stationed at the Presidio during his military service.
• His stepdaughter described him as having a violent temper and controlling nature, including physical abuse of his wife and children.
• With a background as a radar technician and oscilloscope developer, Klingel possessed notable electronics expertise—skills that align with the Zodiac’s technical references.

🎥 Watch Ned’s deep-dive video:
BBOR: Chester Klingel & the Eureka Card (YouTube)

📺 Zodiac Flashback: Killer on the Screen

In Episode 14 of Let’s Crack Zodiac, cipher sleuth David Oranchak dives into the Zodiac Killer’s long shadow across film and television. From the chilling “Scorpio” in Dirty Harry to the masked menace in American Horror Story, Oranchak traces how the Zodiac’s cryptic persona has been reimagined, dramatized, and mythologized over five decades of pop culture.

The episode skips documentaries and focuses on fictional portrayals—highlighting how the killer’s taunts, ciphers, and signature style have inspired everything from gritty procedurals to stylized thrillers. It’s a fascinating look at how media both reflects and reshapes public memory of unsolved crimes.

🎥 Watch the episode:
Let’s Crack Zodiac – Zodiac in TV and Film (YouTube)

🧩 Sleuth Side Note:
In December 2020, David Oranchak—alongside Belgian programmer Jarl Van Eycke and Australian mathematician Sam Blake—cracked the infamous 340-character cipher sent to the San Francisco Chronicle in 1969. The message included the chilling line, “I hope you are having lots of fun in trying to catch me,” but, contrary to speculation, offered no name or identity clues. The trio used custom code-breaking tools and pattern recognition to finally unlock the decades-old puzzle.