Sierra Barter, a California resident, delved into her family’s past to uncover the mysteries surrounding her late grandfather. Her quest for truth is chronicled in the HBO Max documentary The Truth About Jim. This four-part series follows Barter and her family members as they endeavor to determine whether Jim Mordecai could have been the infamous Zodiac Killer.
As shown in the documentary, Mordecai was a high school teacher and a father. Yet, behind the facade, he proved to be a terrifying figure. The documentary unveils how Barter’s mother, during her teenage years, reported Mordecai to the authorities, yet no action ensued. Meanwhile, a significant thread in the documentary revolves around Mordecai’s potential ties to the notorious Zodiac Killer. Barter undertakes a quest within the documentary to ascertain whether he was a serial murderer, interviewing various witnesses linked to the 1970s killings.
Much evidence shared in the documentary makes viewers believe that Jim Mordecai might be the real Zodiac Killer. However, the evidences are coincidental. But it is entirely possible that the Zodiac Killer influenced Mordecai to commit these crimes.
The documentary is available to stream on Max.
How many victims did the Zodiac Killer have?
The Zodiac Killer is one of the most notorious serial killers in US history. As per USA Today, his killing spree terrified California in the late 1960s. The publication also noted that the Zodiac Killer has five confirmed slayings. However, reports say that he killed over 37 people during that time period. The killer also taunted the police and media outlets by sending cryptic messages about his crimes and challenging them to catch him.
As per The Sun, the suspected Zodiac Killer once sent a 340-word cryptic letter to the San Francisco Chronicle. For decades, no one could decipher the message, but a team of citizen coding experts finally cracked it. In the letter, the killer made fun of the authorities trying to catch him.
According to USA Today, the Zodiac Killer consistently targeted couples, and despite numerous victims over the years, two individuals managed to survive his attacks. Law enforcement pursued various suspects throughout the investigation’s duration, yet they were never able to conclusively identify the elusive killer.
The case of the Zodiac Killer is quite prominent in pop culture, and many films and documentaries are based on him. In 2007, David Fincher directed a movie titled Zodiac, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. in pivotal roles. The film can be streamed on Prime Video.
