By Chester Moore
Most people don’t associate hiking trails and scenic lakes with serial killers.
Yet one of America’s most infamous murderers chose exactly that setting for one of his most terrifying attacks.
On September 27, 1969, a young couple enjoying an afternoon near California’s Lake Berryessa was approached by a hooded man carrying a gun and knife. What followed became one of the Zodiac Killer’s most chilling crimes—not only because of its brutality, but because it shattered the belief that wilderness recreation areas were somehow immune from violent crime.
Predators don’t always hunt in cities.
Sometimes they choose places where people feel safest.
In this episode of Dark Outdoors, I revisit the Lake Berryessa attack, discuss practical self-defense considerations for outdoor recreation, examine the dangers that can exist in parks and suburban forests, and even share my own controversial opinion regarding the identity of the Zodiac Killer.
Dark Outdoors Podcast | Episode 33
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Investigation Summary
The Zodiac Killer’s attack at Lake Berryessa remains one of the most disturbing crimes ever committed in a recreational outdoor setting.
Unlike many serial killers who targeted victims in urban environments, the Zodiac deliberately selected a quiet lakeside location where his victims were isolated and vulnerable. This episode examines the attack itself, explores what it teaches us about personal safety in parks and wilderness areas, and discusses why situational awareness is one of the most valuable survival tools any outdoor enthusiast can possess.
We also examine one of America’s greatest unsolved criminal investigations and the evidence surrounding several leading suspects.
The Lake Berryessa Attack
On a warm September afternoon in 1969, Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were relaxing beside Lake Berryessa when they noticed a strange man approaching.
Unlike the Zodiac’s previous attacks, this one involved an elaborate hood bearing the now-famous crossed-circle symbol. After binding the couple, the killer launched a brutal knife attack before calmly walking away and later claiming responsibility.
The crime shocked investigators because it demonstrated how easily a violent predator could exploit the isolation of a beautiful outdoor setting.
It remains one of the defining moments in the Zodiac investigation.
When Nature Meets True Crime
One of the recurring themes throughout Dark Outdoors is that remote outdoor environments sometimes attract criminal activity.
Parks, lakes, forests, trails, and wildlife areas provide privacy that appeals to millions of law-abiding visitors—but they can also provide opportunities for predators looking to isolate victims.
That doesn’t mean people should fear the outdoors.
It means they should approach it with awareness.
Most visits to parks end with wonderful memories.
Preparation simply helps ensure they stay that way.
If you’re interested in another investigation involving violent crime in outdoor recreation areas, read The Phantom Killer: The Moonlight Murders, The Town That Dreaded Sundown and the Dangers of Urban Forests & Parks:
Outdoor Self-Defense
One topic discussed in this episode is personal safety while enjoying the outdoors.
Situational awareness remains the first line of defense.
Paying attention to your surroundings, recognizing unusual behavior, avoiding unnecessary isolation, and trusting your instincts can often prevent dangerous situations from developing in the first place.
Preparation isn’t about living in fear.
It’s about giving yourself the best opportunity to avoid becoming a victim.
Who Was the Zodiac Killer?
More than five decades later, the Zodiac Killer’s identity remains officially unresolved.
Numerous suspects have been investigated over the years, each supported by varying degrees of circumstantial evidence. In this episode, I discuss one suspect I believe deserves serious consideration while acknowledging that no definitive conclusion has ever been reached.
The mystery surrounding the Zodiac continues because the available evidence remains incomplete.
It’s a reminder that some of history’s most infamous criminal investigations remain unsolved.
Related Dark Outdoors Investigations
Continue exploring true crime and outdoor mysteries:
- Lady Bird Lake Deaths: Rainey Street Ripper, Smiley Face Killers or Tragic Accidents?
https://darkoutdoors.com/lady-bird-lake-deaths-rainey-street-ripper-smiley-face-killers-or-tragic-accidents/ - The Phantom Killer: The Moonlight Murders, The Town That Dreaded Sundown and the Dangers of Urban Forests & Parks
https://darkoutdoors.com/the-phantom-killer-the-moonlight-murders-the-town-that-dreaded-sundown-and-the-dangers-of-urban-forests-parks/ - The Real Candyman Serial Killer: Dean Corll, Lost Boys & Bodies on a Texas Beach
https://darkoutdoors.com/the-real-candyman-serial-killer-dean-corll-lost-boys-bodies-on-a-texas-beach/ - Ted Bundy in the Woods: How America’s Most Notorious Serial Killer Used Forests and Remote Wilderness
https://darkoutdoors.com/ted-bundy-in-the-woods-how-americas-most-notorious-serial-killer-used-forests-and-remote-wilderness/ - 11 Skulls: The Terrifying Case of Serial Killer Israel Keyes
https://darkoutdoors.com/11-skulls-the-terrifying-case-of-serial-killer-israel-keyes/
About Chester Moore
Chester Moore is an award-winning wildlife journalist, author, filmmaker, and host of Dark Outdoors. His work explores the intersection of true crime, dangerous wildlife, conservation, and unexplained mysteries, with a special focus on the places where human predators and the natural world collide. Through decades of investigative reporting, he seeks to help people better understand both the beauty—and the potential dangers—of the outdoors.