Key Takeaways
- Alex Baber, a self-taught codebreaker, says he solved the Zodiac Z13 cipher and that the plaintext reads a 13-letter name: \”Marvin Merrill\” (an alias tied to Marvin Margolis) — reported by the Los Angeles Times (Dec 23, 2025).
- Baber reports using AI to generate and filter roughly 71 million 13-letter name candidates; some retired detectives have publicly said the circumstantial links merit investigation, but no major law-enforcement agency has validated the claim.
- Open and critical questions remain: short ciphers like Z13 are prone to ambiguous solutions; independent cryptographers have not produced a public, reproducible verification; and non-cipher corroboration tying Marvin Margolis to Zodiac or the Black Dahlia has not been publicly confirmed.
A Cold Case, an Online Video, and a Long Silence
Shadows stretch across decades of unanswered questions. The Zodiac Killer struck in the late 1960s, claiming lives and mailing cryptic messages that haunted Northern California. Confirmed murders from 1968 to 1969 left five victims, with more suspected. Then there’s the Black Dahlia—Elizabeth Short, found mutilated in 1947, her case a magnet for endless theories.
Enter the digital age. Armchair investigators pore over scans of old letters, trading leads in forums. That’s the world where Alex Baber’s claim surfaced. A YouTube video on Grant Warrington’s channel, titled \”Florida Man Solves Zodiac Killer Cold Case After 56 Years!\”, thrust it into view. Victims’ families wait, theories clash, and the silence from official channels grows heavier.
What Witnesses and Analysts Report
Alex Baber steps forward with a bold assertion. He claims the Z13 cipher reveals \”Marvin Merrill,\” an alias he connects to Marvin Margolis, as detailed in the LA Times. His method? AI crunching through about 71 million 13-letter name possibilities, narrowed by cryptanalytic steps, covered in the SF Chronicle.
Baber shared his work with retired detectives and experts, including an NSA mathematician. Some former LAPD officers say the ties look worth probing. This fits a pattern—groups like The Case Breakers pushed Gary Francis Poste as Zodiac in 2021, stirring debate without closure.
Online, reactions vary. Reddit threads and forums buzz with curiosity, but skepticism runs deep. Short ciphers invite multiple readings, and past claims have fizzled. Investigators in these communities weigh in thoughtfully, respecting the effort while questioning the fit.
Timelines, Tracks, and Hard Data
Let’s map the facts. Dates and sources anchor this story, cutting through the noise. Here’s a breakdown:
| Event or Claim | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Black Dahlia murder: Elizabeth Short found murdered | January 1947 | Well-documented historical fact |
| Zodiac confirmed murders | Primarily 1968–1969 (five confirmed victims; other suspected) | Zodiac case summaries |
| Z13 cipher mailed to San Francisco Chronicle | April 1970 | Zodiac case summaries |
| Z340 cipher solved by David Oranchak, Sam Blake, and Jarl Van Eycke | December 2020 | Public reports |
| The Case Breakers name Gary Francis Poste as Zodiac suspect | October 2021 | Public statements; law enforcement did not close the case |
| Alex Baber’s claim: Z13 decrypts to ‘Marvin Merrill,’ linked to Marvin Margolis and Black Dahlia | Reported December 23, 2025 | LA Times |
| Baber’s AI method (≈71 million names filtered); retired detectives support investigation | 2025 coverage | SF Chronicle and other outlets |
| YouTube video amplification by Grant Warrington | Recent (post-claim) | Publicly available video |
| FBI stance: Zodiac case remains open and unsolved | Ongoing | Public FBI statements |
These points stand firm. Amateur breakthroughs, like the Z340 solve, show what’s possible. But agencies hold the line—no validation for civilian IDs yet.
Official Story vs. What the Data Suggests
The FBI sticks to its script: Zodiac remains unsolved, open case. No nod to private claims. Local departments echo this, wary of loose connections—like Riverside’s stance on Cheri Jo Bates. They demand formal evidence, not forum buzz.
Baber and backers push back. \”Marvin Merrill\” from Z13, AI-sifted, plus alleged Margolis links—they argue it’s enough for a fresh look. Cryptographers warn: short codes like this bend to many interpretations. Without stats or repeats, it’s shaky.
Media splits the difference. LA Times and SF Chronicle report with caveats, while sensational pieces hype the drama. Real validation? That needs reproducible decryptions, expert checks, and hard ties—DNA, handwriting, alibis. Gaps yawn wide here.
What It All Might Mean
Boil it down: Baber’s claim hit major outlets, AI method drew eyes, and past amateur wins like Z340 lend weight. YouTube spread it far. Retired voices call for checks.
Yet questions linger. Has any agency verified the decryption or Margolis links? Independent cryptos replicated it? Solid evidence beyond the cipher?
Watch for submissions—DNA tests, case files. This probes how citizen sleuths, AI, and media reshape old cases. It matters because justice hangs in the balance, and we’re all piecing together the patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alex Baber claims he decrypted the Zodiac Killer’s Z13 cipher, revealing the 13-letter name \”Marvin Merrill,\” which he links to an alias of Marvin Margolis. He ties this to both the Zodiac murders and the Black Dahlia case, as reported in the LA Times on December 23, 2025.
Baber used AI to generate and filter approximately 71 million 13-letter name candidates, then applied cryptanalytic methods to narrow it down. He consulted retired detectives and experts, including an NSA mathematician, for review.
The FBI maintains that the Zodiac case remains open and unsolved, with no validation of private-citizen identifications. Some retired LAPD detectives have publicly supported further investigation, but no major agency has confirmed the findings.
Short ciphers like Z13 are prone to multiple plausible interpretations, making them ambiguous without strong corroborating evidence. Independent cryptographers have not yet provided public, reproducible verifications, and non-cipher links to Marvin Margolis remain unconfirmed.
Yes, the Z340 cipher was solved in December 2020 by amateurs David Oranchak, Sam Blake, and Jarl Van Eycke. Groups like The Case Breakers also named suspects, such as Gary Francis Poste in 2021, but law enforcement did not close the case.
