Very interesting thing just came up!
Reddit user OkDragonfly5820 found this May 12th, 1965 article in a Banning newspaper detailing a play called The Firebugs that Ross Sullivan had a speaking role in! Here is the clipping:
I got curious and looked in the Tiger Times to see if they covered it and *drum roll* success! It is covered by the school newspaper!
May 13th, 1965
Ross is listed as playing Sepp Schmitz, a main character and arsonist.
Note the director says he wants to do interesting things with the play and the writer of the article invites the audience to a “terrifying” experience. In fact, the director, Dyer, said “It’s the type of play that people with weak hearts should not attend or come only with their nurse.”
Move forward to the next Tiger Times May 20th, and, low and behold, Ross’s performance was the masterpiece of the play according to the writer! I’ll let you read it yourself:
Concerning the play itself – it’s very interesting material, friends. Here is a write up from the April 29th Tiger Times
Here is what I wrote on Reddit about the play after I read it.
“Ok so Firebugs is very very interesting. It’s basically about how people will turn a blind eye in the name of charitableness to let bad things happen and ends with a crazy scene in hell with the protagonists speaking to different devils. It would be very easy to see Ross in the role of one of the two imposing arsonists. This is one excerpt from the beginning:
‘It is unworthy of God, unworthy of man, to call a stupidity Fate Simply because it happened. The man who acts so No longer deserves the name, No longer deserves God’s earth, Inexhaustible, fruitful and kind, Nor the air that he breathes, Nor the sun. Bestow not the name of Fate Upon man’s mistakes …’
From ‘The Confession Letter’:
‘Miss Bates was stupid. She went to the slaughter like a lamb.’
EDIT: It’s also possible Ross specifically played Beelzebub or The Figure (some kind of devil) which is really eye catching. The Beelzebub speech at the end is flat out eerie: ‘My childhood faith! My childhood faith! What are they making of my childhood faith! I, the son of a charcoal burner and a gypsy woman, who couldn’t read but knew the Ten Commandments off my heart, I’m possessed by the Devil. Why? Simply because I scorned all commandments. Go to hell, Joe, you’re possessed by the Devil. I stole whatever took my fancy … And they feared me in every village, for I was stronger than all of them, because I was possessed by the Devil … ‘
Confession Letter
‘I am not sick. I am insane …’
EDIT 5/11/21 – After revisiting the play, it’s pretty clear that if the final act is actually performed, Schmitz is definitely in the Beelzebub role.
ALSO OF NOTE ABOUT THE PLOT: There is an after section of the play. In fact, the revised title reads something like “Biedermann goes to hell”.
I’m not entirely sure that the last section was always performed (the articles above imply that it was in some ways but don’t come right out and say it) but essentially the lead, Biedermann, wakes up in hell with his wife. In the end, the two arsonists come back as devils. It’s clear that the actors of the arsonists are to transition to the devil roles in the end section. The play takes a pretty big step away from dark comedy to just dark.
The gist of the devil’s conversation is dissatisfaction that hell is only filled with petty sinners while the big, powerful people who are doing terrible things to the world are making it much more of a true hell than the hell they run. The big shots go unpunished for it and seem to be absolved by heaven. The devils want to go on strike and go to earth where the true fun is at, which they do.
I don’t want to force a “slaves in paradise” kind of thing into this, and the Little List letter isn’t exactly apples to apples to it, but the gist isn’t too far away from the list of small offence people who are collected in hell in this section. Below is a screen shot of the “list” portion.
“Once again, nothing but teenagers.”
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Below is a smattering of text from the play just to give a feel for the language used in it.
The next 3 are a continuous section of the devils speaking. Pretty eerie if you ask me.
“… the fine people who never come to hell, I’m burning to serve them afresh! … Once again sparks and crackling flames, sirens that are always too late, the barking of dogs and smoke and human cries – and ashes!”
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While the content of the black humor play is rather interesting, the bigger take away is that Ross had familiarity with another building that was very close to where Cheri Jo Bates was killed.
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Edit 5/17/21
Here are a few more thoughts after having reflected on it for a few days:
- The role of Sepp Schmitz and how it might relate to Zodiac.
Schmitz is a villainous character with an outwardly pleasant demeanor. He uses his charisma and the etiquette of his society to realize the violence he internally wants to unleash. From the writing of this character, it doesn’t come across that Schmitz hates the people he is harming. Schmitz simply wants to see the world burn. It gives him pleasure. This has some eerie parallels to the Zodiac killer, to my mind. Toying with the conventions of society through letter writing. Impersonal killing simply for the thrill it gives him. Playing “the game” and doing his “thing”.
The reviewer described the role in conjunction with the other arsonist as “comedy mixed with the fear (they) instilled”. It can certainly be convincingly asserted that Zodiac attempts to take a joking tone in his letters at times.
It doesn’t come off to me as a stretch to say that Zodiac might very well have had a Sepp Schmitz type of persona.
2. What this tells us about Ross Sullivan.
First, it shows Ross had more intimate familiarity with the CJB crime scene that we previously knew, and we already knew he likely had a lot. The Little Theater was next to the library annexes. CJB was killed about 10 feet from the corner of the Harvard annex, which puts her very close to Little Theater. The college papers and magazines (Tiger Times and Nighttimes) report and lament on the parking difficulties at the college, especially at night. There was quite a bit of construction throughout that time period. Anyone driving into the college would likely have to have up to date information about parking, traffic, and weekend student population to not only potentially park down that alley but, especially, to tamper with CJB’s car. The car tampering tells us a lot because it was a risky gambit. The killer HAD to know which was her car. He HAD to know her location during that entire evening, remarkable because that is something that no one else can seem to figure out with certainty in the investigation, and he HAD to know that she would stay well after library hours, or otherwise she would just walk to the library and bang on the door or go inside with someone letting her in to use a phone. He HAD to know he wouldn’t likely be interrupted in that alley. He HAD to know she would ask specifically him to help her with the car. If he parked in that alley, he HAD to know it was an option to park there. Tampering with the car was super risky because if he’s not the first one to get to her, whoever does will see the distributer wire was pulled and get very suspicious about what happened. It’s hard to imagine someone not familiar with the campus would have chosen this gambit. Ross being a part of the production ties him to intimate familiarity with several buildings in that alley CJB died. Where there’s smoke … ?
Next, we learn that Ross was not only smart enough to memorize a whole lot of lines and cues for those lines, he was able to artfully, theatrically execute those lines. His intelligence and artistry are solidified.
Generally people audition for specific roles in this kind of production but even if not it tells us something. Ross either wanted this role, the role of a monster disguised under pleasant protocol, smiles, and charm, who portrays a devil in the end, or the director saw this in him and thought he was right for it. Either tells us something about Ross. Several other productions happened around this one at RCC and it’s notable that none of them list Ross as a performer for them, even though he drew rave reviews here. This was the part for him.
The reviewer including Ross’s performance choice of a “low, wicked rumble delight” when the flame was lit has Ross portraying a villain who destroys simply because he enjoys it. She also calls the portrayal “crude, slovenly” which has some parallels to Hartnell saying his attacked was “sloppily dressed”.
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None of these things are smoking guns but they are very interesting and give us some insight into Ross. That insight, in my opinion, draws him closer towards a Zodiac persona, not farther away.
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Please Rush to Editor 
I recently came across these articles and feel exactly the same way. Strange how life can literally imitate art.
Here is a post I wrote yesterday I’m reply to another forum user’s comments (with some of my thoughts on Ross Sullivan as a likely suspect). He fits the criminal profile perfectly and can be linked geographically:
Agree – in several reports, zodiac was reportedly 225 – 250 pounds, over 250 pounds in other witness reports (read the actual reports from lake Berryessa, San Fran, etc.) and height ranges from 5’8 to 6’2. After comparing every single report, I can only presume Zodiac was on the taller and larger side. Regardless, eye witness descriptions often are completely off. Which is why law enforcement cannot convict purely on witness testimony. I worked in case management involving recanting of victim’s testimony… here are two facts: 1.) legitimate witness and victim testimony will often change each time the story is told (case in point – Mike Megoe has changed zodiac’s height/appearance multiple times. How well could he have measure his hight with a flashlight blinding his main vision and while jumping in the back seat in shear panic. 2.) witness details as to what the suspect looks like are actually often inaccurate. The brain is a funny thing.
Ross not only resembles the sketch, but also he’s the only suspect with Redish/ light brown/dirty blonde hair. He could temporarily darken it as needed to add to his disguise, but it doesn’t seem he did so in San Francisco.
Ross’s brother Jon lived in the Berkeley, California area and other areas not too far from the “canonical” zodiac crimes. Ross stayed with him at periods of his life. Additionally, Ted Bundy, the Golden State Killer & MANY other serial killers have utilized large hunting ranges. They do not all kill in their neighborhood. Zodiac is so maniacal that he could have lived at the apartment next door to each pay phone or driven far out of his way home (and in the total opposite direction of home). He would surely have a fit of obscene laughter reading about the police assuming he lives in the section of town as the pay phone. Reality, serial killers also have been known to drive out of the way to throw police off. Also more importantly there are 2 types of serial killers: organized and disorganized. Zodiac was an organized killer. He drove around for weeks if not months planning and fantasizing about his next hunt. So he would know the layout of the San Fran/Napa/other counties. Oh and one more thing – but very important, organized killers rarely kill or commit any of the activity related to their murders in their back yard. So technically, Zodiac is living within the location range of Northern California and unless proven locked away at dates of murders, many of the suspects including Ross Sullivan easily fit in with Zodiac’s activity timeline. That doesn’t mean Ross is the zodiac killer, but it gives him a geographical reference point that fits. Santa Cruz is a quick drive south of San Francisco. Zodiac did his killings on the weekend so he could drive all over and hunt… that was the most exciting part of his kill.
The murderer of CJB likely knew that the two houses on each side of the graveled alley (where Cheri was killed) were owned by Riverside CC and were vacant. To clarify, I’m referring to the 2 houses that existed at the time CJB was murdered. They were later torn down for campus renovations. At the time of Cheri’s murder, these two houses were used by the library to store books/items. As an employee of the library, Ross would indeed know that. It would be the best place to lead her without being caught. I presume he offered her a ride and she walked with him “towards his car” thinking he was going to give her a ride.
Ross’s handwriting has been determined by many experts to be very similar to Zodiac’s. Side caveat to his handwriting if he in fact did kill CJB, Zodiac used the same unusual words like “Squirm” and other words that the writer of CJB confession letter (+ both wrote to both police and newspapers).
A few other connected dots:
Ross was also a fan of The Mikado and participated in theater (with speaking parts) as well as a student film at Glendale HS in which he played a serial killer.
[Ross Sullivan – speaking part ](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87147827/ross-sullivan-earns-speaking-role-in-d/)
[Ross Sullivan – police respond to serial killer movie](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88082840/ross-sullivan-police-respond-to-filmin/)
Cheri’s close friend Bonnie married Tim Sullivan (Ross’s brother).
Ross studied cryptology and loved a lot of dark novels, plays, etc.
All circumstantial evidence, but all of the other suspects only have circumstantial evidence. Stranger is that multiple suspects had college or other past connections to Paul Avery and starred in productions of The Mikado. That’s insane in and of itself.
A man in my parents neighborhood tried to abduct me when I was 10. I escaped his attempt only because he had given me the creeps previously and I wouldn’t get in his car when he said very friendly “I want to show you something”. Anyone else I would have naïvely trusted but fortunately this man had been acting strange for sometime and I took notice. He followed me home from the bus stop but I knew he was. I felt it in my gut. He knew my parents were at work. This was one day that my brother went to a friend’s house after school and I was alone once I got off the bus. He used to park at the bus stop almost every day… watching. My brother and I would see him and look at each other acknowledging that was weird since he doesn’t have kids to pick up. After 15 minutes and my reluctance to go to his car, he parked the car and started coming towards me. Fright or flight – I ran to my other neighbor’s house. She called the police. He had been stalking children as well as several adult women.
As an adult I became very interested and educated in criminal profiling. The Zodiac is likely a loner, unable to form relationships (I’d bet never married, and probably incapable of being in a long-term relationship), he’s likely not someone who is socially competent but could be competent enough to get by when needed to manipulate someone. He’s likely odd, possibly eccentric at times, etc. Although he’s intelligent, and likely educated to some degree, he likely has a menial job due to his asocial skills and mental complexities. He had extremely low self esteem and felt that he did not fit into this world. So he created his own world of insanity and revengeful violence – one in which he felt empowered and that he finally accomplished something of notoriety (albeit a horrifying and disguised identity, it was HIS creation, his actions that allowed him to dominate other types of people who he used to feel inferior towards (normal/happy couples, pretty girls), his ability to fool the police while dangling taunting letters and unsolvable codes was the icing on the cake that made him “get his rocks off” as he liked to say 😉).
I do wholeheartedly believe that Robert Domingos and his girlfriend were younger Zodiac’s earlier victims. I firmly believe this MORE than any other cases of potential zodiac victims. CJB is likely another victim. I lean toward not believing Donna Pass is a zodiac victim. His victims didn’t disappear (although he could have transitioned his wheel house of MO’s again). I don’t believe he would kill her at that point since his interests morphed into soaking up attention with his media/police head games. I think her body would be obviously found, he would have played it up more than merely sending a vague post card. Of course Zodiac certainly could have killed Donna. It seems to me that Zodiac began killing out of revenge/jealously of couples and his hatred of women/rejection. I believe shortly after he owned the name “The Zodiac Killer”, his desire to kill people changed to the thrill he received from the media attention (starting mid 1969).
Of all of the suspects I’ve read extensively on, I’m going with it’s likely Ross Sullivan or someone not on the publicly known list. I actually wouldn’t be shocked if it were one of Ross’s brothers either (I believe Tim wound up at Petaluma hospital. I also read that he was on the government watch list for some sort of suspicious activity in the 1970s, although I can’t seem to find exactly what that activity was regarding. Each of the Sullivan brothers seemed a little off, eccentric and possibly explosive at times. Their mother Harriet seems to have dealt with some mental health issues. Their father “Reverend” Harold R. Sullivan moved around a lot and frankly gives me the creep vibes (maybe from my work in child abuse field) with all of his camping trips to deserts with young boys, moving around and serial job hopping. Harriet dies in 1959 (or close to that). Then the good Reverend Harry deserted his boys (put Jon and Tim up for fostering by another pastor – moving across the country to New York City in 1961.
There are possible links to the Zodiac attack dates and Ross as well. It’s a stretch, but with all of the additional circumstances, it may be relevant. For instance, Ross’s mother’s birthday was July 6th (close to July 4th event). His father abandoned him and then died in 1968 – just before the killings started up under his dripping Zodiac pen.
Plus you figure in the fact that on top of major grief and abandonment issues, the boys had a strange upbringing in general (having been passed around from rooms at the YMCAs, various apartments and states (Connecticut, New York State, New Jersey, California) all before they were 15. The Sullivan boys’ seemingly untreated childhood traumatic events obviously served as a precursor for negative outcomes as adults.
Kane, Arthur Lee Allen and many others have been ruled out based on DNA proof. Kane was a creep and I wouldn’t put other murders or rapes past him.
Aside from Ross (or Tim/Jon) Sullivan, I wouldn’t be shocked if either Don or Morph’s main suspect was the Zodiac either given their backgrounds and Don’s dishonesty and suspicious obsession with pointing law enforcement to Lee. I’d fall over if it was Gary Poste who’s a tiny guy. I’ve seen zero credible evidence so far (except wrinkles on his forehead?!).
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