Who was the New York Zodiac killer? Heriberto Seda, known as the ‘New York Zodiac Killer’ is an American serial killer and was sentenced to 232 years in prison.
Who was the New York Zodiac killer?
The New York Zodiac Killer is different from the original Zodiac Killer, who has not yet been identified by authorities. Heriberto “Eddie” Seda was identified as the “copycat” killer responsible for three fatal shootings and at least five other injuries between 1990 and 1993. In 1996, he was charged with six counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and seven counts of possession of a weapon, resulting in his incarceration.
Before his crimes, Seda sent messages to the police, often including references to the horoscopes of the victims. Although most of his victims had different zodiac signs, one surviving victim recalled being asked her birthday by a stranger. Shootings regularly occurred on Thursdays.
Seda was deeply fascinated by the original Zodiac Killer during his youth. Growing up in a troubled environment, he was withdrawn and developed an obsession with firearms and religious texts, particularly the Bible. As a Roman Catholic, he displayed strong religious convictions, according to those who knew him.
Furthermore, Seda possessed a worn copy of Robert Graysmith’s “Zodiac,” a comprehensive investigation into the original Zodiac Killer case. He also became interested in other notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy, but it was the original Zodiac Killer’s ability to evade capture that captivated him. Reports suggest that Seda’s fascination with the Zodiac killer grew after watching a PBS crime news special.
Much like the original Zodiac Killer, Seda chose his victims based on their astrological signs and sent police cryptic messages regarding his murders. However, his messages were not as intricate or complex as those sent by the original Zodiac Killer.
What happened to the New York Zodiac Killer?
Heriberto “Eddie” Seda, known as the New York Zodiac Killer, was the focus of Episode 2 of Season 3 of the Netflix documentary series Catching Killers. The series follows investigators and prosecutors as they search for Seda, a cowardly and opportunistic killer who targeted victims in violent attacks throughout the 1990s. Inspired by the enigmatic original Zodiac Killer, Seda used star signs and basic astronomy to select his victims.
Law enforcement, frustrated by Sed’s taunts via coded messages, worked tirelessly to track him down. Eventually, by a stroke of luck, and probably Seda’s own pride, the killer was caught unawares in an unrelated incident. Interestingly, he was arrested by one of the detectives investigating the New York Zodiac Killer case. However, the series did not provide details on what happened to Sed after his arrest, leaving viewers curious about his fate.
In reality, Heriberto Seda was arrested in June 1996 and convicted of first degree murder two years later. He is currently serving time at the Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York. Despite being sentenced without the possibility of parole, Seda found love behind bars and developed a relationship with a trans woman named Synthia-China Blast. He resigned himself to life in prison and began reciting passages from the Bible to other inmates.
Now 55, Seda spends her days in prison folding origami animals, working as a porter, reading the Bible and watching programs about hunting. Contrary to the satanic and occult story presented in To Catch a Murderer, Seda was raised Catholic and would often report suspected drug dealers to the police in his neighborhood.
In an interview, he expressed that while he can apologize, he believes it would not make up for his actions. He encourages others to read the Bible as a means of overcoming tragedy.
How was the New York Zodiac killer caught?
Heriberto Seda at first engaged in seemingly unrelated gun violence, gaining attention through the use of cryptic and coded messages he sent to the New York Post and left with his victims. Law enforcement responded by establishing a dedicated Zodiac Task Force, focused on catching this mysterious killer.
However, Seda’s sporadic and unpredictable acts of violence proved more challenging to follow than expected. His lack of a criminal record further aided his escape as a partial fingerprint recovered at the crime scene did not provide a match in the existing database. In 1994, Seda was briefly detained for carrying one of his homemade pistols, but managed to avoid charges when the weapon was found to be non-functional – an aspect overlooked in the Netflix series.
Eventually, Seda’s luck turned when he was arrested for unrelated offenses. During a family dispute with his sister and her boyfriend, Seda shot his sister, who managed to escape from her mother’s apartment and seek help from a neighbor, who immediately contacted the police. After the conflict, Seda surrendered to the authorities.
Detectives assigned to his case recognized that his written confession resembled the handwriting of the New York Zodiac killer, which helped identify him.
Subsequently, Seda received a lengthy prison sentence of 232 years for his deadly attacks and murders. He served part of this sentence at New York State’s notorious Attica Penitentiary, located approximately 30 miles outside of Buffalo, before being transferred to the aforementioned Clinton Penitentiary.
In short, Heriberto Seda gained notoriety for a series of violent crimes, using cryptic messages, and managed to avoid arrest due to the difficulty of tracking his sporadic acts of violence and his lack of a prior criminal record. However, his arrest during a domestic dispute, along with the recognition of the handwriting of his confession, led to his identification and subsequent conviction for his heinous acts.
Who was Heriberto “Eddie”?
Heriberto “Eddie” Seda, also known as The New York Zodiac, is an American serial killer who operated in New York City from 1990 to 1993. He was arrested on June 18, 1996 after a crime spree that resulted in the death of three individuals and the injury of six others , four of which are in critical condition.
Seda was fascinated by the San Francisco Zodiac Killer, who managed to evade arrest, and this admiration is believed to have influenced his criminal activities. Described as a reclusive person fixated on astrology and death, Seda lived in Brooklyn. He was formally charged with the crimes on June 21, 1996, later convicted in 1998 and eventually sentenced to 232 years in prison.
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Source: HIS Education