Killer In The Code

About Killer In The Code

Killer In The Code: Solving The Black Dahlia & Zodiac Cases, a new podcast from bestselling author Michael Connelly. Self-styled cold case consultant Alex Baber believes he has a set of life skills that allow him to find the hidden beneath the hidden. These skills took him down a two-year path to solving two of the most infamous murder cases in history, The Black Dahlia and Zodiac killer cases. With no badge and no law enforcement training, has Baber closed the cases that have baffled law enforcement for more than half a century? Some of the top minds in homicide and code-breaking work believe so and stand by his findings. Killer In The Code follows Baber on his investigative journey across the country as he uses cryptology, genealogy, AI, and finally long hours of basic gumshoe work to identify a suspect that has taunted and eluded authorities for decades. Along the way startling new evidence in both cases is discovered, all of it pointing unequivocally toward one man who lived in a dark world and may have intentionally left a “smoking gun” behind so that one day he would be discovered by someone who viewed the open cases as one puzzle missing just a few key pieces. Alex Baber found those pieces and solved the puzzle. Killer In The Code tells the story. Learn more on killerinthecode.com.

Publisher

Michael Connelly

Category

news · society & culture · true crime

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Dec 2025

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

12 of 14 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Chapter 14: Words Matter

   Sociolinguistics expert Professor Valerie Fridland analyzes killer language to reveal hidden truths about identity in this interview.

2. 

   10 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Chapter 13: It Goes Where It Goes

   Host Ben Kern uncovers a chilling Los Angeles murder from two years prior to the Elizabeth Short killing, revealing crucial connections in this interview.

3. 

   26 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Chapter 12: Probable Cause

   Judges Jane Doe and John Smith analyze the probable cause in the Marvin Margolis case, offering insights into judicial reasoning.

4. 

   26 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Chapter 11: From The Grave

   Host Marvin Margolis shares his harrowing wartime experience and its dark consequences, revealing insights from his military file.

5. 

   19 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Chapter 10: New Age Sherlock

   Alex Baber, inspired by Alan Turing and Arthur Conan Doyle, embodies a citizen sleuth who believes no case is unsolvable, showcasing his unconventional investigative approach in this interview.

6. 

   12 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Chapter 9: Last Man Standing

   William J. Mann, author of Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood, discusses updates on the investigation in this interview episode.

7. 

   5 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Chapter 8: The Round Table Part 2

   Investigators delve into listener questions, continuing their deep dive into the case in this interview episode.

8. 

   5 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Chapter 7: The Round Table Part 1

   Investigators discuss the ongoing investigation and answer listener questions in this interview.

9. 

   29 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Chapter 6: A Mind For Murder

   Host [Host Name] explores the life of suspect Marvin Merrill, uncovering potential links to unsolved crimes across his past residences.

10. 

    15 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Chapter 5: The Zodiac Motel

    Investigative journalist Alex Baber explores the Zodiac Motel's secrets in his search for Elizabeth Short's murder site.

11. 

    8 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Chapter 4: Code Makers and Breakers

    Host Ed Giorgio interviews cryptologist Alex Baber about uncovering evidence and a startling connection to Elizabeth Short.

12. 

    6 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Chapter 3: El Diablo

    Alex Baber uncovers a clue in the Zodiac cipher that directly links to the Black Dahlia, revealing a chilling connection.

13. 

    23 Dec 2025

    Chapter 2: The Smoking Gun

    Alex Baber’s gumshoe work leads to the discovery of undeniable physical evidence linking two of most infamous murder cases in history. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com. (https://killerinthecode.com/)

14. 

    22 Dec 2025

    Chapter 1: The Hidden Beneath The Hidden

    Cold case consultant Alex Baber cracks the Zodiac Killer’s most difficult cypher and it leads to a stunning revelation. Learn more on KillerInTheCode.com (https://killerinthecode.com/)

Inside a recent episode

Chapter 14: Words Matter

Published 12 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Right. So there's a question that was never stated, but in their brains, they're thinking, I know these people are wondering this question about me and I'm going to answer it here in this letter. Again, that seems to be an odd thing to do in a letter. Right. To respond to a question that wasn't even asked for two serial killers to do it. I think is unusual. And yet they share that pattern. And then the other thing I think that, you know, we really can't miss is the high use of modal verbs. So modal verbs are things that express possibility, necessity, or obligation. So, you know, if you say, will you do that? […]

Who has been a guest on Killer In The Code

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Valerie Fridland
• Alex Baber
• William J Mann
• investigators

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

742 ratings

Spotify

4.6 / 5

50 ratings

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