Zodiackiller.com Message Board: Other Suspects: David Hoover (or his brother-in-law)

I was searching Westlaw today, and came across this case (I've excerpted the relevant portions):

*** On January 27, 1977, a one-count information was filed charging Hoover with assault, a violation of section 245, subdivision (a). The count was based on allegations that Hoover attacked his brother-in-law, believing him to be the Zodiac killer. Hoover, a schizophrenic, had apparently failed to take his prescribed medication prior to the incident.

*** On June 27, 1977, the court found Hoover not guilty by reason of insanity. On August 1, 1977, the court found that Hoover had not completely regained his sanity and, pursuant to section 1026, ordered that he undergo outpatient treatment.

Between 1977 and 1984, Hoover cycled between placement in various hospitals for psychiatric treatment, sometimes voluntarily and sometimes by court order, and release for outpatient treatment.

Hoover also exhibited violence during this time period. For example, in 1979, Hoover was accused of assaulting a neighbor with a belt buckle without provocation. In March 1984, Hoover was described as continuing to be "physically assaultive."

*** Dr. Lehman explained that, prior to coming to Napa State Hospital, Hoover thought his brother-in-law was the Zodiac killer. Hoover became frightened of his brother- in-law and tried to keep him out of the house. When the brother-in-law persisted in entering the house, Hoover tried to harm him with a fireplace poker, then a knife and eventually threw an ashtray at him. The throwing of the ashtray was the basis for the charge that resulted in Hoover's commitment to Napa State Hospital.

Dr. Lehman explained that Hoover has a tendency to externalize blame, that is, to project blame onto other people. When this thought process reaches a psychotic proportion, a person can become paranoid. Dr. Lehman opined that if Hoover were not medicated the likelihood of him having paranoid delusions was greatly increased and that if Hoover was released without supervision or restriction, he would decompensate, creating a substantial risk of violence.

*** Hoover was hospitalized for schizophrenia for the first time as a teenager and was placed on medication. Hoover subsequently experienced periods of noncompliance with medication.
Hoover began drinking and experimenting with marijuana as a teenager and then later in life developed a problem known as alcohol-related blackouts, short, transient periods of memory loss when under the influence of alcohol.

2002 WL 173750 [Unpublished Opinion], Cal.App. 1 Dist. (February 5, 2002)

Do I think that David Hoover (or his brother-in-law) did it? No. But how many times do you find a reference to California's Zodiac Killer in a court decision?

Spencer

That's great stuff, Spencer.

Hmm... if

Hoover has a tendency to externalize blame, that is, to project blame onto other people...

and

Hoover thought his brother-in-law was the Zodiac killer...

maybe this guy should be looked at more closely, especially since

Hoover began drinking and experimenting with marijuana as a teenager and then later in life developed a problem known as alcohol-related blackouts, short, transient periods of memory loss when under the influence of alcohol... (italics mine)

and

Dr. Lehman opined that if Hoover were not medicated... and that if Hoover was released without supervision or restriction, he would decompensate, creating a substantial risk of violence...

Hmm... the makings of a Z-type killer right there? Or maybe he already was during his blackouts...

I don't think Z was drunk when he was doing his thing. Speed, maybe, but not booze, not while performing the acts.