In the summer of 1993, a chilling series of events that had periodically plagued New York City claimed another life, that of a 40-year-old man named John Diacone. On July 20th, outside of Highland Park in Queens, Diacone was shot in the head at point-blank range, a brutal and sudden end to his life that sent ripples of fear through the community. The seemingly random act of violence was, in fact, part of a calculated and terrifying spree carried out by a man who styled himself after the
infamous Zodiac Killer of California.
The investigation into Diacone's murder would eventually lead authorities to Heriberto Seda, a reclusive and deeply troubled individual from Brooklyn. Seda, who was in his late twenties at the time of the attacks, harbored a dark obsession with astrology and a twisted conviction that he was meant to kill people based on their zodiac signs. For years, he terrorized the city, choosing his victims seemingly at random, leaving behind cryptic notes and instilling a sense of dread. His attacks were sporadic, which made his capture all the more difficult for law enforcement.
The breakthrough in the case came not from the investigation into the string of murders, but from a domestic dispute. On June 18, 1996, Seda shot his own half-sister. During the investigation of that incident, detectives noticed that Seda's handwriting bore a striking resemblance to the letters the 'New York Zodiac Killer' had sent to the police and the New York Post. This crucial connection allowed investigators to finally link Seda to the series of unsolved shootings and stabbings.
Following his arrest, Heriberto Seda was charged with a string of crimes, including the murder of John Diacone. In a trial that brought to light the full extent of his violent campaign, a jury found him guilty on June 24, 1998. The evidence against him was overwhelming, and he was convicted of three murders and several attempted murders. Seda was sentenced to 232 years in prison, ensuring that the man who brought a reign of terror to the streets of New York would never again be free.
