J. C. X. Simon

Serial Killer

J. C. X. Simon and the Zebra Murders

Background

J. C. X. Simon was one of four men convicted for their participation in the notorious Zebra murders, a series of racially motivated killings and attempted killings that terrorized San Francisco, California, during the 1970s. Simon operated with Manuel Moore, Larry Green and Jessie Lee Cooks. Prosecutors portrayed the men as members of a violent group whose participants sometimes referred to themselves as the Death Angels. The principal wave of attacks occurred between October 1973 and April 1974. At least fifteen people were killed and several others were wounded. Most of the victims were approached unexpectedly in public places, including sidewalks, doorways, parking areas, laundromats and bus stops. Many were shot at close range with .32-caliber firearms before their attackers quickly fled. Although Simon is frequently described as one of the Zebra serial killers, it is important to distinguish the crimes attributed to the group from the specific charges proven against him. Simon was convicted for his role in the murders of Tana Smith and Jane Holly and for the shooting of survivor Roxanne McMillan. He was prosecuted alongside Moore, Green and Cooks in a lengthy joint trial that examined the wider pattern of Zebra attacks.

The Beginning of the Murder Series

The recognized Zebra murder series began on October 20, 1973, with the abduction of married couple Quita and Richard Hague. The couple was forced into a vehicle while walking near their home in San Francisco. Quita Hague was killed, while Richard Hague was severely assaulted but survived. His description of the abductors and their vehicle later became an important part of the investigation. Ten days later, Frances Rose was shot while sitting in her car near a University of California extension facility. Jessie Lee Cooks was arrested in connection with that crime. Additional shootings followed throughout November and December, creating a pattern that investigators gradually connected through witness accounts, the circumstances of the attacks and ballistic evidence involving .32-caliber weapons. The victims were often selected with little or no apparent personal connection to their assailants. Some were walking home, waiting outside buildings or performing ordinary errands. This randomness made the attacks especially frightening because residents had no clear way to predict who might be targeted next. ...

Confirmed Victims: (15)

Quita Hague Age: (28), Date of Death: 1973-10-19

Survivors:

Richard Hague Age: (19), Date of Attack: 1973-10-19

Robert Stoeckmann Age: (26), Date of Attack: 1973-11-09

Arthur Agnos Age: (36), Date of Attack: 1973-12-13

Angela Roselli Age: (20), Date of Attack: 1973-12-20

Thomas Bates Age: (26), Date of Attack: 1974-01-29

Roxanne McMillan Age: (23), Date of Attack: 1974-01-29

Linda Story Age: (21), Date of Attack: 1974-04-01

Ward Anderson Age: (18), Date of Attack: 1974-04-14

Terry White Age: (15), Date of Attack: 1974-04-14

J. C. X. “Zebra Killer” Simon (unknown-2015) - Find a Grave Memorial