The DoodlerPossible confession sparks search for a psychiatrist
In late 1975, a psychiatrist contacted San Francisco police to say he knew who the Doodler serial killer was. Nearly half a century later, his identity has been maddeningly difficult to pin down. What answers would he have?
April 20, 2021 4:00 a.m.
The psychiatrist was the breakthrough. Said he had a confession. And a name. San Francisco homicide inspectors Rotea Gilford and Earl Sanders thought they were about to nab the Doodler, solving a string of murders.
Looking back to late 1975, it seemed like the handcuffs were about to come out. The shrink’s therapy session notes presumably had their suspect copping to being the guy who stabbed Doodler victims to death on Ocean Beach. Then there was the police sketch. The suspect apparently resembled the one generated by attack survivors that summer.