Heriberto Seda
Encyclopedia
Heriberto "Eddie" Seda is an American
serial killer
who struck New York City
from 1990 to 1993. Before being caught on June 18, 1996, Seda killed three people and critically wounded four. Seda is believed to have admired San Francisco’s Zodiac Killer
for avoiding capture. Seda was convicted in 1998, and sentenced to 83.5 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole when he is 113 years old.
regularly. He lived with his mother and half sister in East New York, where he didn't work and often kept to himself. At the age of 16, Seda dropped out of high school when he was caught carrying a weapon.
On November 17, 1989, East New York’s 75th Precinct began receiving letters with the heading: "This is the zodiac". The first letter contained a warning of 12 murders, one for each sign in the Zodiac
. The letter also claimed that one murder had already taken place, but with no evidence the police dismissed the letter as a hoax
, which the police are accustomed to receiving. The letter contained a drawing of a circle with lines through it dividing the circle into 12 sections, each part representing a sign in the zodiac.
and physically abusive
to his half-sister, Gladys Reyes. During a confrontation with her and her boyfriend, Seda pulled out a weapon
and began threatening the couple. While Reyes' boyfriend hid in the bedroom, Reyes tried to escape through the front door, but Seda shot her in the buttocks
. Wounded but not incapacitated, she made her way to her neighbor’s apartment where she called the police
. After a standoff with the police, Seda was arrested. When asked to write a report
on what had happened, Seda wrote in a fashion which one of the detectives, Joseph Herbert, found strikingly similar to that of the Zodiac killer, especially due to the signature symbol that he wrote at the end of all of his letters, which he claimed signified God
. He was later convicted and pleaded guilty to several counts of murder
and attempted murder
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who struck New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1990 to 1993. Before being caught on June 18, 1996, Seda killed three people and critically wounded four. Seda is believed to have admired San Francisco’s Zodiac Killer
Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The killer's identity remains unknown. The Zodiac murdered victims in Benicia, Vallejo, Lake Berryessa and San Francisco between December 1968 and October 1969. Four men and three women...
for avoiding capture. Seda was convicted in 1998, and sentenced to 83.5 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole when he is 113 years old.
Background
Seda gave the impression of being a very religious man and attended churchChurch service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
regularly. He lived with his mother and half sister in East New York, where he didn't work and often kept to himself. At the age of 16, Seda dropped out of high school when he was caught carrying a weapon.
On November 17, 1989, East New York’s 75th Precinct began receiving letters with the heading: "This is the zodiac". The first letter contained a warning of 12 murders, one for each sign in the Zodiac
Zodiac
In astronomy, the zodiac is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude which are centred upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year...
. The letter also claimed that one murder had already taken place, but with no evidence the police dismissed the letter as a hoax
Hoax
A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British...
, which the police are accustomed to receiving. The letter contained a drawing of a circle with lines through it dividing the circle into 12 sections, each part representing a sign in the zodiac.
Capture
Seda was mentallyPsychological abuse
Psychological abuse, also referred to as emotional abuse or mental abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder...
and physically abusive
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
to his half-sister, Gladys Reyes. During a confrontation with her and her boyfriend, Seda pulled out a weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
and began threatening the couple. While Reyes' boyfriend hid in the bedroom, Reyes tried to escape through the front door, but Seda shot her in the buttocks
Buttocks
The buttocks are two rounded portions of the anatomy, located on the posterior of the pelvic region of apes and humans, and many other bipeds or quadrupeds, and comprise a layer of fat superimposed on the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. Physiologically, the buttocks enable weight to...
. Wounded but not incapacitated, she made her way to her neighbor’s apartment where she called the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
. After a standoff with the police, Seda was arrested. When asked to write a report
Report
A report is a textual work made with the specific intention of relaying information or recounting certain events in a widely presentable form....
on what had happened, Seda wrote in a fashion which one of the detectives, Joseph Herbert, found strikingly similar to that of the Zodiac killer, especially due to the signature symbol that he wrote at the end of all of his letters, which he claimed signified God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. He was later convicted and pleaded guilty to several counts of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
and attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
.
Victims
| Date | Victim | Zodiac Sign | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 8, 1990 | Mario Orozco | Scorpio Scorpio (astrology) |Infobox align="right" style="border:3px solid white;"||style="text-align: center;"|Scorpio is the eighth astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the 210th and 239th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between 24 October and... |
Survived | Shot in the back. The bullet stayed lodged next to his spine. |
| March 29, 1990 | Germán Montenegro | Gemini Gemini (astrology) Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the Zodiac between the 60th and 89th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between May 21 to June 20 each year... |
Survived | Shot in the left side of his lower body. The bullet went through his liver. |
| May 31, 1990 | Joe Proce | Taurus Taurus (astrology) Taurus is the second astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the 30th and 59th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between April 21 to May 21 each year... |
Died | Shot in his lower back, hitting his kidney. He survived attack, but died in the hospital on June 24, 1990 |
| June 19, 1990 | Larry Parham | Gemini Gemini (astrology) Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the Zodiac between the 60th and 89th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between May 21 to June 20 each year... |
Survived | Shot in the chest. The bullet missed his aorta and exited his body through his right armpit. |
| August 10, 1992 | Patricia Fonti | Leo Leo (astrology) Leo is the fifth astrological sign of the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Leo. In astrology, Leo is considered to be a "masculine", positive sign. It is also considered a fire sign and is one of four fixed signs ruled by the Sun.Individuals born when the Sun is in this sign are... |
Died | Shot twice and then was stabbed over 100 times. |
| June 4, 1993 | Jim Weber | Libra Libra (astrology) Libra is the seventh astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Libra. In astrology, Libra is considered a "masculine", positive sign. It is also considered an air sign and is one of four cardinal signs... |
Survived | Shot in the buttocks. |
| July 20, 1993 | Joseph Diacone | Virgo Virgo (astrology) Virgo is the sixth astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the 150th and 179th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between August 23 to September 22 each year... |
Died | Shot in the neck at close range. |
| October 2, 1993 | Diane Ballard | Taurus Taurus (astrology) Taurus is the second astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the 30th and 59th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between April 21 to May 21 each year... |
Survived | Shot in the neck. The bullet missed vital arteries but lodged against her spine. |
In popular culture
- The crimes committed by Seda were the subject of an episode of Forensic FilesForensic FilesForensic Files is an American documentary-style series which reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. The show is broadcast on truTV, narrated by Peter Thomas, and produced by Medstar Television, in association with truTV...
as well as an episode of Psychic DetectivesPsychic DetectivesPsychic Detectives or Psychic Investigators is a television program produced by StoryHouse Productions for Court TV, as of 2006 in its 5th season. The program documents real-life cases of situations in which police departments have enlisted the aid of psychics in solving difficult cases...
. In the early hours of March 2, 2007, truTV aired these episodes back-to-back to promote the film ZodiacZodiac (film)Zodiac is a 2007 American mystery-thriller film directed by David Fincher and based on Robert Graysmith's non-fiction book of the same name. The Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros...
. - Seda's crimes as well as his capture are written of in the Kieran Crowley true crimeTrue crimeTrue crime is a non-fiction literary and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people.The crimes most commonly include murder, but true crime works have also touched on other legal cases. Depending on the writer, true crime can adhere strictly to...
book Sleep My Little Dead.
External links
- Heriberto Seda at the Crime LibraryCrime LibraryThe Crime Library is a website documenting major crimes, criminals, and trials, forensics, and criminal profiling from books, police reports, crime television shows, and writers...