Arthur Leigh Allen

- Born: December 18, 1933
- Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii
- Died: August 26, 1992
- Dishonorably discharged from the U.S. NavyAmerica's Most Wanted: Zodiac Killer: Meet The Prime Suspects
- Served as a school teacher, lifeguard and nurseAmerica's Most Wanted: Zodiac Killer: Meet The Prime Suspects
- Colleges: Vallejo University, California Polytechnic State University, Sonoma State University
- Named a prime suspect in the zodiac murders in San Francisco in the 1960sAmerica's Most Wanted: Zodiac Killer: Meet The Prime Suspects
- DNA did not match that of the zodiac killer'sSFGate: DNA seems to clear only Zodiac suspect
- Lived within a few miles of the location of three of the five murders
- Denied any involvement in the murdersSFGate: DNA seems to clear only Zodiac suspect
- Potrayed by John Carroll Lynch in the Zodiac film

Former teacher Arthur Leigh Allen was a prime suspect in the zodiac serial murders in San Francisco in the 1960s. Despite circumstantial evidence pointing to Allen, no charges were ever filed in the case. Allen died of a heart attack in 1992.America's Most Wanted: Zodiac Killer: Meet The Prime Suspects
In April of 2009, Deborah Perez came forward stating that her father, Guy Ward Hendrickson, was the "zodiac killer." Perez claimed that she composed several letters to the San Francisco Chronicle, which claimed responsibility for the five murders.The Denver Post: Woman Says Father was Zodiac Killer
Brief Biography

After graduating with a teaching degree from California Polytechnic State University in 1960, Allen took a position teaching in Calaveras County, California, in 1966. He was fired from his teaching job after he was arrested for allegedly molesting a female student.America's Most Wanted: Zodiac Killer: Meet The Prime Suspects Allen served as a nurse for a short period of time, then returned to college, attending Sonoma State University. In 1974, he was convicted a second time of child molestation, and placed in Atascadero State Hospital, the same hospital in which he worked as a nurse.
Connection to Murders

At the same time as the first murder, October 1966, Allen was a member of a car club in Vallejo, Caifornia, the same location as the murder of Cheri Jo Bates, the first victim of the zodiac killer. Police determined that cryptic letters sent to the press claiming responsibility for the crime were typed on a Royal brand typewriter, the same model owned by Allen.America's Most Wanted: Zodiac Killer: Meet The Prime Suspects
Allen was also linked to the murder of Darlene Ferrin and attempted murder of Mike Mageau in 1969. Mageau, who survived the attack, stated that the suspect drove a brown Corvair, identical to one owned by a friend of Allen. Bryan Hartnell, another victim that survived an attack by the zodiac killer, stated that the suspect used a 12-inch long knife with a sheath and rivets, matching one found at Allen's residence years later.America's Most Wanted: Zodiac Killer: Meet The Prime Suspects
Evidence

Allen claimed his innocence in the crimes and stated that he had passed a 10-hour lie-detector test given by police. After Allen died from a heart attack in 1992, DNA was collected during his autopsy and compared to that from the letters sent to the press regarding the crimes. The DNA did not match.SFGate: DNA seems to clear only Zodiac suspect