'The Most Dangerous Animal of All' takes a look at one man's claim that the Zodiac Killer is his dad
One of the biggest mysteries true crime aficionados would love to solve is that of the identity of the Zodiac Killer - known only by his chosen pseudonym. Even more than 50 years later, the killer's identity remains shrouded in mystery.
However, Gary Stewart, author of the 2014 book, 'The Most Dangerous Animal of All' (co-written by Susan Mustafa) claims to have determined that his biological father was, in fact, the real Zodiac Killer. Stewart's book was adapted by FX into a four-part docuseries that examines his findings and his reaction, as well as that of others, to them.
The Zodiac Killer was responsible for at least five murders in the 1960s and 70s and he is said to have claimed up to killing 37 more. This killer became infamous due to his series of taunting letters he sent to Bay Area newspapers which included ciphers, or cryptograms that he claimed would reveal his identity if anyone were clever enough to solve them.
That said, 'The Most Dangerous Animal of All' is more about the author, Stewart himself, than the Zodiac Killer. While the book received flak for not undergoing enough fact-checking, the FX docuseries seems to remedy that, fact-checking Stewart's claims while giving us an idea about Stewart himself through insights from his family members.
Stewart is the biological son of Earl Van Best Jr. and Judy Chandler. The two met when Van Best Jr was 27 years old and Chandler was 14 and ran off together. Their elopement became a nationally-reported story, something that helped Stewart in his search for his biological parents.
Van Best Jr was arrested multiple times and was considered a pedophile. He was also abusive to his child bride and their baby (Stewart) and would close the baby in a footlocker when he cried. Ultimately, Stewart was abandoned and later adopted by Loyd and Leona Stewart.
As the docuseries begins, Stewart claims that adoptees have a primal wound. He says, "If you weren't loved enough to be kept, how can you expect someone else to love you?"
Director Kief Davidson allows Stewart to tell his story, but not without the fact-checking that such a bombshell "revelation" requires. In fact, whether the Zodiac Killer was Stewart's father or not, 'The Most Dangerous Animal of All' is compelling within Stewart's search of his biological father in itself, though the docuseries may seem a tad too long.
Stewart's quest for the unmasking of the identity of who his biological father (as the Zodiac Killer) is ultimately a quest for his own identity that costs him several relationships, including multiple marriages. Whether Earl Van Best Jr. was the Zodiac Killer or not, one thing is amply clear- he was not a good man.
Though in tying the story of the Zodiac Killer to Van Best Jr., Stewart managed to earn the attention of many, it still leaves a void within him. As Stewart says, "I could continue this journey for another 10 years and never, never, never feel any better about me.”
All four episodes of 'The Most Dangerous Animal of All' aired on FX on March 6 and can be streamed on Hulu.