David Arthur Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen were young teenagers, just beginning their lives, when they became the first officially confirmed victims of the Zodiac Killer. On a quiet evening in December, the couple was parked along Lake Herman Road in Benicia, California. As they sat in Faraday's car, an unknown assailant approached and shot them both multiple times. The brutal nature of the crime left a profound impact on the local community, particularly with rumors of a serial killer running rampant in Northern California.

The investigation that followed revealed a series of letters sent to local newspapers that would become a hallmark of the Zodiac Killer's modus operandi. These letters, filled with cryptic messages and ciphers, taunted law enforcement and claimed responsibility for several murders, including the one of Faraday and Jensen. Due to the random nature of the attack and the fear instilled in the public, local authorities heightened their vigilance. Media coverage propelled the Zodiac Killer into infamy, turning him into a figure of public fascination.

The murders served as a catalyst for a string of further attacks attributed to the Zodiac Killer in the following years, creating a panic in the Bay Area and drawing significant media attention. Despite various investigations, the case remains unsolved, with the Zodiac Killer's identity still a mystery decades later. The case has been the subject of multiple documentaries, books, and films, cementing its place in American crime lore and ensuring the legacy of Faraday and Jensen lives on as part of a chilling narrative.