# Are the notes a cipher, a private shorthand, or not a message at all? · Ricky McCormick's notes > Four answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Four are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/questions/QST0D07YA7265BG/are-the-notes-a-cipher-a-private-shorthand-or-not-a-message Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:35+00:00 --- **0** # Are the notes a cipher, a private shorthand, or not a message at all? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Four answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Four are still possible. ## Why it matters The FBI framed the notes as a cipher to be broken. The family's account and the notes' own structure leave room for a personal abbreviation system or for writing-like marks with no message. Which kind of object they are decides what work is worth doing⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y4V63XFW/fbi-cant-crack-the-code-in-this-murder-case-can-you)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y5JM7QFN/code-dead-do-the-encrypted-writings-of-ricky-mccormick-hold)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y6A20E1D/ricky-mccormicks-notes-provisional-transcription-mysteries). ## Answers 4 [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/answers/ANS0D07YD4T63AX/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The marks imitate writing and carry no recoverable message.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/answers/ANS0D07YCDC5DQT/the-marks-imitate-writing-and-carry-no-recoverable-message) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**The notes are a private shorthand, with recurring groups standing for words, written by McCormick for his own…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/answers/ANS0D07YBNY3MFW/the-notes-are-a-private-shorthand-with-recurring-groups) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 for Still possible [**The notes encrypt a message under a consistent cipher system.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/answers/ANS0D07YAYG7PM4/the-notes-encrypt-a-message-under-a-consistent-cipher-system) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 against Still possible ## History 1. 2011[Federal Bureau of Investigation puts forward: the notes encrypt a message under a consistent cipher system.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y4KC48WP/cryptanalysts-part-2-help-solve-an-open-murder-case) 1. 2011[NBC News / KMBC puts forward: the notes are a private shorthand, with recurring groups standing for words, written by McCormick for his own…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y4V63XFW/fbi-cant-crack-the-code-in-this-murder-case-can-you) 1. 2011[NBC News / KMBC: the FBI CRRU and the American Cryptogram Association could not identify the system.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y4V63XFW/fbi-cant-crack-the-code-in-this-murder-case-can-you)Against: The notes encrypt a message under a consistent cipher system. 1. 2011[NBC News / KMBC: relatives told investigators McCormick had used such notes since boyhood.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y4V63XFW/fbi-cant-crack-the-code-in-this-murder-case-can-you)For: The notes are a private shorthand, with recurring groups standing for words, written by McCormick for his own… 1. 2011[NBC News / KMBC: the FBI said in 2011 that he could read and write.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y4V63XFW/fbi-cant-crack-the-code-in-this-murder-case-can-you)Against: The marks imitate writing and carry no recoverable message. 1. 2012[Tritto puts forward: the marks imitate writing and carry no recoverable message.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y5JM7QFN/code-dead-do-the-encrypted-writings-of-ricky-mccormick-hold) 1. 2012[Tritto: his mother said 'the only thing he could write was his name'; a cousin said he 'couldn't spell anything, just…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y5JM7QFN/code-dead-do-the-encrypted-writings-of-ricky-mccormick-hold)For: The marks imitate writing and carry no recoverable message. 1. 2026[Mysteries Department: most letter groups end in SE, which a simple substitution of English would not produce.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y6A20E1D/ricky-mccormicks-notes-provisional-transcription-mysteries)Against: The notes encrypt a message under a consistent cipher system. 1. 2026[Mysteries Department: groups such as NCBE (about 18 times) and WLD (about 13) recur; bracketed entries carry numbers.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D07Y6A20E1D/ricky-mccormicks-notes-provisional-transcription-mysteries)For: The notes are a private shorthand, with recurring groups standing for words, written by McCormick for his own… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/questions/QST0D07YA7265BG/are-the-notes-a-cipher-a-private-shorthand-or-not-a-message%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/questions/QST0D07YA7265BG/are-the-notes-a-cipher-a-private-shorthand-or-not-a-message%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/questions/QST0D07YA7265BG/are-the-notes-a-cipher-a-private-shorthand-or-not-a-message%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/questions/QST0D07YA7265BG/are-the-notes-a-cipher-a-private-shorthand-or-not-a-message%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ricky-mccormick-notes/questions/QST0D07YA7265BG/are-the-notes-a-cipher-a-private-shorthand-or-not-a-message%23add-source) Where it fits Ricky McCormick's notes **Are the notes a cipher, a private shorthand, or not a message at all?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]