Tortured, dismembered, and murdered, aspiring actress Elizabeth Short became known to the nation as the Black Dahlia. Ms. Short, originally from Massachusetts, moved to sunny California at 18, only to be found slaughtered on the side of the road. On January 15, 1947, “just before 11 am”, a passerby spotted “the 22-year-old Hollywood starlet”, thinking she was a mannequin until taking a closer look (“The Black Dahlia Murder”). The terrified woman notified the police of the gruesome scene, and that is where the mysteries surrounding the Black Dahlia began. Her case is among the most notorious and oldest unsolved murders in Los Angeles County.
Many speculations and conspiracies encompass the Black Dahlia case and continue to rivet the niche of true crime audiences across the nation, the most popular being “who done it?” With some 50+ “confessing Sam’s,” two favored suspects stand out: Leslie Dillon and Dr. George Hodel (Real-life film noir; TRUE CRIME A forensic study of one of America’s most notorious murders offers a convincing solution). Looking at patterns, suspicions, and evidence, or as police call it: motive, means, and opportunity, Dr. George Hodel is the culprit of this heinous crime.
