Elizabeth Short, or the Black Dahlia, was sadistically tortured and brutally murdered by Dr. George Hodel. Although several suspects were interrogated, interviewed, and documented through the Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD, with more than 50 confessions, her killer was never convicted (Real-life film noir; TRUE CRIME A forensic study of one of America’s most notorious murders offers a convincing solution). After scavenging the research conducted in the decades following her death, two stand out above the rest: Leslie Dillon, an ex-mortuary assistant, and the late Dr. George Hodel, whose own son has convinced the LAPD of his guilt.
An odd, innocent man, Leslie Dillon, was named the number one prime suspect, detained, and arrested for the homicide of the Black Dahlia. Dillon fills some aspects but could not complete the profile the LAPD had denoted for the killer. At the time of his arrest, Mr. Dillon was a “27-year-old bellhop” with anatomical knowledge due to his work in a mortuary was displayed in several news outlets as “the best suspect yet in [the] Black Dahlia case” (“The Black Dahlia Murder). Even with this experience, his knowledge of bisecting a body perfectly without damaging the vertebrae is extremely unlikely. Although the Gangster Squad and the “discredited…self-appointed” department psychiatrist, Dr. DeRiver, were convinced of Dillon’s guilt, he was in San Francisco at the time of the murder (Hodel). It is physically impossible to be in two separate locations simultaneously. After being tricked and held in hotel interrogations, Leslie Dillon was arrested for the murder of Elizabeth Short. His alibi? He was in San Francisco at the time of the murder; on a map, San Francisco to Los Angeles is approximately 380-390 miles or about 6.5-7.5 hours in modern drive time with higher speeds than in the 1940s (“Leimert Park to San Francisco”). Lieutenant Burns, the Gangster Squad, and Dr. DeRiver “remained convinced that [Dillon] was the actual Black Dahlia killer” (Hodel). However, “in October 1949, at the request of Lt. Jemison, Sgt. Finis Brown went to San Francisco and was able to verify Leslie Dillon’s alibi” (Hodel). Thus, proving his innocence, leaving Dr. George Hodel as the only viable guilty suspect.
Dr. George Hodel, a skilled surgeon with a god complex, horrifically brutalized Elizabeth Short’s by torturing her and ultimately slaughtering her (Hodel). He was suspected and released on two homicides, Ms. Short and his secretary, and the incestual molestation of his daughter (Hodel). This is what made Hodel feel more invincible than most. Dr. Hodel specialized in abortions and venereal diseases, owned a clinic in Hollywood, and was Elizabeth Short’s doctor at one time (Hodel). It was stated by “four (4) of the highest-ranking detectives, all of whom were involved in the original 1947-1950 investigation,” that they knew who committed this heinous, senseless murder (Hodel). The procedure performed on Elizabeth’s body is known as a “hemicorpectomy,” or a specific bisection taught at American medical schools in the 1930s (Gilmore). Dr. George Hodel “graduated in 1936” with high honors, and though he was a civilian by all accounts, his rank equated with that of a lieutenant (Hodel). Dr. George Hodel only lived twenty minutes from where Elizabeth was last seen alive, Biltmore Hotel, and approximately thirty minutes from where her body was meticulously displayed (“Leimert Park to5121 Franklin Ave”). Another compelling piece of evidence against Hodel is an old wire recording from when the LAPD was monitoring him regarding another felonious act, incest, which found Hodel stating to an unknown male, “supposin’ I did kill the Black Dahlia. They couldn’t prove it now…” (Hodel). Dr. Hodel had means, motive, and opportunity, checking off all requirements for arrest and conviction. However, the police department could not apprehend the highly notarized Hollywood doctor due to the lack of evidence and technological disadvantage (Hodel). The Chief of Detectives at the time of the original investigation, Thad Brown, declared, “the Black Dahlia case was solved. He was a doctor who lived on Franklin Avenue in Hollywood” (Hodel).
