Black Dahlia
People
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Elizabeth Short
Victim1924-1947An American woman, often described as an aspiring actress, who was found brutally murdered and mutilated in Los Angeles, California. She was posthumously nicknamed 'The Black Dahlia'.
13 linked events1 sourceBoston +7 moreNarrative notesHide notes
Elizabeth Short
Victim1924-1947An American woman, often described as an aspiring actress, who was found brutally murdered and mutilated in Los Angeles, California. She was posthumously nicknamed 'The Black Dahlia'.
An American woman, often described as an aspiring actress, who was found brutally murdered and mutilated in Los Angeles, California. She was posthumously nicknamed 'The Black Dahlia'.
Elizabeth Short Born
Elizabeth Short, the future 'Black Dahlia', was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
Short Moves to California
Elizabeth Short relocated to Vallejo, California, to live with her estranged father.
Short Leaves Father's Home
After arguments, Elizabeth Short moved out of her father's home in Vallejo.
Short Applies for Job at Camp Cooke
Elizabeth Short applied for a job as a clerk at the commissary of the Army's Camp Cooke in California.
Short Arrested for Underage Drinking
Elizabeth Short was arrested by Santa Barbara police for underage drinking.
Short Acquires "Black Dahlia" Nickname
Elizabeth Short acquired the nickname "Black Dahlia" in a Long Beach drugstore, possibly due to her dark hair, penchant for black clothing, and in reference to the film 'The Blue Dahlia'.
Short Moves to Los Angeles
Elizabeth Short moved to Los Angeles, California, where she would spend the last six months of her life.
Last Confirmed Sighting of Elizabeth Short
Robert "Red" Manley dropped Elizabeth Short off at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. She was last seen making phone calls from the hotel lobby.
- Robert Manley dropped Short off at the Biltmore Hotel.
- Short was seen pacing the lobby and making frantic phone calls from the Biltmore Hotel.
Estimated Time of Death
Elizabeth Short was murdered, likely sometime during the evening of January 14 or the early morning hours of January 15, as medical examiners determined she had been dead for about ten hours prior to the discovery of her body.
Discovery of Elizabeth Short's Body
Elizabeth Short's naked, bisected, and severely mutilated body was discovered by Betty Bersinger in a vacant lot on South Norton Avenue in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.
- Betty Bersinger, walking with her daughter, discovered the body in a vacant lot.
- Bersinger initially mistook the body for a mannequin due to its pallid appearance.
- Upon realizing it was a human body, she ran to a nearby residence to call the police.
Autopsy Performed
An autopsy on Elizabeth Short's body was performed by Los Angeles County coroner Frederick Newbarr.
Killer Sends Package to Newspapers
A manila envelope addressed to "The Los Angeles Examiner and other Los Angeles papers" was discovered, containing Elizabeth Short's birth certificate, business cards, photographs, and an address book, all cleaned with gasoline.
Short's Belongings Found in Dumpster
Elizabeth Short's purse and one high heel were found in a dumpster several miles from the crime scene.
Betty Bersinger
WitnessA local housewife who discovered Elizabeth Short's body in a vacant lot while walking with her daughter.
1 linked event1 sourceSouth Norton AvenueNarrative notesHide notes
Betty Bersinger
WitnessA local housewife who discovered Elizabeth Short's body in a vacant lot while walking with her daughter.
A local housewife who discovered Elizabeth Short's body in a vacant lot while walking with her daughter.
Discovery of Elizabeth Short's Body
Elizabeth Short's naked, bisected, and severely mutilated body was discovered by Betty Bersinger in a vacant lot on South Norton Avenue in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.
- Betty Bersinger, walking with her daughter, discovered the body in a vacant lot.
- Bersinger initially mistook the body for a mannequin due to its pallid appearance.
- Upon realizing it was a human body, she ran to a nearby residence to call the police.
Robert "Red" Manley
WitnessA married salesman who was the last known person to see Elizabeth Short alive, dropping her off at the Biltmore Hotel on January 9, 1947. He was briefly considered a suspect but later released.
2 linked events1 sourceBiltmore HotelNarrative notesHide notes
Robert "Red" Manley
WitnessA married salesman who was the last known person to see Elizabeth Short alive, dropping her off at the Biltmore Hotel on January 9, 1947. He was briefly considered a suspect but later released.
A married salesman who was the last known person to see Elizabeth Short alive, dropping her off at the Biltmore Hotel on January 9, 1947. He was briefly considered a suspect but later released.
Last Confirmed Sighting of Elizabeth Short
Robert "Red" Manley dropped Elizabeth Short off at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. She was last seen making phone calls from the hotel lobby.
- Robert Manley dropped Short off at the Biltmore Hotel.
- Short was seen pacing the lobby and making frantic phone calls from the Biltmore Hotel.
Robert Manley Arrested and Released
Robert "Red" Manley was arrested as a suspect but released a day later after his story was corroborated and he passed polygraph exams.
Frederick Newbarr
ExpertThe Los Angeles County coroner who performed the autopsy on Elizabeth Short's body.
1 linked event1 sourceLos AngelesNarrative notesHide notes
Frederick Newbarr
ExpertThe Los Angeles County coroner who performed the autopsy on Elizabeth Short's body.
The Los Angeles County coroner who performed the autopsy on Elizabeth Short's body.
Autopsy Performed
An autopsy on Elizabeth Short's body was performed by Los Angeles County coroner Frederick Newbarr.
Steve Hodel
InvestigatorA retired LAPD detective who published a book accusing his father, Dr. George Hodel, of the Black Dahlia murder.
1 linked event1 sourceNarrative notesHide notes
Steve Hodel
InvestigatorA retired LAPD detective who published a book accusing his father, Dr. George Hodel, of the Black Dahlia murder.
A retired LAPD detective who published a book accusing his father, Dr. George Hodel, of the Black Dahlia murder.
Steve Hodel Publishes Book Accusing Father
Retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel published his book, 'Black Dahlia Avenger: The True Story,' accusing his father, Dr. George Hodel, of the murder.
Dr. George Hodel
SuspectDied 1999Father of retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel, who is accused by his son of being the Black Dahlia killer. He was a physician and fled to the Philippines in the 1950s.
2 linked events1 sourcePhilippinesNarrative notesHide notes
Dr. George Hodel
SuspectDied 1999Father of retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel, who is accused by his son of being the Black Dahlia killer. He was a physician and fled to the Philippines in the 1950s.
Father of retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel, who is accused by his son of being the Black Dahlia killer. He was a physician and fled to the Philippines in the 1950s.
Dr. George Hodel Flees to Philippines
Dr. George Hodel, a later suspect in the case, fled the U.S. and moved to the Philippines.
Steve Hodel Publishes Book Accusing Father
Retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel published his book, 'Black Dahlia Avenger: The True Story,' accusing his father, Dr. George Hodel, of the murder.
Leslie Dillon
SuspectA former mortician's assistant who came under suspicion after writing letters to the LAPD and whose background in embalming and anatomy raised questions due to the surgical mutilation of Short's body.
1 linked event1 sourceLos AngelesNarrative notesHide notes
Leslie Dillon
SuspectA former mortician's assistant who came under suspicion after writing letters to the LAPD and whose background in embalming and anatomy raised questions due to the surgical mutilation of Short's body.
A former mortician's assistant who came under suspicion after writing letters to the LAPD and whose background in embalming and anatomy raised questions due to the surgical mutilation of Short's body.
Leslie Dillon Becomes Suspect
Former mortician Leslie Dillon came under suspicion after writing letters to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Daniel Voorhees
OtherAn Army veteran who gave one of the earliest demonstrably false confessions in the Black Dahlia case.
1 linked event1 sourceNarrative notesHide notes
Daniel Voorhees
OtherAn Army veteran who gave one of the earliest demonstrably false confessions in the Black Dahlia case.
An Army veteran who gave one of the earliest demonstrably false confessions in the Black Dahlia case.
First False Confession
Army veteran Daniel Voorhees gave police the first demonstrably false confession in the case.
Jeanne French
VictimDied 1947A Los Angeles murder victim whose death was later discussed as a possible linked or copycat crime after Elizabeth Short's murder.
1 linked event1 sourceLos AngelesNarrative notesHide notes
Jeanne French
VictimDied 1947A Los Angeles murder victim whose death was later discussed as a possible linked or copycat crime after Elizabeth Short's murder.
A Los Angeles murder victim whose death was later discussed as a possible linked or copycat crime after Elizabeth Short's murder.
Jeanne French Murder
The murder of Jeanne French in Los Angeles occurred, and was later discussed as a possible link to Short's murder.
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