Shusmita Roy (Riya) 10/28/14Gothic LiteratureMs. Dewitt Period 8

Black Dahlia

I. Introduction/Synopsis: Shes beautiful. Shes intelligent. Shes mesmerizing. A. Elizabeth Short (Black Dahlia) was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 29, 1924. In January 1946 at age 22: this aspiring actress, working as waitress, was murdered in Los Angeles, California. (Elizabeth Short)B. Nickname Black Dahlia (The Black Dahlia Murder)1. Came from the popular movie at that time called Blue Dahlia2. Media and news reporters created and promoted the nicknameC. Purpose Statement: The Black Dahlia Murder is Los Angeless most famous unsolved murder that may never be solved. II. The Black Dahlia MurderA. Now The Body1. Found nude and posed by a local female resident on Jan. 15, 1947 in a vacant lot near Leimert Park (Elizabeth Short)2. Killer had dissected, mutilated, scrubbed clean, and drained the corpse of blood (Elizabeth Short)3. Body had been cut in half at the waist, face was cut from corners of mouth to ears, there were many bruises on breast and thighs, and whole sections of skin have been removed (The Black Dahlia Murder)4. Autopsy showed she was killed due to lacerations and a hemorrhage, which resulted from blows to her face (The Black Dahlia Murder)B. Moreover, The killer wanted infamy 1. According to Steve Hodel, retired police detective: The killer knew body would be found quickly and wasnt trying to hide it (Black Dahlia Confidential)2. In fact, city was terrified for weeks (Black Dahlia Confidential)3. There were many false confessions and hundreds of other suspects were questioned and cleared. (Black Dahlia Confidential)4. About 50 men and women went to LAPD & claimed to be killer (The Black Dahlia Murder)5. Killer even wrote mocking letters to police and sent Shorts personal address book to local newspaper (Black Dahlia Confidential)6. Faulty witnesses, lack of hard evidence, and media interference hampered the murder cases progress (Elizabeth Short)7. The case couldnt be solved at that time (Black Dahlia Confidential)III. Recent Case Devlopments A. Now, Steve Hodel has been researching the case since his father, Dr. George Hodel, died in 1999 (McCormack)1. Steve first suspected his father while going through Georges belongings after his death at age 91 and found 2 photos that looks like Short (Gastaldo)2. Steve was convinced photos was of Black Dahliaa. So Steve went to an old friend, deputy district attorney, Stephen Kay (Black Dahlia Confidential)3. Kay found Black Dahlia file in DAs office (contained investigative notes and transcripts) (Black Dahlia Confidential)a. In that file, Steve found a pic of George Hodel, showing that George was once a suspect (Black Dahlia Confidential)B. File: Gave more insight into the past police investigation1. Police detectives had went into Georges house and planted eavesdropping devices all over house. (Black Dahlia Confidential)a. Next 40 days: detectives listened to hundreds of Georges private conversations (Black Dahlia Confidential)b. Transcript of recordings: George said Supposing I did kill the Black Dahlia. They couldnt prove it now. They cant talk to my secretary anymore because shes dead. (Black Dahlia Confidential)c. Despite statements in recordings, Black Dahlia investigation was suddenly shut down in Spring of 1950. More surprising: chief investigator Frank Jemison said audiotape evidence eliminates suspect (George). (Black Dahlia Confidential)d. Transcript: George said This is the best payoff Ive seen between law enforcement agencies. And Id like to get a connection made in the DAs office. This shows some money must have transpired between people: (Black Dahlia Confidential)e. It should be noted that in 1949: LAPD was a dirty department with scandals that included cops, gangsters, prostitutes and payoffs (Black Dahlia Confidential)C. There are reasons Steve believes his father, Dr. George Hodel, is the killer. (Black Dahlia Confidential)1. Steve says the condition of Shorts body indicates killer was a skilled professional surgeon and George did excel at surgery in medical school2. Steve says George wanted to be an artist like famous photographer Man Ray3. Believes George posed Shorts body to resemble Minotaur, one of Man Rays work, and arms were positioned to resemble the horns.4. Cuts across Shorts mouth resemble another Man Rays work: The Lovers, which is basically an image of a huge lip.D. However, LAPD went against Steve, claiming theres isnt any proof George even knew or dated Short (Black Dahlia Confidential)1. LAPD has credibility problemsa. All physical evidence (including interviews and wire recordings of Dr. Hodel) has disappeared. Police doesnt know how this happened. E. It should be noted that George abandoned his family and went to Asia days after DA stopped investigating in 1950 (Black Dahlia Confidential)1. Came back 40 years later F. On February 2013, Steve used Buster, a Labrador retriever trained to detect smell of human decomposition (McCormack)1. Buster detected human decomposition several places in basement and alley behind Georges house. (McCormack)2. Soil sample from alley was analyzed by forensic anthropologist and came positive for human remains. (Gastaldo)3. Steve wants to deepen his search on the human remains but LAPD doesnt want to get involved. (Gastaldo)G. So, sadly, despite these new leads, many still believe that the murder may never be solved, though it has inspired countless moviemakers and writers around the world.(The Black Dahlia Murder)