WARNING: PICTURES OF ELIZABETH'S CORPSE ARE ON THIS PAGE. SORRY FOLKS. IT'S PART OF THE CASE. DON'T HATE.
When Elizabeth Short came to Hollywood she was not unlike thousands of other young women from the east, hoping her good looks and a little bit of talent would propel her into the land of the rich and famous.
Elizabeth Short did earn notoriety, but in a horrifying way that would come to chill even the most seasoned investigators. The story of the girl, who became known as the Black Dahlia only after her tragic and violent death, has been an ongoing obsession since her body was found severed and drained of blood in a vacant lot in Los Angeles in 1947.
Within weeks of the murder, 37 innocent men and women had confessed to the crime. What is it that fascinates us so about the Black Dahlia? And who could have committed such a violent, brutal, yet well-planned and executed crime? Even today, new leads are still being uncovered in the case, and more books and movies based on the crime are in the works.
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About Elizabeth
Born July 29, 1924, in Hyde Park, Mass., Beth Short was daughter of Phoebe and Cleo Short. They soon moved to Medford, Mass.
Her legal name was Elizabeth Short (no middle name). While a child, many called her Betty, and as she matured, she preferred to be called Beth.
In 1929, Cleo disappeared, many believing he had committed suicide, as his empty car was found near a bridge. He later sent a letter to his wife, apologizing for leaving. Phoebe refused to allow him to return.Beth matured quickly. She grew up to become a beautiful teenager - she looked older and more sophisticated than others her age.As a child, Beth frequently attended movies with her mother. And later, the girl's goal was to work in movies.
At age 19, Beth ventured to Vallejo, Calif., to live with her father. The stay did not last long, however. Her father asked her to leave because he said she was lazy and stayed out late.Near Santa Barbara was Beth's next stop. It was here where she was arrested for underage drinking. After her arrest and fingerprinting, police instructed the young woman to return home to Medford.At one time she had gone home for a visit, but Beth was determined to be in movies, and returned to Hollywood.
Elizabeth's Death
It was mid-January, 1947, when Beth was last seen alive at the Biltmore Hotel. It was reported that she was to meet a gentleman. After leaving the hotel, she was never again seen alive.Her body was found, severed, in the Crenshaw District January 15, 1947.
It was the carefully posed remains of Betty Short, 5-5, 115 pounds, who had been severed at the navel. She was face-up, about eight inches from the sidewalk, 54 feet north of the fire hydrant at the middle of the block. Her blue eyes were open, her hands were over her head with her elbows bent at right angles, and her knees were straight and legs spread.
Flies were hovering around the body. She had been hit in the head and gashes were cut from the corners of her mouth up toward her ears. Chunks of flesh had been neatly sliced from her body, which had been scrubbed and drained of blood. The autopsy surgeon later found that she died of shock due to concussion of the brain and loss of blood from the gashes in her face.
Of course there's more to the story and autopsy report than this.
This is just a summary.
Time Line
1918
• Cleo Short opens garage in Wo1fboro, New Hampshire
1922
• Dorothea Short born to Phoebe and Cleo Short
• Cleo and Phoebe Short move from Wolfboro, New Hampshire to Massachusetts with 2 daughters, Virginia and Dorothea
1924
• Ju1y 29, Elizabeth Short born in Hyde Park, Massachusetts
1926
• Short family moves to Medford, Massachusetts
1928
• Muriel Short born
• July l0: 20,000 people gather at Fulton Field in Elizabeth Short's hometown, Medford, Massachusetts to honor Amelia Earheart
1930
• Cleo Short deserts family
1935
• June: Short family moves to 115 Salem Street near Fifield Court in Medford, Massachusetts
1940
• September: Elizabeth "Bette" Short goes to Florida to work and get away from cold weather
1941
• Spring: Bette Short returns to Medford
1942
• Spring: Bette replaces draftee as soda jerk at Shuman's Drugstore in Medford
• September, Cleo Short sends Bette money to come live with him in California
• November 28: Coconut Grove Fire in Boston
– December 15: She left her mother, Mrs. Phoebe [Mae] Short, in Medford, Massachusetts and went to her father, Cleo A. Short at Mrs. Yankee's house on Nebraska Street, Vallejo, California.
– December 22: Bette and father move to 1028-1/2 W 36 St, Los Angeles [Note DA files list this date as 1/28/43]
1943
- January 29: She went to Camp Cook and worked in the P.X.(Post Exchange) handling small store and confections.: [Note: fingerprinted and photo ID]
• January: Bette living with Vera Green, 221 -C West Montecito St., West Cabrillo Beach, California
• February: Bette picked "Camp Cutie"
• February: Bette living with Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stradder, Tomkins Ranch near Casmalia, California
• April: Cleo borrows key to Mary Booth's apartment in Los Angeles; Bette with him; Cleo encouraging her to be in movies
• July: Mrs. Agnes L. Dixon befriends Bette in Los Angeles
• August: Bette in Lompoc, staying at Rancho Santo Antonio in Casmalia
• August 25: Bette ends employment at Camp Cooke
• September 23: Bette arrested at El Paseo Restaurant—minor where liquor is served; befriended by police woman, Mary Unkefer
- September 28: She left Camp Cook.
• October 2: Bette put on bus to Boston by Policewoman Unkefer
– December 1: She went to Miami Beach and worked at Rosedale Delicatessen for a few months; lives at the El Mar Hotel
1944
– She work's at Mammy's Restaurant until the latter part of 1944
– March: She took a trip to Atlanta, Georgia.
– April: She went to Miami Beach, Florida.
• September: Bette meets Gordon Fickling in Miami Beach Florida
• November: Bette back in Medford for a visit Thanksgiving
• December: Bette in Miami Beach, Florida: meets Matt Gordon New Year's Eve; living with Mrs. Devaul
1945
• Mid-January: Bette back in Medford waiting for fiancé Matt Gordan's retum.
– March 30: Begins working at St. Claire's Restaurant, Boston
• August 22: Bette receives telegram Matt Gordon killed after war ended
– September 1: She ends work at St. Claire's Restaurant
• September: Bette working in Belmont, Massachusetts at Schraff’s
– December: She went to Jacksonville, Florida.
1946
– February: She went to her mother, Phoebe Short at Medford, Mass
• April: Bette leaves for Chicago from Medford (mother’s testimony at inquest)
• May: Bette in Chicago, meets briefly with Gordon Fickling: he's on way to California
• May: Bette contacts Dr. John Olsen in Hammond, Indiana
• May: Letter to Bette from Fickling, "Have we been childish?"
– June 1: Bette goes to Indianapolis, Indiana [Note: Mother testified at Inquest that Bette left Medford, Massachusetts in April, 1946. The District Attorney investigator could have relied upon the date her trunk was shipped from Medford. Another person could have arranged for the shipping.]
– June 1: Railway Express receipt addressed to Miss B. Short, 905 (street not legible), Indianapolis, Indiana
– June 24: She went to Chicago, Ill and registered at the Park Row Hotel.
– July 7: She left Chicago to go to Long Beach, California saying she was going there to marry Gordon Fickling. She did not marry him, but did live with him.
• July: "Blue Dahlia" playing at theater in Long Beach, California
• July: Bette given "Black Dahlia" nickname
– July 22: She moved into the Washington Hotel, Long Beach with Gordon Fickling
• July 26: Bette living at Atwater Hotel in Long Beach
– August 8: She moved into several other small unknown hotels in Long Beach remaining approximately the five-day limit in each and living with Gordon Fickling.
– August 20: She went with Fickling and lived with him at the Brevort Hotel, Hollywood.*
– August 27: At 11:30 PM she checked out of the Brevort Hotel
– August 28: She moved into the Hawthorne Hotel, 1611 N. Orange Grove, Los Angeles*, with Marjorie Graham who was originally from 65 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, Mass.
• August: short, dark man sometimes pays Bette's rent at Hawthorne Hotel
• August-November: Bette a regular at Brittingham’s — Columbia Studios
• September-November: Rumor that Bette going with someone at Columbia Studios
• September 20: Last time Lynn Martin saw Bette; argue over Lynn's activities
– September 20: She moved to the Figueroa Hotel with Marjorie Graham and Sid Zaid.
– October 1: She and Marjorie Graham moved into the home of Mark Hansen and Ann Toth 6024 Carlos Ave.
– October 12: She moved to the Guardian Arms Apartments, Apt 726 at 5217 Hollywood Boulevard, and lived with Marjorie Graham, Bill Robinson, her boyfriend and Marvin Margolis.
– October 22: She moved out of the Guardian apartments and spent the night driving around looking for a place to stay but found none. She dorove around in the car of Glen Kearns, 2332 Gale St, Los Angeles; [Note: Glen took photos of her at Marshall High School.]
– October 23: Glen Kearns took her to the home of Mark Hansen and Ann Toth, 6024 Carlos Avenue, Los Angeles
• October: Robert S. Gessinger gives Bette ride to drive-in at Sunset Blvd and Vermont
– November 13: She moved from the last address to the Chancellor Apartments, 1842 N. Cherokee, Apt. No. 501. She lived there with Cheryll Haughlamb, Beverly Don'e, Pat Goff, Marion Schmidt, Dorothy Saffron and Mary Louise Pappe. Glen Wolfe was the manager of the chancellor Apartments at the time.
• November: Bette receives letter from Fickling, "pessimistic about the future," but will try to help her
• November: Bette’s trunk arrives at Railway Express
• December: Landlady Juanita Ringo holds Bette's suitcases for nonpayment of rent
– December 1: Maurice Clement bought Bette dinner at Brittingham’s; saw her 3 or 4 times that week
• December 1: Jimmy Harrigan takes Bette to Tabu Club
• December 2: Jimmy Harrigan takes Bette to Ontario for dinner at Sycamore Inn; she tells him she's leaving area
– December 6: She went with Carl Balsiger to Camarillo, California in his 1940 Oldsmobile car (According to Balsiger, he brought her back to Los Angeles and took her to the bus station.)
• December 8: Carl Balsiger brings Bette to Greyhound
- December 9: She arrived in San Diego on a bus from Los Angeles at 6 a.m. and moved in with Dorothy French at 2750 Camino Pradero, [Pacific] Beach, San Diego, Cal. She lived there with Mrs. [E]lvera French and her daughter dorothy French and her son [Cory] French.
• December 13: Bette has date with unidentified naval officer
• December c. 15: Bette writes letter to Ann Toth asking for $20 stake
• December 16: Bette meets Robert Manley (San Diego)
• Decembcr 21: Manley goes by Frenches looking for Bette (Pacific Beach)
• December 22: Bette receives letter and $100 from Fickling (Pacific Beach)
• December 24: Bette has dinner at home of Frank Dominguez (San Diego)
• December 25: Bette celebrates Christmas with the Frenches (Pacific Beach)
• December 31: Bette has date with Frank Dominguez (San Diego)
1947
• January 1: Bette spends New Year's Day with the Frenches (Pacific Beach)
• January 2: Bette receives two phone calls (next door); one from Los Angeles
• January 7: Bette receives telegram from Red (Pacific Beach)
• January 7: Bette dates Sam Navarra (San Diego)
• January 7: Two men and a woman looking for Bette at French home
- January 8: She went to the Mecca Hotel in San diego with Robert Manley Note; They registered as Robert Manley, Mountain View and Eliz. Short, Chicago]
• Januery 8 or 9: Mark Hansen receives phone call from Bette.
• January 9: Fickling receives nine-page letter from Bette: tells Fickling she is going to Chicago for modeling job with "Jack"
• January 9: Robert Manley and Elizabeth Short stop at Sheldon's Café before leaving Pacific Beach; Robert Manley drives Bette to Greyhound Bus Depot in Los Angeles where she leaves her suitcase in locker: at 6:30 or 6:45 Manley drops her off at the Biltmore Hote1; three people see Bette in the lobby
– January 9: She was seen to leave the Biltmore Hotel and walk south on Olive Street by Harold Studholme, the Biltmore Bell Captain, residence, 427 Magnolia St., S. Pasadena
– January 9: At night she was seen by bartender and two other persons in the Crown Jewel Cocktail Lounge, formerly known as Broox's Cocktail Lounge at Eight and Olive, Los Angeles
• January 14: Lynn Martin visits Sunset Strip auto designer; heard sobbing in motel room
• January 15, 6:30 AM Bob Meyer sees 1936/37 black Ford sedan stop near vacant lot 39th and Norton
• January 15, 10:30 AM: Betty Bersinger sees "two pieces of mannequin" in vacant lot: calls police
• January 15: 10:54 AM: Communications Divisions of LAPD clocks in call of a "person without clothes on"
• January 15: Lynn Martin disappears from haunts
• January 16: Councilman Davies asks $10,000 reward for killer
• January 16: Headline: FEND TORTURES KILLS GIRL
• January 17: Headline: GIRL TORTURE SLAYING VICTIM IDENTIFIED BY EXAMINER -Elizabeth Short of Medford, Massachusetts
• January 17: Police going door-to-door
• January 18: Examiner reporter finds Elizabeth Short's trunk at Railway Express
• January 18, Headline. TRUNK FOUND IN LA, YIELDS PHOTOS LETTERS, CLEWS TO SLAYER VEILED BY GIRL'S SECRETIVE LIFE
• January 18: Mrs. Short takes plane to Los Angeles
• January 18: Cleo Short found by policeman
• January 19: Headline: BLACK DAHLIA AND RED-HAIRED YOUTH TRACED TO SAN DIEGO CAFE DAY BEFORE HER MURDER
• January 20: Headline: RED TELLS OWN STORY OF ROMANCE WITH DAHLIA, SUSPECT SQUIRMS AS SCIENCE TESTS ALIBI—Aggie Underwood by-line
• January 21: Reporter Aggie Underwood taken off Black Dahlia coverage
• January 22: Headline RED MANLEY RELEASED
• January 22: POLICE CHECK NEW CLEWS - Mr. & Mrs. William Johnson identify photo of Bette with unidentified man as couple who registered as Mr. And Mrs. Barnes at the Johnson’s hotel (LA Examiner)
• January 23: Finis Brown officially taken off Black Dahlia case and replaced by Jack "Father" McReadie
• January 25: Elizabeth Short buried at Mountain View Cemetery
• January 25: Headline: DAHLIA KILLER MAILS CONTENTS OF MISSING PURSE TO EXAMINER~
• January 26: Headline: FINGERPRINT CLEWS IN DAHLIA KILLING. AWAIT NEW LETTER
• January 27: Headline: NEW DAHLIA CLUE CHECKED, POLICE CHEMIST UNEARTHS LEAD IN 3RD LETTER
• January 29: Headline DAHLIA CASE IDIOT'S DELIGHT, MORE CONFESSIONS AND LETTERS
• January 31: Aggie Underwood made City Editor: taken off Dahlia case
• February 2: Headline: SEARCH FOR BLACK DAHLIA SLAYER WIDENS
• February 5: Cpl Joseph Dumais confesses to Black Dahlia murder at Ft. Dix, New Jersey
• February 6: Headline: EXTRA—CORPORAL DUMAIS IS BLACK DAHLIA KILLER
• February 7: Headline: DAHLIA SEEN IN LOST WEEK (tips/sightings never substantiated)
• February 12: Headline: BLACK DAHLIA CLEWS EXHAUSTED
• March 6: Mildred "Billy" Kolian confesses
• March 6: man commits suicide in Venice, confesses to Black Dahlia murder
• March 19: Melvin Bailey confesses to Black Dahlia murder
1949
• January: Grand Jury convened to investigate Black Dahlia murder and police corruption
1950
• January 12: The 1949 Grand Jury Report released: exposes police corruption: recommends further investigation of Black Dahlia murder
• Movie, Sunset Boulevard, released, directed by Billy Wilder (references to Black Dahlia)
1968
• Detective Harry Hansen retires to Palm Springs
• Detective Danny Galindo takes over Black Dahlia case
1975
• March 1: Who is the Black Dahlia? Made for TV movie starring Lucy Arnaz
1977
• True Confessions by John Gregory Dunne becomes best selling novel (combines elements of Black Dahlia murder with Brenda Allen scandal)
1981
• True Confessions made into movie
1987
• James Ellroy book, Black Dahlia, published
1993
• Monument to Black Dahlia victim Elizabeth Short placed in her hometown, Medford, MA
1994
• John Gilmore book, Severed: The Hidden Story of the Black Dahlia Murder published
1997
• Fox TV 50th Anniversary Two-Part Special News Segment
1998
• E! Hollywood’s Mysteries and Scandals — Black Dahlia airs
1999
• Mary Pacios book, Childhood Shadows: The Hidden Story of the Black Dahlia Murder published
1999
• Larry Harnisch launches website
2003
• Steve Hodel book, Black Dahlia Avenger published.
2004
• 48 Hours, Black Dahlia Confidential airs
2005
• Movie based on James Ellroy book in production in Bulgaria; Brian de Palma director
• Book by Don Wolfe, The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul, and the Murder, published in December.
2006
• February 5, 2006: New York Times article A Dark Moment in the Harsh Hollywood Sun