This week we discuss the investigation into the murder of Elizabeth Short.
The first suspect and supposedly the last person to see Elizabeth alive, Robert “Red” Manly, although cleared of murder, he was haunted by the crime for the rest of his life. 
His wife stood by his side, unfortunately she had to have him committed to Patton State Hospital in 1954.
Police bulletin to the officers on the investigation.
Letters received by the newspapers. The police believe these were sent by the killer
Random pages from the LAPD case file.
I know I said I would put a link to the crime scene and morgue photos,but, honestly, you can just google “Black Dahlia Morgue photos” and hit image and all of the crime scene and morgue photos show up, WARNING, they are graphic, its hard to even realize that was once a living person.
The photo below is the doctored photo that the press released, they even changed her face and covered the cuts from her mouth to her ears. Its the only photo I can stand to even post.
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Below is a (partial) list of references used during the research and telling of this story.
The Black Dahlia References
https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/the-black-dahlia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Dahlia
https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/black-dahlia
http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1867198_1867170_1867291,00.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/26/black-dahlia-murder-steve-hodel-elizabeth-short
http://blackdahlia.web.unc.edu/
https://stevehodel.com/
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/has-the-black-dahlia-murder-finally-been-solved-198247/
https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/famous-murders/the-black-dahlia-murder/
Documentaries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FlqnCf1LZs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXKEfFfFBKo
https://www.insideedition.com/black-dahlia-murder-true-story-50461
https://www.horrorgalore.com/true-story/horrifying-mystery-black-dahlia-documentary
Books
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Dahlia-Avenger-True-Story/dp/0061139610
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Dahlia-James-Ellroy/dp/0446618128
https://www.amazon.com/Severed-Story-Black-Dahlia-Murder/dp/187892317X
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Dahlia-Red-Rose-Corruption/dp/1631492268
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Dahlia-Files-Transfixed-Angeles/dp/0060582502
https://www.amazon.com/Childhood-Shadows-Hidden-Dahlia-Murder/dp/1585004847
https://www.amazon.com/Exquisite-Corpse-Surrealism-Dahlia-Murder/dp/B000WZTZOU
http://www.piueatwell.com/black-dahlia-red-rose
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6 Comments
James
You mention Red Manley and Ethan and weird coincidences… I’m shocked you didn’t mention that the fall he died from at that same mental hospital was the anniversary of the day he left Short, January 9th!! I forget which year mentioned
BTW the kidnapping and death of Lindbergh’s baby was a huge paparazzi obsessed case, as well. that must have been earlier.
hauntinghistorypodcast
OMG I am shocked I didn’t mention it either, in fact, I don’t think that stood out to my until after we recorded!
James
Fatty Arbuckle was a huge case, as well, certainly before this one
The killer said “Beth” indeed! It could just have been from reading the paper (I’m positive that the papers all noted the names she went by) but that is a good point!
hauntinghistorypodcast
Ive considered telling the Fatty Arbucle story, but, I am so biased having read everything that ever existed about Roscoe Arbuckle, I really don’t think he had anything to do with Virginia Rappe’s death, other than he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Cat
Candie
The cuts on Elizabeth’s face is called a Glasgow smile. A person would also beat them after making the cuts, to make the person scream, as a form of torture. If the cuts were deep enough, the person would bleed to death. Also, if you look at the side view autopsy photo, it looks like Elizabeth had been sitting when she died. The bottom part of her torso is at an angle. It’s horrible to think what this girl went through.
hauntinghistorypodcast
Yes, I had several people email me about the Glasgow smile, I almost wish I never knew 🙁 so awful!!
I never thought of that, I am going to have to go back and look at the pics again. And I agree, it doesn’t matter what people thought of her, she was a young girl who never should have had to go thru what she went thru.
Cat