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Black Dahlia
The unsolved murder case of 22 year old Elizabeth Short, is one of Los Angeles's most well-known unsolved mysteries. Short, a young attractive women, who was attempting to make it big in the glitz and glam of Hollywood was found dead on January 15, 1947. Her body was discovered in Leimert Park, sliced in half at the torso and completely drained of all blood. By any standards this was a brutal crime, but for 1947 it was an unthinkable and unimaginable atrocity. The murderer, though never caught, was proven to be quite the psychopathic criminal mastermind. He regularly attempted to challenge the police, sending them notes and messages. He would even contact local newspapers and media, giving small pieces of evidence to fuel the fire and create more excitement around the case. The police attached these qualities to other unsolved mysteries of the time, which included both the lipstick killer and the Cleveland Torso murderer. Unfortunately, these theories could only remain theories and were never proven.
The violent nature of this murder made it immediately appealing to the press. Newspapers and reporters work tirelessly to get a new angle in the story. Reporters were noted to keep tips from investigators, just to have a chance at a unique story. Extensive media coverage made the murder of Elizabeth Short a national phenomenon. The media's influence in the case was so prominent that they are responsible for coining the now infamous name, "the Black Dahlia." This name was derived from a popular crime mystery film of the time, the Blue Dahlia. It has been said by many investigators and law officials that the media's influence was one of the main reasons why the case remains unsolved today. Countless citizens claimed to have involvement in the high profile, Black Dahlia case. The police interviewed thousands that had claims ranging from allegedly seeing Elizabeth Short during the time she was missing to having important information about the killer. The problem even went as far as having fifty different individuals who all confessed to the murder; all of which were proven false or inconclusive.
There has not been a murder in Los Angeles that has gained any of the intrigue and mystery of the Black Dahlia case. It has sparked the creative interests of many writers and directors, leading to a plethora of screen adaptations and books. These fictional creations can add speculation and new theories on the murder of Elizabeth Short, but they cannot provide a true answer. After more than sixty years the killer remains the most mysterious part of the tale.
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