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UPDATED AUGUST 1, 1997 (original PR follows) SCORES OF VISITORS RESPOND TO POSSIBLE CENSORSHIP OF BLACK DAHLIA WEB SITE; WEBMASTER SEEKS OWNERSHIP OF ADDITIONAL GRAPHICS FOR POSTING IN NEAR FUTURE
Since the release of a press release June 4, scores of visitors from around the world have responded to The Black Dahlia Web Site webmaster Pamela Hazelton, most in support of the posting of graphics dealing with the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short. Additionally, more and more individuals have made further comments about the case (see updates here) and at least one person is attempting to give more first-hand information. Furthermore, Author John Gilmore (Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder) has expressed interest in this site, and granted permission for The Black Dahlia Web Site, located here, to use portions of his book for further educational purposes. He has also agreed to an interview, with questions to be asked by Web site visitors.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 4, 1997 SHORT RELATIVE DEMANDS CENSORSHIP;THREATENS REPURCUSSIONS FOR WEB SITE GRAPHICS
It started nearly two months ago: Pamela Hazelton, WebAuthor of The Black Dahlia Web Site received e-mail from the neice of Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia, demanding the cease of murder and other "graphic" photos displayed on the site. Since the initial correspondence, at least four e-mails have been sent to mediasi@concentric.net, demanding for the removal of all and any graphics relating to the murder of Ms. Short. Comments include that if Ms. Hazelton's site was viewed by other Short relatives, "I will remember who you are... and what you have done." Ms. Short's body was found near Hollywood January 15, 1947. Her body had been severed and various other mutilations had been made. The killer was not found, and the case, more than 50 years old, remains open. The web site, started and maintained by Ms. Hazelton, was created to provide more thorough information on the case itself, and perhaps possibly find some answers. "I got sick of searching on the Web for information on the case and always coming up with nothing," Ms. Hazelton said. "Since I had been studying the case for nearly 6 years already, I thought I could do a better job bringing some light to one of the most notorious cases in history, with commercializing it, and without trying to be entertaining about the entire thing." The site depicted graphic images until recently, when the site's server, Concentric Network, was requested to contact the account owner about removing the images. Concentric made the request, but also notified the account that if the images remained, the account would not be affected or revoked. Ms. Hazelton removed the images temporarily, pending research into the rights of displaying crime photos at the site. Presently, the name and e-mail address of Short family members is not being released. While Ms. Hazelton attempted to speak via e-mail with the relative, in an attempt to reach a compromise, the neice continued demanding the removal of certain elements of the site. To date, the site has attracted more than 30 in-depth scenarios via e-mail, a letter from overseas, information from those having investigated and/or researched the case, and at least one account from an individual who might have attained further information about the case. No "gruesome" messages have been received. "No one has sent a message thanking me for the horrifying information or graphics," said Ms. Hazelton. "All responses have been informative about the case, or positive about the site." Since the site's first upload in early March, there have been more than 1,000 visitors. In the last month, nearly 400 people visited the site, which does not rely on heavy advertising.
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