The Investigation Fascination

What exactly is the fascination with the Black Dahlia case?

As the author of this web site, my fascination comes from this being an unsolved murder, and one that is most brutal. My years of having been a reporter, thriving (sometimes even begging) to cover or investigate every murder I possibly could (for publication or not), continues to inspire the efforts behind this site.

When it comes to the Black Dahlia, I've noticed primarily two types of people - those who have never heard of her and now want to know more, and those who are so engrossed with the case they'd be nearly willing to foot for a plane ticket and spend a week in California, sans job, just to dig through the archives of the LAPD, if given the chance.

We want to know all there is to know. For various reasons, there is a spot, deep down in our guts, that has to know.

And it all starts at the time of the crime - January 1947.

Beth Short was hacked in two, reportedly with a butcher knife (some argue that precision was used which required a saw or medical instruments). Many believe she was alive, yet unconscious at the time she was being held by the limbs with rope or some other tying device, and severed in two.

After being drained of blood, her body was delivered to the Crenshaw district, where it was discovered in the early morning.

One visitor of this Web site has made a point very clear to me: "The more you learn about Elizabeth Short, the less you know." The visitor is right, but I don't care. I want to know. I have to know.

This site is an open venue for those who have been involved with the case. While some are no longer with us, the remaining are always invited to participate.

As for Elizabeth Short, she, as well, is someone many would "like to know" in any sense that we can. Knowing the victim, her killer and the methods of operation could quite be the elements none of us will never be able to grasp. But we hold onto the minute possibility just the same. So desparate for information, we take anything we can get.

While information is scarce, even today, here's some information I've received over the years, much of it verified with credible sources.

Amateur Sleuths:

During the LAPD's initial investigation of the Black Dahlia murder, the following occurred:

• Just a few days after the finding, two homicide officers sat in a restaurant, discussing the case. After returning to headquarters, they got a call from a man, stating he just spotted the killers. The gentleman was a waiter in the restaurant, and his named suspects were the two officers.
• A woman walked five miles to tell detectives that if Short were buried with an egg in her hand, the killer would be found within a week.
• An astrologer asked the hour and date of Short's birth, then promised to provide the murderer's name within a few days.
• One wanted Short's right eyeball, saying that he would "photograph" the final image reflected and would return with a photograph of the killer.
• In at least three cases, landlords reported suspicious actions of tenants they had been vying to evict.
• A Barstow, California woman told a bartender, "I know who killed Beth Short, and if the reward is big enough I'll talk." Two officers discovered the woman knew no more than what was in the newspapers. She was trying to get back at two boyfriends who had walked out on her, and tried to implicate them in the crime.

False Confessions

Among the several to falsely confess to the Black Dahlia murder are:

Joseph Dumais:

This corporal combat veteran was reported to military police by another soldier. The two had quarreled over money. After returning from a 42-day furlough, Dumais was found with bloodstains on his clothing. He also had a slew of newspaper clippings about the murder. Dumais, nonetheless, was fascinated that he might be a suspect, stating, "It is possible that I could have committed the murder. When I get drunk I get rough with women." Dumais was sent to a psychiatrist.

Daniel S. Vorhees:

This then-33-year-old former restaurant employee called the police, telling them to come get him. He was brought in, and he mumbled, "I killed her." But when asked about details, he replied, "Ah, I'm not going to talk to you anymore. I want to see my attorney." He was jailed - but not as a suspect - as a mental case.

John N. Andry:

This pharmascist boasted about his ability to cut up bodies. When the police arrested him, he first insisted he had killed Beth Short. Later, he said, "Well, I'm capable of doing it." Then he admitted that he was kidding.

Woman

A woman told police, "Elizabeth Short stole my man so I killed her and cut her up." Then, since she didn't know specifics, she admitted to having made the story up.

Man

A man was arrested for intoxication after he couldn't even pick Beth Short out of an array of photographs.

Man

A drunkard hopped from bar to bar, telphoning police, about the murder. Eventually a bartender held him for police.

While theories have presented more believed to be possible suspects, the LAPD has yet to make any official comment on any else's findings.