Differences And Similarities Between Elizabeth Brief And The Black Dahlia

On the 15th of January, 1947, 23-year-old Elizabeth Short was found dead and mutilated on an empty lot in Leimert Park, Los Angeles by Betty Bersinger at approximately 10am. At first, Bersinger believed the body to be an old store mannequin, but she had discovered the tortured and mutilated body of a struggling actress and model. Autopsies were performed, and it was discovered that Short had died of a cerebral haemorrhage, due to blunt force trauma and the lacerations that the murderer made to her face resembling a large cartoonist smile. The case was nicknamed the ‘Black Dahlia’ by newspapers at the time because the case held similarities with the Film Noir murder mystery movie “The Blue Dahlia” released the previous year. Elizabeth Short

Police corruption and corporate exploitation rates were rising, reinforcing criminal’s belief in the 1940’s, that they could get away with anything. This is a possibility in the case of Elizabeth Short’s murder, as Leslie Dillon actively worked with a local nightclub owner, Mark Hansen, who was known to have connections to the LA mobs. Hansen personally knew Short, providing her with accommodation when she needed, along with many other young women. News.com.au’s article written in 2017 outlines the rocky relationship between Hansen and Short, recalling that he “threw her out after the second time she stayed with him”. This media article, published by The Sun, was written to update the general public on the new or developed evidence in the Black Dahlia case. It is unclear what perspective the article was written from as the author is unlisted, but it can be assumed that they were an Australian journalist and is useful in suggesting the character of both Short and Hansen, and their relationship. Short was part of Hansen’s entourage, along with Dillon, known as the handyman. Piu Eatwell, author of Black Dahlia, Red Rose, and Dr Paul J. De River, LAPD psychiatrist, both theorised that “Hansen said words to the effect of, ‘get rid of her’ not knowing of caring that he was

He was convicted of molesting his 14-year-old daughter and many other young girls in his practice after the murder of Short, later avoiding charges by employing a well-known criminal lawyer. Hodel would have had the medical training to commit the murder, although the large incision appeared to be hacked and with passion, not requiring medical training to do so. Steve Hodel, former LAPD homicide detective and son of Dr Hodel, believes that his father committed the crime after seeing a photograph that resembled Short naked in his office. This photograph was reported to be a 90-95% match after being examined in 2014 by an unidentified expert but suggest that she was just a patient of Dr Hodel’s. After police suspicion arose, Hodel’s house and office was bugged by police and he was recorded saying “Supposin’ I did kill the Black Dahlia. They couldn’t prove it now. They can’t talk to my secretary anymore because she’s dead,” as outlined by The Black Dahlia website under the article ‘George Hodel’. This secondary source is useful as it suggests he was able to ‘get away’ with the gruesome murder of the young woman and alludes to the murder of his secretary. The source reinforces the nature of Hodel’s character, a man who believed that he escaped the murder charges of Elizabeth Short. Dr Hodels handwriting also holds an irrefutable