Cherchez La Femme: My Affair with The Black Dahlia
Posted in Books, Films, Halloween, Horror, True Crime |When I started reading Hodel’s book, I was concerned that he was just trying to exact vengeance on his father, who, by all accounts, was a cold, cruel, abusive, and sadistic man. However, he genuinely seems to care about solving the case.
Unlike the Dahlia theorists who attack each other with shameful displays of self-aggrandizement, Hodel does not get into what he calls “pissing contests.” His refusal to play dirty lends him enormous credibility. He is also human enough to admit that some of the LAPD officers he idolized when he was on the force were not as perfect as he imagined and probably played a role in covering up important information about the case.
Hodel’s investigation is ongoing and he continues to provide meticulous updates on his website. He even admits when his theories have been proven incorrect. A revelation that one of the photos from his father’s album (believed to be Short) was in fact an actress named Marya Marcos has been added to the extensive FAQ section on his website. Perhaps his discovery of the photos was serendipitous in that it eventually led him to the truth about his father’s dark past as well as the murder itself.
Ellroy’s book and DePalma’s movie version give us bits and pieces of the real Elizabeth Short but mostly provide fantasy fodder. And still, she eludes us. From the LAPD cover-up to the continued infighting amongst Dahlia theorists to the murder itself, it seems that Elizabeth Short was used and abused in both life and death. It’s easy to get lost in the mystery of the Black Dahlia and forget why we have become fascinated with her in the first place: she was the victim of a vicious murderer.
Ironically, it’s an early investigative report from the D.A.’s file—when she was still a “Jane Doe”—which reminds me that Elizabeth Short was a human being.
. . . description being as follows: age interminable, young; ht 5″3′; weight 118#; all fingernails down to the quick; no bunions on feet; hair shaved on legs below the knees; hair shaved under arms; grayish green eyes; narrow, small nose, uptipped slightly; small upper lip; vaccination scar left leg between knee and thigh; small scar above left knee; 1″ in length scar about 1 ½ inches to right of navel; brown hair, indication of being hennaed. . .
It was eventually discovered that this “Jane Doe” was Elizabeth Short, born July 29, 1924. My birth date is July 28, which makes Short a Leo like me. Physically, we were remarkably similar in height, weight, eye color, and hair color.
I don’t know if these similarities are why I’ve been fascinated with her all these years. To be honest, I didn’t know most of these details until now. Perhaps my fascination with Elizabeth Short is the result of my image of her: the most heartbreaking example of a small-town girl being crushed by Hollywood, the ultimate victim of a city in which nothing, not even murder, is what it appears to be.
Additional Resources:
For more on Steve Hodel’s theory, please visit The Black Dahlia Avenger website.
