I was 11 when I first saw photos of Elizabeth Short’s mutilated body. My mom thought I was reading Nancy Drew in my bedroom, but nope—I was hunched over a library book about America’s most gruesome unsolved murders, completely traumatized yet unable to look away. (Sorry, Mom. This explains a lot about me now, doesn’t it?)
The Black Dahlia case has haunted me ever since. A beautiful 22-year-old aspiring actress found severed at the waist, drained of blood, face slashed into a permanent smile—all in a vacant Los Angeles lot on January 15, 1947. It’s the kind of crime that burrows into your brain and sets up permanent residence.
After decades of obsession (and yes, a dedicated evidence board that Ryan threatens to “accidentally” knock over during spring cleaning), I’ve compiled the five most compelling theories about who killed the Black Dahlia. Lock your doors before reading further.
1. The “Like Father, Like Son” Theory
Former LAPD detective Steve Hodel believes his own father, Dr. George Hodel, murdered Elizabeth Short. And honestly? His evidence is disturbingly convincing.
Dr. Hodel was a prominent physician with surgical skills that match the precise cutting found on Short’s body. He also had a history of sexual deviance, was accused (but acquitted) of molesting his daughter, and—this is where it gets WILD—police actually bugged his home in 1950 and recorded him saying: “Supposin’ I did kill the Black Dahlia. They couldn’t prove it now.”
Um, WHAT? If my dad ever said anything remotely like that, I’d be changing my name and moving to Antarctica.
The FBI files on the Black Dahlia case reveal that investigators considered doctors as potential suspects due to the surgical precision of the cuts, but never formally charged Hodel.
2. The “Hollywood Fixer” Theory
Some investigators believe mob-connected “Hollywood fixer” Fred Otash killed Short to cover up a blackmail scheme gone wrong.
Short allegedly kept a “little black book” of powerful men she’d met while trying to break into Hollywood. The theory suggests she threatened the wrong person and paid with her life in a way designed to send a message to others.
This theory gives me serious “don’t mess with the Hollywood elite” vibes and explains why the case was never solved—too many powerful people wanted it buried. Classic noir Hollywood stuff that makes you question every glitzy awards show.
3. The “Copycat Killer” Theory
This theory connects the Black Dahlia murder to the Cleveland Torso Murders and the Lipstick Killings in Chicago. All featured similar mutilation techniques, bisection of the body, and careful placement of the remains.
Some crime historians believe these were the work of a traveling serial killer who moved between major cities, adapting his signature just enough to avoid detection.
I spent one particularly concerning weekend mapping these murders on my living room wall with red string. (Ryan brought me coffee but refused to “participate in whatever this is.”)
4. The “Dahlia Avenger” Theory
Author John Gilmore proposed that a man named Jack Anderson Wilson (aka Arnold Smith) was the killer. Wilson reportedly confessed details about the murder that weren’t public knowledge.
Before Gilmore could arrange a formal police interview, Wilson conveniently died in a hotel fire. SUSPICIOUS MUCH?
The detailed Golden Globes article on the forgotten Hollywood mystery explores how the case became a media sensation, with reporters sometimes contaminating evidence in their rush to break new angles.
5. The “Wrong Place, Wrong Time” Theory
The least sensational but possibly most realistic theory is that Short encountered an opportunistic predator—someone without connection to her personal life who saw vulnerability and struck.
This theory suggests the elaborate staging of her body was meant to mislead investigators into looking for someone with personal motivation rather than a random act of violence.
What makes this theory extra disturbing is its randomness. No conspiracy, no mob connections—just terrible luck and a monster who got away with it.
The Black Dahlia case remains officially unsolved in LAPD records, with over 150 suspects interviewed and eliminated over the years according to Wikipedia’s extensive case documentation.
I’ve lost count of how many nights I’ve stayed up piecing together timelines and suspect profiles from this case. What makes it so haunting isn’t just the brutality—it’s that somewhere out there might be a family with a grandfather or great-grandfather who got away with one of the most infamous murders in American history.
Which theory keeps YOU up at night? Let me know in the comments—I’ll be there, probably at 3 AM, still obsessing over this case like it happened yesterday.