GHH Hawaii 1951- "Preaching to the choir"
As we know from the DA Files, in April, 1950, George Hodel was being “stalked by DA Lt. Frank Jemison” and an arrest was imminent.
Tipped by confederates, he left the country sometime in 1950, and accepted a job offer as, “Staff Psychiatrist and Director of Rehabilitation Program” at the Territorial Hospital Kaneohe, Hawaii. Part of his job description included counseling the criminally insane at Hawaii’s Territorial Prison.
During his several years in Hawaii, Dr. Hodel also taught a graduate course at the University of Hawaii’s, School of Social Work. Here is professor Hodel’s course description taken verbatim from a recently discovered copy of the 1951 catalogue:
310 Dynamics of Human Behavior (2) Mr. Hodell [sic]
Personality growth and development from infancy through old age. Interpretation of the individual’s behavior in the light of physical, psychological, and social factors which have contributed to his maladjustment.
Scan of 1951 catalogue
Dr. George Hodel with unidentified secretary, Territory of Hawaii circa 1950
I wonder if any young women were murdered in Hawaii circa 1950-51? And how many remained unsolved?
Yes, I’ve wondered about it too. Haven’t had a chance to investigate/research your question, but hope to when time permits. It’s on my “to do” list. Thanks for the reminder.
Interesting (& creepy) photo with the secretary- look how animated he appears, body language very unguarded. Wonder who she might be, or if any of the former students might remember…
Hard to know from fifty-eight years past. Definitely would like to check out Hawaii 1950-1953 for Cold Cases, but remains on a back burner for now.
I don’t want to go too far with this, but the girl does seem to be GHH’s “type.” She’s dark haired, natural looking, and slightly exotic. His body language is aggressive, as if he were about to tackle her. And his eyes are not on the photographer but stare at her with the intensity of a hypnotist. Fascinating.
Steve –
Do you have any more information about your father’s lectures re: human pathology and maladjustment? I can only wonder at how diabolical and fascinating to have a serial killer teach such a course. Maybe you will stumble on someone who was just a kid when they took this course and still remembers your father.
Marion- No additional on his lecture course. It was new info to me just discovered in 2009. Any of his students would now be in their 80’s+. As noted in BDA I was aware dad “counseled” the criminally insane at the territorial prison (mentioned in a letter of reference from the then Governor.of Hawaii) but knew little else related to his “Hawaii years.)
I doubt any person on this planet suffered more than Elizabeth Short. Your sister was molested by your father. Your mother MUST have known the truth but refused to “see”. Why?
You are brave to come forward with your alligations. Sadism runs deep in inner hollywood circles and your father, from other’s testimony, had zero scruples and was morally bankrupt. Was he a 33 degree Mason? My gut tells me he did it….she probably spurned his advances.
Did you suffer from his abuse? Were you also molested by him?
Why would he leave the country unless he had something to hide. He definately killed his secretary. Even though the murder is many years old. Why can’t SOME forensics be used…His DNA on Elizabeth’s clothing….did he confess anything over the years to his last wife or before he died…Surely, she knows something.
Did you, or anyone in your family know of his twisted sexual tendencies? We know that “like begets like” after death..I trust that George is now among his own kind…in his own hell…that he created for himself. There is No thwarting divine universal laws…even IF the mercy “lag” of time is sometimes long….divine justice will always, eventually prevail.
Forgive me for contacting you and venting…. this poor woman’s story and her pictures haunt me…..I believe George to be the reincarnate of Jack the Ripper. Reincarnation is a fact on this “prison sphere” we live on.
Steve: It would be during this University of Hawaii period that GHH would most likely have encountered the 1952 Red Mask comic book that inspired the Zodiac. The late 40s to early 50s saw intense scrutiny of the comic book industry culminating in 1954 with the publication of psychiatrist Dr. Frederick Wertham’s book “Seduction of the Innocent,” the 1954 Senate Subcomittee on Juvenile Deliquency and the industry’s consequent move to self-regulate through the Comic Code. Can’t help wondering where GHH stood on this hot-button issue. -LW