Newly Discovered 1979 Photo of Dr. George Hill Hodel Sans Mustache
August 27, 2016
Los Angeles
George Hodel in March 1979 (age 71) seen here with his top INRA-ASIA Exec, Leo Murray in Hong Kong.
Leo was also a helicopter pilot (seen here in his Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force uniform.) The occasion of this photo was the two men celebrating the opening of a new INRA-ASIA HQ
office in Hong Kong.
GHH no mustache
In the above 1974 photo, we see George with a rather faint graying mustache which would likely be impossible to see from across the street in the dark of night. (Think Zodiac’s 1969 Paul Stine cab-murder witnesses who were looking out a second story window 150′ away.)
For full summary on the above Zodiac Composite GHH compare click HERE.
The 1979 photo from Leo Murray serves as my rebuttal to those naysayers that claim that “George Hodel was never clean shaven and always wore a mustache.”
The photo was sent to me by my longtime friend, Leo Murray who came across it while going through some of his old albums. (I first met Leo in Hong Kong back in the early 1970s, while on tour with my father of his INRA ASIA offices. Leo was in charge of the HK office and remained as a loyal executive to dad for several decades. Leo, now long retired and a world traveler continues to reside in Hong Kong.
(And, to those who might wonder, like I did, “Did Leo in his close position to George over the decades, ever suspect George’s crimes? The answer is –no. Like myself, Leo was aware of some of George’s failings, and his need to control people, but he never saw or suspected any criminality.
Thanks for sending me the photo Leo. Continued Safe Travels to you and your beautiful wife, Elaine.
Most serial killers are never suspected, people think they are “the nicest” people…when you think about it that is how the have easy access to their victims
Hello, Steve. The Elizabeth Short case isn’t well known in my native country of Brazil but it caught my interest after reading James Ellroy’s novel. Ironically enough what brought you to my radar at first wasn’t the Dahlia but little Suzanne Degnan and William Heirens. This is when I found out about GHH and his connection to the murder. That being said, I would like to ask you a question. I know people probably ask that all the time but I am curious to know if the discoveries about your father have affected in any way your understanding of your early life. I don’t know what your relationship with GHH used to be like but it can’t be easy finding out your father was a monster of this proportion. And more than that, being the person who exposed his crimes to the world. Didn’t that leave a deep mark on your personal life?
Hi Ariana: As to your question. My relationship with my father was close from childhood forward. I, like my brothers respected and admired him for his intelligence and overall charisma. As far as my early life was concerned, the scandal and subsequent incest trial was kept from us three boys in the Forties and all we really knew was that dad had left the country and we began our “Gypsy Years” with our mother as described in my first book. Initially, when I first learned of his connections to Elizabeth Short at his passing, and his being “a possible suspect” I was sure I would be able to show he had nothing to do with the crime and actually exonerate him from any suspicions. I followed the evidence as a trained homicide detective and the rest is history, as they say. I have gone through many emotional reactions in the past fifteen years since publishing BDA and as you may know, have published three more books adding to the massive amount of evidence, which now totals twenty-five victims over thirty years. (1940-1970) Still remain active with one more book to complete (“The Early Years”) so going to have put any “deep marks” and personal scars on a backburner for now and take a look once I climb out of the final rabbit holes. All Best, Steve
Thank you for the response. Fortunately you have GHH’s intelligence but not his evil. I hope to see your books translated to Portuguese one of these days. All the best and I hope you stick around for many years.
Thanks Ariana. Currently focusing on trying to get the four books adapted to film or television miniseries, which would be a great way to get the historical realities “out there.” *skh*
I would love to see a mini-series on these cases!! I hope you have a good agent working on it!
Emily: Have an excellent agent working on it. Maybe we can make it happen in 2017. Be a great way to tell the full story, as a silver screen two hour film just can’t cover the necessary material. Scripted miniseries in 8-12 episodes could do it. Best, steve
Is film based on your book “The Black Dahlia Avenger” still planning? I read on IMDB that New Line Cinema thought about making the movie in 2006. On the Movie Insider is information that Ralph Pezzullo wrote screenplay (or not?) and Jeff Rose is a producer. There’s no other details in the internet. Can you say something more about it? Is it dead idea or not? I’m curious, because I would love to see the film based on your book, which I didn’t read yet, unfortunately. Your books aren’t translated to polish and I doubt that ever will be, so I’ll buy original versions of them in the future. ALL THE BEST TO YOU!
Hi Jacob: New Line Cinema did option BDA back in 2006 and Pezzullo did write a script for it, but it was not made.
Rather the fictional account of the Black Dahlia by James Ellroy was made and came out that same year. So, all the rights have reverted back to me now.
It is not dead as currently a lot of interest in making BDA into a television series, so stay tuned. Hopefully, that will unfold and happen.
If you’re going to buy the books, be sure you get the updated versions. They are as follows: BDA (SkyHorse 2015); Most Evil (Dutton 2009); BDA II (Thoughtprint Press 2014); Most Evil II (Rare Bird Books 2015) and a new fifth book BDA III (Rare Bird Books) expected to publish in the next few months. Best Regards, Steve
Won’t that have massive ramifications to the police departments who seem to be to “busy” to review the investigation in their files !
Kathy Hsu
Kathy H: No, the police departments both in LA and in the SF Bay Area have no desire to pursue the investigations any further. Despite their claims to the contrary. Maybe eventually if enough public pressure is applied they might take up the pursuit of confirmed DNa, but I remain skeptical. Regards, skh
Steve: Has Leo expressed any view on the compatibility or otherwise of your father’s travel schedule with Zodiac’s US crimes and letter-writing campaign circa ’69-’70? Regards, LW
LW: No, but he doesn’t have any records or specific memories back from 45 years ago. We’ve only communicated a half dozen times, but he’s never indicated any conflict with any of the details of my investigation. He, like all of GHH’s associates, always remained at a distance. Other than business, very little socializing. skh
Steve: Thanks for elaborating. Frustrating, but at least no one seems to have come forward since you presented your theory several years ago to show GHH was out of the US on any of the relevant dates, which would dispose of the matter. -LW