Former Charles Manson Prosecutor/ LA Head DDA Stephen Kay 2006 Video Interview on Black Dahlia and Red Lipstick Murders "Solved" Updated 2019
January 18, 2019
Los Angeles, California
(Updated from 2006 original blog)
CLICK BELOW PHOTO LINK FOR KAY VIDEO
(2 mins)
Head DDA Steve Kay Dahlia Solved
Steve Kay and Steve Hodel 2002
“Steve Hodel has taken this way beyond the pictures. It no longer depends on the pictures. I have no doubt in my mind that George Hodel murdered Elizabeth Short [The Black Dahlia] and Jeanne French [The Red Lipstick Murder, occurred three weeks after the Dahlia murder, her body posed in LA on a vacant lot five miles west of dahlia location.] And, were he alive today, and were the witnesses alive I would have no problem in filing two counts of murder against Dr. George Hodel and I believe that if I took that case in front of a jury, that I would convict him.”
Stephen Kay
L.A. County Head Deputy District Attorney
November 6, 2006 Documentary, “The Truth about the Black Dahlia”
Stephen Kay on Manson (Dateline 5 min video excerpt 2008)
Excerpt from Black Dahlia Avenger Chapter 34:
Filing My Case with the District Attorney’s Office
…
It had been almost twenty years since I had last walked into the district attorney’s office to present my investigation and request a murder filing on a suspect. None of the old guard in the DA’s office was around anymore, except one. Fortunately for me and for the public, he was among the best.
In his thirty-fifth year of service in the DA’s office, Head Deputy District Attorney Stephen Kay had prosecuted many of Los Angeles’s most notorious murderers. His career convictions read like a Who’s Who of California killers, including the Manson case, where he was co-counsel with the celebrated prosecutor and author Vincent Bugliosi. He later personally prosecuted the rest of the Manson family members–Tex Watson, Bruce Davis, and Leslie Van Houten. Kay was the first deputy district attorney in California history to attend a lifer parolee’s hearing and argue before the parole board for denial based on the merits of the case. To date, Steve Kay has attended a total of fifty-eight parole hearings arguing against the release of the various Manson family members.
Kay prosecuted serial killers Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris, who during the commission of their crimes had actually tape-recorded one of their vicious rape-murders. Bittaker and Norris would kidnap and murder four additional victims, ages thirteen to eighteen, before being apprehended, prosecuted, and convicted by Kay.
In 1996 Kay prosecuted and convicted killer Charles Rathbun for the vicious murder of Raiderette and beauty-queen model Linda Sobek, whose body was found in Angeles National Forest.
During my career I had gone to Steve Kay and presented dozens of murder cases for his review and filing of complaints. I had always found him to be highly intelligent, conscientious, and, most importantly, a man of total integrity. Knowing he could be trusted in all matters requiring confidentiality, and knowing that above all he would give me the benefit of objectivity, I decided to submit the Dahlia investigation to him as if I were asking for a criminal filing.
Sobek Prosecutor Has Other Big Cases on Resume
SKH Note/Update 2019:
Subsequent to the publication of Black Dahlia Avenger in 2003 both then active Head DDA Steve Kay and myself presented a briefing to LAPD’s brass and several detectives from the Major Crimes Unit. ” One of these detectives was Brian Carr who was “assigned to the Black Dahlia case.” In fact, Detective Carr was merely a “gatekeeper” to the case which had had no active investigation conducted for decades. After the Kay/Hodel briefing at Parker Center, Detective Carr, on the defensive about the possibility that someone other than himself may have solved the Dahlia murder in responding to the press queries about Head DDA Kay’s conclusions that the “Case was Solved”, replied:
“The evidence linking Dr. Hodel to the murder of Elizabeth Short is incredibly thin. If I took that evidence to a prosecutor I’d be laughed out of the office.”
Detective Carr in a followup to his statement was asked if he (Carr) had read Hodel’s book and investigation and had reviewed all of the evidence as well as the newly discovered secret DA Hodel Black Dahlia Files? [Files containing Dr. Hodel’s admission to committing the Black Dahlia murder and that of his secretary as well as performing abortions and making payoffs to law enforcement.] Detective Carr’s response was, “No, I have only skimmed through Hodel’s book, but haven’t read it, and I haven’t had time yet to get the DA files review them. ” [Though the files were a five-minute walk from his office at Parker Center, Detective Carr would not obtain the files for another six months.]
Five Years later, in 2009, just prior to his retirement, Brian Carr, in an on-air television interview when asked about Hodel’s Black Dahlia investigation stated, “I don’t have the time to prove or disprove what [Hodel] says. I’m buried in other cases.”
Hello Steve…contacted you a few years ago regarding Detective Rick Jackson RHD LAPD-FBI Cold Case Unit. Couldn’t give any evidence then as case was still open but as of 3/7/16…my Client, EXUM SPEIGHT died while in Prison after being severely beaten by Cops. This was NOT in the Press…total Cover-up…now with Baca & Tanaka convicted, more things will come to the light. HAVE YOU EVER WORKED WITH RICK JACKSON, TIM MARCIA or GREG KADING? Thanks! Looking forward to working together, God willing, have been Praying for your FULL HEALING since 2013…hope it worked! Blessings!
Hi Bree: I trained Rick Jackson way back in the late Seventies or early Eighties when he was a new detective at Hollywood Division, but never had any contact with him after that, until the LAPD briefing with Head DDA Steve Kay in 2004. No, never worked with Tim Marcia, but met him briefly, after my retirement when he was partnered with Det. Mitzi Roberts. (As I recall they had a few questions on one of my old unsolved cases from my Hollywood year, that they were working.) Best, Steve
Another fabulous and informative up-date on the Dahlia case. When the hell is someone in the LAPD going to take your work and “officially” declare this case, “closed: Solved?”
Hi Dennis E:
LAPD admit the coverup? I’d say, “When Hell Freezes Over.” But, with climate change being ignored, guess that could happen sooner, than later? *s* Best, Steve
Was Tamar pregnant with her fathers child. What happened to child. I always wondered about connection with abortions of Hollywood elite. I remember hearing about kirk Douglas being tied to a case. I think her name was Stapleton.
Peggy W: Tamar was pregnant, but according to newspaper reportage the father was likely, a roomer/tenant at our home by the name of Joe Barrett. However, since she was sexually active back then it could have been any number of boyfriends. Cannot rule out her father, but based on her statements back in 1949, likely father was Barrett. Regardless, an abortion was performed, so no birth occurred.
If Tamar had an abortion, who is Fauna?
Carol M: Fauna’s father was an Italian male living in San Francisco who impregnated Tamar right after she was transferred up there after the trial. Tamar placed the child in adoption at age 15 claiming the unnamed father was “Negro”, but in actuality he was “White”. Fauna was adopted and raised by a Black family from Sparks, Nevada.
Was there ever a DNA test done on Fauna? I have read conflicting reports as to who her father was… I also read that there were TWO Faunas – the Fauna that was given away and another Fauna, called Fauna II.
Also, if they have any DNA from the supposed Zodiac Killer, couldn’t they compare it with your DNA to see if there is link (as you obviously have your father’s DNA)
Just stumbled upon this fascinating story when I saw the ads for the new TNT limited series coming out on Monday.
Am ordering your books today! So intriguing…
All the best,
Dana
Dana S. Fauna II was a second daughter born to Tamar from her marriage to folksinger, Stan Wilson.
They have no confirmed Zodiac DNA to date. Yes, I have my father’s full DNA profile, but we need confirmed Zodiac DNA for comparison to it. Supposedly, Law Enforcement is working on obtaining Zodiac DNA?
Steve, watched the TNT series, but have to say that your books and the podcast are way more interesting! Wow. What an investigation you’ve done. I know this takes up a good deal of your time, but if I was law enforcement and had a cold case and needed help, you’d be the first phone call I’d make!
Oh and thanks for answering my questions. Much appreciated.
Dana: Thanks and you’re welcome. steve
Hi Steve,
My great aunt worked with an attorney by the name of Hahn in Hollywood who was defending someone accused of the Black Dahlia murder, do you know anything about Hahn and his client?
Best regards,
Lisa
My aunts name was Stormy Elizabeth Kooken
Lisa R.
The attorney was likely S.S. Hahn who worked with Jerry Giesler (who represented my father in the Incest trial in ’69) and he represented my mother in her divorce from my father. Hahn was eventually likely murdered himself some years later. See my blog on him here: http://stevehodeloldsite.staging.authorbyteshosting.com/2010/08/post_1/