1942 Photograph of Dr. George Hill Hodel Lecturing at LAPD Police Academy on Elizabeth “Black Dahlia” Short’s Birthday
July 29, 2020
Los Angeles, California
Elizabeth Short’s Birthday
Today would have been murder victim Elizabeth Short’s 96th Birthday.
In another bizarre synchronicity, the below photograph of Dr. George Hill Hodel was taken by the press photographer during his lecture at the Los Angeles Police Department Police Academy where Dr. Hodel, then Head of L.A. County Health Department (V.D. Czar) was lecturing police officers on the newly established “May Act” making prostitution a Federal offense during WWII. The date of the lecture when this photograph was taken was JULY 29, 1942, which would have been Elizabeth Short’s 18th birthday. Investigation indicates that it appears that Dr. Hodel first met Elizabeth in Los Angeles that either that same year, or possibly in 1943.
As supported by the LA DA secret Hodel/Black Dahlia Files, they would date off and on for the next four years and after Dr. Hodel returned from China in 1946 Elizabeth would flee for her life, hideout and then be kidnapped off the streets of Los Angeles by Dr. Hodel and after extended torture be slain at his Franklin/Sowden residence on January 15, 1947.
1943 Photo of Elizabeth Short
Rest in Peace
All I can say is “Wow”!
Kris:
Yes there is. LAPD and LADA both confirm (and document in written reports) they were boyfriend/girlfriend and dated in the years before her murder. It’s all there, but you have to read the books to see how it all fits together.
I can’t recall if you’ve said you ever found connections between your father and Dr. Walter Bayley? Or Knowlton’s father.?
I keep wondering about your father’s celebrity/well known clients?
David C:
No, no specific connections to Dr. Walter Bayley though the likelihood that they would have known each other at least by name/professionally is fairly strong. Both worked for L.A. County Health Dept in DTLA.
Janice Knowlton’s father is a red herring and no indications he was ever connected to the Black Dahlia crime in any way, so no connection to GHH.
Thanks for reply.
I think I asked you before about your father’s “Hollywood celebrity friends” and you have listed some of them., I.e., Man-Ray etc. Have you ever seen any connection to Gene Autry? I probably asked you about this before. It’s just a strong suspicion I have, due to his close connection to Monte Hale, who seriously molested my younger sister’s in around 1964 and the statements made on the internet by Janice Knowlton. about Autry being a pedophile ring kingpin. before her eventual suicide. I cannot escape wondering about this coincidence. Apparently at one time she had said your father was the Black Dahlia killer I use to see Monte Hale all the time as he was an everyday customer are out father restaurant next to Republic Studios (CBS). And the Hales were at the top of the Autry Museum.
I tend to think your father was part of a network of fiends.
David C:
No, never heard any connection to Gene Autry?
I don’t believe that he was part of any “pedophile ring” all indications are that he and Fred Sexton committed many of these horrific serial crimes perhaps some together? Most I believe GHH acted alone and by himself, others with Sexton. But, “an organized ring” don’t see it.
Do you imagine that your dad waited for the day you would ask him about, or wondered if/when you would find out about his connection to the 1940s Lone Women murders? Especially when you became a Hollywood Homicide detective.
It’s incredible to think that he was committing the Zodiac murders while you were a Los Angeles Detective from 1963-1986.
Looking forward to the new book; I recently reread your books from newest to oldest. Interesting that reporter Kevin Fagan responded to my query [regarding recent article on code deciphering] that he couldn’t be bothered to read your books, claiming there was just too much information out there and people sending him too much info!
Jennifer:
Well, when I promoted to detectives then went to Homicide, that must have “got his attention.”
He must have wondered if I would discover something but of course I never did and would not for another thirty years/fifteen of them into retirement and only at his death.
Yes, I communicated with San Francisco Chronicle reporter Kevin Fagan way back when, and offered to do a PowerPoint for the newspaper. Never responded. Many have their minds made up and or closed. The last chapter to that newspaper has yet to be written. Stay tuned.