The George Hodel “Black Dahlia” Photograph Controversy: Standing Photo Eliminated By Me Sixteen Years Ago (2006) On Anderson Cooper CNN News

June 7, 2022
Birch Bay, Washington
One of my critics’ and naysayers loudest claims (those that have not read my investigation or any of my books) is, “The photographs are not Elizabeth Short, so Hodel’s theory completely falls apart-nothing more to discuss.”
At the risk of being redundant, the fact remains-I eliminated the woman in the standing photograph some SIXTEEN YEARS AGO, publicly on-air on Anderson Cooper’s CNN NEWS. Secondly, on my blog post (FAQ 20 published September 2006) and thirdly,  I included my complete investigation of that elimination in my follow-up book, “Black Dahlia Avenger II” detailing my elimination in a complete chapter.
Let me reemphasize that point.  I alone was and remain the sole person having eliminated the photograph. I identified, located, and personally interviewed the individual back in 2006. At that time, to protect her privacy, I gave her the name of “Maganda” (the word in Tagalog, her native Filipino language, means “Beautiful One.”)  No other person has ever spoken with her or discussed her connection to Dr. George Hill Hodel, and that remained so, until her death some six years later. At that time I revealed her true name, Marya Marco, an actress and friend of Dr. George Hill Hodel who initially helped her get into films in Hollywood.  In my 2006 in-person interview with Marya, her story basically independently confirmed Tamar’s allegations of sexual relations with her father back in the summer of 1949.
Marya Marco IMDB Profile HERE. 
Below is a republication of my original FAQ 20 posted in 2006 along with Marya’s full interview detailing how, when, and where (the Sowden/Franklin House) the photograph of her was taken by George Hodel.
PDF Full Interview with “Maganda” – True Name Marya Marco Click Below:

FAQ20

As relates to the second photograph (below) I continue to maintain it IS ELIZABETH SHORT. Recent state-of-the-art Facial Recognition lab in Germany provided a “95-97% probability that it is Elizabeth Short after comparing known photographs to the questioned photo.”  (A 99.7% comparison is required to call it absolutely positive.) However, as I have pointed out in previous writings this is a moot point, since the LADA Secret Hodel/Black Dahlia Files confirm that “George Hodel knew and dated Elizabeth Short prior to the 1947 murder.”
George Hodel photo compared to victim photo

8 Comments

  1. Luigi Warren on June 7, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    Steve:

    I notice the first movie role in Marya Marco’s IMDB filmography is SONG OF THE THIN MAN (1947), co-written by Steve Fisher of LADY IN THE LAKE fame — one of those folks who claimed to know the identity of the Black Dahlia killer: “when the killer’s name is published a lot of people who know him and who do not now suspect he has anything to do with the case, are going to be surprised and terrified… The man will have to flee… he will never get out of the city.”

    https://stevehodel.com/2021/06/24/hollywood-confidential-screenwriters-ben-hecht-and-steve-fisher-know-the-identity-of-black-dahlia-killer-on-the-qt-and-very-hush-hush/

    Best,

    LW

  2. Steve Hodel on June 7, 2022 at 9:17 pm

    LW:
    Yep. That inner circle of screenwriters as I mention in my investigation included Hecht, Fisher, Rowland Brown (then lover to Dorero Hodel), Huston etc. They all knew and plainly said they were scared and were waiting for LE to arrest him. Fisher was wrong. The man (GHH) did flee and get out of the city.

  3. FaunaE? on June 11, 2022 at 8:58 pm

    Ref: George’s Photos of females posed with eyes shut and left arm on forehead … Uncle Steve, see my comments ( on your original post)…reference how George had Mom & I pose when taking our photos!!! Closed eyes and left arm on forehead…what is up with that!!!!???? Never thought of this as odd bc everything & everyone was already quite odd….
    love you , FaunaElizabeth

    • Steve Hodel on June 12, 2022 at 1:18 am

      Fauna E:
      Its part of his twisted fantasy and ripoff of surrealism. Probably signifying the dream state. There are numerous photos of the surrealist standing together with their eyes shut. Many women photos too.
      . https://midtownmocha.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/listening-breton.jpg
      XO Uncle Steve

    • V. on June 12, 2022 at 7:32 am

      Fauna E …I need to ask you something– but first this:
      Steve….the link you posted to what you think is an original Breton…is not. Nor does that example have anything to do with dreaming or the dream state. The example you posted has to do with ‘ listening ‘ and is part of a recent exhibition. The original Breton “I Don’t See The Woman In The Forest’ 1929. ( link provided below) are the same ‘photo booth ‘ photographs surrounding a Magritte painting and has to do with love. So contrary to your specific claim about George and the picture you provided—
      ‘probably ‘ not signifying the dream-like state.

      Fauna E. I was friends with Fauna Hodel and briefly with Tamar. Both admitted George was never involved with the murder of Elizabeth Short and was no killer. What they did discuss involving any ‘oddness’ at the Sowden house or elsewhere–was George’s child sex predator/abuser issues. Do you have an email contact for an interview? If so,, leave it on Steve’s blog. Thank you.

      The original Breton/Magritte:
      https://lapetitemelancolie.net/2013/02/07/rene-magritte-la-femme-cachee-1929/

      • V. on June 12, 2022 at 8:10 am

        Regardless of the picture origin–neither specifically involve the dream-like state–which you’re implying. Bad example.

        It’s important to also state that the ‘controversy’ has nothing to do with the one picture you claim to have eliminated first…The controversy is that you fail to eliminate the other picture that you still believe to be Elizabeth. Even though the Short family publicly stated the picture ( you call reclining nude-neither reclining or nude) is not Elizabeth. I’m confident the family would know/recognize Elizabeth over any German software. The picture you continually fail to dismiss— is not Elizabeth Short.

        • Steve Hodel on June 12, 2022 at 11:17 am

          V:
          Perhaps you need to read all eight books to get the full picture and complete linkage.
          As to the eyes closed I was simply making the point to Fauna E. that surrealists frequently posed and were asked to pose by their fellow surrealists with “eyes shut.”
          As to the GHH photographs taken at the Sowden House. My understanding is one sister looked at the photograph and replied, “It’s not Elizabeth because she never wore flowers in her hair.” (Hardly what I would describe as a “hard elimination” and as we know, Elizabeth did in fact wear flowers in her hair. As to Tamar not believing our father killed Elizabeth Short, I quote her exact statement in BDA. Sometime in late Sixties she contacted author Janice Knowlton (“My Daddy Was The Black Dahlia Killer”) on a chat board and told her that George Hodel was suspected of killing Short. Knowlton replied, “No, it was George Knowlton, my father that killer her.” And Tamar believe she must have the proofs. In my conversation with Tamar she told me that, “The detectives told me that they believed our father killed the Black Dahlia when they were taking me to and from court on the incest trial.” Defense attorney Neeb brought that up in court believing Tamar’s source was Joe Barrett from the Franklin House and to show her as a “pathological liar” made it public before the jury when he had her on the witness stand. “Isn’t it true Tamar that you claimed to Joe Barrett and Duncan that your father was the killer of the Black Dahlia and is insane and is going to kill the whole family.” Tamar’s response was simply, “NO”. (She was telling the truth it wasn’t Joe or Duncan, but the LAPD detectives that informed her. Also, as I have pointed out time and time again, naysayers like you who insist the second photo is not ES fail to acknowledge that it matters not if it is or is not her since the DA Hodel Black Dahlia Files clearly indicate that and document Elizabeth Short knew and dated George Hodel prior to the murder.

          • V. on June 12, 2022 at 2:20 pm

            Ok.



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