David Oranchak’s Part 3 Deep Dive on Alex Baber — And One Historical Correction

June 2, 2026
Birch Bay, Washington

I just finished watching David Oranchak’s ninety-minute Part III presentation examining Alex Baber’s background, credentials, and public claims regarding the Zodiac and Black Dahlia cases. It is, in my opinion, an exceptional and deeply researched piece of investigative work.

Oranchak—best known for his role in the team credited with solving Zodiac’s Z340 cipher—carefully documents Baber’s history, on-camera statements, contradictions, and unsupported claims in a methodical and professional manner. Rather than relying on personal attacks, he lets Baber’s own words, public appearances, and documented record speak for themselves. The result is devastating, but also objective.

LAPD Cold Case detectives, and anyone seriously interested in the recent Zodiac/Black Dahlia crossover theories, should watch the presentation in full.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was Oranchak’s acknowledgment that I had openly shared my 2009 and 2015 Black Dahlia and Zodiac linkage research materials with Baber several years ago, believing at the time that he was operating in good faith in his statement that, “My supercomputer should be able to assist in what you have already established.”

That included my long-standing research linking the Black Dahlia murder to Zodiac-related crimes, including the Cheri Jo Bates homicide and the Manila bisection murder of Lucila Lalu in 1967.

Researchers often exchange information and theories. What matters is how that material is later represented and used.

That said, there was one comment in the presentation I feel deserves a polite historical correction.

While discussing author Michael Connelly and others who had previously given credibility to Baber’s work, Oranchak remarked that Connelly had once “backed the wrong horse” with Black Dahlia Avenger and Steve Hodel, referencing Connelly’s later public reconsideration of some of my conclusions.

I respect Oranchak’s right to his opinion. However, I believe that comparison unintentionally conflates two very different situations.

Over more than two decades, my investigation into Dr. George Hodel and the Black Dahlia murder has been extensively scrutinized, debated, criticized, supported, challenged, and publicly examined. Critics have certainly disputed my conclusions. That is fair and expected in any major cold case investigation.

But no law enforcement agency has ever publicly discredited my investigation as fraudulent, fabricated, or unfounded.

To the contrary, during my 2003 in-person briefing—alongside then-Head Deputy District Attorney Stephen Kay—to LAPD brass and Cold Case detectives, former LAPD Chief of Detectives James McMurray, then the department’s number two-ranking officer, was sufficiently persuaded by my investigation that he instructed homicide detectives “to move forward and clear the 1947 Elizabeth “Black Dahlia” Short case based on Steve Hodel’s findings, absent the discovery of major holes in the evidence.

Detectives, including then-active Cold Case investigators Mitzi Roberts and Rick Jackson, ultimately declined—prior to their retirements—to pursue the matter further, citing workload and other priorities.

People are free to disagree with my conclusions regarding George Hodel. Reasonable investigators can and do disagree on unsolved cases. But controversial research is not the same thing as deceptive research, and disputed conclusions are not equivalent to fabricated claims.

That distinction matters.

None of this diminishes the importance of Oranchak’s work exposing the serious issues surrounding Alex Baber’s representations and theories. In fact, I believe his presentation performs a valuable service by insisting that evidence, documentation, and historical accuracy still matter in cold case research.

For that, he deserves considerable credit.

Steve Hodel
LAPD Det. III #11394
Hollywood Homicide (Ret.)

DAVID ORANCHAK’S PART 3 – BACKGROUNDING ALEX BABER (90 mins video)