The Purloined Letter-Discovery Channel Expedition Files Opens New Season Featuring the Black Dahlia George Hodel 1949 “Martin Letter” in which LAPD Paid Undercover Informant Identifies Killer as “GH”
April 25, 2025
Birch Bay, Washington
“All of the evidence was gone from that case. (1947 murder of Elizabeth “Black Dahlia” Short)
I worked Hollywood for a long time. You see so many young people come to Hollywood with dreams in their eyes and unfortunately this gets sidetracked and derailed and they end up having their dreams shattered and opens them up for bad things to happen in their life.
In my opinion, that case (Black Dahlia) will never get solved baring somebody cleaning out their house and finding decades before some sort of reference to it. (Black Dahlia Murder).”
LAPD Detective III David Lambkin (ret.)
(Former Supervisor in charge of Cold Case Unit)
2025 Los Angeles Times Interview
Once again, in the “You Can’t Make This Shi# Up Catagory, we find ourselves staring down the Black Dahlis, Black Hole in amazement.
The above quote comes from Detective III David Lambkin which he made just one month ago in an article in the Los Angeles Times.
Det. Lambkin was one of the LAPD detectives present in 2003, when I and Head Deputy DA Steve Kay, briefed the top command officers on my Black Dahlia investigation.
He made no comments during the briefing, but was and remained a strong opponent of my findings (though never having read my extensive investigation) and was one of the officers who, when ordered by Deputy Chief James McMurray (then the No.2 command officer on LAPD, and Chief of Detectives) to “go ahead and clear the Black Dahlia case based on Det. III Steve Hodel’s findings,” ignored the order, knowing Chief McMurray was about to retire in six months.
Det. Lambkin, as head of the Cold Case Unit, excuse was, “We are too busy with other cases to look at Steve Hodel’s investigation.” (That has remained the case for the past twenty-two years.)
We now fast forward some 22-years, and retired Det.III Lambkin, having never read my investigation, and totally unaware of the discovery in 2009 of the Glenn Martin Letter’s existence, after giving a false and perpetuating endorsement of the myth that suggested that Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia came to Hollywood “with dreams in her eyes ..” opening her up to “have bad things happen.” Incredibly, goes on to say:
“the Black Dahlia case will never be solved baring somebody cleaning out their house and finding decades before some sort of reference to it.”
What follows is the Discovery Channel, Expedition Files reportage of my 2009 documentation of Glenn Martin’s granddaughter, Sandi Nichols, discovery after “cleaning out her house and finding decades before some sort of reference to it.” (Black Dahlia)
A reader has just sent me a link to a promotional clip for the Discovery Channel Expedition Files (I haven’t seen it yet and was unaware of its production)
that apparently yesterday aired their opening season with an episode on my Black Dahlia investigation, focused on the discovery of the Glenn Martin Letter.
Glenn Martin Letter (photos by Steve Lawrence, South Pasadenan newspaper)
For those of you that have read or been following my investigation, Glenn Martin was a LAPD paid undercover informant working directly with the LAPD’s brand new Intelligence Division formed in 1949, and headed by then Inspector William “Whiskey Bill” Parker (soon to be appointed LAPD Chief in 1950.) The unit was supervised by Parker’s No.1 man, Lt. Kenneth McCauley, who figures prominently in Martin’s letter describing the coverup and protecting of “GH.” In Martin’s letter he not only identifies his known acquaintance “GH” as the killer of the “Black Dahlia” but also fingers “GH” for the June 1949 kidnap/torture murder of L.A. Lone Murder victim, Louise Springer.
This letter was written and sealed, to be opened “only in case of the death” of one of his two daughters. Martin was fearful they would be killed by “GH” should he find out Martin was an LAPD paid informant. Martin’s daughters were never harmed back in 1949-1950 and “GH” left the country in 1950, so the letter was never opened until found some sixty years later by Martin’s granddaughter, Sandi Nichols, who contacted and sent me the original purloined letter.
Journalist’s Anne and Daniel Vasquez.
In 2018, veteran journalists Anne and Daniel Vasquez (featured and interviewed in yesterday’s Discovery Expedition Files) met with me and for six intensive weeks worked on preparing and writing an article that appeared in the South Pasadenan newspaper. See original article HERE.
Here in her own words, written yesterday on her LinkedIn page, is how Anne Vasquez described those six weeks back in 2018:
Shame that the LAPD continues to perpetuate Myth instead of actually persuing the factual truth that you uncovered in your investigation.
Dennis E:
Agreed, but as we slowly move forward THE PUBLIC for the most part GETS IT.
And, believe me brother, I’m not through yet. Miss our lunches and visits together.
I agree Steve that the public “gets it” but why the absolute refusal of LE, Police Departments worldwide so adamantly refusing to engage in any acknowledgement of the truth with so many murders/victims involved!? What “power” did GHH exert over such a large group of people in government and law enforcement? IMO GHH’s extreme hatred of his fellow humans exploded with Father Heslin in Colma, CA.!
Perhaps “the Powers that be” are far more powerful than we can imagine!! Before I RIP I’d love to see some acknowledgement & resolution brought out and published for all to see!! 😒🌵
PS: Have moved to SC permanently now…….it’s good to be by an ocean again…….and the Atlantic warmer & still swimmable for this GG’ma!! Stay well, Steve🥰!
Patricia O:
Congrats on the move. Enjoy the surf and sand. Yes, being near an ocean is important. Especially for us grandmas and grandpas. We did come from them, didn’t we.
Well, with LAPD I think the biggie was not wanting to confirm their/our two greatest heroes, Bill Parker and Thad Brown had so much blood on their hands by letting a stone psycho go free. If the Dept confirms my investigation then they are admitting the coverup. Maybe now that all the dinosaurs (the Lambkins) are gone I can at some point lay down with the Lions and have a new updated presentation. We will see? Enjoy the move.
Steve, Il never understand these police departments inability to acknowledge the work you’ve done on this case. If you look at the evidence youve amassed proving unfortunately that your dad George Hodel killed Beth Short it’s blatantly obvious. It’s truly baffling.
I recently learned about a real piece of shit, career criminal and serial killer named
Robert Leroy Biehler who operated out of Hollywood in your tenure at LAPD Hollywood. Any chance you worked any of his murders. Seems he was convicted of four murders but these guys usually kill more than they’ll ever tell. Reading about the guy made me wonder if you’d encountered him.
Hope all is well. Take care.
Frank A: That’s the problem. The Dept for its own obvious reasons is not willing to “just look at the evidence I have amassed. “Too busy with other cases.” (To clear a dozen Cold Cases in and around Hollywood and LA.) I had never heard of your serial killer, R.L. Biehler, so looked him up. Murders in Pasadena and North Hollywood (a different Division than mine) and other locations. You are right a real POS for sure. Best, Steve
Steve: Have seen the “blind eye” of PD’s first hand watching, listening to father, uncles, close family friends throughout my young & young adult life and truly was astounded by their own missteps in life yet they retained an “aura” of glamour, appeal, sociability with the “best” crowds in their cities! Once they donned the uniform or displayed their badge they were welcomed & desired at many social events🤗! I recently watched some old episodes of Dragnet…..remembering Jack Webb could do no wrong as a hero in the LAPD, Thad Brown, Chief of D’s played by Raymond Burr……ah, the good old days! Somehow the truth gets smothered in publicity, good times and living the good life😐…….lots of evil slips by us before reality steps in!! Yep, reality can be Hell😱! Time to help my daughter unpack groceries…..think you’ll ever visit SC? Weather beautiful, ocean warm…..just bought a “Michael Phelps” full body bathing suit….yep reality is Hell😉😆!! Stay well👍🌵!
Steve,I wanted to mention a redit post I found recently where a linguists did a linguistic analysis of all know zodiac materials to hopefully determine his background. it came l to the overwhelming conclusion that Zodiacs speech patterns used a lot of British phrasing and subtext. Either a person who’d lived in England or a close relative who was British. I wonder if Georgie’s upper class gilded up bringing and time in Paris as a kid could be confused/substituted for a british background in relation to speech patterns.
None of the ear witnesses n two eye/ear witnesses mentioned a British accent just an odd cadence n phrasing.
It’s an interesting article, well written and laying out the information in concise detail. It be interesting to have George’s writtings analyzed linguistically to determine the how closely to Zodiac they match. If I remember you had graphologists compare the two handwritings.
Hope this isn’t redundant. Take care.
Frank A:
I’ve heard about it but haven’t seen his analysis. Makes sense totally. GHH always related to the upper class including the Brits. But, more importantly, SFPD Officer Fouke mentioned “he had the look of a Welshman.” Fouke could not confirm he and his partner actually stopped and talked with Zodiac so he had to say he got it from the 15sed driveby. Dad had a very Welsh (Think Richard Burton) sounding voice so I think that is where Fouke got it from in speaking with him. Very distinct voice. Almost like a fingerprint so unique. Best, Steve
Steve, the death of Eric Zelms was always an odd account to me, possibly made up to accommodate the SFPD’s growth of a cover up. Officer Eric Zelms offered to sit with the police artist & investigators telling them he could definitely improve on the police artist’s rendering. He died before that could happen😔. But what sealed it to me was when Sammy Lee in a tv interview was NOT the Sammy Lee I knew in my youth at my Uncle Jim’s cocktail parties! Sammy Lee made direct eye contact when speaking to you and was very sure of himself even as a young SFPD Detective. Years later when he spoke of Zodiac on tv his eyes did not make contact with the camera. He shrugged his shoulders from side to side saying that Zodiac was “some guy who just had a beef against the SFPD “! That just was not Sammy Lee!! I am very sure my uncle Jim & aunt Adele had many a cocktail at your home and Jim got his job at Tehachapi Women’s prison in years following his debacle, demotion to Captain from Chief of D’s SFPD, through GHH. Lots of “hanky panky” going on then in many big city PD’s ……….unfortunately many innocent people suffered. And I’m speaking here not just of the victims of the crimes but innocent family members, wives, children. Your investigation must take presidency to enable the truth to be outed and corrected before law & order can preside💪!