Black Dahlia: Date Of Death & The Horrific Murder That Shocked LA

02 May, 2025

Was it a crime of passion, a calculated act of revenge, or something far more sinister? The unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, forever known as the Black Dahlia, remains one of the most haunting and enduring mysteries in the annals of true crime, a case where the victim's life and death have eclipsed nearly everything else, leaving only a chilling and enduring fascination.

The name "Black Dahlia" is synonymous with a case that captivated a nation. The year was 1947, and Los Angeles, still basking in the post-World War II glow, became the backdrop for a crime so gruesome it sent shockwaves through the city and beyond. Elizabeth Short, a young woman with dreams of Hollywood stardom, became the victim of a brutal slaying that remains unsolved to this day. Her body, discovered in a vacant lot in Leimert Park, was surgically bisected at the waist, drained of blood, and grotesquely mutilated. The macabre details, coupled with the victim's allure and the mystery surrounding her life, fueled an inferno of media attention that has never truly extinguished. Even now, decades later, the case continues to grip the public imagination, spawning books, films, and countless theories, all vying for a piece of the truth.

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Elizabeth Short
Nickname	The Black Dahlia
Date of Birth	July 29, 1924
Place of Birth	Boston, Massachusetts
Date of Death	January 15, 1947
Place of Death	Leimert Park, Los Angeles, California
Age at Death	22
Physical Description	White, Female, 5' 6", 118 lbs., Light Brown Hair, Green Eyes, Bad Teeth
Known For	Victim of the unsolved "Black Dahlia" murder.

Reference: Britannica - Elizabeth Short

Elizabeth's journey began in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was born on July 29, 1924. She later migrated to Los Angeles, California, chasing the dreams that so many young women pursued in the golden age of Hollywood. But her aspirations were tragically cut short. Her identification at the morgue was done by her mother, Phoebe Short. Adding to the tragedy, Phoebe learned of her daughter's death in a cruel twist, when reporters informed her she had supposedly won a beauty contest.

The discovery of Elizabeth Short's body on January 15, 1947, in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, ignited a firestorm of media coverage and a massive police investigation. The crime scene itself was a spectacle of horror. Her body, meticulously posed, was bisected at the waist and drained of blood, her face slashed from the corners of her mouth, giving her a grotesque "Joker smile." The mutilation was so extensive, it suggested a killer with a chilling disregard for human life, someone who may have spent hours on the ghastly deed. As reports would suggest, it took the killer more than three hours to complete the dismemberment.

The autopsy report, conducted by LA County Coroner Frederick Newbarr on January 16, 1947, provided the grim details of the injuries. The official cause of death was listed as hemorrhage from lacerations to the face and shock due to blows to the head. The mutilation of her body was not only a crime of violence but a gruesome display. Notably, Newbarr observed the dilation of the anal canal, suggesting a possible sexual assault. The weapon used to sever Beth's body is believed the killer used a butcher knife.

The investigation that followed was monumental, yet ultimately fruitless. The Los Angeles Police Department launched a massive effort, collecting over sixty confessions, many from men. The media frenzy only exacerbated the chaos, as the public and the press scrambled for any shred of information. Despite the efforts, no arrests were ever made, and the killer of the Black Dahlia continues to walk free, his identity shrouded in mystery.

Elizabeth Short's death was undeniably brutal, and detectives began their investigation to locate the person responsible. Her body had been cut in half at the waist and her blood had been drained out. Her face had been cut from the corners of mouth to her ears to give her what people would call today the "joker smile. There were numerous cuts and bruises on her breast and thighs because of whole sections of skin that had been removed.

The case quickly became one of the most sensational murder investigations in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department. The crime scene was gruesome, the victim was attractive and had ties to the world of show business, and the investigation was hampered by the deluge of information and misinformation. The case has fascinated generations and continues to be a staple of true crime, inspiring books, films, and endless speculation.

The case became highly publicized owing to the gruesome nature of the crime, which included the mutilation of her corpse, which was bisected at the waist and drained of blood. From fingerprints detectives identified the dead woman as elizabeth short aged 22. The true story of the black dahlia murder is a 1994 american historical true crime book by john gilmore.the book details the life and death of elizabeth short, also known as the black dahlia, an infamous murder victim whose mutilated body was found in leimert park, los angeles in 1947, and whose murder has remained unsolved for decades.

Adding to the mystery, Elizabeth Short was the first to fictionalize her life, inventing stories about herself years before the first novel about her was written and the first movie was filmed. In January 1947, Betty Bersinger and her. The black dahlia was a nickname given to elizabeth short, a young woman who was brutally murdered in los angeles in 1947. She was found severely mutilated and her cause of death was determined to be exsanguination due to lacerations to her face.

The murder of Elizabeth Short, also known as the Black Dahlia, is one of the oldest cold cases in Los Angeles. Elizabeth short was killed on jan. 15, 1947, and her case was nicknamed the black dahlia murder. The notorious black dahlia case has baffled detectives for decades ever since the two halves of elizabeth shorts body were located in los angeles.

On January 8, 1947, she returned to the glamorous biltmore hotel in los angeles. When shorts death became national news, police officers in cleveland felt an awful sense of dj vu. Between 1934 and 1938, a serial killer had terrorized their city, claiming 12 victims.

Her case became highly publicized owing to the gruesome nature of the crime, which included the mutilation of her corpse, which was bisected at the waist and drained of blood. The autopsy report revealed the cause of death was hemorrhage from lacerations and shock caused by blows to the head and face. From fingerprints detectives identified the dead woman as elizabeth short aged 22.

Elizabeth Short had died a particularly brutal and painful death, and detectives began their investigation to locate the person responsible. Reports suggested it took the killer more than three hours to complete the dismemberment. The killer posed shorts body in a morbid display, showcasing the horrific damage inflicted on her.

Los angeles girl hacked butcher style (1947) burlington daily times news (north carolina) january 17, 1947.

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The Black Dahlia Los Angeles' most famous unsolved murder BBC News

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The Black Dahlia Inside The Gruesome Murder Of Elizabeth Short

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