Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder - Part Two: Becoming Elizabeth

Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder - Part Two: Becoming Elizabeth

Before she became The Black Dahlia, Elizabeth Short was simply Beth — a young woman with big dreams, an open heart, and a longing for something beyond the ordinary. In Part Two: Becoming Elizabeth, we step back in time to uncover the story of the woman behind the legend.

From her childhood in Medford, Massachusetts, through family tragedy, illness, and the Great Depression, we follow Elizabeth’s journey into adolescence — a girl fascinated by Hollywood glamour and determined to create a better life for herself.

We trace her adventures from the frozen streets of New England to the sun-drenched beaches of Florida and the military bases of California during World War II. Along the way, we meet the men who loved her — and the heartbreaks that would shape her fate.

This episode explores the making of Elizabeth Short: the beauty, the dreamer, and the woman who walked fearlessly into a world that would one day remember her by another name.

About This Series

BROKEN: The Black Dahlia Murder is a six-part Once Upon a Crime original series.

Through extensive research, historical records, and firsthand accounts, Esther Ludlow uncovers the truth behind America’s most infamous unsolved murder, separating fact from fiction to rediscover the real woman behind the myth.

Sources & References

  • Los Angeles Police Department and FBI case archives and reports.
  • “Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood” by William J. Mann, Simon & Schuster, (Advanced Reader Copy), Publication date: January 13, 2026.
  • “Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder” by John Gilmore.
  • Historic articles from the Los Angeles Times and The Examiner (1947). (Accessed on Newspapers.com.)


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Livestreamed Crimes: The WDBJ-TV On-Air Shooting

Livestreamed Crimes: The WDBJ-TV On-Air Shooting

A disgruntled, former television station employee takes out his revenge during a live news broadcast.  Resources: “Ex-Broadcaster Kills 2 on Air Virginia Shooting” by Michael D. Shear, Richard Perez-Pena, and Alan Blinder, The New York Times, August 26, 2015. “Vester Lee Flanagan: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know”, Tom Cleary, Heavy.com, April 8, 2021.  “A Life of Listing Grievances, and Then Virginia Gunman’s Final Homicidal Explosion”, Michael D. Shear and Sarah Maslin Nir, The New York Times, Aug 27, 2015.  “Murder on social media: Killer wanted the world to watch”, Emily Brown, USA Today, Aug 26, 2015.  Links: website - www.truecrimepodcast.com Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Maalis 202232min

Revenge Attacks: UK Acid Attacks

Revenge Attacks: UK Acid Attacks

A bizarre and terrifying crime spree has been on the rise in the UK for the past several years. In this episode, I’ll share stories illustrating how acid attacks have increasingly been used to retaliate against a romantic partner once a relationship ends.  Resources:  “Acid Attacks on the Rise in the U.K.”, Joanna Kakissis/NPR, Aug 6, 2017. “Acid Attacks: What has led to the rise and how can they be stopped?”, George Mann/BBC News, July 14, 2017.  “Jealous woman is jailed for 14 years after scarring her boyfriend”, Rory Tingle/DailyMail.com, Nov 21, 2021.  “Woman jailed for acid attack on boyfriend”, Tristan Kirk/Evening Standard, Nov 19, 2021.  “Man recalls moment ex-girlfriend poured acid over him while he slept”, Jamie Barlow/Nottinghamshire Live, Feb 12, 2021.  The Queen v Mark Cummings and Katie Leong, Crown Court at Leicester, March 21, 2017.  “Katie Piper’s acid attacker is cleared for release”, Danny Gallagher/Daily Mail.com, Jun 18, 2020.  Links: Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime Once Upon a Crime website - www.truecrimepodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Helmi 202225min

Deep Cover - A Conversation with Jake Halpern

Deep Cover - A Conversation with Jake Halpern

In this special episode, Esther sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jake Halpern to talk about Season 2 of his podcast Deep Cover: Mob Land. They also discuss podcast storytelling and Jake reveals which well-known actor makes a surprise guest appearance on Deep Cover in Season 2.  Links:  Listen to Deep Cover on Pushkin.fm - https://www.pushkin.fm/show/deep-cover/ Become a Pushkin+ member to binge all episodes of Deep Cover ad-free. You will also have ad-free access to more than 20 Pushkin+ shows. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21 Helmi 202243min

Revenge Attacks: Burt and Linda Pugach

Revenge Attacks: Burt and Linda Pugach

In this episode, I’ll share with you one of the craziest “love” stories you’ve ever heard - right in time for Valentine’s Day. Burt Pagach meets Linda Riss in 1957 and quickly becomes obsessed with her. When she breaks off the relationship he plots a despicable act for revenge.  Resources:  “Burt and Linda Pugach: The story behind Crazy Love”, Amy Turner for The Sunday Times, June 29, 2008.  “CityPeople; A Sort of Love Story”, Mark Fass for The New York Times, March 21, 2004.  Crazy Love (2007), Directed by Dan Klores and Fisher Stevens, Magnolia Pictures.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Helmi 202240min

Revenge Attacks: Sophie Elliott

Revenge Attacks: Sophie Elliott

A 22-year-old recent graduate of a New Zealand University breaks off a short-lived relationship. Her ex would take deadly revenge on her in one of the most horrific attacks ever perpetrated in the country’s recent history.  Resources:  “Own Evidence Seals Fate” by John Hartevelt for Stuff.co.nz, July 23, 2009.  “Success accompanied by stress: Weatherston” by Kay Sinclair for the Otago Daily Times, July 9, 2009.  “The Day Sophie Died: A Mother’s Untold Story” by Lesley Elliott for NzHerald.co.nz, Jun 10, 2011.  “A Decade On: Sophie Elliott’s Family Remembers Her” by Kelley Dennett for NZHerald.co.nz, Jan 5, 2018.  “Provocation defence ‘made killer a victim”, NZ Herald, July 22, 2009.  “Sophie’s beauty not targeted court told” by Kay Sinclair for Otago Daily Times, July 14, 2009 “An examination he didn’t pass”, Otago Daily Times, July 23, 2009 “Provocation defence abolished”, Otago Daily Times, Nov 27, 2009. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 Helmi 202237min

Mansion Murders: The Sachs Family Murders

Mansion Murders: The Sachs Family Murders

One family appears to have it all - success, wealth, a happy family life, and a beautiful ocean-view home on the California coast. But, trouble behind the scenes tears the family apart and the story of the Sachs family will end in a shocking murder.  Resources: Shadow of Death, CBS/48 Hours, October 15, 2016.  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/48-hours-investigates-andra-and-brad-sachs-murders-shadow-of-death/ “Capistrano killings: In marriage, divorce, death, couple never parted,” by Salvador Hernandez, Lily Leung, and Meghann Cuniff for The Orange County Register, Feb 17, 2014.  Capistrano killings: In marriage, divorce, death, couple never parted “Familly remembers entrepreneur Brad Sachs, allegedly slain by son” by Greg Fisher for CBS News, Oct 13, 2015 “Why Aston Sachs Says He Shot His Family” by Matthew Heiler for Orange Coast Magazine, Nov 20, 2014.  https://www.orangecoast.com/features/ashton-sachs-says-shot-family/ “Where is Aston Sachs Now?” by Kriti Mehrotra for The Cinemaholic.com, Nov 10, 2020.  https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-ashton-sachs-now/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

31 Tammi 202232min

Mansion Murders: Chateau Carolands

Mansion Murders: Chateau Carolands

An heiress builds a grand mansion as a showplace on a hill in the San Francisco Bay Area. But, it would become a white elephant and an eyesore during its long history. And, in 1985, it became a house of horrors for two young women. Resources: People v. Raley, Supreme Court of California Appeal, June 18, 1992. Retrieved from Findlaw.com. “Yesterday’s Crimes: The Hillsborough Mansion Murder” by Bob Calhoun for SF Weekly, Jan 30, 2018. “Carolands mansion murder: Survivor Laurie McKenna speaks, 20 years later” by Howard Mintz for San Jose Mercury News, Sept 16, 2014. The Heiress and Her Chateau: Chateau Carolands of California” (2014), Directors: Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg, Luna Productions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

24 Tammi 202237min

Murder In My Hometown: Jeanine Sanchez Harms

Murder In My Hometown: Jeanine Sanchez Harms

July 27, 2001 Jeanine Sanchez Harms went missing after a night out with friends in Campbell, California. A man she'd only become acquainted with that night, Maurice Xavier Nasmeh, would be suspected of involvement in her disappearance. After a problematic investigation and numerous delays, the case would end in a shocking conclusion.  Resources: "Whatever Happened to Jeanine Harms?" by Loren Stein for MetroActive News, March 20, 2003. Jeanine Sanchez Harms, The Charley Project. "Jeanine Harms 'Case Closed” by Lori Preuitt for NBC Bay Area News, Aug 24, 2011. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Tammi 202242min

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