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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Analyzing the JonBenet Ramsey Case with Jack Luna

Analyzing the JonBenet Ramsey Case with Jack Luna

On this special episode my guest is Jack Luna from Crime Machine Podcast.  We discuss the evidence and theories behind the JonBenet Ramsey Case. Sources: Foreign Faction: Who Really Killed JonBenet? by A. James Kolar, Ventus Publishing, 2012.  JonBenet Ramsey Case Encyclopedia, www.jonbenetramsey.pbworks.com  "The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey". https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6mj3ze  Crime Machine Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-machine/id1209610434 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Joulu 20191h 34min

The Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis w/Erica Kelly

The Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis w/Erica Kelly

On this special episode, I discuss the death of Shawn Stephens Lewis. Shawn was the fifth wife of Jerry Lee Lewis, the rock and country music star.  When Shawn Lewis was found dead in Lewis's mansion on August 24, 1983, many questions would remain unanswered as to how she died.  My very special guest this week is Erica Kelly from the Southern Fried True Crime podcast!  www.southernfriedtruecrime.com www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  www.crimecon.com - use offer code ONCE20 for 10% off your standard badge.  Resources: "The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis" by Richard Ben Cramer for Rolling Stone, March 1, 1984 "The Sudden Death of Wife No. 5 Confronts Jerry Lee Lewis with Tragedy - and Troubling Questions" by People Staff for People Magazine, Sept 12, 1983.  "Jerry Lee Lewis: 'The Killer' Says the Wild Times are Behind Him" by Jim Sullivan for The Chicago Tribune. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

10 Joulu 20191h 29min

AMA and Case Updates for 2019

AMA and Case Updates for 2019

On this year-end wrap up episode, I answer listener questions and share updates on cases I've covered in past episodes.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3 Joulu 201945min

Fugitives from Justice: Ruth Eisemann-Schier

Fugitives from Justice: Ruth Eisemann-Schier

In this last episode about fugitives on the run from the law I tell you the story of the very first woman ever to make the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List.  Ruth Eisemann-Schier, along with her boyfriend, Gary Krist, carried out a bizarre kidnapping plot in 1968.   Resources: "Femmes Fatals: The Ten Women on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List" by Anna Hopkins for DailyMail.com, Sep 11, 2017.  "A kidnapping with Deltona ties gripped the nation 50 years ago" by Tony Holt for The Daytona Beach News Journal, Dec 20, 2017.  Krist v. The State of Georgia, Appeal Record, Dec 3, 1970. Retrieved online at www.Cite.Case.Law.  "Gary Krist: The Einstein of Crime" by David Krajicek for www.TruTV.com  Music Credits: "On My Way" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Outro Music by Chesare Gray MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 Marras 201934min

Fugitives from Justice: Alex Kelly

Fugitives from Justice: Alex Kelly

A young man from a wealthy family is accused of committing two rapes while still in high school. Before he could be tried on these charges he'd flee the jurisdiction and disappear for eight years before finally being brought to justice. Resources:  "Accused Rapist and His Flight Trouble Darien" by Elizabeth Neuffer for The New York Times, Aug 27, 1987 "From Ski Slopes of Europe to a Rape Trial" by George Judson for The New York Times, Jan 31, 1995.  "Judgment Days" by Bill Hewitt for People.com, Nov 4, 1996. "Son of Darien" by Susan Cheever for The New York Times, April 27, 1997.  Vanity Fair Confidential: Fugitive Son, based on reporting by Jennet Conant for Vanity Fair Magazine, first aired on Jan 24, 2017. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Marras 201931min

Fugitives from Justice: Nazira Ugalde and Brenda Delgado

Fugitives from Justice: Nazira Ugalde and Brenda Delgado

In this episode I’ll share two separate cases of women who became part of a very small and exclusive club - women who made the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List.   Nazira Ugalde killed for financial gain and flees to South America.  A young woman in Texas, Brenda Delgado, plans the murder of her romantic rival and disappears soon after being questioned by police.   Resources:  "New details emerge about Reno 'Black Widow', Behind the Crime Tape Blog, Nov. 27, 2012 "Fugitive Black Widow wanted in ex-husband's 2008 murder arrested i Peru", by Nina Golgowski for New York Daily News, Jun 5, 2014.  "Mother of Hygenist at center of deadly love triangle sas her daughter is 'not the jealous type'", by Shekhar Bhatia for DailyMail.com, Sep 12, 2015.  "Duo Behind Killing of Dentist in Murder-for-Hire Plot May be Linked to Drug Cartel", Chicago 5 News, Oct 23, 2015.  "Brenda Delgado: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", Heavy.com, Jun 7, 2019.  "The State of Texas vs Brenda Delgado", Criminal Indictment, October 2, 2018.  Podcast Recommendations:  Crime Machine by Jack Luna and Sam Swenson.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-machine/id1484881599  You can now find us on Stitcher Premium! https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/esther-ludlow/once-upon-a-crime See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Marras 201925min

Fugitives from Justice: Jesse James Hollywood

Fugitives from Justice: Jesse James Hollywood

A small time drug dealer kidnaps a rival's younger brother in order to settle a debt.  The unfolding series of events would become one of California's most bizarre and tragic kidnapping cases on record and would even inspire an award-winning Hollywood movie.   Resources: Jesse Katz for Los Angeles Magazine, "The Last Ride of Jesse James Hollywood", February 2002.  Colby Frazier for Daily Sound, "Hollywood tells his story", June 24, 2009.  Henry Chu and Solomon Moore for The Los Angeles Times, "Fugitive Kept Low Profile in Quiet Brazilian Beach Town", March 11, 2005.  Chris Hansen for Dateline, "The Real Story Behind 'Alpha Dog', Jan 15, 2007.  Tyler Hayden for The Santa Barbara Independent, "Meet Mrs. Jesse James Hollywood", Feb 4, 2014.  Music Credits:  Music from https://filmmusic.io "Floating Cities" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Marras 201948min

Rocktober: Rock and Roll Haunts

Rocktober: Rock and Roll Haunts

In this episode I dig into my file of spooky stories to share some haunted happenings in the world of rock and roll.  #themansionatlaurelcanyon #redhotchilipeppers #slipknot #hauntedhouses #bonscott #joshuatreeinn #halloween #ghoststories  Resources: Corey Taylor, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven (Or How I Made Peace with the Paranormal and Stigmatized Zealots and Cynics in the Process), (Da Capo Press, 2013).  Inside the Laurel Canyon Houdini Estate, www.wildabouthoudini.com, March 30, 2012.  Funky Monks - Uncut Full Documentary (1st edit uncut w/bonus footage), YouTube, uploaded by MakingMonstersInk, April 10, 2013. https://youtu.be/z0tTJ4SakE0 Music credits from https://filmmusic.io - License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) "Halloween Theme 1" by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/) "Graveyard Shift" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) "Myst on the Moor" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) "Waltz of Treachery" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) "On My Way" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21 Loka 201928min

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