Bonus: Love Letters from The Black Dahlia

Bonus: Love Letters from The Black Dahlia

Before Elizabeth Short became known to the world as The Black Dahlia, she was a young woman searching for love and belonging in a world still recovering from war.

In this bonus episode, Esther reads excerpts from Elizabeth’s personal correspondence with Lt. Joseph Gordon Fickling and Major Matthew “Matt” Gordon — two men who loved her deeply, and who reveal, through their letters, the hopes and heartbreaks of a woman who has too often been reduced to myth.

These intimate writings offer a rare glimpse into Elizabeth’s voice — tender, romantic, and filled with dreams. Through her words, listeners will discover the woman behind the legend: hopeful, vulnerable, and forever chasing beauty in a world that often failed to show her kindness.

📚 Sources and References

William F. Mann, Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood (Simon & Schuster, 2026)

John Gilmore, Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder (Ameteur Press, 1994)

Archival letters and family correspondence cited in:

  • FBI Case File 62-00060: “Elizabeth Short Murder (Black Dahlia)”
  • Los Angeles Examiner and Los Angeles Times historical archives (1947)

Testimonies and recollections from:

  • Phoebe Short (Elizabeth’s mother), in interviews compiled in the FBI case file


🔜 Next in the Series:

In the next episode of Broken: The Black Dahlia Murders – Part Three, listeners will hear a detailed timeline of Elizabeth Short’s final months in Los Angeles, leading up to her infamous “lost week.”

We’ll follow her movements across the city — the hotels, the friends, and the mysterious encounters that made up her last days — and begin to uncover the tangled web of people who crossed her path before her death.

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For a limited time, get up to 27% off all products — including $16 tees — during our Grand Opening Sale. But hurry, deals end October 31st!

Shop now at onceuponacrime.dashery.com.

✈️ Travel with Us to Mexico City! 🇲🇽

We’re taking Once Upon a Crime on the road—and you’re invited! In March 2026, join us for a fun, fabulous 4-day group trip to vibrant Mexico City. Explore incredible sights, savor delicious food, and connect with fellow true crime fans on an unforgettable adventure.

Reserve your spot today with just 25% down—but hurry, space is limited and will sell out fast!

🔗 Click here to learn more and book your spot now!

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(394)

Women Who Shaped True Crime: The True Tale of Lizzie Borden - Part 1

Women Who Shaped True Crime: The True Tale of Lizzie Borden - Part 1

On August 4, 1892, the quiet town of Fall River, Massachusetts, was rocked by a gruesome double murder. Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby, were found brutally hacked to death in their own home. But the most shocking twist? The prime suspect was none other than Andrew’s own daughter, 32-year-old Lizzie Borden.The crime and trial became one of the most infamous cases in American history, sparking a media frenzy that still captivates true crime fans today. But was Lizzie truly guilty, or was she wrongfully accused?In this episode, we set the stage for our deep dive into the Lizzie Borden case. We’ll explore the crime scene, the initial investigation, and the immediate fallout that left a community in shock. Over the next few episodes, we’ll uncover who Lizzie Borden really was, what happened inside that house on that fateful day, and whether she got away with murder. Tune in and join us as we unravel one of history’s most chilling true crime mysteries.🎙️ Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode! 🔍Join us on Patreon for bonus content and details you won’t hear anywhere else. 💬 Have a theory? Drop us a comment or email—we’d love to hear your thoughts! #TrueCrime #LizzieBorden #UnsolvedMysteries #History #Podcast Sources:https://youtu.be/e-vMDJ46zVQ?feature=sharedhttps://www.grunge.com/69553/untold-truth-lizzie-borden/ https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/archive/2013/08/02/timeline-lives-lizzie-emma-abby/38186480007/ https://famous-trials.com/lizzieborden/1449-bowentestimony https://lizzieandrewborden.com/LBForum/viewtopic.php?t=844 https://lizzieandrewborden.com/ https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/law-magazines/lizzie-borden-trial-1893 The Trial of Lizzie Borden, Cara Robertson, Simon & Schuster, 2019 “Narrow Cell Holds Lizzie Borden in Taunton Jail,” The Boston Globe, August 13, 1892 Links: Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

24 Maalis 40min

True Crime Trailblazers: Exclusive Interview with Marcia Clark, Trial by Ambush

True Crime Trailblazers: Exclusive Interview with Marcia Clark, Trial by Ambush

The name "Marcia Clark" has become synonymous with the infamous O.J. Simpson trial. As lead prosecutor in that high-profile case, Clark faced intense scrutiny, not only for her legal strategy but also for her appearance. Now, she's back with a compelling new book that dives into another sensationalized case: Trial by Ambush: Murder, Injustice, and the Truth about the Case of Barbara Graham. In this episode, Marcia Clark joins me to discuss the shocking 1950s capital murder trial of Barbara Graham. Accused of participating in a brutal home invasion robbery that ended in the victim's murder, Barbara's trial became a media circus. Dubbed "Bloody Babs," her beauty was weaponized against her, as the prosecution warned the jury not to fall for her "feminine wiles." But was Barbara Graham truly a cold-blooded killer, or was she an unfortunate woman caught in the wrong circumstances? Marcia Clark brings her extensive legal experience to this fascinating conversation, offering insights into how media sensationalism can distort public perception and impact justice. Don't miss this deep dive into one of the most controversial cases of the 20th century. Guest Bio: Marcia Clark is a renowned attorney, author, and public speaker best known for her role as lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial. Since then, she has become a best-selling crime novelist and legal commentator. Her latest book, Trial by Ambush, explores the injustices in sensationalized trials and reveals new insights into the Barbara Graham case. Links & Resources: Marcia Clark's Book: Trial by Ambush and her other books and novels can be found here: https://marciaclarkbooks.com/ Follow Marcia Clark on | Instagram and Facebook  Tune In: Don’t miss this powerful episode as Marcia Clark unravels the truth behind the headlines and shares her firsthand experience in navigating high-profile trials     Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Maalis 51min

True Crime Trailblazers - 3 Kickass Women Who Shaped True Crime

True Crime Trailblazers - 3 Kickass Women Who Shaped True Crime

Women’s History Month: Honoring True Crime Trailblazers March is Women’s History Month, and we’re spotlighting the female trailblazers who revolutionized true crime. These women—authors, investigators, prosecutors, researchers, and victims’ advocates—played pivotal roles in shaping the genre, uncovering the criminal mind, aiding victims, and helping bring criminals to justice. In this episode, we explore the stories of three remarkable women whose work has left a lasting impact on true crime. Join me as we explore the stories of three extraordinary women who left an indelible mark on true crime. You won’t want to miss this!🎙️🔎 Listen to the Once Upon episode on Diane Downs here: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep38-monstrous-moms-and-dastardly-dads-diane-downs/ Listen to the David and Cinnamon Brown case here:  https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s8-ep298-a-family-affair-david-and-cinnamon-brown/ Sources: https://www.novelsuspects.com/articles/ann-rule/ https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-ann-rule-dies-20150727-story.html A Killer by Design: Murderers, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal Mind, Ann Wolbert Burgess and Steven Matthew Constantine, Hachette Books, 2021.  https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/a61488077/ann-burgess-criminology-expert https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/km-women-agents-2012.mp4/view https://magazine.wsu.edu/2013/07/31/kathleen-mcchesney-71-agent-of-change/   Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

10 Maalis 31min

So, I Married a Serial Killer - Mrs. Menendez

So, I Married a Serial Killer - Mrs. Menendez

In this final episode of our series, So, I Married a Serial Killer..., we unravel the complex and unconventional love stories of Lyle and Erik Menendez—two brothers sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of their parents. Despite being condemned to spend the rest of their lives behind bars with no chance of parole, both Lyle and Erik found love. In fact, Lyle has been married twice while in prison, and Erik has maintained a marriage for over 25 years. But how did these romances blossom without shared homes, date nights, or even the possibility of physical touch? In this episode, we explore the women who chose to say, “I do,” to men they would never truly have in the real world. Who are these women? What drives someone to fall in love—and even marry—a convicted murderer they can never live with? Join us as we close out the series by diving deep into the love lives of the Menendez brothers and the women who chose to become Mrs. Menendez.   Sources: https://people.com/who-did-the-menendez-brothers-marry-8713328  https://www.eonline.com/news/1408857/lyle-menendez-and-erik-menendezs-wives-what-to-know-about-the-women-the-brothers-married-in-prison  https://www.today.com/popculture/lyle-erik-menendez-brothers-wives-married-rcna170459  https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10573267  https://heavy.com/news/2017/01/rebecca-sneed-lyle-menendez-wife-married-prison-ceremony/  https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/09/lyle-menendez-gay-life-prison-eugene-weems-book/  https://thecinemaholic.com/anna-eriksson/  https://people.com/archive/life-love-behind-bars-vol-64-no-19/  https://people.com/archive/lyles-lady-vol-46-no-4/  https://thecinemaholic.com/anna-eriksson/  https://coopermagazine.co.uk/rebecca-sneed/  https://www.grunge.com/1436876/who-is-lyle-menendez-wife-rebecca/  https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna3540836#.WG8ThLYrLVo  https://www.msn.com/en-in/family-and-relationships/marriage/meet-milley-bucksey-lyle-menendez-s-21-year-old-girlfriend/ar-AA1uEvE7       Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

25 Helmi 32min

So, I Married a Serial Killer...- Mrs. Ted Bundy

So, I Married a Serial Killer...- Mrs. Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy was one of the most notorious serial killers in American history—charming, calculating, and deadly. While he was suspected of abducting, raping, and murdering more than thirty women across six states, he also maintained romantic relationships. One woman unknowingly loved a monster, while another chose to stand by his side even as the world recoiled in horror. In this gripping chapter, we explore the twisted love story of Carole Boone, the woman who not only fell for Bundy after his arrest but also married him during his murder trial. What compels someone to love a killer? Join us as we delve into the psychology, obsession, and dark romance that defined one of history’s most disturbing relationships. Sources: Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019), Netflix  Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (2020), Amazon Original   Defending the Devil, Polly Nelson, 2018.  The Only Living Witness, Hugh Aynesworth and Stephen Michaud, 2012. https://killerinthearchives.blog/a-profile-of-carole-ann-boone/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/carole-ann-boone https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a27379040/ted-bundy-wife-carole-ann-boone/ https://byliner.com/rose-bundy-is-ted-bundys-daughter-but-where-is-she-today/  https://www.pastchronicles.com/ted-bundys-wife/  https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/artifacts/volkswagen-owned-by-ted-bundy/  https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/1984/57772-0.html  https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/ted-bundy-timeline/  https://www.biography.com/crime/ted-bundy-timeline-murders   Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Helmi 42min

So…I Married a Serial Killer - Mrs. Richard Ramirez

So…I Married a Serial Killer - Mrs. Richard Ramirez

Throughout history, some of the world’s most notorious serial killers have drawn romantic attention, even after their heinous crimes were exposed. From Ted Bundy to Richard Ramirez, these men—locked away for unspeakable acts—still managed to captivate and attract devoted partners. But what compels someone to pledge their love and loyalty to a known murderer? In this episode, we dive into one of the most infamous cases of romantic obsession with a serial killer: the story of Doreen Lioy and Richard Ramirez, also known as "The Night Stalker." Despite overwhelming evidence of his brutal crimes, Lioy became Ramirez’s fiercest defender and ultimately married him while he was on death row. Was her devotion fueled by a misguided belief in redemption, a deep psychological compulsion, or something even darker? Join us as we explore the unsettling psychology behind these relationships, the societal fascination with dangerous men, and the mystery of why some women choose to look past the horrors to see someone they deem worthy of love.  Once Upon a Crime episode, Infamous Locales: The Cecil Hotel - Part 1.  https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep91-infamous-locales-the-cecil-hotel-part-1/  Sources: Carlo, Philip. The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez, The Night Stalker. New York: Citadel Press, 2006.  https://people.com/where-is-night-stalker-richard-ramirez-wife-now-8759972 https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/stalker-s-bride-3121711.php    Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Helmi 28min

Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973 - Part 3

Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973 - Part 3

In the early 1970s, the tranquil community of Santa Cruz, California, was shattered by a series of murders committed by two serial killers operating at the same time. Edmund Kemper, known as the "Co-ed Killer," murdered eight individuals, including six young women, his mother, and her friend, between May 1972 and April 1973. Simultaneously, Herbert Mullin embarked on his own killing spree in the same area, further terrorizing the residents. In this final episode of "Murder City," we delve into Santa Cruz's darkest period, exploring how law enforcement apprehended these predators and the chilling twist of their eventual incarceration as cellmates.   Sources: Murray, Emerson, Murder Capital of the World, 2021.  https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Psyc%20405/serial%20killers/Mullin,%20Herbert.htm  https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/mullin/index_1.html  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Mullin  https://biographs.org/herbert-mullin  https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/search?q=herbert+mullin&page=1&sort=divadoc_date_dt&dir=desc&facets%5Btags%5D%5B0%5D=herbert+mullin  https://graduateway.com/herbert-mullins-a-case-study-of-a-serial-murderer/  https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/mullin/explained_9.html  https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/santa-cruz-kemper-mullin-frazier-murders-12841990.php  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/163366300/fred-abbie-perez  https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/06/11/a-modern-day-lumberjack-protecting-life-and-limb/         Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Tammi 50min

Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973, Part 2

Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973, Part 2

This month, I’m bringing you the story of three terrifying years that unfolded in Santa Cruz, California. Between 1970 and 1973, a series of murders rocked Santa Cruz, a once-peaceful beach community. Before it was all over, residents would live through unimaginable horrors - a prominent family wiped out in a mass murder by a deranged killer and two serial killers working simultaneously, but separately, in their midst.   In this second part of the series, we’ll pick up the story at the tail end of 1971. John Linley Frazier’s trial had just concluded, and he was sentenced to die. While the courtroom drama played out for one Santa Cruz killer, another was moving into town.   Edmund Emil Kemper III would become one of the most infamous serial killers on record. By the time he arrived in Santa Cruz in 1971, Kemper had already been convicted of a double murder.  Less than a year after his release from prison, he would commit a series of gruesome murders that would forever cast a dark shadow over sunny Santa Cruz.   I’ve taken an unprecedented deep dive into “The Co-ed Killer” to provide details about Kemper’s life and crimes you haven’t heard anywhere else.   This is part two of “Murder City: Santa Cruz, California 1970 to 1973 - Ed Kemper.    Sources: Murray, E. (2020). Murder Capital of the World.  Cheney, M. (1976). The Co-Ed Killer. Goodreads Press.  Edmund Kemper: The Life of the Co-Ed Killer. (2017). Hourly History.    Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21 Tammi 45min

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