Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder - Part One: The Girl in the Empty Lot

Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder - Part One: The Girl in the Empty Lot

In January 1947, a mother walking through a quiet Los Angeles neighborhood made a horrifying discovery — the bisected body of a young woman posed in a vacant lot.

Within hours, newspapers had a headline that would echo for decades: The Black Dahlia Murder.

In this first episode of BROKEN: The Black Dahlia Murder, host Esther Ludlow revisits the shocking discovery of Elizabeth Short’s body and explores how the media turned one of America’s most brutal crimes into legend.

You’ll learn how police handed reporters nearly unrestricted access to the case, how wild speculation replaced evidence, and how myths — from “party girl” to “femme fatale” — erased the real woman behind the name.

Seventy-eight years later, her story is still broken by rumor and sensationalism.

Now, Once Upon a Crime seeks to restore the truth.

In this six-part series, Esther will uncover the real Elizabeth Short — and tell the story the headlines never did.

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.

Upcoming episode:

Part Two: Discovering Elizabeth - The true biography of Elizabeth Short: her childhood, her dreams, and how her life led her to Los Angeles.

Release date: October 25th

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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Episoder(392)

The Life and Crimes of Diddy: Part 2

The Life and Crimes of Diddy: Part 2

Welcome back to our two-part series on the life and crimes of Sean Diddy Combs. In this explosive second installment, I detail Diddy’s meteoric rise in the music industry, uncover the allegations regarding his volatile romantic relationships, and expose a shadowy past filled with violence and legal troubles dating back to the 1990s.   I’ll also shed light on Diddy’s infamous “White Parties” and the scandalous after-parties known as "Freak Offs," which are now at the center of a federal investigation involving racketeering, sex trafficking, and a slew of other allegations that have led to an indictment.   We’ll seek to uncover the possible motivations behind Combs’ risky lifestyle choices. Why Diddy do it? Why did Sean Combs trade the luxuries of fame and fortune for drug-fueled escapades, sexual scandals, and the alleged exploitation of others? What path led Diddy from a billionaire business mogul to the kingpin of an alleged decades-long criminal enterprise?   Join me as I dissect the cracks in Diddy’s polished persona to reveal a narrative far darker than anyone could have imagined.   Sources: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2019-11-02/84365/cant-stop-wont-stop-a-timeline-of-diddys-vast-career-and-accomplishments https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-friends-bad-boy-artists-abuse-violence-1235028178/ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sean-diddy-combs-controversies-timeline-1234889043/ https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/diddys-different-names-through-the-years-puffy-and-more/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2024/03/31/why-the-1999-shooting-where-diddy-and-jennifer-lopez-were-arrested-has-new-attention/ https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3284652/who-diddys-vietnamese-american-baby-mama-dana-tran-and-she-really-supporting-him-she-gave-birth-sean  https://www.gq.com/story/j-cole-diddy-scuffle-explained-the-off-season https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13946547/real-reason-Usher-live-P-Diddy-revealed.html https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sean-diddy-combs-sexual-abuse-minors-buzbee-1235120511/ https://www.tmz.com/2024/09/26/diddy-naked-woman-table-party-resurfaced-pics/      Links:  Once Upon a Crime - Episode 11: The Day the Music Died - Tupac and Biggie - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep11-the-day-the-music-died-chapter-3-tupac-and-biggie/ Once Upon a Crime - Episode 12: The Day the Music Died - Selena - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep12-the-day-the-music-died-chapter-4-selena/   Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast   Subscribe to Season 9 of Someone Knows Something: The Christine Harron Case  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/someone-knows-something/id1089216339See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

10 Des 202458min

The Life and Crimes of Diddy - Part 1

The Life and Crimes of Diddy - Part 1

American musical producer and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in September  2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for purposes of prostitution.  He is currently in federal custody awaiting trial in Brooklyn, New York.  Almost daily, new accusers are coming forward to share additional information about Combs’ alleged history of sexual assault, abuse, and sexual exploitation. In this 2-part series, we’ll dig into Sean Combs’ early life, career, and relationships to answer the question - why Diddy do it?  How did Sean Diddy Combs, a man who seemed to have it all - fame, money, and success - end up in scandal, disgrace, and facing dozens of felony charges and lawsuits?  In this first episode, you’ll learn how the bombshell allegations against Combs came to light. We’ll also examine his childhood and early life to determine what factors contributed to his behavior and alleged criminal activities. We’ll discover that, early on, cracks in the image Diddy presented to the world as a professional businessperson and star marker masked a narcissistic need for control that turned abusive in both his personal and professional lives.  Sources: Timeline: https://www.billboard.com/lists/sean-diddy-combs-allegations-timeline/november-28-2023-diddy-steps-down-as-chairman-from-revolt/ Nov 2023 - Cassie’s statement and lawsuit. https://apnews.com/article/diddy-sean-combs-cassie-lawsuit-e3681f1abbe38c11d829c269c9a89260 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sean-combs-read-full-indictment-1235103933/  Complete text of lawsuit - https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/diddy-cassie.pdf  https://www.businessinsider.com/sean-diddy-combs-cassie-relationship-timeline-2023-11#september-2019-cassie-marries-alex-fine-9 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-friends-bad-boy-artists-abuse-violence-1235028178/ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-assault-women-college-1235028172/ United States District Court Southern District of New York, United States of American V. Sean Combs, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/media/1368556/dl   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.

3 Des 202448min

Haunted Homicide - The Old Main Prison Riot

Haunted Homicide - The Old Main Prison Riot

Over two days in 1980, prisoners at a New Mexico penitentiary, angry at the conditions they experienced inside its walls, rose up against their jailers and wreaked havoc upon officers and inmates alike.  It would be called the bloodiest prison riot in U.S. history.  Over thirty-six hours, thirty-three prisoners were killed, eight guards were brutally assaulted, and hundreds were injured.  The prison would never completely recover from the unprecedented violence that took place. In the years since, the Penitentiary of New Mexico, known as the Old Main Prison, has gained a reputation as one of the most haunted places in the state. After hearing the true story I’m about to tell you, you’ll understand why these traumatized spirits may still be lurking. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_State_Penitentiary_riot https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-state-prison-riot-1908/42746860  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtxL6C_dNKw  Report of the Attorney General on the February 2 and 3, 1980 Riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico - https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/72933NCJRS.pdf New Mexico Corrections Department website - https://www.cd.nm.gov/divisions/corrections-industries/old-main/  https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/devastating-penitentiary-riot-of-1980-changed-new-mexico-and-its-prisons/article_be64a016-31ae-11ea-a754-fb85e49fca77.html  Reports of hauntings at the prison -  https://www.codypolston.com/new-mexico-state-penitentiary-santa-fe-nm-more-witness-accounts-and-ghost-stories/   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.

19 Nov 202434min

Haunted Homicide - The Exorcism of Roland Doe

Haunted Homicide - The Exorcism of Roland Doe

In this episode, I’ll share a story of an alleged demonic possession of a young boy in the 1940s.  While you may be skeptical of such a claim, several sources officially documented the case, including first-person eyewitnesses, making it difficult to dismiss these claims as mere superstition.   You’ll also hear how this case inspired a best-selling novel and blockbuster movie that helped to usher in an era of “Satanic Panic,” a phenomenon that would lead to accusations and criminal charges leveled against innocent people, some of whom were falsely convicted.    Sources: https://www.thescottsmithblog.com/2023/08/the-real-story-behind-exorcist-movie.html https://allthatsinteresting.com/roland-doe-the-exorcist-true-story https://play.max.com/video/watch/ec95d53c-2050-4361-afca-db7f96836670/94f26393-35be-4945-9fbf-b99b005674a0  https://www.slu.edu/universitas/archive/2014/exorcism.php https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/20/the-exorcist-boy-named-magazine   Links:  Season 6: Episode 248: Final Curtain Call - Paul Bateson and The Exorcist - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s6-ep248-final-curtain-call-paul-bateson-and-the-exorcist/ Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Nov 202431min

Haunted Homicide - The Witch’s Castle

Haunted Homicide - The Witch’s Castle

In this first story, we’ll go back over one hundred years to learn about a Romeo and Juliet story that ended in cold-blooded murder.  On the property where the killing took place now sits a stone building known by locals as “The Witch’s Castle.”  Some say that the restless spirits of the murdered man, his widow, and the killer roam the area on nights when the moon is full.   This is the story of the murder of Mortimer Stump and the haunting of The Witch’s Castle.    Resources:  https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-witches-castle-portland-oregon  https://www.mckenzieriverreflectionsnewspaper.com/story/2013/24/2/history/mystery-surrounds-portland-s-first-public-execution/830.html  https://themorbidlibrary.com/2021/09/10/the-haunted-the-witchs-castle/  http://balchipedia.wikidot.com/danford  https://www.newspapers.com/image/900596109/?match=1&terms=mortimer%20stump  https://www.newspapers.com/image/1088419076/?match=1&terms=%22anna%20stump%22   Links: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Nov 202423min

Halloween Bonus Episode: When Horror Came to Town - The Farmville Murders

Halloween Bonus Episode: When Horror Came to Town - The Farmville Murders

In this special Halloween episode, horror comes to a family in the middle of the night.  But unlike ghostly tales, this was all too real and was the last thing they’d ever expected as they invited the monster into their home.    Resources:  https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Bay-Area-suspect-allegedly-bludgeoned-victims-3217121.php https://www.therotundaonline.com/remembering-associate-professor-of-sociology-dr-debra-s-kelley/article_2fab25df-a3f5-527c-ba59-cf14588b4e00.html   Slain mom, teen had counseling over music - https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32992286   Links:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast  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.

31 Okt 202422min

Murdered Musicians - The Life, Death, and Legacy of Mia Zapata

Murdered Musicians - The Life, Death, and Legacy of Mia Zapata

In July 1993, Mia Zapata, a rising star in the genre of punk rock music, joined what is morbidly referred to as “The 27 Club” - artists and celebrities whose lives ended at the age of 27. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse all qualify. But like other members of this unfortunate club, Mia Zapata didn’t die as the result of a drug overdose or by her own hand.  She was murdered on the streets of Seattle just before she reached success with her band, The Gits. In this episode, I’ll detail the life, death, and lasting legacy of Mia Zapata. Resources:  Mia Zapata and The Gits: A Story of Art, Rock, and Revolution, Steve Moriarty, (2024) https://amzn.to/3T2cjgv  https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/a44362322/a-cross-between-janis-joplin-and-johnny-rotten-remembering-mia-zapata-of-the-gits/ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/mia-zapata-murderer-dead-1170206/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130406042509/http://thegits.com/?page_id=410 https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/singer-s-killer-gets-37-years-1143741.php “Mia: Mia Zapata left her Louisville roots for a shot at success with her band, The Gits. But death ended her dream, and her killer is still at large,” James Nold, Jr., The Courier-Journal, Oct. 9, 1993.    Links:  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21 Okt 202443min

Murdered Musicians: The Mysterious Death of Al Jackson Jr.

Murdered Musicians: The Mysterious Death of Al Jackson Jr.

In 1975, a renowned drummer who played with some of the most prominent artists of the 1960s and ‘70s was found shot and killed after an apparent botched robbery.    But some suspected Al Jackson, Jr. had been set up for murder.  Was his soon-to-be ex-wife involved in his slaying? Was a friend’s relationship with a wanted fugitive to blame?  Or was he privy to sensitive music business information that made him a target?    Resources:  https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/25/al-jackson-jr-memphis-sunset-the-mysterious-death-of-stax-heartbeat  http://staxrecords.free.fr/aljacksonpage.htm https://torontosun.com/news/world/hunter-murder-music-and-the-memphis-sound-of-stax-volt http://vancouverdrummer.blogspot.com/2017/09/al-jackson.html     Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Okt 202425min

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