Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder - Part Four: The Black Dahlia’s Lost Week

Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder - Part Four: The Black Dahlia’s Lost Week

In this fourth installment of Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder, we trace Elizabeth Short’s final, mysterious days — the missing week between her last confirmed sightings in early January 1947 and the shocking discovery of her body on January 15th.

This episode follows “The Lost Week” through the eyes of those who crossed her path, beginning with Robert “Red” Manley, the married salesman who would become the first and most infamous suspect in the case. Listeners will hear how Manley’s brief encounter with Elizabeth turned his life into a nightmare — from his interrogation by the LAPD to his tragic decline under the weight of suspicion and mental illness.

We’ll also explore the early stages of the investigation: the first crime scene discoveries, the detectives who took charge, and the swarm of reporters who would turn the story into a national obsession.

Finally, we close with a look ahead — teasing the next chapter in this haunting story, where the list of suspects grows and the myths begin to take root.


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

Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder by John Gilmore

The Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood by William J. Mann (upcoming)

Contemporary newspaper archives, LAPD records, and witness interviews

Featured Guest: William J. Mann

In this episode of Once Upon a Crime, we’re joined by William J. Mann, acclaimed author and historian, whose work brings the glamour and the darkness of old Hollywood vividly to life. You’ll hear clips from my interview with him as we discuss his latest book, Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood — a gripping new take on one of America’s most infamous unsolved murders.


Pre-order the book here: Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood

To explore more of William J. Mann’s fascinating work — including his previous bestsellers and a calendar of upcoming appearances — visit his author page on Simon & Schuster.


🎧 Next Time on Broken

In a bonus episode, we’ll examine the full suspect list—from wartime lovers to Hollywood hangers-on—and the man who drew the most intense scrutiny of all: Mark Hansen.

Who were they? What secrets did they hide? And which of them came closest to the truth?


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If you’re watching on YouTube, hit the notification bell to be alerted as soon as a new episode drops.


Sponsors:

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https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/


Links:

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Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast


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Shop now at onceuponacrime.dashery.com.


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Episoder(408)

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...

20 Okt 202534min

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 headli...

13 Okt 202523min

Introducing “Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder” - A Once Upon a Crime Original Series

Introducing “Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder” - A Once Upon a Crime Original Series

In January 1947, Elizabeth Short’s brutal murder shocked Los Angeles — and turned her into the enduring legend known as The Black Dahlia.In this new six-part Once Upon a Crime series, host Esther Ludl...

6 Okt 20253min

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Q&A Aftershow

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Q&A Aftershow

In this special Aftershow episode, Esther and Lorena answer listener questions and reflect on the powerful story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom.Together, we unpack ...

2 Okt 20251h 28min

Bonus Episode: Hanged: Those She Left Behind

Bonus Episode: Hanged: Those She Left Behind

In this special bonus wrap-up episode of Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion, we step beyond the execution chamber and trace the ripple effects of Ruth’s final act—the shockwaves that forever ...

25 Sep 202514min

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Part Seven: The Last Woman

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Part Seven: The Last Woman

In this final installment of our seven-part series, we follow Ruth Ellis through her last days and hours at Holloway Prison. Convicted of the murder of her lover, David Blakely, Ruth became the last w...

8 Sep 202537min

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Part Six: An Eye for an Eye

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Part Six: An Eye for an Eye

In this episode, Ruth Ellis takes the stand in her own defense during her murder trial at the Old Bailey. What unfolds is one of the most disastrous testimonies in British legal history.Ruth answers q...

25 Aug 202546min

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Part Five: Ruth’s Revenge

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Part Five: Ruth’s Revenge

On Easter weekend 1955, Ruth Ellis reached her breaking point.After years of jealousy, violence, and betrayal, she spent a long, sleepless night replaying the wreckage of her life — and blaming one ma...

18 Aug 202531min

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