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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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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Crime Salad: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-salad/id1457141569


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Sick and Murdered: Beverley Allitt - Britain's "Angel of Death"

Sick and Murdered: Beverley Allitt - Britain's "Angel of Death"

In this chilling case of Munchausen by Proxy, the perpetrator wasn’t a parent, but a trusted healthcare worker preying on the most vulnerable patients. Beverley Allitt, a British nurse, was given the nickname The Angel of Death—but was she suffering from a psychological disorder, or was she simply evil? Under the guise of care, Allitt carried out a horrifying series of attacks on young and helpless children. What drove her to commit these unthinkable crimes? And how did she evade suspicion for so long? Join us as we uncover the disturbing case of Beverley Allitt, a serial killer who turned a place of healing into a house of horrors. ⚕️🔪 #TrueCrime #BeverleyAllitt #AngelOfDeath #MunchausenByProxy #MedicalMurderSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Aug 20171h 10min

Sick and Murdered: Laurie Williamson - Munchausen by Proxy

Sick and Murdered: Laurie Williamson - Munchausen by Proxy

A mother’s love is supposed to protect—but for Laurie Williamson’s children, it became a source of unimaginable suffering. In this shocking case of Munchausen by Proxy, a rare and disturbing disorder drove a mother to make her own children sick, all for attention and personal gain. How was her deception uncovered? And what lasting effects did her actions have on those she was supposed to care for? Join us for Chapter 1 of Sick and Murdered as we dive into one of the most unsettling forms of abuse and the devastating consequences it leaves behind. ⚠️🩺 #TrueCrime #MunchausenByProxy #LaurieWilliamson #SickAndMurdered #MedicalAbuseSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Aug 201751min

Millionaire Murders: Ted Ammon - Murder in the Hamptons - Part 2

Millionaire Murders: Ted Ammon - Murder in the Hamptons - Part 2

Wealth, power, and luxury couldn’t shield Ted and Generosa Ammon from the dark side of their crumbling marriage. In Part 2 of Murder in the Hamptons, we explore how their bitter and costly divorce spiraled into resentment, rage, and ultimately, murder. Who was behind the brutal killing of the wealthy financier? And how did greed, jealousy, and betrayal turn a high-society love story into a deadly nightmare? Join us as we uncover the shocking conclusion to one of the Hamptons’ most infamous crimes. 💰🔪 #TrueCrime #TedAmmon #MillionaireMurders #MurderInTheHamptons #BetrayalAndGreed 🎧 Podcast Recommendation: The Noir Factory Podcast 📖 Book: Almost Paradise: The East Hampton Murder of Ted Ammon by Kieren CrowleySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

31 Juli 20171h 29min

Millionaire Murders: Ted Ammon - Murder in the Hamptons - Part 1

Millionaire Murders: Ted Ammon - Murder in the Hamptons - Part 1

What began as a high-society romance ended in betrayal, bitterness, and bloodshed. When multimillionaire Ted Ammon and his wife, Generosa, entered a vicious divorce battle, their love story turned into a ticking time bomb. But no one could have predicted just how deadly it would become. In Part 1 of Murder in the Hamptons, we unravel the lavish lifestyle, growing tensions, and dark secrets that set the stage for a brutal crime. How did a once-glamorous marriage spiral into murder? Join us as we dive into one of the most infamous cases of wealth, power, and deadly revenge. 💰🔪 #TrueCrime #TedAmmon #MillionaireMurders #MurderInTheHamptons #DeadlyDivorce 🎧 Podcast Recommendations: Murder Dictionary – Join Kelly & Brianna as they explore true crime cases from A-Z, each focusing on a different type of crime. A mix of dark humor and gripping storytelling! 🔗 Support the show on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/OnceUponaCrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

24 Juli 201759min

Millionaire Murders: Edmond Safra - Murder in Monaco

Millionaire Murders: Edmond Safra - Murder in Monaco

Edmond Safra was a billionaire banker, living in one of the most secure penthouses in Monaco. So how did intruders manage to get inside? Or was there never an outside threat at all? What began as a terrifying home invasion quickly unraveled into a web of contradictions, unanswered questions, and a prime suspect with a suspicious story. Was this a carefully planned attack, or the desperate actions of an insecure employee seeking attention? Join us as we explore the strange and tragic case of Edmond Safra—one that still leaves more questions than answers. 🔎💰 #TrueCrime #EdmondSafra #UnsolvedMystery #MonacoMurder #OnceUponACrime 📢 Connect with me! Twitter: @uponacrime Facebook & Instagram: @onceuponacrimepod 💡 Love the show? Tell a friend and help them subscribe this month!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Juli 201746min

Millionaire Murders:  Spoiled Son - Dale Ewell

Millionaire Murders: Spoiled Son - Dale Ewell

Greed and entitlement can drive people to the unthinkable—and for one spoiled son, it led to murder. In this chilling first chapter of our new series Millionaire Murders, we explore the case of Dale Ewell, a young man whose obsession with wealth and status turned him into a cold-blooded killer. What prompted this heinous crime, and how did a privileged life spiral into tragedy? Join us as we uncover the disturbing truth behind a young man’s ruthless greed and the deadly lengths he went to for money. 💸🔪 #TrueCrime #MillionaireMurders #DaleEwell #GreedAndMurder #SpoiledSon 📢 Follow Us: Twitter: @UponACrime Facebook: Once Upon a Crime Podcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

10 Juli 201756min

Murder in Paradise: Murder on Palmyra

Murder in Paradise: Murder on Palmyra

In the remote South Seas, two couples set sail for what was meant to be a dream getaway. But paradise turned into a nightmare when one would end up dead, and the other would be left to explain a brutal crime. On the deserted island of Palmyra, the secrets, lies, and violence that unfolded would shock the world. How did this idyllic vacation go so horribly wrong, and who was responsible for the grisly murder? Join us as we dive into this eerie and tragic tale of survival and betrayal. 🏝️🔪 #TrueCrime #MurderInParadise #MurderOnPalmyra #IslandMystery 📖 Resources: And the Sea Will Tell by Vincent Bugliosi The FBI Files: Season 1: Deadly Paradise (Video) 📢 Follow Us: Facebook: Once Upon a Crime Podcast  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 Juni 201756min

Murder in Paradise: Missing in Aruba

Murder in Paradise: Missing in Aruba

In 2011, Robyn Gardner, a 35-year-old woman from Maryland, went missing in Aruba while snorkeling with Gary Giordano. What was supposed to be a tropical escape quickly turned into a baffling mystery filled with unanswered questions, suspicious circumstances, and a desperate search for the truth. Was this a case of foul play, or did something else lead to her disappearance? Join us as we uncover the chilling details of this haunting case and the lingering mysteries that remain. 🏝️🔍 #TrueCrime #MurderInParadise #MissingInAruba #UnsolvedMystery 🔗 Support the Show on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/OnceUponaCrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Juni 201734min

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