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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Sick and Murdered: Marie Hilley -  Part 2

Sick and Murdered: Marie Hilley - Part 2

Marie Hilley seemed like an ordinary wife and mother, but behind closed doors, she was hiding a deadly secret. After poisoning her husband and attempting to kill her own daughter, her crimes were finally exposed. But instead of facing justice, Marie did the unthinkable—she vanished. What followed was one of the most bizarre fugitive stories in U.S. history, filled with deception, reinvention, and an audacious plan that no one saw coming. How far did Marie go to escape the law? And what finally led to her downfall? Join us as we unravel the unbelievable second chapter of Marie Hilley’s twisted tale. 🔎☠️ #TrueCrime #MarieHilley #SickAndMurdered #Poisoner #CrimeHistorySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Aug 20171h 19min

S2 Ep56: Sick and Murdered: Marie Hilley - Part 1

S2 Ep56: Sick and Murdered: Marie Hilley - Part 1

Marie Hilley’s story is one of the strangest true crime cases ever recorded—filled with deception, betrayal, and shocking twists at every turn. What seemed like a typical Southern life masked a dark secret: a woman willing to poison those closest to her for personal gain. With so many unbelievable moments in this case, we’ve split it into two parts. In this episode, we explore the early crimes of Marie Hilley and the deadly path that led to her downfall. 🔎☠️ #TrueCrime #MarieHilley #SickAndMurdered #Poisoner #CrimeHistory 📢 Join the Conversation! Connect with other listeners on the Once Upon a Crime Podcast Fan Page on Facebook!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21 Aug 20171h 23min

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

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