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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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

Murder in Paradise: The Monster of Florence

Murder in Paradise: The Monster of Florence

The rolling hills of the Italian countryside set the scene for a chilling true crime mystery. Between 1968 and 1985, a ruthless serial killer stalked young lovers, turning romantic getaways into scenes of horror. Dubbed The Monster of Florence, this elusive murderer taunted investigators for nearly two decades, leaving behind a trail of fear and unanswered questions. Who was behind these brutal killings, and why have the crimes remained one of Italy’s most haunting mysteries? Join us as we uncover the dark secrets lurking beneath the beauty of Tuscany. 🇮🇹🔪 #TrueCrime #MurderInParadise #MonsterOfFlorence #UnsolvedMystery #SerialKillerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Juni 201729min

Murder in Paradise: The Yosemite Murders

Murder in Paradise: The Yosemite Murders

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5 Juni 201756min

A Woman Scorned: Murder by Mercedes

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When Clara Harris discovers that her husband, David Lynn Harris, of 10 years has been having an affair, heartbreak quickly turns into rage. But instead of walking away, she decides to take revenge—in one of the most shocking and gruesome ways imaginable. Fueled by betrayal and a thirst for justice on her own terms, she turns her luxury car into a deadly weapon. What drove her to commit such a brutal act, and what was the fallout of her shocking decision? Join us as we dive into this case of love, infidelity, and a revenge plot that made headlines around the world. 🚗💔🔪 #TrueCrime #AWomanScorned #MurderByMercedes #CrimeOfPassion #BetrayalAndRevenge 📢 Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook: Once Upon a Crime Podcast Once Upon a Crime Podcast Fan Page Twitter: @UponACrime Instagram: @OnceUponACrimePod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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A Woman Scorned: Jodi Arias - Part 2

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15 Maj 20171h 7min

A Woman Scorned: Jodi Arias - Part 1

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9 Maj 20171h 6min

A Woman Scorned: Betty Broderick

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A marriage filled with love and ambition turns into a bitter battlefield of betrayal, resentment, and rage. In 1989, after years of feeling cast aside and replaced, Betty Broderick took justice into her own hands—gunning down her ex-husband and his new wife in their bedroom. Was Betty a victim of emotional abuse who finally snapped, or was this a calculated act of cold-blooded murder? In Chapter 1 of A Woman Scorned, we unravel the twisted love story, the bitter divorce, and the shocking crime that made Betty Broderick a household name. Join us as we explore one of the most infamous cases of marital revenge in true crime history. 💔🔪 #TrueCrime #BettyBroderick #AWomanScorned #CrimeOfPassion #RevengeOrMurder 📢 Follow & Support the Show: Patreon: www.patreon.com/OnceUponaCrime Twitter: @UponACrime Facebook: Once Upon a Crime Podcast Email: esther@truecrimepodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2 Maj 20171h 5min

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