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.

Sponsors:

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

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


Visit the new OUAC MERCH SHOP!

For a limited time, get up to 27% off all products — including $16 tees — during our Grand Opening Sale. But hurry, deals end October 31st!

Shop now at onceuponacrime.dashery.com.

✈️ Travel with Us to Mexico City! 🇲🇽

We’re taking Once Upon a Crime on the road—and you’re invited! In March 2026, join us for a fun, fabulous 4-day group trip to vibrant Mexico City. Explore incredible sights, savor delicious food, and connect with fellow true crime fans on an unforgettable adventure.

Reserve your spot today with just 25% down—but hurry, space is limited and will sell out fast!

🔗 Click here to learn more and book your spot now!

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.

Avsnitt(394)

S1 Ep17: Halloween Tales

S1 Ep17: Halloween Tales

On this special bonus Halloween episode I share something a little different. Instead of the usual true crime case I'm sharing two ghost stories with you. Feel free to listen in the dark! Happy Halloween! #Halloween #ghoststories #spooky Please rate and review the show on iTunes! And tell a friend. Thanks! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Okt 201630min

S1 Ep16: Fatal Fans: Chapter 4: John Hinckley

S1 Ep16: Fatal Fans: Chapter 4: John Hinckley

John Hinckley, Jr. tries to impress an actress by killing President Ronald Reagan. Was he legally insane? This is the final chapter in the series "Fatal Fans".  Please rate and review us on ApplePodcast! Twitter: @UponACrime Facebook: OnceUponaCrimePod     Resources: "At the Edge of Death" by Edmund Morris for Newsweek, October 4, 1999. Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Regan by Edmund Morris, Random House, 1999. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Okt 201647min

S1 Ep15: Fatal Fans: Chapter 3: John Lennon

S1 Ep15: Fatal Fans: Chapter 3: John Lennon

Mark David Chapman stalks and murders John Lennon on a New York city street in 1980. This is Chapter 3 of Fatal Fans. Resources: Let Me Take You Down: Inside the Mind of Mark David Chapman by Jack Jones  www.facebook.com/OnceUponACrimePod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Okt 20161h 5min

S1 Ep14: Fatal Fans: Chapter 2: Rebecca Schaeffer

S1 Ep14: Fatal Fans: Chapter 2: Rebecca Schaeffer

An unhinged fan has murderous plans towards young actress Rebecca Schaeffer. Resources: "An Innocent Life, A Heartbreaking Death" by Pete Axthelm, People Magazine, July 31, 1989.  "In the Mind of a Stalker" by M. Tharp, U.S. News and World Report, Feb 17, 1992.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4 Okt 201626min

S1 Ep13: Fatal Fans: Chapter 1: Theresa Saldana

S1 Ep13: Fatal Fans: Chapter 1: Theresa Saldana

A young actress is stalked by an unhinged drifter who is intent on killing her. Facebook: OnceUponACrimePod Twitter: @UponACrime Celebrity crime, stalking victims, true crime. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Sep 201640min

S1 Ep12: The Day the Music Died: Chapter 4: Selena

S1 Ep12: The Day the Music Died: Chapter 4: Selena

The Queen of Tejano Music is gunned down by a fan in 1995. Resources: Music: Selena - Ones - (Greatest Hits Album) DVD: Selena - the Movie  Book: To Selena with Love - by Chris Perez To connect with the show: On Twitter: @uponacrime On Facebook and Instagram @OnceUponaCrimePod 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.

9 Sep 201638min

S1 Ep11: The Day the Music Died: Chapter 3: Tupac and Biggie

S1 Ep11: The Day the Music Died: Chapter 3: Tupac and Biggie

Two of music's biggest rap stars are cut down in their prime. But, who killed them? This week's episode - Tupac and Biggie. Follow us on Twitter @UponACrime and on Facebook and Instagram @OnceUponaCrimePod Resources for this episode: Music: 2Pac's Greatest Hits The Notorious B.I.G. Greatest Hits   Books: Tupac Shakur: The Life and Times of an American Icon - Tayannah Lee McQuillar and Fred L. Johnson III, PhD Notorious C.O.P.: The Inside Story of Tupc, Biggie and Jam Master Jay Investigations - Derrick Parker The Rose that Grew from Concrete: Poems by Tupac Shakur Movies and Documentaries: Tupac: Resurrection Notorious Biggie and Tupac: The Story Behind the Murders of Rap's Biggest Superstars  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Aug 201659min

The Day the Music Died: Kurt Cobain

The Day the Music Died: Kurt Cobain

In the second installment of our series on tragic musical icons, we examine the life and mysterious death of Kurt Cobain, the legendary frontman of Nirvana. Known for shaping the sound of a generation, Cobain's raw talent and emotional lyrics made him a voice for the misunderstood—until his untimely death in 1994, ruled a suicide… but still clouded in speculation.We’re joined by Justin Evans from The Generation Why and The Peripheral podcasts to discuss the controversial documentary Soaked in Bleach and the murder theory that continues to stir debate. Was it really suicide—or is there more to the story?📚 Sources used in this episode:– Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain by Charles R. Cross🎥 Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck🎥 Soaked in Bleach🔗 Check out our guest:www.TheGenerationWhyPodcast.comwww.theperipheral.libsyn.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Aug 20161h 36min

Populärt inom Samhälle & Kultur

mardromsgasten
podme-dokumentar
en-mork-historia
rattsfallen
aftonbladet-krim
p3-dokumentar
creepypodden-med-jack-werner
skaringer-nessvold
nemo-moter-en-van
killradet
badfluence
p1-dokumentar
flashback-forever
kod-katastrof
hor-har
rss-brottsutredarna
vad-blir-det-for-mord
svenska-fall
rysarpodden
historiska-brott