Bonus: The First Suspects - The Black Dahlia Files

Bonus: The First Suspects - The Black Dahlia Files

In this bonus episode, Esther takes listeners back to the earliest days of the Black Dahlia investigation — before the world even knew the victim’s name.

Detectives faced a gruesome and mystifying crime scene in a quiet Los Angeles neighborhood. Who was the young woman whose body had been staged so deliberately? And who could have committed such a shocking crime?

Using witness statements, police reports, and historical accounts, Esther reveals how investigators built their first list of suspects — and how each was eventually ruled out.

From Elizabeth Short’s friends and lovers to shady landlords and reluctant witnesses, these early leads laid the groundwork for a case that would haunt Los Angeles for decades.

🎧 Next Time on Broken

In the next episode, we’ll examine the shocking details of the crime scene and autopsy — how Elizabeth Short was killed, the forensic evidence left behind, and what it tells us about her murderer.

We’ll also start piecing together theories about motive — and why her killer may have wanted her body to be found.

Make sure you’re subscribed and that your app is set to automatically download new episodes so you don’t miss what’s next in Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder.

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


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Avsnitt(397)

Mistletoe and Murder: Marvallous Keene - The Christmas Murder Spree

Mistletoe and Murder: Marvallous Keene - The Christmas Murder Spree

On Christmas week 1992, a series of murders took place in Dayton, Ohio.  Some would call it a case of “thrill killing” others would point to juvenile delinquency, dysfunctional family issues or just plain bad kids.  The identified “ringleader” would fit none of these stereotypes and yet, made the decision to go on a murder spree that would shock his community.   #MarvallousKeene #DaytonOhio #thrillkillers #Christmascrimes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Dec 201841min

Mistletoe and Murder: The Carnation Christmas Murders

Mistletoe and Murder: The Carnation Christmas Murders

Three generations of one family are murdered on Christmas Eve, 2007 in Carnation, Washington.    Resources: The State of Washington v. McEnroe and Anderson, Certification for Determination of Probable Cause, Dec 28, 2007. Natalie Singer, Seattle Times, "Court papers tell of victims' terrifying last moments," Dec 29, 2007.  Steve Miletich, Jennifer Sullivan, Sara Jean Green and Sonia Krishnan, Seattle Times, "Carnation slaying suspects: a history of arguments, paranoia," Dec 28, 2007.  Levi Pulkkinen, Seattle News, "Man admits to Carnation killings in bid to dodge death sentence," www.seattlepi.com, Jan 9, 2014. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4 Dec 201833min

Listener Suggestions  - Benjamin & Erika Sifrit - Killer Couple

Listener Suggestions - Benjamin & Erika Sifrit - Killer Couple

A young couple play a deadly game with perfect strangers on Memorial Day weekend, 2002 in Ocean City, Maryland.  #homicide #killercouples #thrillkillers www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Resources: Jeff Barker, The Baltimore Sun, "Erika Sifrit is found guilty in Ocean City double-killing," June 11, 2003.  Sifrit v. State of Maryland, Court of Appeals Decision, retrieved from www.FindLaw.com, Aug 27, 2008. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

27 Nov 201837min

Listener Suggestions: Suzane von Richthofen - "Evil Blonde"

Listener Suggestions: Suzane von Richthofen - "Evil Blonde"

Thank you to listener Alexandre Guglielmelli from Brazil for this case suggestion! In 2002, a wealthy couple is found murdered in their home in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Their own daughter soon becomes a suspect and the case becomes a media sensation in Brazil.  Resources: Murder in Brazil #5 - The von Richthofen Case, www.murderiseverywhere.blogspot.com  Rogerio Pagnan, UOL, Sao Paulo, "Suzane Richthofen, Sentenced for Murdering her Parents to Marry Female Prisoner," Oct 29, 2014.  The Creepy Case of Suzane von Richthofen: The Evil Blonde. YouTube, uploaded by Brief Case, May 27, 2018, https://youtu.be/gEyjSBDZuCk. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

20 Nov 201828min

Listener Suggestions: The Texas Cadet Murder Case

Listener Suggestions: The Texas Cadet Murder Case

A young couple conspire to kill a romantic rival in Texas in 1995.  Thanks to listener Casey Graham for the suggestion of this case.  This is the case of Diane Zamora and David Graham - The Texas Cadet Murder case. Make-a-Wish North Texas - www.ntx.wish.org Resources: Bryan Robinson, "Texas v. Diane Zamora: The Diane Zamora Trial," www.CourtTV.com.  Confessions of Diane Zamora and David Graham to Grand Prairie Police Department dated Sept, retrieved from www.Murderpedia.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Nov 201851min

Listener Suggestions: Craig Price - The Warwick Slasher

Listener Suggestions: Craig Price - The Warwick Slasher

This month I'm picking cases from listener suggestions as a "thank you" to my audience.  First up is a case from Warwick, Rhode Island suggested by Mikala Fortin. When a series of brutal murders takes place in one neighborhood in 1989, investigators zero in on an unlikely suspect - a teenage boy who would be considered one of the country's youngest serial killers.  To give a donation or find out more about Rhode Island Relay for Life go to www.relayforlife.org/northernRI  Resources: Helen O'Neill, San Francisco Chronicle, "Juvenile Serial Killer Remains in Prison," Dec 15, 2007.  Rachael Bell, CrimeLibrary.com, "Craig Price: Confessions of a teenage serial killer".   Tim White, WPRI.com, "Brother of murder victim calls Craig Price's shrinking sentence 'ridiculous'," April 23, 2015. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 Nov 201839min

Haunted Homicide: The LaLaurie Mansion

Haunted Homicide: The LaLaurie Mansion

The last chapter of "Haunted Homicide" is the story of the LaLaurie Mansion known as "the most haunted house in America".  In this episode you'll hear the TRUE story of Madame Delphine LaLaurie who is called "the socialite serial killer".   Resources: Ozzy and Jack's World Detour - https://www.aetv.com/shows/ozzy-and-jacks-world-detour Mad Madame LaLaurie: New Orleans' Most Famous Murderess Revealed by Victoria Cosner Love and Lorelei ShannonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Okt 201846min

Haunted Homicide: The Tower of London

Haunted Homicide: The Tower of London

The Tower of London has a long history of torture, murder and royal intrigue.  It has also been the scene of many ghostly sightings over its 950-year history.  Travel with me to through the Tower to uncover some of its dark history.   #ThomasBecket #WilliamWallace #HenryVIII #AnneBoleyn #ThePrincesintheTower #RichardIII #TudorEngland #ElizabethI Resources: Books: Tower: An Epic History of the Tower of London by Nigel Jones The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison WeirSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 Okt 201857min

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