The Black Dahlia Avenger: The True Story

by Steve Hodel

  To my ex-ex-wife, Carole Hodel, and Ron Wong, thank you both for your help and encouragement. Gracias to my ex-partner Bill Everheart and his wife Judy for providing me with some "retreat time" in their beautiful Big Bear home.

  To my literary agent, Bill Birnes, and his wife, Nancy, a special thanks for their early recognition of the importance of the story, at a time when not all the evidence was in, and for Bill's persistence in helping find the right publisher.

  Special thanks to my editors/publishers, Dick and Jeannette Seaver, at Arcade Publishing. Dick's Herculean labors, experienced editing, reorganization, substitution of happier words and cleaner structure, and translation of "cop report writing" into a more palatable language have been invaluable. Arcade editor Greg Comer also deserves thanks for his diligence and dedication throughout the long editing process.

  My deep gratitude to those who contributed so much without knowing: "Mary Moe," "Bill Buck," Kirk Mellecker, Myrl McBride, and my mother's old and my newfound friend, Joe Barrett.

  Thank you, sister Tamar. Know that my heart is filled with joy now that your truth has at long last been told. Duncan, I know these revelations will bring you and the rest of our extended family much sorrow. Try to find solace in knowing that light dispels darkness. To Kelvin, I can now say, understand, dear brother, that it wasn't you: our father was incapable of loving anyone. To my two sons and to all future generations of our family, I say: Wear the Hodel name with courage and pride. Trust in your own inner guidance, and know that right motive, followed by right action, is the key to finding happiness and understanding life's mysteries. To my Filipino brother and sisters, Teresa, Diane, Mark, and their mother, Hortensia: while our contacts have been few, and our estrangements many, yet we are united through a common destiny

  To the wronged dead, and the many heroes and heroines in our story, my posthumous gratitude to you all. To LAPD Sergeant Charles Stoker: Thank you, Officer. Though it cost you everything — your name, your profession, and your peace — you single-handedly stood up and spoke out against the many abuses and corruptions of your day. Thanks too to the 1949 renegade grand jury and its foreman, Harry Lawson, for their brave stand against the corrupt politics of the time. Like Stoker, they saw and knew the truth, but were also branded and silenced.

  Also to be acknowledged is the Fourth Estate, with its many voices, such as city editors James Richardson and Agness Underwood, whose bold editorials fought for the truth in hopes of protecting the public interest. Thanks too to the press's many unnamed reporters, whose relentless investigative prying and searching would eventually assist in the ultimate solutions, by documenting many of the connecting links to the serial killings. History has many such unsung heroes, men and women who were never, and never will be, recognized for the important roles they played in serving as guides to future truths.

  Every now and then, something does come forward and present itself as a curiosity. It may be something as simple and unsuspecting as a fifty-year-old photograph. A two-by-three photo in a private family album. A never-seen or long-forgotten picture of an attractive young woman with raven hair and a natural innocence, waiting for some mental dust to fall upon the silver plate that hides her face, which then raises the picture's latent, dormant potential and reveals it to be a thoughtprint. A thoughtprint, containing the answer to a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

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  MAN RAY RESEARCH-RELATED BOOKS

  Butterfield and Dunning. Fine Photographs. Catalog, November 17, 1999.

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  MAGAZINE ARTICLES

  Woodward, James. "Murder Casebook, Investigations into the Ultimate Crimes, 'Death for the Dahlia."' Marshall Cavendish Weekly, vol. 1, part 15, Graphological insert analysis. London, 1990.

  NEWSPAPER/FOIA/INTERNET SOURCES

  Newspapers

  Los Angeles Daily News

  -. "Woman Beaten to Death in Trip to 'See Hollywood.'" July 28, 1943.

  -. "Hot New Suspect in Murder of Girl." January 17, 1947.

  -. "Jail One in L.A. Murder, Hunt Another Man." January 18, 1947.

  -. "Vivid Women in Girl's Life." January 21, 1947.

  -. "All Citizens Urged to Aid in Dahlia Case." January 22, 1947.

  -. "Clues Break Fast in Dahlia Murder Case." January 23, 1947.

  -. "Black Purse, Shoes, Hot Dahlia Leads." January 24, 1947.

  -. "Shoe Clue, Black Book Aid Hunt." January 25, 1947.

  -. "New Note Taunts Police." January 27, 1947.

  -. "Police Ask Meeting with Dahlia Killer." January 27, 1947.

  -. "4th Dahlia Case Note." January 28, 1947.

  -. "Afraid to Surrender Slayer Writes Police." January 29, 1947.

  -. "Woman Slain in New L.A. 'Dahlia Murder.'" February 10, 1947.

  -. "Note Found." February 11, 1947.

  -. "Lie Test Demanded by Mate of Slain Nurse." February 11, 1947.

  -. "Body of Sixth Horror Murder Victim Found." May 12, 1947.

  -. "Girl Accused of Trying to Pin Dahlia Murder on Dad." February 17, 1949.

  -. "Tamar's Ma Calls Her an Awful Liar." February 22, 1949.

  -. "Jury Resumes Deliberation in Hodel Sex Trial." February 23, 1949.

  -. "Gambler Tired of Jailing Whenever a Girl Vanishes." October 13, 1949.

  Los Angeles Examiner

  -. "Dancer Sought in Death Hunt." July 28, 1943.

  -. "Gardenia Death Suspect Named." August 5, 1943.

  -. "Jury Puzzled by Slaying." August 6, 1943.

  -. "U.S. Joins Hunt for Gardenia Slayer Suspect." August 8, 1943.

  —. "Oil Heiress Found Dead in Tub Mystery." October 13, 1944.

  . "Heiress Slain After Attack; Seek Soldier." October 14, 1944. —. "Wife of Police Officer Found Shot to Death." March 11, 1946.

  . "Suspect Denies Knowledge of Crime, Admits Seeing Her." March 12, 1946.

  —. "Police Get New Clew in Canyon Death." March 13, 1946. —. "Slain Woman's Mate Gets Lie Detector Test." March 14, 1946.

  -. "Quiz Sparks on Death Day." March 15, 1946.

  —. "Woman's Nude Body Found in 'Lovers Lane.'" July 15, 1946. —. "Dead Woman's Identity Believed Established." July 16, 1946.

  -. "Police Jail Mate in 'Lipstick' Killing of Film Actress." January 11, 1947.