Mind of a Serial Killer - The Black Dahlia Pt. 1

Episode Date: April 6, 2026

In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the tragic life and unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, the aspiring actress forever remembered as the Black Dahlia. From her difficult childhood and Hollywood dreams to the final days before her 1947 killing, this true crime deep dive examines the mystery, media frenzy, and chilling unanswered questions behind one of Los Angeles’ most infamous murder cases. Find out how the Black Dahlia murder became one of the most haunting unsolved cases in all of true crime. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge?  Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Crime House. It's good to have goals, whether it's getting healthier, traveling somewhere new, or reaching a career milestone. Our goals help us make the most of each day, and maybe even leave a lasting mark. In the 1940s, a lot of people were drawn to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, and they'd do anything to see their name in lights. One of those people was Elizabeth Short. She was a talented model who had dreams of becoming a film actress. Almost everyone she crossed paths with thought she was destined for the big screen. And she sacrificed a lot to make her dreams a reality.

But sometimes chasing her dreams meant showing blind trust in the people she met along the way. And in 1947, Elizabeth fell into the hands of the wrong person. To this day, no one knows why she suffered such a person. a cruel fate. But her death has become one of the most infamous and horrifying unsolved crimes in history, known as the Black Dahlia. The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love, and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is serial killers and murderous minds, a crimehouse original. I'm Vanessa Richardson. And I'm forensic psychologist, Tristan Engels. Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history,

analyzing what makes a killer. Crime House is made possible by you. Please rate, review, and follow serial killers and murderous minds. To enhance your listening experience with ad-free early access to each two-part series, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts. Before we get started, be advised. This episode contains discussion of an extremely graphic murder, so please listen with care. Today we begin our deep dive on the murder of Elizabeth Short, a Hollywood hopeful whose mysterious life led her down a dark path. Elizabeth's gruesome murder has gone down in history, and when someone finally came forward claiming to know the truth,

it was the last person anyone expected. As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like how an unstable childhood can lead to emotional voids as a young adult, why harsh reality checks sometimes push people to achieve their dreams, and how blind trust can leave people down dangerous paths. And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer? The death of Elizabeth Short is one of the most disturbing, unsolved murders in history. While many believe they know who was responsible, justice for Elizabeth has remained out of reach. However, one thing many agree on is that in order to figure out who killed Elizabeth,

we've got to trace our way back through the events of her life. And from the time she was born, Elizabeth had a lot weighing her down, but she refused to give up on her dreams. Her father, Cleo, ran a thriving mini golf business in Medford, Massachusetts in the 1920s. Things were going well, and Cleo and his wife Phoebe enjoyed a quiet, middle-class life with their five young daughters. But in 1929, the stock market crashed and Cleo lost the business. Rather than look for new work, he hung his head in shame and ran from his problems, abandoning his family. Phoebe was heartbroken, but she had five children relying on her, and if Cleo couldn't take care of them, she would. So she got a part-time job as a bookkeeper. Between that and government assistance,

she made ends meet. In the midst of all of this, Phoebe received word that the police had found Cleo's abandoned car on a bridge. Given the situation, officers believed he'd died by suicide. The news was enough to make Phoebe want to flee from their home and all the memories there. Later that year, she and her five daughters packed their bags and moved to a new apartment nearby. The third floor walk-up was a far cry from their spacious house in Medford, but it was all Phoebe could afford. Most of her daughters seemed to adjust well, but Elizabeth who was about six at the time, struggled to cope with the change. She told Phoebe she missed her dad and their old home.

So Elizabeth was the third of five daughters, and that matters because they were all at different developmental ages. That can shape how children respond to major family changes, and it may help explain why Elizabeth appeared to struggle more with the change than her sisters. Very young children, typically under the age of five, sometimes adapt more easily to major changes because their long-term memories and attachments are still developing. So siblings that are younger than her might have, you know, adapted better. Of course, that's not always the case.

Now older children, they generally have school, friendships, or activities that help anchor them during stressful periods. But at age six, children are in a developmental stage where routine and predictability are extremely important. for feeling safe. When a parent suddenly disappears and the family loses their home, that is a significant disruption to their stability. At that age, children also don't yet have the cognitive ability to understand complex circumstances that led to that, like the stock market, financial stress or marital conflict. They're not cognitively able to interpret events like adults are. Instead, what they tend to experience is the emotional impact of them. When children can't control what's happening around them when there's so much upheaval,

how do they usually cope? So it's going to vary, like I mentioned, by child and by developmental stage, but generally they cope by trying to feel emotionally safe or regain some sense of predictability. And again, that looks different with each child. Some might seek reassurance and closeness with their caregivers, like asking more questions, wanting physical comfort, or wanting reminders from their care. that things will be okay. They need that reassurance. Others cope by trying to create stability in other ways, like holding onto routines or familiar objects like blankets or stuffed animals or

activities that feel predictable. And some retreat into imagination or fantasy, which is very normal. It's a very normal developmental process. Imaginative play or imaginative worlds can help a child temporarily make sense of everything. Now, if that becomes distracting, if schoolwork or other developmental activities are impaired because of this imaginative play, then it might be cause for a concern. All Elizabeth's mom, Phoebe, wanted, was to make Elizabeth feel better. So she told the girls to put on their nicest dresses. They were going to the movies.

Elizabeth loved the movie theater. She would dress up like she was famous and strut into the auditorium, gliding under the high ceilings and sparkling chandeliers. As time passed, Phoebe used. used the movies to distract her daughters from their hardships. At the time, it was the golden age of Hollywood, and studio-produced sound films were a brand-new art form. When these young girls sat in a theater and looked up at the big screen, they felt transported to another world. The more time Elizabeth spent at the movies, the more she wanted to move to Hollywood and become a star in her own right.

Phoebe believed in her daughter. She knew Elizabeth was special. But mostly, she was just glad to see her daughter happy. Now that Elizabeth was feeling better, she started making friends in the neighborhood, who quickly made her feel special. They nicknamed her Snow White for her dark hair and fair skin. Elizabeth took it as a compliment. Even at such a young age, it was like she knew her striking appearance would help her land the role of a lifetime. So it's clear that Elizabeth's been retreating into fantasy, which is not only being reinforced but encouraged by her mother. And There's nothing inherently wrong with that. In fact, I think it's absolutely sweet.

Movies are exciting and they capture imagination. And more importantly, it's representing possibility and hope. It's about wanting to belong to something meaningful. And that can be especially appealing for a child who has experienced uncertainty at home. What can happen to children psychologically, especially girls, when the main form of praise they receive has to do with their appearance? If that praise isn't balanced with recognition for other quality, it can inadvertently teach children that their value is tied to their appearance, and they may begin to

rely on external validation for their sense of self-worth. For girls especially, this can sometimes lead to self-objectification, where a person becomes very aware of how they look through other people's eyes. Over time, that can influence self-esteem and how someone seeks approval or belonging from others. It doesn't determine someone's future, but when appearance is emphasized like that, on in only appearance, more so than anything else, it can become the way a child learns where their value comes from. The compliments Elizabeth received helped her gain confidence in her future as a movie star. By the time she was a teenager, her dreams were within reach, but they came at a cost.

Due to an asthma diagnosis when Elizabeth was 16, her doctor recommended she tried to avoid the harsh Massachusetts winters from now on. so in 1940 she went to stay with friends in Miami. Phoebe didn't like the thought of her daughter being so far away, but Elizabeth's health was the most important thing. They wrote letters to each other constantly, and pretty soon Elizabeth told Phoebe she'd landed a part-time job at a beach resort. She was making lots of friends,

and eventually someone helped her book her first modeling gig. After that, Elizabeth was booking regular modeling jobs and winning beauty pageants. Toward the end of winter, Phoebe got another letter. This time, Elizabeth had big news. She planned to drop out of high school and live in Miami full time. Elizabeth is an adolescent, which means she's in a developmental stage where structure and social experience are particularly important, and now she's choosing to leave school.

School is the very thing that provides her structure. It gives her routine, peer interaction, and opportunities to practice, problem-solving, in emotional regulation. Leaving school early means leaving that stable structure. And what Elizabeth then tends to do instead is essentially enter adult spaces before she's likely developmentally prepared for them. And now, to be clear, adolescents drop out of high school for many reasons. And some feel that they have very little choice, especially if they're trying to support their families. That doesn't mean they can't succeed. But it does change the kinds of experience. that they have during a very important developmental stage.

Those experiences help shape decision-making abilities, which are still developing in the brain, as well as relationships and independence. Adolescence is a time when people are forming their identities, building social connections, and figuring out where they fit in the world. When that process happens primarily in adult environments among developmentally mature individuals, it can influence their development in very different ways. In general, what are the mental health risks associated with someone her age being completely on their own and supporting themselves financially?

At her age, adolescents are beginning to gain some independence, like most adolescents are working part-time or they're learning to drive, but they're still primarily dependent on caregivers for stability, financial support, and guidance. And the parts of the brain involved in planning, reasoning, and judgment are still developing during adolescence. Because of that, teenagers sometimes have difficulty fully anticipating long-term consequences or the practical demands of adult responsibilities. So someone in Elizabeth's position may not yet have a complete understanding of what it takes to support themselves financially. There's also a social vulnerability that can come with being so young and on your own. Adolescents who lack a stable support system may find themselves relying on other people for housing, employment, or financial help.

And those dynamics can sometimes create power imbalances where boundaries become harder for them to maintain. Experiences like that can introduce chronic stress and may influence identity development, self-esteem, and mental health during a stage of life when those things are still forming. Fortunately, Elizabeth always had her family to lean on, and after a couple years in the spring of 1942, she decided to take a break from modeling and return home. She was going through a breakup, and while she wasn't heartbroken, she seemed to take it as a sign to regroup, so she went back to Medford. Once she was home, she stunned everyone in town. Elizabeth Short had a major glow-up. Her friends were wowed by her fur coats, dark stockings, platform heels, and heavy makeup. It wasn't just her fashion choices, though.

Elizabeth carried herself like a star. She had perfect posture and walked like a model. She was made for the big screen. Phoebe couldn't have been more proud of her. After everything they'd been through, Elizabeth kept her head held high. Unfortunately, Phoebe wouldn't be basking in her daughter's glow much longer. because soon the past would come back to haunt the family. In the early 1940s, Elizabeth Short returned home as a new woman.

She was only about 18 years old, but she stunned her small town with her glamour and elegance. Elizabeth was determined to turn her good looks and charismatic personality into a Hollywood career, and she seemed bound to succeed. Her mother, Phoebe, beamed with pride. But within no time, her happiness. came to a screeching halt. Shortly after Elizabeth came back to Medford, Phoebe received a letter in the mail.

It was postmarked from California, which was odd. Phoebe didn't know anyone there. However, she did recognize the handwriting. It was Cleos, the husband she thought was dead. He explained that he'd only left their family because he was so ashamed about going broke

after the stock market crashed. Since he couldn't pay the bills, he thought they'd be better off without him. For about two, 12 years now, he'd been working at a shipyard in Northern California. He made good money, and now that he could support his family, he wanted to come home. But Phoebe wasn't having it. She wrote back and told Cleo he wasn't forgiven, nor was he welcome home. As far as she was concerned, he was dead. That was the last thing Phoebe ever said to Cleo, but it seems like

she started to second guess herself as time went on, because eventually Elizabeth learned, that her father was alive and living in California, and she was thrilled. If Phoebe thought that Cleo was dead, it's highly likely that Elizabeth and her sisters thought that as well. So finding out that not only was he alive, but that he was wanting to reunify with the family, that was likely a very emotionally complex experience

for at least most of the family. Elizabeth may be different, especially when we consider the timing of the family. this. This could have renewed hope in multiple arenas for her. Elizabeth had been fantasizing about a life in Hollywood, and now she learns her father is living in California, and he's extending an olive branch. During adolescence, there is something called a personal fable that we sometimes see occur, and that is where young people begin to feel that their life story has a unique meaning or direction. A discovery like this can easily become part of that narrative for Elizabeth,

given how much she's fantasized about Hollywood and the connection her dad now has to California. So this could have renewed hope for reconciliation, but it may have also reinforced Elizabeth's belief that California was where her future was meant to unfold. Elizabeth couldn't wait to reconnect with her dad. She immediately wrote to him about her Hollywood dreams, and when Cleo responded,

he invited Elizabeth to come live with him in California, while she broke into the industry. Elizabeth was ecstatic. Phoebe, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. She didn't want to stop the girls from getting to know their father, but she also didn't expect Elizabeth to drop everything and move across the country to be with him. However, Elizabeth insisted,

and in the end, Phoebe wouldn't stand in the way of her daughter's dreams. So on a cold day in December, 1942, Phoebe stood on a platform in Boston and watched Elizabeth boarded. train to the west coast. During the journey, Elizabeth thought all about the doors that would open for her once she arrived in California. But once she arrived in Vallejo, where her father lived, she had a rude awakening. The climate was the first thing that caught her by surprise. She'd expected sunshine and warm air like Miami, but the Bay Area was damp and foggy. Elizabeth also realized

that Vallejo was almost 400 miles from Los Angeles. At first, she wasn't too worried about this. Cleo had been so encouraging in his letters, she figured he'd take her there for auditions. But once Elizabeth spent a few days with him, she realized the doting father was nowhere to be found. One of the first things Elizabeth noticed was that Cleo's house was littered with wine bottles, and he drank himself silly almost every day, which meant that whenever she asked Cleo to take her to L.A., he refused. And the more she pleaded, the angrier he got. Before long, they were fighting all the time. One of the most frequent topics was money.

Cleo wanted Elizabeth to help out, and she wanted him to stop blowing everything on booze. Like we talked about, Elizabeth likely went into this with expectations that were shaped by hope, and instead she discovered something very different. The supportive parent she expected wasn't there, or at least not in the way she had imagined or was promised. And that challenges earlier hopes about what a parent. child relationship might look like. Situations like this can also shift the dynamic very quickly. Instead of a young adult receiving guidance or support from their parent, the relationships

become unstable, and that can threaten her sense of security and belonging there. Elizabeth was transitioning into adulthood, but she was also far from what previously made her secure, which was her family, her mother, her sisters. Now she is dependent on her father for stability, and he's not stable. environments like that can create a heightened level of stress. And during late adolescence, experiences with caregivers can become part of the framework people use to understand relationships. So something like this with Cleo can influence expectations she has about trust and support

in future personal relationships. How do you think this could have affected her sense of determination now that she's in California? Well, there's a few ways. I mean, for some people, it's discouraging. when someone you hoped would support you instead becomes a source of conflict, it can impair confidence. But for others, it can actually reinforce determination. When your external support isn't there, some people double down on their goals because achieving them represents independence or escape from the situation they're in. So an experience like this could have forced her to rely more heavily on her own motivation. Rather than discouraging her completely, it could have strengthened her belief that If she wanted a different life, she would have to pursue it on her own. Well, Elizabeth was mature enough to be filled with ambition, but young enough to feel she had nothing to lose.

So when her fights with Cleo escalated to a complete falling out, Elizabeth packed her bags. She left her father's home in January, 1943, about a year after moving in with him. It's hard to track her movements after this, but we know that for the next few years, Elizabeth bounced around different parts of California and worked part-time jobs to stay afloat. She usually rented short-term apartments or crashed on people's couches.

Remember, this was the height of Hollywood's golden age. A lot of people in California were doing the same thing as her, whatever it took to get closer to the red carpet. Elizabeth spent most of her time looking for better job opportunities and meeting new people at parties and other events. She dated around and it seemed like she even considered marrying a couple of the men she met, but nothing ever panned out. So as it turned out, her relationship with her father did seem to strengthen her belief and her motivation to pursue her dreams. She's already made a lot of major life changes in such a short time, dropping out of high school, moving away from home, and severing ties with her father now. So there may be pride driving her as well as momentum.

Moving on can feel like the only option that preserves the meaning of the sacrifices that she's already made. There's also the influence of her social environment. What she's doing, like you mentioned, is not unlike what many others were doing. Couch surfing, jumping from job to job, meeting new people, dating around and networking. All of that sounds risky, especially for an 18-year-old. But when she's surrounded by people who are also doing it, it can start to feel normal or expected. We also can't understate the power of ambition. That's a powerful motivator in itself. She has been fixated on this goal since she was a young girl, and that can start to feel less like risk to her and more like a path meant to be followed. How might chapters of self-exploration, career determination, or even slight insecurity, help someone grow as a person? Is there any psychological or emotional value of taking certain risks and learning from the outcomes? Periods like this can actually play an important role in personal growth.

when people try new things, new environments, and pursue goals, they're gathering information about themselves. They're learning what they value, what they're capable of, and what kinds of situations feel right or wrong for them. That can build self-efficacy, which is a person's belief that they can handle challenges and make decisions about their own life. Even when things don't work out the way someone hoped, the process of adapting and learning from them can strengthen problem-solving skills and emotional resilience. taking risks within reason, because, I mean, we're looking at this now, and it is certainly risky, it's often part of how people refine their identity and their direction. Not every attempt leads to success. We know this, but those experiences can still provide someone insight or confidence

and a clear understanding of what they actually want moving forward. Well, Elizabeth didn't let bumps in the road slower down. She kept pressing on, and eventually she landed herself an apartment right on Hollywood Boulevard. It felt like a dream come true, but Elizabeth had no way of knowing that this next chapter in her life was really the beginning of the end. 23-year-old Elizabeth Plunkett heads off for a night away with friends. It's the summer in 1976, the best summer we'd had for years. Just hours later, she is kidnapped by two men in British Bay. These are two career criminals wanted for rape in Britain.

They are Ireland's first serial killers. While both men confess to Elizabeth's murder, no one is ever convicted. How could this happen? We're being denied any sort of justice. Listen to Bad Women Presents Stolen Sister, wherever you get your podcasts. In 1946, about three years after moving to California, 22-year-old Elizabeth Short landed an apartment on Hollywood Boulevard as an aspiring. movie star, it was the place to be. Elizabeth shared the apartment with five other girls,

which likely didn't phase her. She grew up in close quarters with her mom and sisters. She and her roommates were probably just happy to have a place they could afford in such a prime location. But in the winter of 1946, two months after Elizabeth moved in, her landlady, Juanita, noticed a change. Juanita was used to seeing the Hollywood hopeful head off to work during the day and dart off with friends at night. She was happy and talkative. But now, Elizabeth always looked tired and anxious. And when she couldn't pay her rent,

Juanita thought she may have lost her job. One of Elizabeth's roommates, Linda, also grew concerned, especially when Elizabeth started receiving mysterious phone calls, including from a man named Maurice who rang her every single night. Sudden changes in a person's demeanor can happen for many reasons, but they often, not always, but often signal an increase in stress in that person's life. Financial strain is one of the most significant stressors that people experience, and that's certainly one possibility here. When someone's worried about paying rent or finding work, especially if they don't have a strong support system to lean on,

that kind of stress can show up, both physically and emotionally. People may appear distracted, fatigued, or less socially engaged than they were before. changes in relationships can also play a role. New or complicated dynamics with romantic partners, friends, or even acquaintances can create emotional stress, particularly if the situation involves conflict or uncertainty or even pressure. The detail about Maurice's calling every night is notable. A pattern like that raises questions. Did Elizabeth appear more distress after those calls? Did they coincide with the behavioral changes that people were noticing? People often try to manage stress internally at first, and it may only become visible through changes in behavior like the ones you

described. But it's also possible that the cumulative stress of working, living independently, and trying to build a life in Hollywood was beginning to catch up with her. And it had nothing to do with Maurice at all. What are some ways for people to show care and support for a loved one who might be showing the same sort of signs as we saw here with Elizabeth? Well, because you often don't know what is truly going on, it's important that if you do approach them, you don't do it with any kind of assumptions. Instead, approach with curiosity and compassion. A gentle check-in is appropriate, like, how have you been doing, or whether anything's been weighing on them? Gives them space to share if they're feeling up to it. And it lets them know the door is open when or if they do feel up to it.

And it's also important to listen without immediately trying to fix the problem. Sometimes people are more willing to open up when they feel heard rather than judged or pressured to explain everything. If you're not sure how to show up for someone in that moment, it's always okay to ask them. How would you like me to show up for you right now? Do you want me to listen? Do you want me to offer an opinion? Do you want me to try to problem solve? And if they're struggling significantly, it's always good to encourage them to reach out for additional support, whether it's from trusted friends or family or mental health professionals. I think it's always encouraging to remind someone that they don't have to navigate something alone.

Linda couldn't figure out what was going on, but on December 9, 1946, she noticed Elizabeth was extremely on edge. She asked what was wrong, but Elizabeth wouldn't tell her. All she said was, quote, I've got to get out of here. Elizabeth told Linda she was going to live with her sister

in Berkeley back in Northern California. Then, just like that, she was gone. The truth was Elizabeth did, have a sister in Berkeley, but they hadn't spoken in a while. Elizabeth occasionally wrote to her mother and sisters, but it seems like they'd grown apart. So instead of going to Berkeley, Elizabeth hurried to the nearest bus station and used what little money she had to go south to San Diego. It's not clear why Elizabeth chose San Diego. Maybe she was running from something, or someone, or maybe she'd grown tired of the fast life and wanted to get away. All we know is that she didn't have a plan

once she got there. Elizabeth checked her bags at the bus stop. Then she started walking. And it seems like she was in need of a pick-me-up because she made her way to the one place she always felt safe, the movie theater. Elizabeth bought a ticket, shuffled into the theater, and sank into her seat. The next thing she knew, a girl about her age, was waking her up. She introduced herself as Dorothy. She was a theater employee, and she told Elizabeth they were closing for the night. Dorothy must have seemed nice because Elizabeth told her she had no money and nowhere to go.

Fortunately, Dorothy wasn't one to leave another girl out in the cold. She told Elizabeth she could stay at her house where she lived with her mom. Elizabeth thanked her. And just like that, the two left the theater together. That seems very trusting on both their parts, but trust in situations like these can form quickly, especially when both people share cues that signal safety. In Elizabeth's case, Dorothy was someone close to her in age.

She was working at a regular job, one that Elizabeth admired or enjoyed, and interacting with her in a public space. Those kinds of contextual signals can often make a situation feel less threatening and more socially normal. There's also the role of immediate need. When someone's tired, stressed, or unsure where they're going to sleep, the brain tends to prioritize immediate safety and relief. In that moment, Dorothy's offer may have felt like the most practical and safe option available for Elizabeth. And from Dorothy's perspective, helping may have been driven by empathy and shared identity. Seeing another young woman alone and clearly in a vulnerable situation can trigger a strong impulse to help. Many people rely on informal social norms, especially among peers that encourage looking out for those who appear to be in need of assistance.

She may have also been able to identify with Elizabeth or imagined what it would have been like for her. She were in that position and she felt compelled to help. Dorothy believed she was helping out a person in need, but by the next day, she wasn't so sure. When Elizabeth brought her luggage home from the bus stop, Dorothy saw that it was filled with nice clothes, fancier than anything Dorothy had ever seen.

She couldn't understand how someone with such expensive things could end up alone and without a home. Dorothy told herself the housing market was rough, and a lot of people were struggling. She figured Elizabeth just needed to get back on her feet. Then her uneasiness faded a little more when Elizabeth offered to pay to stay at her house for a couple more days. But Dorothy and her mom refused. They told Elizabeth they were happy to help her. However, a couple of days became a week and a week became a month.

All the while, Elizabeth mentioned different job opportunities, but Dorothy and her mom never saw her fill out applications or go to interviews, and they knew she was short on cash, because they saw her using paraffin wax to cover up cavities on her teeth. We don't know much about Elizabeth's mood or behavior during this time, only that she went out every night and slept until noon every day. She never told Dorothy where she was going either, and before long, Elizabeth's secret life caught up with her.

On January 6, 1947, Dorothy and Elizabeth were relaxing at the house when there was a knock at the door. Dorothy opened up and saw a man and woman standing there. She'd never seen them before. Even stranger, there was a man waiting in a car parked in front of the house. Before Dorothy could say anything, the people on her doorstep asked to see Elizabeth. Dorothy politely asked them to wait. But when she talked to Elizabeth and described them, Elizabeth started to panic. She told Dorothy she didn't want to see them.

So Dorothy told them to leave, and they didn't put up a fight. But Dorothy had a bad feeling about it. Later, she and her mom asked Elizabeth who the people were, but she wouldn't tell them. Two days later, on January 8th, Elizabeth was gone. Dorothy and her mother never heard from her again. The same day that Elizabeth left Dorothy's house, she sent a letter to her mother, Phoebe. She told her she'd been staying in San Diego with friends, but was going back to L.A. Apparently a friend of hers, a man she referred to as Red, was going to pick her up and drive her.

Phoebe received the letter in mid-January of 1947. Then a couple of days later, she got a phone call. The man on the other end introduced himself as Wayne Sutton. He was a reporter for the Los Angeles Examiner. Wayne sounded nervous, but he said he had good news. Phoebe's daughter Elizabeth had won a beauty contest in Santa Barbara. Phoebe was ecstatic. She couldn't believe Elizabeth hadn't told her.

Wayne asked Phoebe to tell him more about Elizabeth, and Phoebe gushed about her daughter's, quote, special beauty and charm. Phoebe went on to say that men had always fond over Elizabeth. For example, she told him about the letter she'd recently received about a gentleman who was driving her all the way from San Diego to Los Angeles. Wayne asked Phoebe if she could give him the contact information for Elizabeth's friends in San Diego. Phoebe probably assumed he just wanted to get more details for his story,

so she found the letter and gave him the address. After that, there was a brief pause. When Wayne spoke again, his voice was suddenly stern. He said he was a reporter, but the beauty contest was fake. The real reason he was calling was that Elizabeth had been murder. That was intentional deception. Wayne misled Phoebe in order to gather information before revealing the real reason for the call. Journalism, especially at that time, was highly unethical and competitive,

and reporters were often under pressure to obtain details and break stories before anyone else. When that kind of pressure becomes a priority, ethical considerations are often pushed aside in favor of getting information quickly. We still see aspects of that today in certain forms of media, particularly online. Headlines are sometimes misleading in written to provoke engagement or curiosity, and people often react to the headline without actually reading the story. That alone can be damaging and ethically questionable. Behavior like Wains also has a degree of moral distancing. When someone is focused on achieving a time-sensitive goal, they stop thinking about the emotional impact their actions will have on the person that they're speaking to.

So to him, he's just doing his job. That's a justification for him. And because of that, Phoebe became a source of information rather than a mother experiencing an incredibly traumatic moment. And in this case, that absolutely contributed to the way Phoebe received the news about her daughter. That is so horrible. What sort of psychological impact could this have on someone in Phoebe's shoes? For starters, denial, disbelief, mistrust, and anger would all be very normal reactions.

Just moments earlier, he told Phoebe that her daughter had won a beauty contest, and then suddenly he says she's been murdered in a very horrific way. That's emotional whiplash, and it can make it very difficult to process what you're hearing. And in that moment, Phoebe would have had every reason to question the information. If the first thing he said wasn't true, how could she immediately trust the second thing, especially when it's as shocking and gruesome as it is? And when devastating news is delivered that way in a deceptive way, it can complicate those initial moments of grief. Instead of being given clear information and support, she's left trying to sort out what's real, while also confronting an unimaginable loss from thousands of miles away. Well, Phoebe was quiet for a moment. Then she told Wayne she was sure there was some mistake.

her voice shook as she begged Wayne to tell her the truth to explain himself. After the shock wore off, Phoebe wanted to know exactly what happened to her daughter. The details of Elizabeth's death were horrifying. No one would want to deliver that information to a mother. But Wayne did as he was asked. He explained that on January 15th, Elizabeth's body had been found next to a sidewalk in an L.A. suburb. the corners of her mouth were cut as if to resemble a wide smile,

and her body was severed at the base of her spine. As Phoebe processed what she'd just heard, Wayne glanced at his boss, Jim Richardson, who sat across from him. Jim was also holding a phone to his ear. He'd been listening in on the entire conversation, coaching Wayne on what to say. But Jim didn't care about Phoebe's feelings, nor did he care to show respect for Elizabeth.

His actions were completely self-serving. The only thing he cared about was getting the scoop and selling papers. It was shameful and disgusting. And sadly, it was only the start. In the months to come, the media circus around Elizabeth Short's death would only grow as people clambered to find an explanation for her brutal murder. But soon, people across the nation would realize that in a place like Hollywood, the truth is hard to come by.

And sometimes the most evil people knew how to keep dark secrets buried forever. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next time for the conclusion of our deep dive into Elizabeth Short's murder. Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is a crime house original powered by Pave Studios.

Here at Crimehouse, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on all social media at Crime House. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow serial killers and murderous minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference. And to enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crimehouse Plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of serial killers and murderous minds, add-free, along with early access to each thrilling two-part series.

Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson, and Forensic Psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels, and is a crimehouse original powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Serial Killers and Murderous Minds team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benadon, Lori Marinelli, Natalie Pritzowski, Sarah Kemp, Alyssa Fox, Sarah Batchelor, and Carrie Murphy. Thank you for listening. Thanks for listening to today's episode.

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