Steve Hodel

Within the next day, there's a knock on the door at the Franklin house, LAPD juvenile detectives. Dr. George Hodel, you're under arrest for incest.

Within the next day, there's a knock on the door at the Franklin house, LAPD juvenile detectives. Dr. George Hodel, you're under arrest for incest.

They parade all of these witnesses. The jury comes back in a kind of an O.J. decision real quick in 45 minutes. They're not guilty.

They parade all of these witnesses. The jury comes back in a kind of an O.J. decision real quick in 45 minutes. They're not guilty.

I see strong similarities in the mouth, in the nose, the hair.

I see strong similarities in the mouth, in the nose, the hair.

It wasn't all that surprising that my father knew Elizabeth Short. She was hanging out in Hollywood at the same time, going to parties. Dad was famous for throwing these parties.

It wasn't all that surprising that my father knew Elizabeth Short. She was hanging out in Hollywood at the same time, going to parties. Dad was famous for throwing these parties.

It was a horrific sight. The body was surgically cut in half, bisected.

It was a horrific sight. The body was surgically cut in half, bisected.

It's my father's handwriting. I know my father's handwriting. There was no question about it. So at that point, I thought, oh my God, this is the real deal.

It's my father's handwriting. I know my father's handwriting. There was no question about it. So at that point, I thought, oh my God, this is the real deal.

I sit down and I open the box and I start going through it and out falls a picture of George Hodel. This is the smoking guns. This is the proof that I've been looking for. The Black Dahlia File

I sit down and I open the box and I start going through it and out falls a picture of George Hodel. This is the smoking guns. This is the proof that I've been looking for. The Black Dahlia File

This was a huge story in 1947. It was headlines for 30 days straight. They had 1,000 law enforcement officers working on the case. This is Los Angeles' most notorious unsolved murder. My name is Steve Hodel. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Steve Hodel. He grows up to join LAPD. Spent 24 years with the police. Moreover, he becomes a homicide detective.

This was a huge story in 1947. It was headlines for 30 days straight. They had 1,000 law enforcement officers working on the case. This is Los Angeles' most notorious unsolved murder. My name is Steve Hodel. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Steve Hodel. He grows up to join LAPD. Spent 24 years with the police. Moreover, he becomes a homicide detective.

This was actually live microphones hidden in the house. How unusual was that? That was very unusual.

This was actually live microphones hidden in the house. How unusual was that? That was very unusual.

I've had 300 murder investigations in my career. Nothing on a level of this kind of horror. He starts investigating his father's life. Dad was a man of mystery. Obviously, this is somebody Dad knew intimately. There's what we know. This is my home. This was the palace. My father was the king. There's what we sense. My mother said, you don't understand.

I've had 300 murder investigations in my career. Nothing on a level of this kind of horror. He starts investigating his father's life. Dad was a man of mystery. Obviously, this is somebody Dad knew intimately. There's what we know. This is my home. This was the palace. My father was the king. There's what we sense. My mother said, you don't understand.

I'm sure that the powers that be said, you got to get out of Dodge.

I'm sure that the powers that be said, you got to get out of Dodge.

This is Cherokee Avenue in the heart of Hollywood. We're just a block north of Hollywood Boulevard. And Elizabeth, during 46, lived in this apartment building here, which is the Chancellor Apartments.

This is Cherokee Avenue in the heart of Hollywood. We're just a block north of Hollywood Boulevard. And Elizabeth, during 46, lived in this apartment building here, which is the Chancellor Apartments.

And she actually lived at the top floor. She shared an apartment there with six other girls. So there were seven girls, each paying a buck for rent.

And she actually lived at the top floor. She shared an apartment there with six other girls. So there were seven girls, each paying a buck for rent.

Well, basically, she lived off her friends. Didn't have a job. She'd go out on dates with men, but she wasn't a prostitute, and she didn't drink.

Well, basically, she lived off her friends. Didn't have a job. She'd go out on dates with men, but she wasn't a prostitute, and she didn't drink.

I started looking at the crime itself. And what I discovered, to my surprise, was that the killer was a surgeon, not a meat cutter, not a butcher, a skilled professional surgeon.

I started looking at the crime itself. And what I discovered, to my surprise, was that the killer was a surgeon, not a meat cutter, not a butcher, a skilled professional surgeon.

He was a surgeon. She was killed by a surgeon. That really is a limiting pool of suspects.

He was a surgeon. She was killed by a surgeon. That really is a limiting pool of suspects.

For me, this is a search for the truth. Searching for the truth of my father and searching for the truth of who killed Elizabeth Short.

For me, this is a search for the truth. Searching for the truth of my father and searching for the truth of who killed Elizabeth Short.

The diamond-shaped face, the high forehead, the thick hair.

The diamond-shaped face, the high forehead, the thick hair.

Even if those are not Elizabeth Short.

Even if those are not Elizabeth Short.

A lot of people look at them and say, I don't see it.

A lot of people look at them and say, I don't see it.

He wanted to be like Man Ray. He wanted to be an artist. And I think this was his masterpiece. The body was positioned north to south, so this is north. It was carefully placed. You're not going to get this positioning. The hands were positioned over the head as if almost to form horns.

He wanted to be like Man Ray. He wanted to be an artist. And I think this was his masterpiece. The body was positioned north to south, so this is north. It was carefully placed. You're not going to get this positioning. The hands were positioned over the head as if almost to form horns.

I've known Elizabeth Short compared to my father's picture. Again, we all see through different lenses.

I've known Elizabeth Short compared to my father's picture. Again, we all see through different lenses.

How can you lose all of the physical evidence in the most important crime that LAPD's ever had? And it's not just the physical evidence, it's the interviews, it's the wire recordings of my father. Everything has disappeared.

How can you lose all of the physical evidence in the most important crime that LAPD's ever had? And it's not just the physical evidence, it's the interviews, it's the wire recordings of my father. Everything has disappeared.

It is my father's handwriting. I don't have to be convinced. I don't need an expert to tell me. I know it as a fact.

It is my father's handwriting. I don't have to be convinced. I don't need an expert to tell me. I know it as a fact.

Because it's the truth.

Because it's the truth.

this hasn't been an easy thing. People saying, oh, this is just a son who hates his father and stuff. You know, this is a daddy dearest thing.

this hasn't been an easy thing. People saying, oh, this is just a son who hates his father and stuff. You know, this is a daddy dearest thing.

None at all, no. I mean, I love my father. I love him to this day.

None at all, no. I mean, I love my father. I love him to this day.

This case, this investigation has been described as a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. And I can't think of a more perfect description than that.

This case, this investigation has been described as a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. And I can't think of a more perfect description than that.

Well, it's up here a ways more.

Well, it's up here a ways more.

You know, I had lots of murders where you had young runaways and within weeks they'd have a needle in their arm and they'd be doing tricks on Hollywood Boulevard.

You know, I had lots of murders where you had young runaways and within weeks they'd have a needle in their arm and they'd be doing tricks on Hollywood Boulevard.

We're standing just at the location where the body would have been placed. Now, this would have been a large vacant lot. The upper torso was juxtaposed just off to the left about 12 inches.

We're standing just at the location where the body would have been placed. Now, this would have been a large vacant lot. The upper torso was juxtaposed just off to the left about 12 inches.

because the killer was sure that it would be found fairly quickly, as it was. Clearly, he wasn't trying to hide it. He wanted the notoriety.

because the killer was sure that it would be found fairly quickly, as it was. Clearly, he wasn't trying to hide it. He wanted the notoriety.

Here's a photograph. of me sitting on father's lap.

Here's a photograph. of me sitting on father's lap.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Right.

Right.

I flew to San Francisco. I'm sitting there with June, my stepmother, who had been with my father for 30 years. And June said, I think your father would want you to have this. And she handed me this small album. I looked at it and I said to June, June, who is this? And June said, I don't know, somebody your father knew from a long time ago. I was trying to pull it in. Where do I know this picture?

I flew to San Francisco. I'm sitting there with June, my stepmother, who had been with my father for 30 years. And June said, I think your father would want you to have this. And she handed me this small album. I looked at it and I said to June, June, who is this? And June said, I don't know, somebody your father knew from a long time ago. I was trying to pull it in. Where do I know this picture?

Elizabeth Short, 22 year old female from Medford, Massachusetts. Beautiful girl, came out to Hollywood, California to fall in love and live happily ever after.

Elizabeth Short, 22 year old female from Medford, Massachusetts. Beautiful girl, came out to Hollywood, California to fall in love and live happily ever after.

Why do I know this woman? Somewhere deep within me, I made the connection. The Black Dahlia. The Black Dahlia, I knew that it was a famous unsolved case from long ago, but I didn't know any of the details. I didn't even know her name.

Why do I know this woman? Somewhere deep within me, I made the connection. The Black Dahlia. The Black Dahlia, I knew that it was a famous unsolved case from long ago, but I didn't know any of the details. I didn't even know her name.

Maybe it was because the black dahlia always wore the flower in her hair and looked like that. Maybe that was the connection.

Maybe it was because the black dahlia always wore the flower in her hair and looked like that. Maybe that was the connection.

This is our backyard.

This is our backyard.

The three of us were standing right about here.

The three of us were standing right about here.

There's a Chinese statuary that you can see in the picture, and it looks very much like the statuary that Dad had here at the house.

There's a Chinese statuary that you can see in the picture, and it looks very much like the statuary that Dad had here at the house.

Off in this direction, we have what was Dad's study.

Off in this direction, we have what was Dad's study.

It was just a storage. And the truth was far different and far more terrible.

It was just a storage. And the truth was far different and far more terrible.

Within the next day, there's a knock on the door at the Franklin house, LAPD juvenile detectives. Dr. George Hodel, you're under arrest for incest.

They parade all of these witnesses. The jury comes back in a kind of an O.J. decision real quick in 45 minutes. They're not guilty.

I see strong similarities in the mouth, in the nose, the hair.

It wasn't all that surprising that my father knew Elizabeth Short. She was hanging out in Hollywood at the same time, going to parties. Dad was famous for throwing these parties.

It was a horrific sight. The body was surgically cut in half, bisected.

It's my father's handwriting. I know my father's handwriting. There was no question about it. So at that point, I thought, oh my God, this is the real deal.

I sit down and I open the box and I start going through it and out falls a picture of George Hodel. This is the smoking guns. This is the proof that I've been looking for. The Black Dahlia File

This was a huge story in 1947. It was headlines for 30 days straight. They had 1,000 law enforcement officers working on the case. This is Los Angeles' most notorious unsolved murder. My name is Steve Hodel. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Steve Hodel. He grows up to join LAPD. Spent 24 years with the police. Moreover, he becomes a homicide detective.

This was actually live microphones hidden in the house. How unusual was that? That was very unusual.

I've had 300 murder investigations in my career. Nothing on a level of this kind of horror. He starts investigating his father's life. Dad was a man of mystery. Obviously, this is somebody Dad knew intimately. There's what we know. This is my home. This was the palace. My father was the king. There's what we sense. My mother said, you don't understand.

I'm sure that the powers that be said, you got to get out of Dodge.

This is Cherokee Avenue in the heart of Hollywood. We're just a block north of Hollywood Boulevard. And Elizabeth, during 46, lived in this apartment building here, which is the Chancellor Apartments.

And she actually lived at the top floor. She shared an apartment there with six other girls. So there were seven girls, each paying a buck for rent.

Well, basically, she lived off her friends. Didn't have a job. She'd go out on dates with men, but she wasn't a prostitute, and she didn't drink.

I started looking at the crime itself. And what I discovered, to my surprise, was that the killer was a surgeon, not a meat cutter, not a butcher, a skilled professional surgeon.

He was a surgeon. She was killed by a surgeon. That really is a limiting pool of suspects.

For me, this is a search for the truth. Searching for the truth of my father and searching for the truth of who killed Elizabeth Short.

The diamond-shaped face, the high forehead, the thick hair.

Even if those are not Elizabeth Short.

A lot of people look at them and say, I don't see it.

He wanted to be like Man Ray. He wanted to be an artist. And I think this was his masterpiece. The body was positioned north to south, so this is north. It was carefully placed. You're not going to get this positioning. The hands were positioned over the head as if almost to form horns.

I've known Elizabeth Short compared to my father's picture. Again, we all see through different lenses.

How can you lose all of the physical evidence in the most important crime that LAPD's ever had? And it's not just the physical evidence, it's the interviews, it's the wire recordings of my father. Everything has disappeared.

It is my father's handwriting. I don't have to be convinced. I don't need an expert to tell me. I know it as a fact.

Because it's the truth.

this hasn't been an easy thing. People saying, oh, this is just a son who hates his father and stuff. You know, this is a daddy dearest thing.

None at all, no. I mean, I love my father. I love him to this day.

This case, this investigation has been described as a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. And I can't think of a more perfect description than that.

Well, it's up here a ways more.

You know, I had lots of murders where you had young runaways and within weeks they'd have a needle in their arm and they'd be doing tricks on Hollywood Boulevard.

We're standing just at the location where the body would have been placed. Now, this would have been a large vacant lot. The upper torso was juxtaposed just off to the left about 12 inches.

because the killer was sure that it would be found fairly quickly, as it was. Clearly, he wasn't trying to hide it. He wanted the notoriety.

Here's a photograph. of me sitting on father's lap.

Yeah.

Right.

I flew to San Francisco. I'm sitting there with June, my stepmother, who had been with my father for 30 years. And June said, I think your father would want you to have this. And she handed me this small album. I looked at it and I said to June, June, who is this? And June said, I don't know, somebody your father knew from a long time ago. I was trying to pull it in. Where do I know this picture?

Elizabeth Short, 22 year old female from Medford, Massachusetts. Beautiful girl, came out to Hollywood, California to fall in love and live happily ever after.

Why do I know this woman? Somewhere deep within me, I made the connection. The Black Dahlia. The Black Dahlia, I knew that it was a famous unsolved case from long ago, but I didn't know any of the details. I didn't even know her name.

Maybe it was because the black dahlia always wore the flower in her hair and looked like that. Maybe that was the connection.

This is our backyard.

The three of us were standing right about here.

There's a Chinese statuary that you can see in the picture, and it looks very much like the statuary that Dad had here at the house.

Off in this direction, we have what was Dad's study.

It was just a storage. And the truth was far different and far more terrible.