Black Dahlia Murder

Police bulletin about Elizabeth Short, the “Black Dahlia,” from January 15, 1947 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The “Black Dahlia” was 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, an aspiring actress who was murdered on January 14 or 15, 1947, in Los Angeles, California. When Short’s body was discovered on January 15, it had been cut in half at the waist and mutilated, and her mouth had been slit from ear to ear. Evidence at the scene indicated she had been murdered elsewhere. 

The crime remains unsolved, though a number of theories have emerged about the identity of the killer. The Black Dahlia murder is one of Los Angeles’ most infamous cold cases.

Learn more about the Black Dahlia Murder through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Black Dahlia Murder

"Young L.A. Girl Slain; Body Slashed in Two" 15 Jan 1947, Wed Daily News (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Girl's Body Found in Lot" "Hunt Fiend in Teen-Ager Slaying Here" 15 Jan 1947, Wed Los Angeles Evening Citizen News (Hollywood, California) Newspapers.com"Police Search for Clues Where Body Was Found" 16 Jan 1947, Thu The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Youth, 23, Grilled in Girl Slaying" 16 Jan 1947, Thu News-Pilot (San Pedro, California) Newspapers.com"City moves to post $10,000 reward for slayer's capture" 16 Jan 1947, Thu Daily News (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Redheaded 6-footer sought; horde of admirers figure" 17 Jan 1947, Fri Daily News (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.comPhoto of Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia 17 Jan 1947, Fri The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California) Newspapers.com"'Black Dahlia's' Love Life Traced in Search for Her Fiendish Murderer" 18 Jan 1947, Sat The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Quiz Suspects in Murder of 'Black Dahlia'" 18 Jan 1947, Sat The Memphis Press-Scimitar (Memphis, Tennessee) Newspapers.com"'Black Dahlia' and Red-Haired Youth Traced to San Diego Cafe Day Before Her Murder" 19 Jan 1947, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Slain Girl's Mother Here, Hopes to Help Find Killer" 19 Jan 1947, Sun Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Newspapers.com"Suspect Detained for Questioning in 'Black Dahlia' Mutilation Murder" 20 Jan 1947, Mon The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Manley, 'Black Dahlia' Murder Suspect, Released" 21 Jan 1947, Tue Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas) Newspapers.com"All Citizens Urged to Aid in 'Dahlia' Case" "Seek clues to clear up girl's 'lost' week" 22 Jan 1947, Wed Daily News (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Wide area combed for L.A. killer" 23 Jan 1947, Thu Daily News (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Women Friends of 'Dahlia' Quizzed in Hunt for Killer" 23 Jan 1947, Thu The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com"Personal Effects of Slain Girl Sent to Newspaper in Letter" 25 Jan 1947, Sat Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York) Newspapers.com"'Dahlia's' Little Black Book May Lead to Her Murderer" 26 Jan 1947, Sun The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) Newspapers.com"New Clues in 'Dahlia' Killing -- Her Purse and Shoe Found in Dump" 26 Jan 1947, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Dahlia Buried in East Bay" 26 Jan 1947, Sun The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com"Postcard Says Slayer to Give Up Wednesday" 27 Jan 1947, Mon Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, Indiana) Newspapers.com"'Hot Clue' In Dahlia Murder" 28 Jan 1947, Tue The Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina) Newspapers.com"'Killer' Fails to Surrender in Elizabeth Short Death" 30 Jan 1947, Thu The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Two Confess 'Black Dahlia' Murder; Police Doubt Them" 30 Jan 1947, Thu The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, California) Newspapers.com"Elizabeth Short Case Slayer Baffles Police" "Definite Clues Lacking" 31 Jan 1947, Fri The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Not a Single Clue in Dahlia Case" 12 Feb 1947, Wed The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California) Newspapers.com"'Black Dahlia's' Life Shows She Was Mixed Up Emotionally" 23 Mar 1947, Sun The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) Newspapers.com"Black Dahlia Case Still Mystery A Year Later" 15 Jan 1948, Thu Santa Maria Times (Santa Maria, California) Newspapers.com"'Black Dahlia' Case Suspect Released" 13 Jan 1949, Thu Palladium-Item (Richmond, Indiana) Newspapers.com"1947 Black Dahlia Killing Unsolved" 29 Dec 1959, Tue Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona) Newspapers.com"He says he knows who killed the 'Black Dahlia'" 22 Feb 1982, Mon The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com"Dahlia: Slaying a Tantalizing Mystery 50 Years Later" 06 Jan 1997, Mon The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com"Black Dahlia: Retired detective says father is killer in L.A.'s oldest cold case" 11 May 2003, Sun Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz, California) Newspapers.com