Payton Beilhartz

EWC4U

June 14, 2018

Investigative Report

Date of Report: January 15, 1947 – Present

Executive Summary: Young body is found in Leimert Park in Los Angeles California. Believed to be the body of Elizabeth Short. A woman walking with her three year old daughter through a park stopped after seeing what she thought was an abandoned mannequin. Body was severely mutilated along with being cut in half. Body is presumed to be purposely nude and posed as if on display. In addition to dissecting and mutilating the body, the killer also drained the corpse of blood and scrubbed it clean. No blood at the scene so it is assumed that the body was killed somewhere else before being placed in this location.

Procedural History: Local resident Betty Bersinger discovered the body at approximately 10:00 am. Medical examiners determined that she had been dead for around 10 hours prior to the discovery. Officers Frank Perkins and Will Fitzgerald arrived to the scene within minutes of the discovery.

Involved Parties: Officers Frank Perkins and Will Fitzgerald were the first to arrive on scene. Detective Lieutenant Jesse Haskins was soon to arrive on scene. Ensuing investigation is being led by the L.A. Police Department. FBI has been called in to help.

Investigation Timeline/Table of Interviews:

• Mother who came across the body insists that she thought it was a mannequin that was discarded
• Investigation started immediately led by the L.A. Police Department
• FBI has been called in to help
• Body was identified by a set of fingerprints obtained when the girl had applied for a clerk’s job in the post exchange at Camp Cooke, California Jan. 30, 1943
• Cops believe that the victim was bound and tortured for many days before the killing due to the rope marks around her wrists, ankles, and neck
• Cuts on body point to the use of torture
• Captain John Donahoe assigned two senior detectives to the case: Detective Sergeant Harry Hansen and Detective Finnis Brown
• January 16, 1947 an award of $10,000 has been offered for any information regarding the murderer
• January 17, 1947 the first picture of Elizabeth Short, nicknamed the “Black Dahlia” is on the front page of the local newspaper

Forensic Details: Elizabeth Short’s naked body was found severed in two pieces on a vacant lot on the west side of South Norton Avenue, midway between Coliseum Street and West 39th Street. Due to medical examiners information her time of death was either sometime during the evening of January 14 or the early morning of January 15. Short’s severely mutilated body was completely severed at the waist and drained entirely of blood, leaving its skin a pallid white. The body had obviously been washed by the killer. There were large cuts spanning from both sides of her mouth up to each ear. Several cuts were found along her thigh and breasts with entire portions of flesh actually being sliced off. Lower half of the body was found positioned about a foot away from the upper with the intestines being tucked under her body. Corpse is assumed to be purposely posed with her arms above her head, elbows bent at 90 degree angles, and her legs spread apart. Believe body was cut in half because the murderer is not of big enough stature or strength to move the body at one time.