Rest in peace, Beth Short

[pjthompson]

Sixty years ago today you became the Black Dahlia.

You were misjudged, lied about, exploited, humiliated, betrayed: a case study in blaming the victim for her victimization. You were not a hooker, nor even a "man-crazy tramp," you were just a kid, lost and drifting like so many kids after the Great War, and many kids since, looking for love and a sense of belonging. You most certainly did not deserve what happened—nobody deserves that, especially not the sad, dreamy, lost girl you were.

Your story breaks my heart, but I hope you're long beyond the heartbreak, the hustle, the wandering and lost spirit years. I hope you've finally found a place to belong.

Rest in peace.


                           

Comments

[java-fiend.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that this case totally fascinates me. It's so tragic and so mysterious. What sort of monster could cut somebody in half? And why her? There are so many questions and so few answers. It's fascinating in a very morbid sort of way. But yes, like you, I hope she's found peace.

[pjthompson]

I just finsihed Black Dahlia Avenger by Steve Hodel. I think he's cracked the case. This one reads like a slam dunk.

[java-fiend.livejournal.com]

I'll have to take a look at that one. I still want to read Patricia Cornwell's book on Jack the Ripper... she claims to have nailed down who it was.

[pjthompson]

I didn't find her case as convincing as Steve Hodel's. Hodel was LAPD for 23 years and a top Homicide detective for many of those years. He finally got the DA's office to release their Black Dahlia files and in the revised edition to his original book they pretty much show that he was correct. His own father did it.

[java-fiend.livejournal.com]

Hodel's father did it? Wow... that has to be freakish to investigate.

[pjthompson]

Yeah--and that's not spoiling it to tell you that because he lays it out right up front. Like I said, in the revised edition, I think he slam dunks it.

[java-fiend.livejournal.com]

I am totally going to have to pick that book up now.