Los Angeles pathologist and County Coroner Frederick Newbarr autopsied Elizabeth Short on January 16, 1947. His report described the body as a white female, early 20s, 5’ 5” tall, 115 lbs. with light blue eyes, dark brown hair, and badly decayed teeth. These are the highlights of Short’s autopsy report:
-
The body was completely devoid of blood.
-
There was minimal blood about the scene, amounting to a few drops.
-
The corpse had been washed with a mineral solvent, possibly gasoline.
-
The upper torso was horizontally severed from the lower abdomen and legs.
-
The anatomical point of severance was between the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae.
-
The upper torso organs were present and attached.
-
The intestines had been removed and coiled up underneath the buttocks.
-
There were injuries to the scalp and skull consistent with blunt force trauma.
-
Both corners of the mouth were incised and elongated approximately 4 inches.
-
The mouth incisions were made antemortem (before death), evident by ecchymosis or bruising to the wound edges.
-
Numerous postmortem (after death) cuts were made in random order about her torso, pelvis, and legs, evident by a lack of ecchymosis to the wound edges.
-
Antemortem ligature marks were evident on the wrists, ankles, and neck indicating she had been bound or restrained before death.
-
The anal orifice was fixed in dilated measurement of 1 and ¾ inches.
-
No semen or foreign trace evidence indicating an assailant was found.
-
General body condition indicated that death occurred approximately ten hours before body discovery making the death time somewhere over the night of January 14-15.
-
Official cause of death was shock from cerebral injuries and blood loss from the mouth.
Biography
what we know about Elizabeth Smart
Nicknamed "the Black Dahlia," Elizabeth Short was brutally murdered in Los Angeles, California, her body cut in half and severely mutilated, and drained of blood. Her body was found on January 15, 1947, in a vacant lot near Leimert Park by a woman on a walk with her child. Elizabeth's nickname came from those that she saw at a local diner she liked to go to because she wore black and wore a dahlia flower in her hair (and there was a popular movie showing at that time called the Blue Dahlia). Some say that it was the newspaper reporters that had given her the nickname, but she had the nickname before her death.
Her killer was never found, making her murder one of the oldest cold case files in L.A. to date, as well as one of the city's most infamous ones.
Short was born on July 29, 1924, in Boston, Massachusetts, the third of five daughters born to Cleo and Phoebe Mae (Sawyer) Short. Cleo abandoned the family when Short was 5 years old. At a young age, Short developed a strong affinity for cinema. Some say that by her teens, she had set her sights on becoming an actress and went to California to try and become an actress (but this cannot be stated as fact, as there haven't been any documented auditions under Elizabeth's name).
​
She worked in a diner and relied on the kindness of friends and strangers at different times. Later, when she discovered her father was alive (having previously believed he was dead) Elizabeth wrote to him and, after getting money from him, went to go live with him.
​
It was also said that she had a fiancé, a pilot, that had died. She spent a good deal of time trying to find someone else to fill that void, but as of her death, looked to be unsuccessful in the realm of romantic love.
​
An in-depth, lengthy investigation by the L.A.P.D. ensued after her body was found, leading to a number of false reports—as well as several false murder confessions—and ultimately leaving detectives grasping at straws. The sole witness of the murder had reported seeing a black sedan parked in the area in the early morning hours but could provide police with little else. The combination of faulty witnesses and a lack of hard evidence surrounding the case greatly hindered its progress, and, despite numerous allegations and leads over the years, the Black Dahlia's killer was never found.
Casefiles
documents, letters and other related material. we are adding as we find them, using google drive
Since the case is not officially closed, the following views are - or are not - supported by evidence found during research. You decide if they might be right.