Today in LA history: January 9th is notable for being the day that Elizabeth Short was dropped off at and, subsequently, disappeared from the Millenium Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA. If that name doesn't sound familiar, you may know Elizabeth Short as “The Black Dahlia.”
After several years of living in California, Elizabeth had plans to return to her home state of Massachusetts. She had been staying with a friend near San Diego, but her bus ticket had her departing fron Los Angeles. Needing a way to get to LA, Elizabeth called a man that she had a relationship with; Robert “Red” Manley.
Robert picked up Elizabeth on Jan. 8th 1947 from the home of Dorothy French. They would spend the night together at a motel and arrive in LA on the 9th. After helping Elizabeth check her items at the bus station, he said would wait with Elizabeth at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel until her sister arrived. But, Robert had to leave around 6:30pm. After he left, Elizabeth stuck around for a few more minutes before leaving the hotel and disappearing into the LA night.
6 days later, on Jan. 15th, the body of Elizabeth Short would be found in a vacant lot in Leimert Park. The horrific crime scene gripped the nation and the murder has gone on to become the source of countless books, podcasts, documentaries, and more. The crime remains unsolved almost 80 years later and continues to fascinate true crime experts to this very day. As always, it's important to remember that Elizabeth Short was more than a story, she was a real person who experienced love, loss, friendship, and more. Her life is about more than how it ended. And who knows who she would've gone on to become if things had gone differently on Jan. 9th 1947.
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