12 Notorious Murder Cases That Tore Hollywood Apart

Elizabeth Short is better known as Black Dahlia, one of the most famous murder victims of all-time.

Short moved to Los Angeles from Boston, with the hopes of becoming a Hollywood starlet. Cliche as that may sound, Short is where the stereotype originated and the reason why so many starlets were warned not to run to Hollywood in search of fame. Short, like so many before and after her, fell victim to empty promises, casting couches, and the darker side of Hollywood.

On the morning of January 15, 1947, Elizabeth Short was found dead, just by the side of the road. Her naked body was cut in half, her intestines removed, her blood drained, and her mouth cut ear-to-ear. She had been murdered, cut, washed, and brought to the location and posed to be found. The killer subsequently mailed letters to L.A. newspapers, taunting them to find him.

750 investigators worked on the case for over a year but it was deemed a cold case. To this day, Short's murder has gone unsolved and been adapted into various films and books. The story has fascinated people for 70 years, and the tragedy changed Hollywood forever.