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Medical doctor and noted member of Los Angeles society. Gained noteriety in death as the subject of the 2003 book (authored by his son, Steve Hodel, a retired LAPD police homicide detective Supervisor) Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder. In the book, Dr. Hodel is alleged to have been a sadistic murderer of beautiful women, including the "Black Dahlia" and "Red Lipstick" cases. Secret DA and LAPD files discovered in 2004 showed that Dr. Hodel was "the prime Suspect" in the Black Dahlia murder and secret tape recordings obtained in 1950 by DA investigators have him confessing to the Black Dahlia, the murder of his personal secretary, Ruth Spaulding as well as admitting to police payoffs. Hodel fled the United States in 1950, just days before he was to be arrested and remained out of the country for the next forty years. Because of his status in society, the book describes a coverup by the LAPD regarding these cases, which remained officially unsolved.
Cremated-ashes scattered at Point Bonita Cove, some hundred yards from the lighthouse.
1907 |
October 10, 1907
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Clara Barton Hospital, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States
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1935 |
March 24, 1935
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California, United States
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1939 |
July 12, 1939
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Los Angeles County, CA, United States
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