Category Archives: Homicide

November 12, 1958: Teenage hitchhiker killed

Posted on November 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

November 12, 1958: Daryle Kelch, 17, was kidnapped and killed while hitchhiking. His murder was never solved. Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries | Leave a comment

November 10, 1947: Remains of Kidnapped Girl Found in Orange County Ravine

Posted on November 10, 2026 by lmharnisch

November 10, 1947: The remains of 6-year-old Rochelle Gluskoter, kidnapped February 15, 1946, are found in a small ravine in Orange County. Her case was never solved. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Voices — Christine Collins, November 10, 1930

Posted on November 10, 2026 by lmharnisch

November 10, 1930: Aimee Dunne, Christine Collins’ sister, writes to the prison board about parole for Walter Collins. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Leave a comment

October 31, 1957: Trick or Treat Murder

Posted on October 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

October 31, 1957: The Trick-or-Treat Murder. Joan and Goldyne planned for months on killing hairdresser Peter Fabiano on Halloween. Investigation revealed that Fabiano had recently reconciled with his wife, Betty, after separating over her relationship with Joan. Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, 1957, Homicide, LAPD, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

November 12, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on October 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

November 12, 1959: The killing of Lillian Kenorak, and Paul Coates on juvenile delinquency. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Homicide, Paul Coates, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on November 12, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

September 13, 1963: Woman’s Body Found Behind Wall in Highland Park Home

Posted on September 13, 2026 by lmharnisch

September 13, 1963: Joseph Lewis of Highland Park wasn’t terribly concerned when his wife, Anna, disappeared. It was only when her daughter returned from vacation that police were notified. Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Suicide | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

September 12, 1944: Wife Stabs Venice Man to Death

Posted on September 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

September 12, 1944: September 12, 1944: Charles Holdren, 45, lived at 1515 Trolleyway, Venice, with his wife, Ellen, and daughters from a previous marriage. He worked as a fish cutter and after Charles and Ellen had spent Sunday drinking heavily, he decided to go to bed. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

August 28, 1958: Intruder kills former actress

Posted on August 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 28, 1958: Helene Jerome, described as a retired actress, is found strangled in her apartment at the Las Palmas Hotel. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Cemeteries, Dodgers, Film, Forest Lawn, Front Pages, Hollywood, Hollywood Division, Homicide, LAPD, Sports | Comments Off on August 28, 1958: Intruder kills former actress

August 27,1958: Woman kills husband over singing, Reds win against Dodgers

Posted on August 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 27, 1958: Anne Benyon was arguing with her husband, Ben, about his singing, and as he hummed a tune, she rolled her wheelchair into the kitchen, got a knife and stabbed him. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Dodgers, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Sports | Comments Off on August 27,1958: Woman kills husband over singing, Reds win against Dodgers

Reminder: My Next Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia Case Is August 4

Posted on July 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: Boxie and I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case next Tuesday, August 4, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at YouTube.com/LMHarnisch. Have questions? Leave them in the comments. Continue reading →

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July 26, 1947: Son Cleared of Killing Father During Attack on Mother

Posted on July 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 26, 1947: Son cleared of killing father during attack on mother. Continue reading →

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Dead Man’s Last Words: ‘Here’s a Good Spot to Shoot, Baby,’ July 25, 1944

Posted on July 25, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 25, 1944: William B. Smith’s last words to his angry girlfriend were “Here’s a good spot to shoot, baby,” after he said he was going back to his wife. Continue reading →

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July 24, 1947: Honor Student Vesta Belle Sapenter, 17, Strangled

Posted on July 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1947: Vesta Belle Sapenter, an honor student at Jefferson High, is found partially undressed and strangled. Continue reading →

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July 23, 2009: Darryl Thomas Kemp, Paroled Sex Killer Strikes Again, Gets Death Penalty for the Third Time

Posted on July 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 23, 2009: Darryl Thomas Kemp, paroled sex killer, is sentenced to death in the 1978 killing of Armida Wiltsey. Continue reading →

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July 9, 1947: Rosenda Mondragon Strangled With Stocking

Posted on July 9, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 9, 1947: Rosenda Mondragon is found murdered. The Times and the Examiner have different accounts of the killing and the actions of her husband, Antonio. Continue reading →

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July 2, 1947: Man Held in Strangling of Mary Tate

Posted on July 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1947: Oscar Hallgren is held in the killing of Mary Tate at 107 Weller Street, now Onizuka Street in Little Tokyo. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on July 2, 1947: Man Held in Strangling of Mary Tate

Reminder: My Next Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia Case Is July 7

Posted on June 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, next Tuesday, July 7, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at YouTube.com/LMHarnisch Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Black Dahlia Book Club, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Reminder: My Next Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia Case Is July 7

June 25, 1947: L.A. Times Praises Gangland Slaying of Bugsy Siegel

Posted on June 25, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 25, 1947: The L.A. Times praises the gangland slaying of Bugsy Siegel: ‘The assassination of a crook is of no particular importance to a community, and grief at his passing is restricted to a minor and unselect circle.’ Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Mamie Van Doren Is Hallucinating About Knowing the Black Dahlia

Posted on June 20, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mamie Van Doren, age 95, is hallucinating about knowing Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Mamie Van Doren’s Invented Memories of Elizabeth Short

Posted on June 19, 2026 by lmharnisch

It’s a bit sad when a superannuated actor writes a memoir about what they think they “remember” about old Hollywood. There’s no truth to Mamie Van Doren’s claim that she knew Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia. It’s all imagined. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, books, Books and Authors, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Mamie Van Doren’s Invented Memories of Elizabeth Short