Category Archives: Homicide

Spade Cooley Held in Wife’s Death

Posted on April 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo April 4, 1961: Western music star Donnell “Spade” Cooley is accused of killing his estranged wife, Ella Mae,  in a jealous rage after listening to tape recordings of her phone conversations about what the defense … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, books, Front Pages, Homicide, Music | 4 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined — The Black Dahlia

Posted on February 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

      This item comes from the Atlantic: by Mark Bernstein “My morning drive to Eastgate, our software workshop, is literary. “In the car this morning, I listened to the estimable Katherine Kellgren reading  Connie Willis' new historical fiction, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Feb. 17, 1961

Posted on February 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Feb. 17, 1961: The death of Burdette E. Lowery, 67, was an accident – or was it? Lowery, a retired engineer, was tenant in a home at 514 Via De La Paz occupied by Turner Ashby Martin, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Homicide | 3 Comments

Alcala Appeals Conviction for Murder of Girl

Posted on February 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 14, 1981: Rodney James Alcala appeals his death sentence in the killing of Robin Samsoe, 12, of Huntington Beach. Alcala, a former typist in The Times composing room, was convicted of kidnapping Robin after approaching her and a friend … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1981, Crime and Courts, Homicide | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Feb. 6, 1961

Posted on February 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

         Feb. 6, 1961: A religious group moves into a vacant storefront next to a country-Western bar and Paul Coates has the rest of the story… Richard Daniel Johnson, owner of the Eaton Canyon Riding Club, is … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Homicide | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Feb. 6, 1961

Atlanta Police Seek to Solve Slayings of Black Youths

Posted on January 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

            Jan. 28, 1981: Lee Manual Gooch, 15, is missing four days after the discovery of the strangled body of Terry Lorenzo Pue, the 14th black child to be killed  in Atlanta in 1 1/2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Crime and Courts, Homicide | 1 Comment

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here we have another popular faked picture of Elizabeth Short. The image on the left is genuine, as far as I know. The bizarre image on the right has been flopped and retouched.  ALSO Another Good Story Ruined – The … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | Comments Off on Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Death Reveals ‘Burglar’ Is Suspicious Husband in Disguise

Posted on January 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

            Jan. 18, 1911: Jealousy takes a tragic turn in Long Beach as a suspicious husband tries to catch his wife cheating on him with a house guest and is shot to death when the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts, Homicide, Long Beach | Comments Off on Death Reveals ‘Burglar’ Is Suspicious Husband in Disguise

In Remembrance, Elizabeth Short

Posted on January 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror is dark today.

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on In Remembrance, Elizabeth Short

L.A. Serial Killer Suspect Kills Himself in Jail

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 12, 1981: Vernon Butts, a suspect with William Bonin in the Freeway Killer case, hangs himself with a towel in his cell at the Los Angeles County Jail. He was 23.  People are struggling to … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Homicide | Comments Off on L.A. Serial Killer Suspect Kills Himself in Jail

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

It is deceptively difficult to write with any degree of accuracy about the Black Dahlia case. Here’s a recent example of a mangled account by Scott McCabe of the Washington Examiner: On this day, Jan. 9, 1947, Elizabeth Short, anaspiring … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Huntington Beach Jane Doe, 1968

Posted on January 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

    My Google alert for “Black Dahlia” sent me to Tori Richards’ piece on an unsolved 1968 homicide being reopened by the Huntington Beach Police Department. Taking the case to the Internet has already dispelled decades of speculation that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1968, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Comments Off on Huntington Beach Jane Doe, 1968

The Black Dahlia — Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on January 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

he anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s killing is Jan. 15, so I thought I would try to anticipate the annual rehash of fiction and mistakes with a post commenting on potential sources on the 1947 case.  People often ask me which … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | 6 Comments

Found on EBay – Marya Marco

Posted on December 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

This sketch of Marya Marco by Herbert Ryman has been listed on EBay. Ryman (d. 1989) was an illustrator and artist for Disney (he is credited with the concept drawings for Disneyland) and MGM,where he worked on "The Good Earth," … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Homicide | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Marya Marco

Grim Sleeper No. 119, Details

Posted on December 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

A curtain or some type of fabric can be seen in Grim Sleeper No. 119, which has been identified, according to the Daily Beast, as victim Janecia Peters. I thought it would be interesting to see if I could find … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper, Interiors 3

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

Grim Sleeper No. 118 Although some images show a window blocked with tinfoil (Interiors, 2) a few photos show windows blocked with what appears to be a paper bag attached with blue masking tape. ALSO Grim Sleeper, Interiors Grim Sleeper, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 3 Comments

Grim Sleeper, Interiors 2

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Grim Sleeper No. 22   The backgrounds in some of the photos show what appears to be a window covered with tinfoil. No. 22, above, is a frame from a video that shows this detail.  Some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper, Interiors

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Many of the photos show a woman in the passenger seat of a vehicle. The coiled cord visible through the window in Photo No. 156 made me wonder if this was taken at some sort of drive-in. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | Comments Off on Grim Sleeper, Interiors

Grim Sleeper No. 91

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

        When I first looked at this photo, I thought the item in the background might be a calendar. In fact it’s a page of display ads for a sporting goods store that has been placed over … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper No. 139

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Grim Sleeper No. 139 has a bit of interesting signage that says “The Mail Slot” and gives a phone number that appears to be 419-0395. I’m not able to locate this number or business, so I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment