Category Archives: Homicide

Aug. 5, 1947: Hitchhiking Couple Confess to ‘Kiss of Death’ Murder

Posted on August 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 5, 1947: Joseph Hardy and Lois Hunt were hitchhiking and killed a California man who picked them up. They pulled off in a forest in Nevada and Hardy excused himself while Lois began kissing James W. McLain. Hardy came back and shot McLain three times in the head. After burying McLain, they took his car, gambled away his money and flipped his car. 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, 2025 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, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1947: Jefferson High honor student Vesta Belle is found strangled in her bedroom. Continue reading →

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George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, July 2025

Posted on July 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on George Hodel and Steve Hodel in the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, July 2025

Posted on July 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, including a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a summary of the forthcoming book that “solves” the Black Dahlia case, Eli Frankel’s “Sisters in Death.” Continue reading →

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George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, June 2025

Posted on June 17, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on George Hodel and Steve Hodel in the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, June 2025

Posted on June 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, including a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a summary of the forthcoming book that “solves” the Black Dahlia case, Eli Frankel’s “Sisters in Death.” Continue reading →

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George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, May 2025

Posted on May 20, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on George Hodel and Steve Hodel in the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, May 2025

Posted on May 6, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, including a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a summary of the forthcoming book that “solves” the Black Dahlia case, Eli Frankel’s “Sisters in Death.” Continue reading →

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George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, April 2025

Posted on April 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on George Hodel and Steve Hodel in the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, April 2025

Posted on April 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, including a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and forthcoming books that “solve” the Black Dahlia case by William Mann and Eli Frankel Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: M.E. Firman, Lady Detective

Posted on March 24, 2025 by lmharnisch

In an encore post, Mary Mallory looks at the career of Marie E. “M.E.” Firman, early “lady detective” of Los Angeles Continue reading →

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George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, March 2025

Posted on March 18, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on George Hodel and Steve Hodel in the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, March 2025

Posted on March 4, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, including a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a forthcoming book on the Black Dahlia case by William Mann. Continue reading →

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When Doctors Turn Deadly: Hallie Rubenhold’s ‘Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress, and Dr. Crippen’

Posted on March 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

An advance look at Hallie Rubenhold’s forthcoming “Story of a Murder.” Well-written and suspenseful!
@hallierubenhold.bsky.social Continue reading →

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George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, February 2025

Posted on February 18, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on George Hodel and Steve Hodel in the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, February 2025

Posted on February 4, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, including a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a forthcoming book on the Black Dahlia case by William Mann. Continue reading →

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George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, January 2025

Posted on January 22, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on George Hodel and Steve Hodel in the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Trim Your Roses on Jan. 15 to Remember Elizabeth Short

Posted on January 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

Today is Jan. 15, the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death. As is the custom, the Daily Mirror will be dark. Trim your roses in her memory.

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, January 2025

Posted on January 7, 2025 by lmharnisch

In the January 2025 Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, I talk about my work in progress, Heaven Is HERE! and my current focus on the Los Angeles Examiner’s phone call to Phoebe Short, claiming that Elizabeth Short … Continue reading →

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