Ask Steve Hodel!
Photo credit: Ed Evans
As you know, our #cclivechat on July 15, 2011, centers on the case of Elizabeth Short. Elizabeth (July 29, 1924 – January 15, 1947) was found savagely murdered and her body was left in plain view for anyone to see the grotesque mutilations that she was subjected to before she died.
Over the years, many authors have published books about her murder. In those books, not only Elizabeth got slain but also her character. It is sad to read how many resorted to “blame the victim for getting killed.”
One person who has remained true to portray Elizabeth as she was, is Steve Hodel. There is no denying that Elizabeth was naive and loved to escape in a dream world in which she was married and had a child. She longed to be in a marriage with a strong man who would take care of her. Sadly, Elizabeth died before she could ever experience life to the fullest.
Steve’s book, the Black Dahlia Avenger, is a must read. If you pick it up, make sure you get the 2006 edition that includes forensic evidence.
Steve has generously agreed to be available for DCC readers to answer their questions related to Elizabeth’s murder as well as the other materials mentioned in his books.
How are we going to do this?
1: First, make sure that you have read either Steve’s book or at least the FAQ section on his website. That page has been split up in categories and sections so first check whether your question can be found there!
2: Questions for Steve have to be submitted via the contact page on DCC with “Black Dahlia” in the subject line. Make sure that you choose the right department e.g. “Vidocq.” Make sure your question is detailed and clearly worded.
3: The deadline for emailing your questions is July 17, 2011. This will enable all of us at DCC to discuss the case in our themed cold case chat on Twitter and any open questions can be added to the questions we forward to Steve.
4: Duplicate questions will be morphed into one.
5: Individual replies are not possible so everyone who sends in a question must check back on DCC for answers.
6: I reserve the right to skip any question that is inappropriate, offensive, etc.
7: After July 17, 2011, all the questions will appear in a post on DCC. That post will be send to Steve. As soon as his answers come in, the post will be updated so you have to keep checking back.
I will announce on Twitter when new answers have been posted and my collaborators on DCC will retweet those messages for maximum reach of DCC readers.
A big THANK YOU to Steve for his dedication to finding the truth and for doing this for DCC readers!!!
Categories: #CCLiveChat, Book Reviews, Forensics, Solved, Unsolved
Tags: Autopsy, Black Dahlia, Book Reviews, California, Crime Scene, Cruelty, DNA, Elizabeth Short, Evidence, Expert Testimony, Faulty Evidence, Finger Printing, Forensics, Identification, Investigations Division, Partial Finger Printing, Police, Rape kits, Unsolved Homicide, Victim, Witnesses
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This is fabulous news! This is terrific that Steve is willing to do this ~ I am so grateful. It’s a case that has captured my attention since the first day I ever read about it. I will be attending a writers conference, but if I can slip away to participate in this chat, I certainly will make a point to do so.
I want to check on something … the chat is 7/15, but you have a deadline of 7/17 to submit questions? Did you mean an earlier date, or that folks can send questions after the chat up until 7/17?
Thanks for the clarification ~ and thanks for letting us know the great news!
Hi Kathleen,
The date is set after the chat so readers have time to send in questions and, if we have questions that did not get resolved during the chat, we can still add them before sending off everything to Steve.
I am very grateful as well and he also made mention of the chat and DCC on his blog.
Thanks, V