The Black Dahlia Is Back In The Hollywood Spotlight

One of Hollywood’s most mysterious murders is back in the spotlight. 

The mutilated body of aspiring actress Elizabeth Short (later named “The Black Dahlia”) was discovered the morning of January, 15, 1947 on the sidewalk of a Los Angeles parking lot.

The 22-year-old’s body was cut in half. She had been bathed and drained of blood. As details of her gruesome murder began to emerge, the press dubbed her “The Black Dahlia” for her rumored affinity for sheer black clothes and in reference to the 1946 movie The Blue Dahlia.

Now, a new six-episode limited TV series on TNT called I Am The Night is bringing the case to the mainstream once again — and it’s bringing up much more evidence than ever before. 

The show is based on true events surrounding the slaying and a longtime suspect in the case, Gynecologist George Hodel. George was never charged in the case but his own son, a retired LAPD homicide detective, wrote a book pointing to him as the main suspect. 

The series focuses on Fauna Hodel (India Eisley) who was adopted as a young girl. The teenager’s quest for answers about her identity leads her to discover her possible connection to the infamous mystery.

“On the journey to find who she really was, she stumbled into one of the most famous true crime stories in history,” director and executive producer Patty Jenkins said to People. “The 16-year-old girl is the noir detective of our story.” 

Last February, George Hodel’s Los Feliz mansion sold for nearly $5 million. Many researchers believe Elizabeth was murdered in the home.

I Am the Night debuts premieres Jan. 28 on TNT at 9 p.m. ET. Will you be watching?