EW columnist Maureen Lee Lenker examines Fact from Fiction in 1949 Actress Jean Spangler Murder-Update 2022

June 27, 2022
Birch Bay, Washington

UPDATE
Many Black Dahlia “theorists” and “self-appointed experts” claim that the Elizabeth “Black Dahlia” murder was a “one-off.” “None before-none after.”
They go on to claim their own suspect (which includes a drunken drifter, an abusive father, an allegedly senile mentally deranged WWI vet/M.D., and a possible A-List Hollywood actor) committed the one Black Dahlia crime and no others.

Not only do their separate theories go against all the evidence and logic, but they also misrepresent the known facts presented by LAPD detectives who were convinced that many of the LA Lone Woman murders were connected and committed by the same suspect. The press not only presented printed articles written by LAPD as to why they believed the crimes were connected but headlined detective’s suspicions that victim Jean Spangler was “the 10th victim in the series of mutilation murders.” (See above headline dated Oct 11, 1949.)

For those readers that may have missed it, I here repost my blog from January 2021 along with the excellent article by columnist, Maureen Lee Lenker, summarizing the Jean Spangler investigation. Click below to read her full article.

January 23, 2021
Los Angeles, California

Maureen Lee Lenker

EW columnist Maureen Lee Lenker examines Fact from Fiction in 1949 Actress Jean Spangler Murder

Here’s a link to a well-researched and well-written article by Entertainment Weekly  senior writer/columnist,  Maureen Lee Lenker updating the Jean Spangler murder investigation.

Kudos to Ms. Lenker on her accurate and objective research that goes a long way in helping dispel the many MYTHS that were initially generated in the 1940s and then continued to be sensationalized through the decades.

Click HERE to read the Ms. Lenker’s full article in EW. 

Actress Jean Spangler

Below graphic shows  my own Jean Spangler  timeline showing her movements on October 8, 1949 in the hours just prior to her kidnap/murder. See my earlier post HERE.

SKH Note:  Not included on the below timeline is the fact that prior to the sighting on Spangler at the Cheese Box Restaurant she was seen with possibly the same individual seen with her at the restaurant. Earlier description matched, “a tall dapper man seated in a car at the Hollywood Ranch Market” in the early evening hours.  The Hwd Ranch Market location was directly across the street from the VILLA ELAINE, 1245 N. Vine St, which on that date was the residence apartment of Dr. George Hodel’s good friend, MAN RAY and his wife, JULIET, who resided in Apt 10. Could they have just come from visiting them? Very possible. It is also worth noting that George Hodel had just been arrested for INCEST with his fourteen-year-old daughter, Tamar and had bailed out of jail on October 7, 1949, literally the day before the suspect met and kidnapped Jean Spangler. (See my earlier post for full details.) Was Jean Spangler silenced because she knew too much?  Again, very possible.

Man Ray’s Villa Elaine Apt directly across street from Hollywood
Ranch Mkt, 1245 N. Vine St., Hollywood

Dr. George Hill Hodel Posted Bail on Incest and Child Molestation Charges and Released Oct 6, 1949 just two days before Spangler date and disappearance.

Below photographs show court docket  and LA Times photo of release of Dr. Hodel to his attorney in hallway of DTLA criminal courthouse after booking and posting bail in amount of $5,000. (Equivalent to $55,000 in 2021 dollars.) LAT photo appeared the following day, Oct 7 1949 in morning edition.

 As presented in my Spangler investigation it is my belief that Dr. George Hill Hodel was Spangler’s “date” on the late afternoon/evening of Oct. 7th and the man seen arguing with her in the restaurant and just a short time later the same man abducting her in the vehicle (just two blocks from the restaurant) where Spangler yelled out to the gas station attendant, “Get the license plate of this car and call the police.”

GHH booking photo Oct 6, 1949
(Note he is wearing same coat and tie as in hallway w/attorney, indicating he was fully processed and released on same day.)

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