LAPD Examines 1943 Fingerprints in 1947 Black Dahlia Case, Reviving Focus on Ex-Boyfriend
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 14
LAPD Examines 1943 Fingerprints in 1947 Black Dahlia Case, Reviving Focus on Ex-Boyfriend
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 14
Newly obtained 1943 fingerprint records that independent examiner Alex Baber says belong to Marvin Margolis are being reviewed by LAPD cold-case detectives in the 1947 Black Dahlia murder.
Detective Marty Mojarro said the prints have not previously been obtained by police and merit scrutiny, even though Baber’s claim linking Margolis to Elizabeth Short’s killing still needs vetting.
Margolis dated Short, served in the Navy, and was listed among 22 persons of interest in police records from 1951; he was never charged and later changed his name before dying.
Baber said his team could not exclude Margolis from a fingerprint found on a package mailed to the Los Angeles Herald Express with 23 of Short’s belongings days after her Jan. 14, 1947 killing.
Nearly 80 years on, investigators say the case is especially difficult because there are no living witnesses and the physical evidence is limited to what was collected at the time.
After 80 years, can new fingerprint evidence finally unmask Hollywood's most notorious killer?
Could the Black Dahlia's killer also be the infamous Zodiac, hiding in plain sight for decades?
The Black Dahlia Case at 80: New Testimonies, Forensic Hurdles, and the Enduring Mystery of Elizabeth Short
Overview
As of May 14, 2026, the Black Dahlia case remains open, with investigators still referencing historical suspects like Marvin Margolis, highlighting the ongoing complexity and relevance of past leads. Despite renewed interest, there are no public details about new suspects or advanced investigative methods being used this year. This lack of updates suggests that while the investigation is active, significant breakthroughs have not been disclosed. The continued focus on earlier suspects and the absence of new information reflect the enduring challenges in solving this decades-old mystery, as investigators revisit old evidence in hopes of finding answers.