The Dahlia Zodiac Connection: Part Four

This episode of Crimes of the Times explores the evolving theory that Marvin Margolis, Elizabeth Short's former boyfriend and a wartime medic, may be the most likely suspect in the 1947 Black Dahlia murder. Host Christopher Gofford, in conversation with author William Mann, dissects Margolis’s troubled past—his military service, psychological trauma, identity theft, and volatile personality—as well as his suspicious behavior during the investigation. Despite being interviewed early on and having a strong alibi, Margolis fell through the cracks due to the LAPD’s fixation on other suspects and media-driven distractions. Mann presents compelling circumstantial evidence, including Margolis’s possible assault on Short, his obsession with surgical precision, and his apparent desire to display his 'artistry' by placing the body in a high-visibility neighborhood. The episode also examines amateur sleuth Alex Baber’s theory that Margolis may have committed the Zodiac murders decades later, linking the two cases through the name 'Zodiac Motel' in Compton and Margolis’s lifelong need for attention. While no definitive proof exists, the convergence of psychological profile, opportunity, and motive makes Margolis a leading candidate. The LAPD remains open to the theory but faces challenges due to missing records and lack of forensic evidence. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the need to reclaim Elizabeth Short’s humanity and agency, countering decades of sensationalized myths about her.