The Dahlia Zodiac Connection: Part Two

This episode of Crimes of the Times explores the controversial theory that Marvin Margolis, a pre-med student and WWII Navy corpsman, was not only the killer of Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia, but also the Zodiac Killer. The podcast traces Margolis’s troubled past—his combat trauma at Okinawa, his unfulfilled ambition to become a surgeon, and his volatile personality—before linking him to Short through their brief relationship and his later aliases. Key evidence includes a deathbed sketch titled 'Elizabeth' that eerily resembles Short’s mutilated body, and a cipher from the Zodiac Killer that allegedly contains Margolis’s name. Former LAPD detective Mitzi Roberts and amateur sleuth Alex Baber analyze the case, challenging the official dismissal of Margolis due to a potentially fabricated alibi from his wife. The episode also examines how media frenzy and confirmation bias may have derailed the investigation. While skeptics question the strength of circumstantial evidence, the emotional weight of the sketch and its connection to both crimes raise profound questions about a possible serial killer spanning decades. The episode concludes with a teaser for the next installment, which will examine the competing theory that Steve Hodel’s father was responsible for both murders, and briefly references the 2023 murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee, underscoring the enduring fascination with high-profile unsolved crimes. The narrative blends forensic speculation, psychological profiling, and archival research to push the boundaries of cold case investigation.