Episode 1: Photo Evidence

De: Douglas Laux

Narrado por: Douglas Laux

When former CIA case officer Douglas Laux takes a Hollywood bus tour about the unsolved 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, aka the Black Dahlia, he knows virtually nothing about the victim, the crime, and the investigation. But when Doug learns just how many different theories there are about who did it, he decides to leverage his CIA skillset to try and solve it once and for all. The first person Doug seeks out is former LAPD detective, Steve Hodel, whose scandalous and personal theory about the case has become a Hollywood sensation.©2022 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC

this is basically same story everyone knows about

I am going to say that the podcaster who worked for the CIA came across a little bit of a know it all. As for this episode 1 he does not provide the photo evidence he promised.

Pompous, Misses the Mark

It is an interesting story, but Mr. Laux comes off as a pompous know-it-all. The placement of his numerous sighs and “umm’s” during the audio gives the impression of an individual who frequently roles his eyes at the sheer stupidity of others.
The title is also misleading. There is very little discussion or analysis of photo evidence, and Mr. Laux surprisingly fails to qualify his opinions with evidence (factual or circumstantial). He may provide qualification in subsequent episodes, but this episode sits squarely in a salacious, attention-seeking category of story telling that Mr. Laux proudly declares he is not a part of.

Nothing new

Decent production values and mildly entertaining, but if you have any serious interest in the Dahlia case there is nothing to see here. Allegedly this is the fruit of ten years investigation by a CIA supersleuth. I think not. By the end you may conclude like me that a competent high school student could have done this over a long weekend. No new facts. Not a one. Claims to debunk the George Hodel theory. Skips the part where he actually debunks anything. Now I have my doubts about the Hodel theory but if you're looking for a compelling counternarrative this ain't it.

The "case closed" final episode is especially lame. After tearing down the Hodel theory as speculative the podcast throws out an even more wildly speculative suspect with a laughably weak and tangential link to the sister of the victim and the crime scene. Some guy's daughter was the maid of honor at Elizabeth Short's sister's wedding? AND he lived within a mile of the crime scene?? AND he was a surgeon? Coincidence??? You tell me! LOL. Not a shred of circumstantial evidence tying this poor schmuck to the murder, but sure, drag someone's poor dead surgeon grandfather through the mud and declare "case closed." Good grief. This guy may be Jason Bourne for all I know but his armchair sleuthing skills fail to impress.