The Incredible Life & Mysterious Death of Dorothy Kilgallen

by Sara Jordan-Heintz

Since penning the widely acclaimed Midwest Today magazine article “Who Killed Dorothy Kilgallen?” in 2007, award-winning journalist Sara Jordan-Heintz has spent years researching this trailblazing woman.

Dorothy Kilgallen may be best known as a panelist on the game show “What’s My Line?” but as a syndicated writer with the Hearst papers, her “Voice of Broadway” column was devoured by millions of daily readers. And as an investigative journalist, she covered some of the biggest stories and court cases of the mid-20th century, even securing a Pulitzer Prize nomination.

A pioneering television and radio personality, she was also a fashion icon, threw extravagant parties and engaged in feuds with famous men including Frank Sinatra, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and even a prominent Catholic priest.

After her friend President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Dorothy courageously challenged the official account of his death by doing a series of explosive articles that unearthed important new leads. Jack Ruby’s own lawyer, Melvin Belli, labeled her reporting “the ruin of the Warren Commission.” Dorothy was the only reporter to score private talks with the enigmatic Ruby. She vowed to blow the lid off the cover-up and expose the truth behind the Kennedy assassination, but died trying.

In her magazine article, Jordan-Heintz was the first to print the name of the man who romanced DK and then became the number one (unofficial) suspect when she died; the first author to present eyewitness interviews with people close to Dorothy who were never questioned by police; the first to get incriminating quotes from the suspected killer; the first to reveal shocking new forensic evidence of foul play.

THE INCREDIBLE LIFE & MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF DOROTHY KILLGALLEN is a biography and true crime drama that explores the complexities of Dorothy's private and personal lives, showcasing her work as a formidable reporter and astute observer of geopolitics.

Shockingly, Jordan-Heintz has found the SMOKING GUN that links Kilgallen’s suspected killer to the CIA, and reveals his confessed role (captured on audiotape) in a controversial CIA operation that was launched by Allen Dulles, and run by E. Howard Hunt and Frank Sturgis. The author also explores the suspect’s time at Stanford and confirms he attended an assassin’s school in Panama. For the first time, the author traces the evolution of Dorothy’s investigation of the JFK conspiracy, quoting from many of her articles and showing how prescient her reporting was. Recently declassified government documents confirm Dorothy turned up vital new facts that put her life in danger. For Kennedy assassination buffs, Jordan-Heintz explores the myriad of new revelations about the case that most Americans don’t know. Ernest Hemingway called Dorothy Kilgallen the best female writer in the world. This is her story.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

661 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2024

About the author

Sara Jordan-Heintz is a writer, editor, historian and award-winning newspaper journalist. She has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines, ranging from human interest stories, business profiles, non-profit sector, education, women's issues, local and regional history, antiques and collectibles, health and wellness, animal welfare, and more.

Her latest book "The Incredible Life and Mysterious Death of Dorothy Kilgallen" (2023) is based on years of research and features exclusive new material and interviews.

Her sci-fi/fantasy story “The Acquisition of Vidalia Somerset” was published in Inkd Publishing’s anthology "Hidden Villains" (2022). Her story “Splitting Image” was published in “Hidden Villains Betrayed” in 2024.

Her cultural critique of the 1950-era Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book was published in the Queen's Quarterly summer 2022 issue. It is a Canadian peer-reviewed academic journal of cultural studies that was established in 1893. Over the years, the list of those who have contributed to the Quarterly is impressive and includes: Sinclair Ross, Margaret Laurence, W.O. Mitchell and Margaret Atwood.

She is the editor of the horror anthology "Behind the Shadows" released in September 2023 by Inkd Publishing.

Her short story "Escaping" was included in the June 2022 anthology "Movement: Our Bodies in Action" and in the August 2022 "Jewels in the Queen's Crown" anthology, both released by Sweetycat Press.

Her short horror story “The Reprisal” was published in Savage Realms Press' volume I anthology "Symphony of the Damned." (2022).

Her poem “The Sounds of Nature” was published in the poetry anthology "World Common Literature" by India-based poet Sourav Sarkar in December 2021. Her poem “A.H. Haiku” was published in the poetry book "Cooch Behar Anthology" by India-based poet Sourav Sarkar (2022).

Jordan-Heintz is the author of "Going Hollywood: Midwesterners in Movieland," (2019) the first book of its kind to chronicle the story behind the story of twelve Hollywood legends from America’s Heartland: Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Jean Harlow, Spencer Tracy, Anne Baxter, Jean Seberg, Jane Russell, Dorothy Dandridge, Rock Hudson, Marilyn Maxwell, Jane Wyman and Louella Parsons.

Her debut work of fiction, "A Day Saved is a Day Earned", a novella set in 1961, is available as an eBook. It was also published in Rod Serling Books’ inaugural anthology "Submitted For Your Approval" in 2015, edited by Anne Serling, rereleased in 2022.

Her short stories (primarily speculative fiction), have been published in the following: “101 Words,” “Red Planet Magazine,” “365 Tomorrows,” “Friday Flash Fiction,” "Better Than Starbucks," "Potato Soup Journal,” “Blink Ink” and “The Mambo Academy of Kitty Wang.”

Her sci-fi/fantasy short story “Skeptic in the Woods” was published in Brilliant Flash Fiction’s print anthology "Branching Out" (2021).

Her short story “Sardines” was nominated for the 2021 Pushcart Prize for Best Small Fictions and the Best Microfiction by "The Mambo Academy of Kitty Wang."

Jordan-Heintz is a recipient of the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer Outstanding Young Iowa Journalists Award from the Iowa Newspaper Association, and has received honors from the Associated Press.

Reviews

[Amandatory Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th and final book I’ve read about Dorothy Kilgallen. The author put in a tremendous amount of work to write such an informative book about both Kilgallen and the JFK assassination. My one complaint is that the book title is a bit misleading. While the book is about Kilgallen, it is more so about JFK assassination and the numerous conspiracy theories. There are several pages where nothing is stated about Dorothy as the focus is JFK. The book really is about both of them not just Dorothy as the title suggests. Obviously, you can’t write about Dorothy’s life without including the JFK assassination which was a pivotal point in her life and journalistic career. But JFK’s assassination takes the reins throughout the book.

However, the author’s admiration for Dorothy Kilgallen is undeniable and she never lost site of that. The epilogue about what life could’ve been like had Dorothy lived longer was touching.

One thing you won’t find in any other book are the quotes taken from interviews the author’s father had with Ron Pataky. Her father and fellow author, Larry Jordan was able to befriend Pataky. Leading to recorded conversations involving Pataky’s life and time with Kilgallen. Unfortunately, that still didn’t help figure out what happened to Dorothy in her final hours.

What we do know is she was last alive at 2:20am on November 8th, 1965 when she spoke to a man at Western Union. He said she sounded cheerful and coherent. Autopsy results conclude she passed between 2am and 4am. Conflicting answers from everyone including her husband, coroners and friends resulted in her death being concluded as alcohol and barbiturates as the how but circumstances undetermined being why. I guess we will never know.

It is a shame that Dorothy Kilgallen was only here for 52 years. And also a shame that there’s still so much speculation around her death. Ultimately, I always say in my reviews that I hope she will also be remembered more importantly as a top female journalist, radio and TV star who pushed boundaries in a man’s world back in the day. To quote Sara Jordan-Heinzt, “She was one hell of a good journalist. She had an eagle eye for detail, a highly-sensitive bullshit detector and a vast pipeline of sources.” I thank the author for resurrecting Dorothy’s voice throughout this book and highlighting the amazing journalist she was.

[Bella (Kiki) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read The Incredible Life & Mysterious Death of Dorothy Kilgallen by Sara Jordan-Heintz. I read it because the author said she had new information about Dorothy's death, which was so strange as to be bizarre. However, after glossing over Dorothy's life for about 200 pages, the author then spends most of the book going into the details surrounding the assassination of JFK. I understand why she had to bring it up because if Dorothy was killed, and it certainly appears she was, then her knowledge and poking around and writing about the investigation into his death was the reason.

The problem for me is, I already know most of that stuff, and she didn't have to convince me that there was more than one shooter, and Oswald probably wasn't one. The details of JFK's death comprise about 2/3 of the book, so the title is kind of a misnomer. The book should also come with a warning for the squeamish or the easily disturbed (I am neither) because the author does go into gruesome detail.

Finally, in the final fourth of the book (it is nearly 700 pages), the author goes into the details of Dorothy's very strange death. This really interested me, though I knew the facts already. (What makes it more interesting is that the main suspect, according to the author, is a man who was a friend of my mother's, and a person I've known since birth. He passed on in 2022, but always seemed nothing but a total sweetheart to me. I don't think anyone knew this man as well as I did. I spent much, much time with him, and he even stayed in our house many times. I loved him very much.)

For those who don't know, Dorothy Kilgallen's very strange death has never been solved, and it cannot even be said to be suicide (unlikely), accidental (also unlikely) or murder (if it was, it was very strange).

I would have not bought this book had I known the bulk of it was going to concentrate on JFK. But for those who don't know all the puzzling facts surrounding his assassination and the outright lies told, and wants to know, the book would be fascinating.

I would give it a 4 or a 4.5. It is extremely well written. It is mistitled, though. It's about JFK's demise, not Dorothy Kilgallen's. Yes, she said she had irrefutable proof that the Warren Commission Report was a lie (I believe her) and was going to write a book about it, and that's likely what got her killed, but for me, it was too much JFK and too little Dorothy. But for those interested in the facts of the demise of JFK and the myriad lies told by the government, the book is gold and certainly the one to read. If you finish this book and believe Lee Harvey Oswald was Kennedy's killer, you haven't been paying attention.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. My only complaint is that it’s really two books, one about Dorothy and one about the JFK assassination. Both books are good, and while the author does great justice to the JFK conspiracy, it was so deep that at times it went pages and pages with zero Dorothy content.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My monumental excitement for this book had me convinced that I was going to devour it in a matter of days. Instead, it exceeded my already high expectations and I found myself waiting for proper reading sessions where I could take my time and jot down annotations along the way.

Written by the author of the Midwest Today article ‘Who Killed Dorothy Kilgallen?’, Sara Jordan-Heintz compiles years of thorough research into this book covering Dorothy Kilgallen’s early life, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and Kilgallen’s own mysterious death in 1965. I would go as far as to say that her original article brought Dorothy’s story to a new generation.

Her death aside, Dorothy’s life is one that should be celebrated in history books. She was a trailblazer for women, finding herself at the top of a male-dominated industry in the early-mid 20th Century. In addition, she was also a radio host, television personality, socialite, wife, and mother.

Yes, the book gives an intimate background on Dorothy’s life and career, however, the larger portion of the book is dedicated to her investigation of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. In addition, there is also a section that delves into the assassination itself. Sara Jordan-Heintz writes extensively about different eyewitness accounts, the problem with the Warren Commission’s findings (which Dorothy herself challenged), a background of Lee Harvey Oswald, and much more. While Dorothy is mostly absent here, it provides important context for the last section of the book.

On November 8th, 1965, Dorothy Kilgallen was found dead in her New York townhouse. It is largely believed that her death was the result of her investigation into JFK’s death (which had already led her to be under surveillance). Too much didn't add up between where she was found and her state of attire to name just a couple of the red flags. What's more is that her investigation notes have not been seen since.

In the 60 years since the assassination, there have been countless writings, documentaries, and discussions on what might have truly happened that day in Dallas. We can assume while reading this book that Dorothy must have had similar findings and more thanks to having a multitude of connections. Given in 2024 the 'official' story is still being pushed by those in power, it’s not unlikely that someone of Dorothy’s stature and reach would be silenced at that time.

What impressed me the most about this book was how so much information was fit into a relatively short number of pages. It brought back a lot of things I’ve read about in other books on the topic, both a mix of things I’d forgotten as well as tidbits I’ve held onto and can’t get out of my mind. Having so much at my fingertips now in one book makes me ecstatic.

I have read three of the four books author Mark Shaw has published on the subject of Dorothy Kilgallen and I worried that I would be spending a lot of time comparing this book to those. Instead, I felt as though I was looking through fresh lenses despite going in with some facts memorized. The books offer quite different narratives even though a lot of the information, of course, remains similar. The delivery and organization of this book were a better fit for my personal preference.

I have been an admirer of Dorothy’s for several years now and it still boggles my mind that after first watching episodes of What’s My Line? it took a good year or two before I realized she was such a renowned journalist, never mind the fact that she had a connection to JFK’s assassination. It’s a travesty that her life and accomplishments have been a forgotten part of history. Whether her death is the cause of this, I couldn’t say, though I do think it adds to the suspicion in a time where we so fervently celebrate women. I’m glad there are people out there telling her story so that she will be remembered for years to come.

[Philip Zozzaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

The news and entertainment world were stunned by the untimely death of writer and TV quiz show panelist Dorothy Kilgallen at age 52. She was found dead in her Manhattan apartment on November 8, 1965. Her death was attributed to a combination of alcohol and barbiturates. However, those familiar with the pioneer journalist knew that there was something more behind her death, perhaps something sinister.

Dorothy Kilgallen had the nose for news instilled in her DNA as her father James was a veteran reporter for various outlets in his long life. Dorothy was intrigued by her father’s work and struck out on her own and landed a position with the New York Evening-Journal. Dorothy made a name for herself as her “Voice of Broadway” column was syndicated far and wide across the United States. Dorothy covered the glitz and glamour of the entertainment beat along with high society, but she possessed an unparalleled tenacity when it came to covering high profile crime stories such as the Sam Sheppard murder case. This fierce determination would only be furthered with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963.

The murder of the 35th President of the United States was a moment that shocked the country and the world. Dorothy had liked John F. Kennedy and had even visited him with her young son Kerry. As the circumstances of the tragic events were relayed across the airwaves, questions began to mount in Dorothy’s mind. These questions would only be compounded with the televised murder of alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. Dorothy travelled down to Dallas for the trial of Oswald assassin Jack Ruby. Dorothy spoke to Ruby’s attorneys and was able to gain access to Ruby himself. Could this access and the information she received from Ruby have led to Dorothy’s mounting skepticism over JFK’s murder? Was Dorothy about to blow the lid off the case and render the Warren Commission moot?

Sara Jordan-Heintz has written a spellbinding biography and true crime mystery that is rich in investigative research and detail. The characteristics of Dorothy’s life story pre 1963 are fascinating and wonderful to read and digest. Dorothy’s work as a journalist, TV and radio star often had to compete with her marriage and motherhood. Despite the occasional turbulence in professional and personal life, Dorothy possessed a grace and persistence that saw her through any ordeal. The details of the dark day in November are brought forth in depth and the undercurents of conspiracy are not easy to ignore. Once Dorothy begins to pursue leads in the case and calling out inconsistencies in the case, the countdown to her own tragic ending has begun. There have been countless books written about the Kennedy assassination, some adhering to the lone gunman narrative, others to conspiracy. Sara Jordan-Heintz lays out the facts of Dorothy’s life and death along with the death of JFK in precise detail. She offers her own views on both and makes a convincing argument for why Dorothy’s death was orchestrated. A well-written volume to be added to the library.

[Mark Lukas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questions with No Answers

I grew up with the Kennedy assassination, so I've heard and read a lot about it. There are thousands of questions yet to be asked or investigated. Yet as the years fade away, I'm convinced we will never know the whole truth and even if we did, would we recognize it or continue to ask questions? This book is primarily an exposition on that subject. Sometimes, the book is a dizzying mixture of facts with a great deal of supposition. One tidbit of fact, I can add, which only highlights the amount of misinformation fed to the public, was told to me, by one of the doctors, mentioned in this book. He was in the emergency room, at Parkland, when the President was brought in. He said there were no heroic attempts to save him, because he was clearly DOA. They simply tried to make the body look better and prepare it for the return to Washington. He had no reason to lie and could have claimed, as others did, false glory. I'm afraid the Kilgallen death will never be conclusively determined either. So it goes.

[Linda Morrissett · Rating 3 out of 5]

My chief disappointment in this book is that the content was dominated by investigative material about the JFK assasination so much that details about this important journalist seemed a secondary theme. Still, the author presented a fascinating narrative of Kilgallen's life and mysterious death.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book but I think it should have been done in two parts because so much of the book is about the JFK assassination which was interesting but sort of overshadows Dorothy Kilgallen.

[Karen Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book about JFK conspiracy theories.

[Marilyn Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!
What an eye opener!

[Barbie Urias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best info of Dorthy Kilgallen

Amazing and so well written with a ton of information. I loved reading this book and could hardly put it down.