Daddy Was the Black Dahlia Killer: The Identity of America's Most Notorious Serial Murderer--Revealed at Last

by Janice Knowlton, Michael Newton

It is one of the most enduringly fascinating crimes in American history. On January 15, 1947, passersby made a grisly discovery in a vacant lot in Los Angeles: the body of a naked young woman, cut in two, and savagely mutilated. The victim was identified as Elizabeth Short, a struggling Hollywood actress. Nicknamed the Black Dahlia by a headline-hungry press, her lurid demise sparked a desperate manhunt. But the mystery of the Black Dahlia murder remained unsolved for nearly half a century -- until now.

A victim of incest and brutality from infancy, Janice Knowlton was an old hand at repressing hideous memories by age ten, when she watched her father, George Frederick Knowlton, torture, kill and dismember Elizabeth Short in the detached garage of their California home. It was not the first of Daddy's murders Jan had witnessed, and it would not be the last -- but she had been so traumatized that it took over four decades for fragments of her memory to resurface. Aided by a family counselor specializing in child abuse, Jan experienced a nightmare flood of childhood memories -- and realized that she had witnessed her father commit up to nine savage and sadistic murders, including that of her own infant son, a child of incest.

Using census records, maps, family interviews, police reports, and clippings from a dozen newspapers to document her searing memories, Janice exposes her father's thirty-year rampage of rope and murder in this astonishing survivor's testament -- and provides persuasive evidence that Los Angeles low enforcement authorities always knew the shocking truth...

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

Reviews

[Jakob J. 🎃 · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are going to falsify the account of one of the most notorious murders in history—accusing your probably still scumbag of a father (although if you’re willing to so boldly lie to insert yourself into a heinous tragedy, it calls into question any other claim) who is much too dead to defend himself—and pass it off as a true crime revelation, at least have the decency to make it in any way interesting.

It is a strange relic of publishing that you could just make shit up—Batboy tabloid style—and sell it to rubes like teenaged me as non-fiction. Fortunately for me, this was so dully presented that it brought to an end my foray into fictionalized and sensationalized false crime confessionals early in my reading career.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I’m right in the middle with this book. Some parts were incredibly interesting and gruesome but others quite nearly put me to sleep from boredom. I loved the gory descriptions of the murder but that was about the only thing that held my attention. I also thought the whole thing was kind of unbelievable so that did affect my enjoyment a bit a think. All in all it was entertaining for the murder parts but other than that, not so much.

[Niki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Janice Knowlton's story is (was) most surely one of "false memory syndrome". I picked up this book on a Dahlia reading craze knowing the likely-hood that this book would have "the answer" was slim to none. I was of course, right. There were way too many inconsistancies with what we already know about the Black Dahlia Murder for anything she writes about to be fact.

That being said, I found this book fascinating as someone who is studying to be a clinical psychologist. The amount of emotional discord going on in this woman's life was evident and the abuse she suffered, while not connected to the Dahlia, must have been horrific for it to manifest in such a way so many years later.

I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone looking for answers about the Black Dahlia Murder. Well, unless you are a Dahlia fanatic like myself and MUST read everything, no matter how good or bad, about the Dahlia. I would however recommend it to people who are interested in False Memory Syndrome, the effects of abuse and abnormal psychology in general as this is an interesting portrait of a very damaged woman.

[Anastacia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a sleazy book about the "true" accounts of Janice Knowlton's fathers murder of Elizabeth Short aka Black Dahlia. This unsolved murder has spawned many novels, true crime books and movies/tv shows. This book is a disturbing read if any of it is true. The author apparantly was outed as a fraud and maybe her father was a sex offender, but this is really a bizarre book.

[Jennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

One star for the title alone. Fabulous title. Appparently, the author (now deceased) had some severe emotional issues. Let's just leave her be.

There is no way the stuff in the book could have happened as she claims...lots and lots of inconsistencies and impossibilities.

But, wow, what a title, huh?

[Jessica T. · Rating 1 out of 5]

LOL.. every father living in California at the time was Ms Shorts killer.

[Oksana · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a true crime fan, I felt compelled to read this for myself. Like everyone else, it seems, I do believe that Jan Knowlton was a victim of severe abuse and suffers psychologically. I also do not feel moved to critique her or her situation. What I will critique and the most important reason I give this book one start is because of the way the murdered women and abused men are depicted. Example: referring to them as "tramps," or "bar flies," is completely insensitive and inappropriate. Regardless of how those women chose to live their lives, they do not deserve to be depicted in such a derogatory manner. It is tasteless and insulting. You can inform the reader about their lifestyles and professions without using demeaning terminology. Also referring to Mark Killroy in passing as the "gringo" murdered in Mexico by a sadistic cult is another example of insensitivity and unprofessional writing. Furthermore, Georgie Knowlton's predatory behavior towards a young boy is referred to as "homosexual tendencies," when in reality it should not be portrayed as a homosexual situation, but rather a predatory and assaultive situation.

[Alex Severin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This woman's story is completely fascinating.

I personally believe that Janice Knowlton is suffering from False Memory. I do believe, however, that she suffered abuse, but I do not believe that the Black Dahlia connection is real. It's not that I think she is lying, I just think her fractured psyche is attempting to make sense of the abuse she suffered and is linking it to something that was prominent in the news during that time.

Nevertheless, if you're into the whole Black Dahlia thing (and I am so I pretty much read/watch everything related to it,) or you're an avid reader of True Crime books, it's a must read. But I will warn avid followers of the Elizabeth Short case - this book is extremely defamatory toward her with absolutely nothing to coroborate anything that's put forth. I was pretty miffed throughout reading a lot of the Dahlia-related section of the book. I've read a lot of books about the Black Dahlia case and about Hollywood / movies / Hollywood murder in general, but I have never heard that Marilyn Monroe was a common whore who had a lesbian affair with Elizabeth Short. I must have missed that memo!

It is written in a sensationalist style and the writer (Michael Newton) seems to revel in the more horrible aspects of this woman's (real or imagined) memories. The descriptions of the physical and sexual abuse and various homicides is extremely graphic.

Whether she really did witness Elizabeth Short's murder or not, his book is an incredible read and a fascinating journey into the human psyche.

I'm torn on what star-rating to give this, so I'm going to opt for right in the middle.

[GracieKat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Obviously this woman has some issues to work out so I'll leave my critique of her alone.

I think that a lot of their "hard" evidence supporting her claims is just too broad to be convincing. The main things they focus on are murders in the general areas of where the family was living at the times. But to say that every woman beat to death in the area was him is just a little on the vague side as (unfortunately) that's a pretty common murder method. And the parts that detail the Black Dahlia's killing are just too out there. Somehow the body manages to stay reasonably fresh despite being hauled in and out of a fridge numerous times, abused, thrown in the sea and dragged back out, thrown in a pool and dragged back out, and carted around the city in the trunk of a car numerous times.
And their main detail is that Elizabeth may have had a friend named George. Well, George was a fairly common name at the time so it's a little more than circumstantial.

[Sonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't really decide whether or not I believe this is someone's pathetic attempt to cash in on one of the most notorious unsolved crimes ever or if this poor lady actually believes her dad was a monster. (And here I thought I had parental issues!)

In any event, I thought her recalled memories of watching Dad do horrible things were far-fetched and the entire theory circumstantial.

I do have a passion for true crime books and there was a lot of information regarding the Black Dahlia murder, but I'm not sure how much I trust the veracity of research provided by someone with such a far-fetched theory and possibly an attention-monger.

[Maria Manvik · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book was very interesting at times, but also mind-numbingly-boring at times. To be clear: I don’t believe the theory presented at all, and much of the information presented in this book are not consistent with the facts of the case. I also found the author’s description of Elizabeth Short — the victim in this case — so disgusting; she literally described Short as a cheap prostitute, who would sex-traffic children for money in her own pocket. Further, the author theorized about a cover-up by the LAPD, but what I don’t understand about this is what could a deer-hunting, foundry worker possibly have offered the LAPD in order for them to orchestrate a cover-up?
There were also certain points in the “story” where I was 99% sure Janice Knowlton (the author) were fabricating the things she claims her father, George Knowlton, did to her. How is it even possible, physically and mentally, for a father to sexually assault his small child several times a day? Does he have a magic dick that’s hard all the time or something? I even asked my friend (who is a guy) if he thought it would be possible, and he said that a standard guy couldn’t get an erection that many times a day.
The reason why I give this book 1 star is simply because the author’s description of the investigation into Short’s murder was great. I was also kind of excited — a better word may be intrigued — to read the graphic details of the crime described in this book.

[Margo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lurid, but not believable. I'm sure Janice Knowlton faced some childhood trauma that she's channeling, but I don't think it's what these "memories" show.

I bought it because I thought it was maybe written by the sibling of another author who's book I read, Steve Hodel (who also claims his father, another George, was the Black Dahlia killer) who wrote the very compelling, evidence filled "Black Dahlia Avenger". I had forgotten that authors name at the time, and they are obviously unrelated.

It's an okay read if you can maintain suspension of disbelief, but the tone is almost patronizing at times. It feels as though the author doesn't trust us to understand if they give us a proper explanation of things.

[Lord Bathcanoe of Snark · Rating 1 out of 5]

So Janice Knowlton's Daddy was the Black Dahlia killer.
Wait a minute!
Wasn't Steve Hodel's Daddy supposed to be the Black Dahlia killer?
Hang on there!
According to John Cameron, Edward Wayne Edwards was the Black Dahlia killer.
But hold on!
John Gilmore in his book 'Severed' claims it was a completely different dude.
Keep up now!
Piu Eatwell in her book names a whole bunch of conspirators.
Confused?
It's quite simple really. None of them really now the truth.

[Lenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author most definitely manifested her abuse into the connection of the murder of Elizabeth Short, so even if what was described in this book was untrue — it was still a fascinating read. As disturbing as the content of the book was, I enjoyed the writing immensely, Only few times did it feel slow.

[Gualju · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing.

[Big H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a good book at all. It would've been better if I came at it to read it as just a fictional novel--as a "true" story, it's terrible. The author's number one claim throughout the entirety of the read is, "My dad was a total f*cking psychopath, and all this graphic stuff really happened...but all the evidence to prove it has either been lost over time (such as her supposed documents to show she was absent from school due to her father taking her on his killing sprees with him), or changed by the LAPD (like the part where she printed the "real" autopsy report of the Black Dahlia, which noted that her uterus was of a normal, non-pregnancy-altered size, but then she tells us of her memory of how she watched Beth Short miscarry the author's father's child after 3 months, *right* before the author's father murdered Beth). Nothing in this book coincides with anything that has been presented about the Dahlia case, and even the author's own "memories" contradict each other. It screams of dramatizations and get-rich-quick schemes, the whole read through.

[Lindsey Hazlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only book I have ever started that I have been unable to finish. I have to give it 5 stars- it was fantastic, however, I couldn't do it. This is the easily most graphic book I have EVER read/heard of. Throughout the book, Janice knowlton is telling about her childhood experiences with rape and abuse. It was terrifying to read.
I picked up this book in intention of a gross murder tale. But, this book wasn't a murder tale. It was drowned in incest and rape.
If you're going to read this book, be cautioned, and mentally prepare yourself.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very hard book to read, not only because of some of the very graphic images of murder, but also because there is a lot of information and history and sometimes it was hard to keep up with who was whom and what relationship they had to each other. I think giving the history and background of people that only appeared briefly made it harder to follow. It is however and interesting story.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book for fairly cheap at a used book store, and I am glad I didn't pay more than a dollar for it. I was not impressed with this book at all. I mean, anything is possible, but I am just not buying this story. Perhaps the author did suffer from False Memory, as some other reviews suggest. Parts of this book were really interesting, and made me believe that she believed what she saw. Other parts of it were just terribly dull. I do not recommend.

[Sandy M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holy crap what a terrible childhood the author had if this book is to be believed. Being based on "recovered memories" makes me a little suspicious, and maybe just the horror that is portrayed makes me not want to believe that any of it happened. Definitely not for the squeamish or tender hearted.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read! The author explains that an operation that changed her hormones around caused her to cough up the repressed memory of witnessing the murder of Elizabeth Short. I raced to buy this after seeing Oprah interview her. Very hard to put down and one of the most entertaining I-know-who-REALLY-killed-the-Black-Dahlia stories out there.

[Karena · Rating 1 out of 5]

If true... Wow and sick.. But I have my serious doubts... All seems a wee bit far fetched... And if untrue... A sad attempt at fame by making money off a poor lonely aspiring actresses terrible demise.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit goofy, but okay.

[Chong]

Very dark and disturbing.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

very sad,very explicit book...i almost wonder if its true...but then truth can be stranger than fiction

[Keri Goddard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not Impressed

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book years ago. I don't remember it clearly, but I remember I enjoyed it. I think it may have started my interest in true crime stories.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars because it was a good read. However, I highly doubt that Janice Knowlton's father actually killed Elizabeth Short.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like books like this. A background of a killer!!

[Betty Stoneking · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is ok