DEMAND THE LAPD RELEASE THE BLACK DAHLIA CASE FILE:  The LAPD Has Withheld Evidence in Elizabeth Short’s Murder for Nearly 80 Years, Including The Only Autopsy in LA History Kept From the Public This Long.  Signature Goal: 500,000

Nearly 80 years after Elizabeth Short was murdered, key records in one of America's most infamous unsolved cases remain withheld from the public.
Elizabeth Short was only 22 years old when she was murdered in Los Angeles in January 1947. 

Critical evidence in her case file continues to be actively and inexplicably withheld by the Los Angeles Police Department. Most notable is Elizabeth Short’s autopsy report, which is the only autopsy – by law a public record – in Los Angeles history that has never been released to the public in nearly 80 years. This unprecedented delay is a clear obstruction of justice. 

Now, the Justice Cannot Be Silenced Foundation and the investigative team behind Deconstructing Dahlia are calling on the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to release key records and evidence that they say could help answer questions that have lingered for generations.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING THE LAPD TO RELEASE:

• Elizabeth Short’s complete, unredacted autopsy report

• The DNA forensic report involving a stamp believed to have been licked by a possible suspect

• Fingerprint records believed to be connected to a possible suspect

These demands are based on evidence confirmed to exist within the case file during the Deconstructing Dahlia investigation, independent forensic review, and consultation with retired LAPD personnel. 

The team is also prepared to fund modern forensic testing of relevant evidence.

WHY NOW?

Her story has been defined and maligned by headlines, speculation, theories, falsified evidence, disappearing evidence, purged or destroyed evidence, and unanswered questions. The continued withholding of this case file does not protect the case; it prolongs its silence.  She was a real person and time is running out..

For 5+ years, the Deconstructing Dahlia team has investigated Elizabeth's murder with forensic experts, former law-enforcement professionals, and retired LAPD homicide detectives.

The team says its investigation has uncovered significant new evidence, including the murder location and the suspect.

In 2025, according to the investigative team, LAPD representatives agreed during a meeting to provide access to key case materials.

The team says that access was later denied.

Nearly eight decades after Elizabeth's death, the question is simple:

WHY NOT RELEASE THE RECORDS?

This isn't about promoting another Black Dahlia theory.

It's about allowing the evidence to speak for itself.

THE CASE IS MAKING NEWS AGAIN
Renewed investigations into Elizabeth Short's murder have attracted national attention.

THE NEW YORK TIMES:
“Physical evidence fades. Suspects die. Cases remain unsolved. Justice goes unserved.”

The New York Times reported on renewed efforts to investigate the case and noted that the filmmakers behind Deconstructing Dahlia say they have discovered potentially significant evidence connected to the murder.

LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE:

“What Is LAPD Hiding?”

The magazine reported on this petition and the effort to obtain records that remain unavailable nearly 80 years after Elizabeth's murder.

ELIZABETH DESERVES ANSWERS

While being denied the records, Elizabeth's surviving sisters recently died without learning who murdered her.

Witnesses have died. Investigators have died. Memories fade. Physical evidence deteriorates.

The time for transparency is NOW, before the final witnesses to this history are forever silenced.

Time matters.

Keeping records locked away indefinitely serves no purpose.

Releasing them gives investigators, forensic experts, historians and Elizabeth's family the opportunity to examine the evidence.

The public deserves transparency.

More importantly...

Elizabeth Short deserves justice.

The Short and suspects' families demand that the LAPD release this evidence.

Signing is free. No donation is required.

ADD YOUR NAME.  SIGN THIS PETITION. SHARE IT. HELP US REACH 500,000 SIGNATURES.

Enough silence. Enough secrecy. Enough delay.

RELEASE THE FILES.
LET THE EVIDENCE SPEAK.
JUSTICE FOR ELIZABETH SHORT.

You can also contact the LAPD directly to voice your support for full transparency: Los Angeles Police Department (213) 486-1000 | lapdonline@gmail.com | policecommission@lapd.online.

A docuseries titled “Deconstructing Dahlia,” chronicling this investigation, is currently in development, bringing renewed attention to the case, but public pressure is essential to drive real action. For more information and investigation updates, visit http://www.justicecbs.org/  and http://talestorm.com/