In January 1947, a mother walking through a quiet Los Angeles neighborhood made a horrifying discovery — the bisected body of a young woman posed in a vacant lot.

Within hours, newspapers had a headline that would echo for decades: The Black Dahlia Murder.

In this first episode of BROKEN: The Black Dahlia Murder, host Esther Ludlow revisits the shocking discovery of Elizabeth Short’s body and explores how the media turned one of America’s most brutal crimes into legend.

You’ll learn how police handed reporters nearly unrestricted access to the case, how wild speculation replaced evidence, and how myths — from “party girl” to “femme fatale” — erased the real woman behind the name.

Seventy-eight years later, her story is still broken by rumor and sensationalism.

Now, Once Upon a Crime seeks to restore the truth.

In this six-part series, Esther will uncover the real Elizabeth Short — and tell the story the headlines never did. 

About This Series

BROKEN: The Black Dahlia Murder is a six-part Once Upon a Crime original series.

Through extensive research, historical records, and firsthand accounts, Esther Ludlow uncovers the truth behind America’s most infamous unsolved murder, separating fact from fiction to rediscover the real woman behind the myth.

Upcoming episode:

Part Two: Discovering Elizabeth - The true biography of Elizabeth Short: her childhood, her dreams, and how her life led her to Los Angeles. 

Release date: October 25th 

Sources & References

• Los Angeles Police Department and FBI case archives and reports.
• “Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood” by William J. Mann, Simon & Schuster, (Advanced Reader Copy), Publication date: January 13, 2026. 
• “Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder” by John Gilmore.
• Historic articles from the Los Angeles Times and The Examiner (1947). (Accessed on Newspapers.com.) 

Sponsors: 

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Killer Hearts to Hearts: https://www.killerhearttohearts.com/podcast

Crime Salad: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-salad/id1457141569

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In January 1947, Elizabeth Short’s brutal murder shocked Los Angeles — and turned her into the enduring legend known as The Black Dahlia.

In this new six-part Once Upon a Crime series, host Esther Ludlow goes beyond the headlines to uncover the real woman behind the myth. Drawing on her background in criminal psychology and nearly a decade of experience researching and narrating Once Upon a Crime, Esther takes a deep dive into one of history’s most infamous unsolved murders — revealing new insights, hidden details, and the truth behind the legend.

🎧 Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder premieres October 13th.

Don’t Miss Our Other Series

While you wait for the premiere of Broken, you can listen to our full seven-part series, Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion — now available on all podcast platforms and on YouTube. It’s the tragic story of the last woman hanged in Britain, exploring love, obsession, and the ultimate price of passion.

🔗 Subscribe now and follow at truecrimepodcast.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special Aftershow episode, Esther and Lorena answer listener questions and reflect on the powerful story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom.

Together, we unpack the psychology, the heartbreak, and the social forces behind one of Britain’s most infamous true crime cases. From Ruth’s volatile relationship with David Blakely to the justice system that sealed her fate, we dive deeper into what drove her — and what doomed her.

Plus, Esther reflects on Ruth’s final act, and whether she believed it was her only escape.

If you loved the Hanged series, this Aftershow gives you a chance to go behind the scenes, hear deeper insights, and join the conversation about love, obsession, and justice.

Highlights:

• The emotional toll of toxic relationships and what they reveal about human behavior
• Gender, class, and morality in 1950s Britain
• How Ruth Ellis’s childhood and early adult experiences informed her choices about love, relationships, and obsession 

✈️ Travel with Us to Mexico City! 🇲🇽

We’re taking Once Upon a Crime on the road—and you’re invited! In March 2026, join us for a fun, fabulous 4-day group trip to vibrant Mexico City. Explore incredible sights, savor delicious food, and connect with fellow true crime fans on an unforgettable adventure.

Reserve your spot today with just 25% down—but hurry, space is limited and will sell out fast!

🔗 Click here to learn more and book your spot now!

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps us bring more stories like Ruth’s to life.

Sources:

A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Ruth Ellis Story, Carol Ann Lee, Mainstream Publishing, 2013.

The Last Woman to be Hanged: The Ruth Ellis Story, Robert Hancock, Seven Dials Publishing, 2020. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis

https://realcrimes.co.uk/ruth-ellis-jealousy-rejection-and-a-hanging/

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ruth-ellis-real-story-last-woman-hanged-murder-a-cruel-love-b1141748.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20141204212735/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/ellis/5.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/12/ukcrime.claredyer

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/history/woman-hanged-ruth-ellis-hampshire-4192091

https://www.crimemagazine.com/ruth-ellis-love-lust-and-death-gallows

Sponsors: 

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

✈️ Travel with Us to Mexico City! 🇲🇽

We’re taking Once Upon a Crime on the road—and you’re invited! In March 2026, join us for a fun, fabulous 4-day group trip to vibrant Mexico City. Explore incredible sights, savor delicious food, and connect with fellow true crimefans on an unforgettable adventure.

Reserve your spot today with just 25% down—but hurry, space is limited and will sell out fast!

🔗 Click here to learn more and book your spot now!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special bonus wrap-up episode of Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion, we step beyond the execution chamber and trace the ripple effects of Ruth’s final act—the shockwaves that forever altered the lives of those left behind. We’ll look at the family who grieved and struggled in the aftermath, the friends and supporters who fought to save her but could not, and even the men whose choices sealed her fate.

👉 Don’t miss this final look at the lasting legacy of Britain’s last woman to be hanged.

📌 Subscribe for the next and final episode in this series—a Q&A “After Show” where I’ll answer listener questions and share behind-the-scenes insights.

✉️ Send your questions and thoughts: [email protected]

📺 Watch episodes on YouTube and subscribe for updates: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast 

Sources:

A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Ruth Ellis Story, Carol Ann Lee, Mainstream Publishing, 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis

https://realcrimes.co.uk/ruth-ellis-jealousy-rejection-and-a-hanging/

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ruth-ellis-real-story-last-woman-hanged-murder-a-cruel-love-b1141748.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20141204212735/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/ellis/5.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/12/ukcrime.claredyer

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/history/woman-hanged-ruth-ellis-hampshire-4192091

https://www.crimemagazine.com/ruth-ellis-love-lust-and-death-gallows

Resources & Further Reading

• Dance with a Stranger (1985 film)
• ITV’s A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (2025)
• Ruth Ellis: My Sister’s Secret Life by Muriel Jakubait
• Line Up for Crime by Duncan Webb

Sponsors: 

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

By now you’ve probably heard that Esther is leading an exclusive group trip to Mexico Cityfrom March 27–30, 2026. If you’ve been thinking about joining us for this unforgettable four-day adventure, the time to act is RIGHT NOW!

For the next THREE people who book, we’re giving you an extra $50 OFF our already discounted Early Bird Price. That’s a total of $150 in savings when you use code TT150MC at checkout (case sensitive). But hurry—this deal EXPIRES on 9/22or as soon as those 3 spots are gone!

https://trovatrip.com/trip/north-america/mexico/mexico-with-esther-ludlow-mar-2026

✨ What’s Included:

• Guided tour of the Historic Mexico City Center
• Colorful food market visit
• Mezcal mixology class + tasting 🍸
• Visit to the iconic Frida Kahlo/Diego Rivera House & Museum 🎨
• Hotel accommodations + city transfers
• Select meals
• And of course… a safe, fun trip with your fellow true crime partners in crime— including Esther & Lorena!

Secure your spot with just 25% down, pay in full, or choose a payment plan at booking.

👉 Don’t wait — this is the lowest price you’ll see for this trip, and it’s only available for the next 3 people. Book today using the link below, and we’ll see you in Mexico City! 🌎

Code: TT150MC

Deadline: 9/22 OR once the next 3 spots are gone!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this final installment of our seven-part series, we follow Ruth Ellis through her last days and hours at Holloway Prison. Convicted of the murder of her lover, David Blakely, Ruth became the last woman hanged in Britain.

We trace the frantic efforts made by friends, family, and even members of the public to win her a reprieve—and the powerful voices calling for her execution to go forward. We recount the haunting details of her final letters, her last walk to the gallows, and her shocking confession on the eve of her death that suggested she did not act alone.

📺 Watch episodes on YouTube and subscribe for updates: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast 

Sources:

A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Ruth Ellis Story, Carol Ann Lee, Mainstream Publishing, 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis

https://realcrimes.co.uk/ruth-ellis-jealousy-rejection-and-a-hanging/

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ruth-ellis-real-story-last-woman-hanged-murder-a-cruel-love-b1141748.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20141204212735/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/ellis/5.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/12/ukcrime.claredyer

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/history/woman-hanged-ruth-ellis-hampshire-4192091

https://www.crimemagazine.com/ruth-ellis-love-lust-and-death-gallows

Resources & Further Reading

• Dance with a Stranger (1985 film)
• ITV’s A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (2025)
• Ruth Ellis: My Sister’s Secret Life by Muriel Jakubait
• Line Up for Crime by Duncan Webb

Sponsors: 

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com 

✈️ Travel with Us to Mexico City! 🇲🇽

We’re taking Once Upon a Crime on the road—and you’re invited! In March 2026, join us for a fun, fabulous 4-day group trip to vibrant Mexico City. Explore incredible sights, savor delicious food, and connect with fellow true crime fans on an unforgettable adventure.

Reserve your spot today with just 25% down—but hurry, space is limited and will sell out fast!

🔗 Click here to learn more and book your spot now!

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps us bring more stories like Ruth’s to life.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Ruth Ellis takes the stand in her own defense during her murder trial at the Old Bailey. What unfolds is one of the most disastrous testimonies in British legal history.

Ruth answers questions with little emotion, even while recounting her tumultuous relationship with David Blakely, his violence, her miscarriage, and her decision to end their affair. Her matter-of-fact answers shock the jury, and her own attorney is stunned when she calmly admits, “I had an idea I wanted to kill him.”

🔗 Listen now to hear the dramatic conclusion of Ruth’s trial—and stay tuned for Part Seven, the final chapter of her story.

✨ Don’t miss the finale of this series, dropping September 8th.

📺 Watch episodes on YouTube and subscribe for updates: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast 

🎟️ Join us at CrimeCon Denver (Sept 5–8, 2025) and hang out with Esther on Creator’s Row! Get discounted tickets at crimecon.com with code ONCE.  

Sources:

A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Ruth Ellis Story, Carol Ann Lee, Mainstream Publishing, 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis

https://realcrimes.co.uk/ruth-ellis-jealousy-rejection-and-a-hanging/

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ruth-ellis-real-story-last-woman-hanged-murder-a-cruel-love-b1141748.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20141204212735/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/ellis/5.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/12/ukcrime.claredyer

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/history/woman-hanged-ruth-ellis-hampshire-4192091

https://www.crimemagazine.com/ruth-ellis-love-lust-and-death-gallows

Sponsors: 

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com 

✈️ Travel with Us to Mexico City! 🇲🇽

We’re taking Once Upon a Crime on the road—and you’re invited! In March 2026, join us for a fun, fabulous 4-day group trip to vibrant Mexico City. Explore incredible sights, savor delicious food, and connect with fellow true crime fans on an unforgettable adventure.

Reserve your spot today with just 25% down—but hurry, space is limited and will sell out fast!

🔗 Click here to learn more and book your spot now!

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps us bring more stories like Ruth’s to life.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Easter weekend 1955, Ruth Ellis reached her breaking point.

After years of jealousy, violence, and betrayal, she spent a long, sleepless night replaying the wreckage of her life — and blaming one man: David Blakely. By Easter Sunday, her rage would boil over into an act that would shock Britain and seal her fate as the last woman hanged in the UK.

In this episode, we follow Ruth’s final hours before the shooting — a day marked by obsessive phone calls, tense stakeouts, and a simmering fury that would explode in front of witnesses. This is the moment where obsession turned deadly.

🔍 Part Five picks up the story in the final hours before the shooting — the culmination of a deadly obsession.

🎧 Listen now to uncover the tragic and tense moments before Ruth Ellis pulled the trigger.

#TrueCrimePodcast #RuthEllis #LastWomanHanged #TrueCrimeHistory #CrimeOfPassion #BritishTrueCrime #OnceUponACrime

Sources:

A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Ruth Ellis Story, Carol Ann Lee, Mainstream Publishing, 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis

https://realcrimes.co.uk/ruth-ellis-jealousy-rejection-and-a-hanging/

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ruth-ellis-real-story-last-woman-hanged-murder-a-cruel-love-b1141748.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20141204212735/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/ellis/5.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/12/ukcrime.claredyer

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/history/woman-hanged-ruth-ellis-hampshire-4192091

https://www.crimemagazine.com/ruth-ellis-love-lust-and-death-gallows

Sponsors: 

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Join us in Denver for our favorite weekend of the year. CrimeCon Denver September 5 - 7 2025. Use code: ONCE to save.

🔗 - See you in Denver.

✈️ Travel with Us to Mexico City! 🇲🇽

We’re taking Once Upon a Crime on the road—and you’re invited! In March 2026, join us for a fun, fabulous 4-day group trip to vibrant Mexico City. Explore incredible sights, savor delicious food, and connect with fellow true crimefans on an unforgettable adventure.

Reserve your spot today with just 25% down—but hurry, space is limited and will sell out fast!

🔗 Click here to learn more and book your spot now!

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps us bring more stories like Ruth’s to life.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is Part Four of our 7-part series, Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion. We trace the true story of the last woman hanged in Britain, exploring the tangled mix of love, obsession, and violence that sealed her fate.

In this episode of Once Upon a Crime, the destructive love affair between Ruth Ellis and David Blakely spirals further into chaos. David’s jealousy and violent outbursts threaten Ruth’s livelihood, her home, and her relationships. By the winter of 1954, the tension between them reaches a breaking point.

On Christmas Day, what should have been a festive celebration turns into a drunken, humiliating spectacle that shocks party guests and deepens Ruth’s emotional entanglement. As the new year approaches, Ruth’s world teeters on the edge — and the toxic bond she shares with David is leading them both toward disaster.

Content Warning:

This episode contains descriptions of domestic violence and emotional abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

Sources:

A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Ruth Ellis Story, Carol Ann Lee, Mainstream Publishing, 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis

https://realcrimes.co.uk/ruth-ellis-jealousy-rejection-and-a-hanging/

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ruth-ellis-real-story-last-woman-hanged-murder-a-cruel-love-b1141748.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20141204212735/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/ellis/5.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/12/ukcrime.claredyer

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/history/woman-hanged-ruth-ellis-hampshire-4192091

https://www.crimemagazine.com/ruth-ellis-love-lust-and-death-gallows

Sponsors: 

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/

Connect With Us:

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps us bring more stories like Ruth’s to life.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part Three of “Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion”, we delve into the turbulent 1954 relationship between Ruth Ellis, David Blakely, and Desmond Cussen. Discover how Ruth’s guarded heart, David’s infatuation, and a dangerous rivalry set the stage for obsession, jealousy, and ultimately, tragedy.

Sources:

A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Ruth Ellis Story, Carol Ann Lee, Mainstream Publishing, 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis

https://realcrimes.co.uk/ruth-ellis-jealousy-rejection-and-a-hanging/

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ruth-ellis-real-story-last-woman-hanged-murder-a-cruel-love-b1141748.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20141204212735/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/ellis/5.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/12/ukcrime.claredyer

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/history/woman-hanged-ruth-ellis-hampshire-4192091

https://www.crimemagazine.com/ruth-ellis-love-lust-and-death-gallows

Sponsors: 

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/

Connect With Us:

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps us bring more stories like Ruth’s to life.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.