Black Dahlia Author Steve Hodel to Speak at Library

New York Times best-selling author, , will return to the Room Thursday at 7 p.m. to discuss new investigations presented in his latest novel, Most Evil: Avenger, Zodiac, and the Further Serial Murders of Dr. George Hill Hodel.

"Initially I just thought my father knew the killer," said Hodel. "There were a number of things that pointed as to why, but it took me about a year until it really started pointing to him as the killer. Doors kept opening."

As a retired LAPD detective living in Washington, Hodel came across evidence that pointed to his father, George Hodel, as the Black Dahlia killer after he died in 1999. George grew up in South Pasadena on an estate on Monterey Road; he was identified as a child musical prodigy, he scored 186 on an IQ test (1 point higher than Einstein), graduated early from and entered Caltech at the age of 14. 

According to Hodel, his first book Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder unlocked secret District Attorney files since being published that confirm George Hodel had long been law enforcement's No. 1 suspect in Elizabeth Short's (aka the Black Dahlia) death.

Growing up, Hodel says he was aware of his father's sexual percularity but never thought he was a murderer. George Hodel was arrested in 1949 for incest—when Hodel was just 10—and fled the country shortly after. Yet even though his father was absent for most of his life, the two became close over the last decade before he died.

"I was aware of his eccentricities, but I never saw the evil. It never occurred to me that he would be capable of murder," said Hodel. "It's just terribly sad. I still love my father—he's my father. But there was this monster inside of him. I had to separate detective from son."

In Most Evil, Hodel compiles never-before-seen visual, circumstantial and forensic evidence to make the case that his father was a prolific serial killer who not only killed Short but several other victims inside and outside the U.S. 

"I've been through every possible emotion you can think of on this," said Hodel.

Regardless, he's never thought twice about reporting what he's discovered.

"I worship the truth. My life has been of service to others," said Hodel. "That's why I became a police man. I really enjoy helping people. When you're talking about murder and serial murders, no one gets a free ride."