The school itself was Oregon Episcopal School. She desperately wanted to be loved. Fauna was heavily involved in the production, but legal issues and a lack of money led to the film being shelved. This what she told me. Stay tuned, lot more to come. Kathleen K: We know that Fauna since meeting Tamar, her biological mother always knew the truth that her father was A White Italian Male that gave her mother alcohol then raped her in San Francisco. Tamar, was straight with her from the getgo back in the early Seventies. 2. American Idol Top 10 Unveiled During Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night, Sunny Hostin: Don Lemon & Tiffany Cross Exits Sent Media Backwards, Barry Stars on [Spoiler]s Death, Sallys Decision & More, Copyright 2023 NTVB Media, Inc., All Rights Reserved, Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love, 12 Movie Stars Who Successfully Transitioned to TV (PHOTOS), I Am the Night: Costume Designer Rhona Meyers on Creating the Looks & Working With Patty Jenkins, Roush Review: 'I Am the Night' Delves into Hollywood's Deepest, Darkest Corners, 'I Am the Night' Star Chris Pine on Working With Director Patty Jenkins Again, 'I Am the Night': TNT Releases Trailer for Companion Podcast. I dont want to tell your story anymore. Talk about racist. If not George, who was the father of that baby? I have recently re-listened to your nieces podcast. But I cant imagine how Id feel to uncover evidence that my parent had had a second career as a notoriously depraved serial killer. This author suggests your account of your father as The Black Dahlia murderer is nothing more than a series of endless lies. Fauna Elizabeth: Dear Fauna: In our hundred or more hours of discussions after our fathers death in 1999, your mother, my sister, Tamar told me many personal stories, as I wanted to know as much as possible about what she could recall about our father and his life. George is a monster to an unimaginable degree but the good he gave this earth came in the form of you, your siblings, nieces and nephews. I was wondering if you are aware of the photo taken of Elizabeth Shorts crime scene that was seemingly taken at night which, presumably would suggest it was the killer who took the photo as she was found in the morning? Most assuredly, YES. (That pregnancy was aborted in 1949.). Steve- Ive recently finished reading DANGEROUS FRIENDS which has a lot of background on John Huston, who as you know, was well connected to Fred Sexton. Very sad. My roots on my mothers side go back to County Donegal, Ireland. She hadn't seen him in several years, but he didn't sound like the person she had known. Im amazed at your perseverance, working tirelessly to uncover the terrible crimes of your late father. She is happily hitched to his handsome husband Gino. FaunaElizabeth Hodel Wilson The inspiration for the TNT TV series I Am the Night. I Am the Night is a six-episode American limited television series created and written by Sam Sheridan, starring Chris Pine and India Eisley. I am impressed with your ability to respond to each and every person who has left a note for you thats a rarity. But life is more complex Hi Steve, was the Franklin house where the black Dahlias murder supposedly occurred ever tested with luminol or searched for any DNA? She was told that his body had been mutilated, his penis cut off and shoved in his mouth. He did see her back in the early-mid Sixties and did take Fauna II (Deborah Elizabeth, daughter of Tamar and Stan Wilson, the folksinger) out alone for dinner. TNTs new limited drama series I Am the Night may appear to some as your run-of-the-mill crime mystery, but the show is inspired by one fascinating true story. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Mother said few things that never varied, this is one. Best, Steve. read my books. He was planning his own book naming a Dr. Walter Bayley as the killer and has been promising his readers to publish the proofs for the past twenty-four years. When she was a child, she learned that she had been given away as a baby and had actually been born at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in San Francisco. For those less aware of the Black Dahlia case, the murder made headlines when Shorts body was discovered severed in half at the waist. When Jenkins met Hodel and heard her story, she knew she wanted to bring it to the screen, Jenkins told Forbes. American author and motivational speaker, who wrote the true-crime memoir One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel, documenting her unusual beginnings and the connection to her grandfather, George Hodel, a prime suspect in the infamous Black Dahlia murder mystery.. Hodel was the first child of 16-year-old Tamar Nais Hodel and the granddaughter of Los Angeles . Steve, I believe I knew Tamar years ago. He wasnt even in the United States. T.J. Burks: There were two Faunas. Created by Patty Jenkins (who directed the first two episodes) and her husband, screenwriter Sam Sheridan (Warrior), I Am the Night stars Chris Pine as reporter Jay Singletary and India Eisley as Fauna Hodel. Working on The Early Years which will hopefully be the last book in the series and will cover his crimes from the Twenties and Thirties, so stay tuned. Its really suspicious for me to see a comment from Fauna herself in May 24, 2019 when she supposedly passed in 2017. anyone who can read can tell usually when using quotations that youre quoting what someone else in the past tense has said , ie: your half sister Tamar ,theres a reason people in his profession rank number 3 and 6 in professions favoured by Psychopaths. Hes been writing them for 18-years now, ever since my first book, Black Dahlia Avenger published in 2003. The real Fauna didn't let her childhood trauma close her off. Fauna, who had seemingly been hidden away after birth, was the missing piece whose mere existence might be proof that Hodel had molested his daughter, making it even more likely that he was also capable of the Black Dahlia murder. 30 Sep 2017 (aged 66) California, USA. Have you heard of it? Which Streaming Platform Is Most Popular in the U.S.? So, stay tuned. One of these stories was as I have related in BDA, telling me of her going to our father at age 12 and asking him to help her name her the Black haired doll she had just received from her mother for her 12th birthday in late March of that year. After George's death, Steve found two pictures in his father's possessions that he believed resembled the Black Dahlia. I Do not know if youre religous but it seems there had to be something outside yourself guiding you to keep digging. Though truth be told it never was. Cremated. 6: Journalist I will continue to wear the dual masks of Drama (Thalia God of Comedy and Melpomene God of Tragedy). I had my first daughter [Yvette] when I was only 16," said Fauna, "a biracial child who really is mixed. Updated addition. Though her hair did darken, Fauna remained light-skinned and upon further investigation, she learned the identity of her birth mother allowing her to delve deeper into the mystery. George Hodel wasnt in California the year that Fauna finally reunited with her birth mother, Tamar. The film deals with Fauna's adoptive family taking in a light-skinned child with a mysterious past, which includes her grandfather being a suspect in the Black Dahlia murder case. 8: Clergy Her adoptive mother was an alcoholic who could at times be abusive. I cant begin to imagine the complexity of emotions ranging from love to hate for a man that gave you life. As to your questions: She said she didnt know. He asked her if GHH was her father, and other prurient questions. Hi Patti. That happened. Thank you so much for sharing your deeply personal story with us. The theme of incest and murder at the end of the movie is so clear to me made me wonder why John Huston would have taken such an interest in the acting part, as he rarely portrayed a character in films. One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel, "The Wild, True Story That Inspired 'I Am the Night': So. For you, thank you for giving your readers and podcasts listeners a glimpse into such a traumatic time into your life as you fought to uncover such an ugly truth about your own father. When she was going through photo albums with her half-siblings, Later in life, Fauna moved to Hawaii and had another daughter, Rasha Pecoraro, with a different man. Before and after the trial. However, the charges were dropped. Hodel's lavish mansion, Sowden House, was the site of wild orgies and parties in which . Chris Pine also stars as a former marine turned paparazzo who gets involved when he learns about Faunas fascinating origin story. In the show, Jay is a manic reporter whose persistent reporting on George's scandalous incest casethe rape of his daughter and Fauna's mother, Tamarleads his career to the gutter. One question I cant get out of my mind: Did anyone ever determine who may have been screaming during the police recording? When Fauna Hodel was born, she was given up for adoption to a hotel maid and her husband who lived outside Reno, Nevada. Steve. After Dr. George Hodel landed on the LAPD's radar when he was accused of molesting his 14-year-old daughter, Tamar, the police began looking at him as a suspect in the unsolved Black Dahlia murder case, which by then was over two years old. "Supposin' I did kill the Black Dahlia, they couldn't prove it now. Also, what other crimes did he commit not mentioned or found by me? I suppose thats a normal reaction when pondering a sociopathic ghoul who hates women and is incapable of feeling compassion, warmth, or tenderness for fellow human beings. In January 2004 some nine months after the publication of my first book, Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder, (Arcade 2003) Tamar wrote and emailed me the below six-page Overview of the Tamar Chronicles. This was a summary of what she intended to be her autobiography in three parts. Yes, Im familiar with the derogatory comments by Larry Harnisch on his website. Site by AuthorBytes. Have gone through many and varying reactions through the years. Family dynamics are so complex, and I thought my family was the archetype of dysfunction. Unbeknownst to Fauna, her parentage wasn't what her . Surely they made links between the imagery? I only know what she told me. (A claim hes made over the past twenty-three years.) Much appreciated. It was also the basis for an episode of American Horror Story. The movie also stars Charles S. Dutton, Bobby Hosea, Tess Harper and Jill Clayburgh. Just as many television shows/movies/books often use terms that are racist and deeply insensitive when referring to anyone who isnt a straight, white, Christian person in order to give an accurate representation of the time and place the story is set. Fauna, played by India Eisley in the TNT series, was the granddaughter of George Hodel, a suspect in the murder of Elizabeth Short, a.k.a. She is Fauna Hodel's daughter. Yes. I used to think going to therapy meant my healing journey was complete. Tamar Hodel was Fauna Hodel 's mother. Who knows what evil lurks in Men and what drives them . Even the Doctor who was thought to be Jack the Ripper managed to kill many women and then move to another state continuing to con people out of money as well. In 1949, Dr. George Hill Hodel was accused of molesting and having sex with his 14-year-old daughter, Tamar. Below is a PDF containing the complete seven pages as included in BDA III Chapter 6, Tamar Nais Hodel. So George moves her onto the next phase of his entrapment: the artist's studio. Im sure it wasnt easy for you to figure out what your father was.. Fauna's Daughters Have Given Their Stamp Of Approval,", "New Podcast Explores Black Dahlia Murder: Root of Evil dives into the story of George Hodel, a primary suspect in Elizabeth Shorts 1947 unsolved murder and its told by his great-granddaughters,", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fauna_Hodel&oldid=1133379049, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 13:52. Id just like to say, I hope this finds you and finds you in good health ? It is confusing. That isnt my opinion as I havent read your books; I think my only exposure to your story was a segment I caught on one of the daytime talkies. I know youre old, and probably still stuck in the olden times, but it is 2021. She felt she was tricked into telling. You are a rare person to rise above a nightmare environment and land grounded. This has nothing to do with the other Fauna who never met dad in life. I am not one to get involved in petty arguments and disputes. San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, USA. Below, were breaking down the key things to know about I Am the Nights true story, but beware of possible spoilers if you prefer a surprise when watching. 1: CEO They remained in touch with each other as long as I can remember.. her reasons to win his love and hopefully gain financial support as well. In fact she spoke of George this way even years after your first book: Black Dahlia Advenger. Only source on it is Ancestry.com (See full description and details in Tamars own words as to the how and why of it below.). My story is very similar. We have to find another way., So the six-part fictional rendering of Fauna Hodels story in, Never are the shows deviations from real events more apparent than in the season finale. But Fauna is able to fight back. This photograph would have been taken shortly after the birth and adoption of her first child, Fauna Hodel, who was born August 1, 1951. They cant defeat the evidence, so all they can do is continue to claim we are too busy with other cold cases to look at Hodels investigation. An unreleased 1991 film titled Pretty Hattie's Baby is based on the early life of Fauna Hodel. This is the inverse to the scenario of a convicted criminals family member trying to prove the accused innocent. And my youngest daughter [Rasha] is 33, blond, blue eyes, different father. His son Steve Hodel, a retired Los Angeles detective, believes his father is the infamous Black Dahlia killer. If they look at it they will have to conclude as I have shown, that LAPDs two greatest heroes, Chiefs William H. Bill Parker and Chief of Detectives Thad Brown, did in fact, participate in a cover-up by not pursuing their known/identified suspect, Dr. George Hill Hodel. As we know, sadly those actions resulted in both men and the Department having serious blood on their hands from the murders that followed in the Sixties. In 1991, she was involved in the production of the movie. He had no part in the naming. 5: Surgeon Harnisch has been on a childish rant ever since and keeps promising to publish his book any year now. It isnt a reflection of his age or his inability to keep up with the times. George Hodel is far from imaginary. She was proud to be to married to a famous recording artist, as her first love (Josh White) was already married. Never again. Christina: As indicated in my followup books, Buster a cadaver dog alert to numerous locations for human remains. 1. Fauna 2 was born Deborah Elizabeth Wilson. In this Fauna Hodel interview from the early 1990s, Fauna says that there were only two days of filming that remained on the near $7.5 million production, in addition to editing time. To manage such an investigation, I suspect youd have to remain as objective as possible. If so, I want to believe that wherever she is, she now knows the truth. Hilarious how afterwards you follow it with black. I dont know? trying to take advantage of a sensational case. Fauna did get to meet . 7: Police Carr whose later position was, I dont know who killed her and Im too busy with other cases to look at Steve Hodels evidence and he then retire.d. Just seeing things from both sides. I just watched the episode of Zak on the Black Dahlia murder with Fauna. Thank you Steve for your drive to reveal this sad truth. In 2017, Fauna died at the age of 66. Fauna was the daughter of my half . As far as Tamar and Faunas biological father. See blog on it HERE. I think she lived in the room next to mine. Death. Inka: Its obvious a crime was being committed and that the PD failed to intervene, but curious if the woman has ever been identified? The brief accounting I listened to when you appeared on Dr. I feel a lot of truths we were once denied shall no longer have the veil of silence they once possessed. Lisa K: I havent watched the miniseries either, the trailer was enough to tell me is is 95% fiction. Steve, I never visited Ireland, but would love to see it someday. Tamar Hodel died in October 2015. If nobody is calling you or those you love crackers, then you can see why negro is offensive you disrespectful mutant. War bestimmt nicht einfach fr Sie zu erkennen was ihr Vater war.. Danke, Translation: Although the Hodel family has many more skeletons than other families, you all are dealing with this by acknowledging, acceptance and healing. [5][6] Hodel served as the film's executive producer and creative consultant. As far as the Black Dahlia investigation is concerned it is way beyond my personal conjecture and theories. But, one has to read the material and see all the linkage. Thank you for the kind words and well wishes to me and my readers. She loved me because I was her baby, but she hated my whiteness." Fauna and her husband Billy also believed that their phones were being tapped, since they could hear an echo and a clicking sound during calls. Remember, this case came to me, I didnt go to it. He asked her if she remembered when they used to play under the bed together. I feel like all the other cast members have said something, It has recently dawned on Camila Morrone what an odd and challenging thing it is to be a photographer. So it appears to the very same outcometo please George, so she indirectly was telling the truth. She said he smiled at her and said, Why dont you name her Elizabeth. During the telling of that story, she laughed and went on to say that seven years later she would name her own daughter, Deborah Elizabeth. Further recent DNA tests have confirmed that George Hodel has been eliminated as the father of Fauna Hodel. Below is a PDF containing the complete seven pages as included in BDA III Chapter 6, Tamar Nais Hodel. And, in the end, it is the same- The fact is the source of your middle name, Elizabeth did come from and at Georges request. Born August 1, 1951, in San Francisco, Hodel was the first child of 16-year-old Tamar Nais Hodel and the granddaughter of Los Angeles doctor and socialite George Hodel. My point in using the term is to show exactly how Faunas unnamed father was described on the 1951 birth certificate, which reads, information withheld concerning Father, Color or Race of Father Negro. These are not MY words they are the words used by the hospital to describe her father. Yvette Gentile Husband. I know he had Tammy: Yes, Tamars first pregnancy was aborted in 1949 and George Hodel was in Hawaii. Love you Dearly, Fauna Elizabeth Wilson /Hodel Her whole life, Fauna was told by her parents that her birth mother was white and her father was African-American. Hi Steve, Cath B: Hi Kris: Thanks for the kind words. This question has generated the most curiosity surrounding the, At the time, George Marshall's 1946 noir film, Yes. Fauna Hodel may have passed away before I Am the Night, TNT's adaptation of her 2008 memoir, made it to screen, but there are two key people who helped to ensure her story was done justice. I would study my birth certificate. Thank you for allowing the public to know the truth. By hosting the TNT companion podcast, her daughters are continuing their mother's legacy of bringing the Hodel family secrets to light. Craig: Thanks for the kind words. 4: Salesperson (oh crap thats me) Im well aware of what century this is. When did Tamar die? He is the author of the New York Times Bestseller Black Dahlia Avenger, a popular book on the infamous Black Dahlia murder case. "My mother was in and out of jail," said Fauna. No, never did ID that victim. It listed her father as "Negro", his "name withheld". It couldve easily been edited as well. The TNT mini-series blends the real-life stories of Fauna and George Hodel with fabrications like Chris Pine's Jay Singletary, in service of a rehashing of the still-unsolved Black Dahlia murder. Before she died, Fauna's mother, Jimmie Lee, told her that a man who posed as a chauffeur had been watching Fauna . Her adoptive mother, Jimmie Lee, had showed her birth certificate to her, which listed her birth mother's name, "Tamar Hodel". This is when I fell in love with True Crime. I admire you for uncovering all this and for answering everyone here. If I think about your father at length, I feel deeply uneasy. Earlier we hear the question, Does your husband know youre here? So, Im guessing she was slain, body disposed of like many of the other victims and her husband likely made a Missing Report on his wife, and she became just another lost/missing report in LA which was known as, The Port of Missing Persons. Dear Mr. Hodel Fauna Hodel (August 1, 1951 - September 30, 2017) was an American author and motivational speaker, who wrote the true-crime memoir One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel, documenting her unusual beginnings and the connection to her grandfather, George Hodel, a prime suspect in the infamous Black Dahlia murder mystery. Much appreciated. (1947) (This would have been just nine weeks after he murdered Elizabeth Short.) (See full description and details in Tamars own words as to the how and why of it below.). You are truly an inspiration and a reminder that there are always people on the good side of the fight, no matter how difficult that may be. Spoilers aside, as it is such an old film, part of the impact of the last few scenes has to do with the fact that Noah Cross gets away with it. The Black Dahlia Murder is near-legend in the annals of true crime. This is not a work of fiction, reads an eerie message at the beginning of every episode of ne, Minor spoilers ahead. (The reason being to hide the fact that a murder was committed during the electronic stakeout and they took no action, made no immediate response to the assault.) Stop using words like negro. was far more compelling and richly detailed than lmharnischs efforts at debunking your suppositions. The Black Dahlia was the name given to 22-year-old murder victim Elizabeth Short, an aspiring actress whose body was found on the chilly morning of January 15, 1947 in the Leimart Park area of South Los Angeles. [citation needed], Hodel died of breast cancer at age 66 on September 30, 2017.[4]. "She was just always fighting. Because her father was listed on her birth certificate as an "unknown Negro", Fauna ended up with an African-American family in Reno, Nevada. She never achieved her goal there at that time. The birth certificate that her adoptive mother showed her listed her as biracial. Just put in a keyword or two. Wishing you and yours continued health in the very difficult times. Tamar always maintained that the father was An Italian in San Francisco that got her drunk and took advantage of her. See the below link to the full story. Memorial ID. Id be interested in hearing your thoughts too. But isnt it also true much of what you have put together, at least regarding the Black Dahlia, is also conjecture based on your own theories and no 100% proof so you could call that dramatic effect for your own writing and sales as well. Hard to have a conversation with a serial killer/psychopath and or to get any straight answers from him. Have you ever been in touch with Beth Shorts relatives? The only way to understand and see how it all fits together is to read all of the books, which are in fact, one ongoing investigation, each adding a significant amount of new evidence to the previous investigation. Thank you for clarifying. Its a shame because it seemed she cared so much about GHH victims. She would have been 13 I believe. However, when Tamar gave away the child for adoption, they claimed Fauna was multiracial though it was later proven that she is not mixed race. There were cuts all over her body, rope burns and defensive wounds on her wrists, hands, and ankles, and one breast had been cut off. Did he remain a mystery? Theyre listed as retired from the Los Angeles Times and its my impression theyve kept a blog and contributed to an online journal called The Daily Mirror. Thanks for your thoughtful response Steve. Much appreciated. Fauna brushed off the strangeness and told him he could come visit, not fully realizing how much he'd changed. She even addressed Steve Uncle, Not sure the reference, but it may have been from Deborah aka Fauna II? "I started researching. So, at best, Jay Singletary is a combination of a number of different reporters and detectives who investigated the Black Dahlia murder, but there is no single person on which the character is based. Like the show illustrates, George was a fan of Surrealism and sadomasochism . So, very possible she was at that school prior to coming down for the fateful events that occurred in the Summer of 49? Gentile and Gino celebrated their 15 . Jimmie Lee taunted Fauna by telling her that she could pick up a phone and call Fauna's grandfather (by birth) anytime she wanted. At this important life juncture, Fauna was. . I also wish our police personal were honored more for all that they do to keep us safe. The case is still unsolved. Best, Steve, Thank you for your ceaseless commitment to the truth, Steve. Her mother was a maid and her father was a shoe shine man. She never stopped loving him and always hoped that love would be reciprocated by him. Copyright 2023 Steve Hodel. Juno Temple thinks Keeley Jones would make a pretty good boss. Fauna later learned her origins, which revealed her connection to the controversial 1949 incest trial of George Hodel on accusations by Tamar as well as George Hodel's connection to the still-unsolved Black Dahlia case. (Also, FYI, you can search any subject by using the SEARCH BOX under my badge on the Squad Room Blog page. Yes, the family dynamics have been difficult for me. He kept telling her how attractive she was and called her "baby" and "sugar," telling her that he wanted to "feast his eyes on a sexy thang like herself." Best, Steve. Thank you for telling your story! At the same time, I would caution against using the expression you people. whats next? So, for the past twelve or so years, I have chosen just to ignore his rantings. [4] In February 2019, it was announced that Gentile and Pecoraro were producing a podcast, Root of Evil, which delves further into the book, the miniseries adaptation, and their family history. I just received this posting a few hours ago, announcing the death of my niece, Fauna Hodel, who passed away at her home under hospice care at age 66. Im curious if youre familiar with someone by the name (or handle) of lmharnisch? Unfortunately there are probably many people who were not convicted due to their standing in the community or being able to buy off officials in those days. The viewing/listening/reading public needs to know what is FACT and what is FICTION. As far as the hosts of Root of Evil, I had never actually met my great niece Rasha prior to our appearance on the Dr. Phil Show a few months back and had only met her sister, Yvette on two brief occasions, with her mother Fauna, more than a decade past. Fauna and her husband began to believe that whoever had been listening in on their calls might be responsible for Johnny's murder. Who is Fauna Hodels father? I appreciate, more than you know, your quest. Fauna leaves behind two daughters, Rasha Pecoraro and Yvette Gentile. Secrets and lies have permeated the Hodel family for far too long and finally the spotlight zeros in on the truth as it should. I just wish we knew more about stopping these crimes before they start. Alfre Woodard portrays Fauna's adoptive mother. I just listened to the podcast. TNT's new miniseries, I Am the Night, brings to life the unbelievable true story of Fauna Hodel. You and your family ? C. Crow, C. Crow: skh. Steve, PLEASE CORRECT. In my young mind it was my way to be New, loved, a person not sexually abused!! Dive deeper into the true story behind I Am the Night by watching interviews with the real Fauna Hodel and her birth mother, Tamar Hodel. In my opinion, Fauna chose to let people believe that maybe George was her father for dramatic effect. Same reason she totally invented three fictional letters supposedly written by my mother and sent to her mother which she included in her biography, Some Day Shell Darken. When I queried her after the book was published in 2008 about the invented letters, her response was, Well sometimes a writer has to take creative license for dramatic effect. That was the last time I ever spoke with my niece, Fauna Hodel. Keelie K: We keep struggling, making due, and going on, cause thats all there is, she says in a letter to Jay (Chris Pine), the dogged reporter who tries to save Fauna in the finale. When Fauna Hodel was born, she was given up for adoption to a hotel maid and her husband who lived outside Reno, Nevada. Next? August 1, 1951 - September 30, 2017. Yes, DNA has proven that George Hodel WAS NOT her biological father. Take care of yourself and stay safe out there! Carr took the position, Could be him? Mom still loved him. thanks, She was a bit of a mystery to all of us at the school. Wow! Below is a link to the suggested reading order if one wants a true understanding of how it all comes together.