January 15, 1947. A young mother walking with her child through a vacant lot in Los Angeles made a discovery that would haunt the city for decades—the severed, mutilated body of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, later dubbed "The Black Dahlia" by the press.

Within days, LAPD investigators had identified a prime suspect with means, motive, and opportunity. That suspect would later be secretly recorded admitting the possibility of the crime, yet he was never arrested. They had witness testimony placing him with the victim. They had evidence of his violent tendencies and history with women. They had everything they needed to solve one of the most brutal murders in LA history.

Instead, they had too much of everything. Over 500 suspects. 60 confessions. Thousands of tips. The investigation became a circus of contradicting leads, media interference, and investigative overload. In the chaos, the real killer slipped away—perhaps right from under their noses.

This episode examines how cognitive overload and information paralysis can sabotage even the most high-profile investigations. We'll explore the psychological phenomenon of "proximity blindness"—when investigators stare directly at the solution but can't see it through the noise. And we'll reveal why sometimes having too much evidence can be worse than having too little.

Join me as we examine the deadly intent behind one of America's most infamous murders, and ask the haunting question: what happens when investigators are drowning in suspects while the killer hides in plain sight?

Content Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions of extreme violence, mutilation, and sexual assault.

Follow Deadly Intent for more deep dives into the psychology behind the crime.

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