A new book claims to have solved the mystery surrounding the infamous murder of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia. Author Eli Frankel asserts that Carl Balsiger is the prime suspect in the case, which has puzzled investigators for decades. Short's body was discovered on January 15, 1947, and her murder remains one of America's most notorious unsolved crimes.

Frankel's book, "Sisters in Death: The Black Dahlia, The Prairie Heiress and Their Hunter," explores Short's final days and connects Balsiger to another gruesome murder that occurred six years earlier in Kansas City. The victim, socialite Leila Welsh, was known to Balsiger, who had a history of violence against women. Frankel stated, "I think Balsiger killed both women."

Welsh's body was found in her bedroom, showing signs of severe trauma. Frankel noted that the similarities between the two cases are striking. He explained that Balsiger was a stalker and had traveled in the same social circles as Welsh.

After the murder of Short, the Los Angeles Police Department began investigating Balsiger. They discovered his connection to the Kansas City murder but faced challenges obtaining information from local authorities. Frankel remarked, "The LAPD homicide guys are the best of the best, and Kansas City wasn’t. They asked for the Welsh files, but K.C. never sent them."

Frankel speculated that Balsiger's family connections may have influenced the lack of cooperation from Kansas City police. He described the crime scene in Kansas City as a "disaster" and suggested that there was an institutional reluctance to assist the LAPD.

The author also addressed the common belief that the Black Dahlia's killer had medical training. While the mutilations inflicted on Short were skillful, Frankel argued they were not executed with surgical precision. He noted that Balsiger was an avid hunter, which may have contributed to his ability to commit such violent acts.

Frankel shared additional details about Balsiger's troubled life, including the mysterious drowning of his sister when he was a child and the tragic death of his first wife in a car accident. He described Balsiger as a con artist who lived a transient lifestyle until his death in 1977.

In his book, Frankel also seeks to clarify the misconceptions surrounding Elizabeth Short. He emphasized that she was not the promiscuous figure often portrayed in media narratives. "She had worked since she was 16 and was nothing at all like the myth that has been built up around her," he said. "Her nights out were spent at CBS and NBC studios watching live radio plays. She did not sleep around."

Frankel concluded that Carl Balsiger remains the primary suspect in the Black Dahlia case, a mystery that continues to captivate the public's imagination.