This is Crime House.

In the 1940s, cities like Los Angeles were deceivingly glamorous.

Sure, there was sunshine, shoreline, and nightlife.

But that was just what people saw on the surface.

In reality, that facade was upheld by conmen, conspirators, and killers.

Hollywood explored its own seedy underbelly through a new genre called Film Noir.

And while these black and white crime thrillers were mostly fiction,

they drew inspiration from real life. In 1947, when 22-year-old Elizabeth Short was found

murdered, the details of her death seemed like they were ripped straight from a crime movie.

But the more that was uncovered, the more people realized that no one was capable

of inventing such horrors,

except for the person who did it. The human mind is powerful.

It shapes how we think, feel, love, and hate.

But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable.

This is serial killers and murderous minds, a crimehouse original.

I'm Vanessa Richardson. And I'm forensic psychologist, Dr. Tristan Engels.

Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes a killer.

Crime House is made possible by you. Please rate, review, and follow serial killers and murderous minds.

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Before we get started, be advised.

This episode contains discussion of mutilation, murder, rape, and incest.

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