Kenneth Narlow, the original investigator handling the ZODIAC INVESTIGATION for the Napa County Sheriff’s Office has passed away.

On September 27, 1969,then  Sgt. Ken Narlow conducted the original crime-scene investigation and follow-up on Zodiac’s, Lake Berryessa stabbing of Cecelia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell.

Information received from Tom Voigt of Zodiackiller.com indicated Ken sucumbed from a long fought battle with cancer. Below photo courtesy of Tom Voigt.

KENNETH NARLOW

1930-2010

Ken Narlow circa 1998

 My sincere condolence to Ken’s surviving family members and friends.

Though, I never had an opportunity to meet Ken in person, you can tell a lot from the way a person presents themself in public.

In the several different television interviews, Ken always appeared as the ultimate professional law enforcement officer. Calm, precise and objective. Yet, clearly he was a man with lots of humanity and was motivated by a genuine need to provide “service to others.”

The fact that he befriended so many at the Zodiackiller.com website and was open to sharing and exchanging ideas on possible suspects, also says a lot about the man and his motivation.

He was all about SOLVING THE CASE, and not about WHO WOULD COULD SOLVE IT.

Thank you Ken  for your many years of dedicated service to the Northern California community.    

                                                REST IN PEACE                          

Steve Hodel
Los Angeles

See article Napa Valley Register December 2, 2010

November 1, 2010

I awakened this morning and a check of my e-mail IN BOX showed this query from a reader:

“Mr. Hodel:

I read in the L.A. Times this morning that Elizabeth Short wasn’t seen leaving the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel by the doorman, and that it was all just made up. Is this true? I thought in your book you said she was seen leaving the hotel?”

                                                                                         Carole D., Glendale

Ms. D was referencing a blog entry by copy-editor, Larry Harnisch dated today, where he dismisses the original story as a myth. In his blog, Harnisch writes:

 ”I always have my eye out for stories about doormen at the Biltmore after researching the often-repeated myth about the “noble doorman” at the hotel, tipping his cap and opening the door for the Black Dahlia when she disappeared in 1947.”

…

Harnisch then goes on to tell his readers:                      

“In fact, this story doesn’t appear anywhere in the original news coverage or in any official documents I have ever examined. It seems to have been invented by Jack Webb for “The Badge”….

Myth or Fact?  For The Record-

While I cannot speak to the “tipping of his hat” I can say that Mr. Harnisch is again, misinforming his readers. (He also claimed that the reported burn marks on Elizabeth Short’s body were a myth. They were NOT and I published the photograph to prove it.)

THE STORY OF A BILTMORE EMPLOYEE SEEING ELIZABETH SHORT LEAVE THE HOTEL IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. MORE THAN THAT THE WITNESS ALSO ESTABLISHED THAT A MAN MET HER AT THE OLIVE STREET ENTRANCE.

Further, I have a copy of the documentation from Lt. Jemison’s  ”District Attorney – Black Dahlia Case files.” 

The witness, Mr. Harold Studholme, was not the doorman, but rather the Biltmore Hotel’s Bell Captain. (Close enough for government work.)   

He was interviewed by LAPD and gave a formal statement as to seeing a figure outside the Olive Street door wave to the victim through the window. He placed the time at approximately 10:00 P.M. The bell captain then saw Elizabeth Short get up and exit through the glass door and walk south on Olive St.  

(This would be heading in the direction of both Baron Ernst von Harringa’s art gallery, located just a few hundred feet south of the Biltmore in the Oviatt Building and also in the direction of Dr. George Hodel’s private medical office, located two blocks south at 7th & Flower. Baron von Harringa is the man that George Hodel is speaking to on the the DA tapes where he tells him, “Supposin’ I did kill the Black Dahlia. They can’t prove it now. They can’t talk to my secretary because she’s dead.” (Ruth Spaulding))

 Excerpt from BDA describing the Bell Capatain’s report to LAPD as documented in DA Files.

 A second email, from my old partner, and good friend, Bill J., who informed me of the accidental death of a witchy woman who was “texting while flying.” Very sad, but some accidents are to be expected due to heavy traffic on Halloween Night.