For decades, two of America's most infamous unsolved crimes have haunted the public imagination. The brutal 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia, and the Zodiac Killer's reign of terror in the late 1960s have been treated as separate nightmares. Now, a single, explosive investigation is challenging that long-standing belief, proposing a theory that could rewrite criminal history.
One Suspect, Two Decades of Terror
According to a detailed report by the Daily Mail, independent investigators now believe the same man was responsible for both series of crimes. This theory has moved beyond online speculation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and multiple police departments in California are formally reviewing the findings. A substantial collection of evidence, including cipher analysis, handwriting comparisons, military records, and physical artifacts, is undergoing intense forensic scrutiny.
The investigation points to a man named Marvin Margolis, who later changed his name to Marvin Merrill. Born in Chicago in 1925, Margolis served in World War II, including the Okinawa campaign. After the war, he was described as resentful and aggressive. He reportedly had a brief, volatile relationship with Elizabeth Short before her murder in January 1947. Her body was found severed in half in Los Angeles, a crime that shocked the nation.
Court records from a 1949-1950 grand jury investigation list Marvin Margolis among 22 suspects in the Black Dahlia case, but investigators at the time said they could not locate him.
The Ciphers, The Sketch, and a Possible Confession
Investigators led by Alex Baber of Cold Case Consultants of America claim to have cracked the Zodiac's unsolved Z13 cipher, which was sent with the phrase "My name is -". Using AI, census records, and cryptography, they say the solution points to Marvin Merrill. They also allege the Z32 cipher links the Zodiac directly to the Black Dahlia murder.
Perhaps the most chilling piece of evidence emerged from Merrill's own hand. A year before his death from cancer in 1993, he drew a sketch of a nude woman's upper body. The markings on the drawing closely resemble the injuries inflicted on Elizabeth Short. The name "ELIZABETH" is written below in block letters similar to Zodiac's handwriting, and the sketch is signed "Marty Merrill '92". Using enhancement software, investigators claim to have found the hidden word "ZoDiac" beneath the ink, suggesting a deathbed confession.
Furthermore, a leading handwriting analyst has stated under oath that a letter sent by the "Black Dahlia Avenger" in 1947 matches three handwriting samples from Merrill's possessions.
Law Enforcement and Expert Reactions
The findings have garnered serious attention. Baber has met with California police departments handling the Zodiac case. The Daily Mail reports his team also met with Jim McDonnell, who directed the LAPD's robbery-homicide division to examine the Black Dahlia evidence.
Several experts have voiced support. Ed Giorgio, former Chief US Codemaker at the NSA, agreed that Baber likely solved the Z13 cipher. Retired LAPD homicide detectives Mitzi Roberts and Rick Jackson have also endorsed the findings publicly. Jackson stated, "I have no doubt this is the person... It's totally overwhelming, circumstantial evidence and now it has become mixed in with some physical evidence."
However, questions remain. Merrill's youngest son, while providing over 200 of his father's items for analysis, has expressed doubt that his father was the killer. The investigation continues as authorities work to verify the claims. If proven, it would mean one man's violence spanned over twenty years, connecting two of America's darkest mysteries with a single, terrifying answer.
