Podcast Progress, Drafts & Changes

This podcast was made by me

Initial Plans and Ideas

Name: Unsolved International

Genre: True unsolved crime

Topic: 

• Ep. 1: Jack the Ripper

• Ep. 2: The Black Dahlia

 Style

• Scripted

• Both narrator and narrative based (narrator telling story, dialogues are acted out)

Structure

1. Graphic content disclaimer

2. Intro song

3. Intro

4. Story

5. Advertisement for another podcast

6. Continue story

7. Outro

8. Outro song

Speakers

• 1 narrator reading police file

• Actors (no. of actors undecided yet, depends on the story)

SFX

• Theme song

• Sfx from the story (cassette tape recording, gunshots, etc.)

Podcast Scripts

The scripts were written by my teammate, Erina

Ep.1 - The Black Dahlia

Disclaimer, this podcast is intended for viewers above 13 due to the graphic nature of this murder case. Viewer’s discretion is highly advised.

“We are all capable of becoming something monstrous.” A quote by Cyraus Foldger….

Welcome to _____

Hello, my name is Viena Raymond of the United Nations department of the unsolved and unexplained. A department dedicated to archiving the unsolved crimes of the world…yes we have one of those. The head of the department, Avery Legras has recruited me as an intern archivist to assist the department after a recent natural disaster had completely destroyed our archive room where we keep all the case files. 

I will be tasked to read out said case files and record them for organization purposes-- and so we won’t have to dig through 300 years worth of files ever again…I will be reading out a case file for probably one of the most well known unsolved crimes in the western world. The Black Dahlia, 1947. Los Angeles, California, The United States of America.” 

(Intro)

“Statement begins:

On the morning of January 1947, the body of one 22 year old Elizabeth Short was found in an abandoned lot in 3800 northern avenue Los Angeles. The body was discovered by Betty Bersinger and her young daughter Anne on a morning stroll. 

Short’s naked body was severed into two pieces by her lower abdomen. Her body was oddly posed and had been completely drained of blood leaving her a stark white. Her body was so pale Bersinger had initially mistaken the body for a discarded store mannequin. 

This is what Bersinger said upon reporting the body to the LAPD:

“I glanced to my right, and saw this…very dead, white body…my goodness…it was so white. It didn’t look like anything more than perhaps an artificial model. It was so white and she was separated in the middle…by gods…it was horrific” 

When LAPD arrived at the crime scene, CSI found that Short’s intestines were taken out of her body and tucked under the bottom half of her body. Her mouth was slashed open at the corners up her cheeks along with several cuts on her legs, wrists, neck, and  thigh. When brought to the coroner’s office this is what was found in the autopsy:

“Short’s body was separated via hemicorporectomy, her blood was completely drained of blood, and the lack of bruising suggests the dismemberment happened post mortem. This…procedure was definitely done by someone with surgical knowledge. Any other murder would’ve left her body either in one piece or had done an obviously bad job at separating her body. But whoever mutilated her…they knew what they were doing…this is the work of surgeon or at least a medical student…no average person would know how to this…draining the body completely of blood is no easy task…they cleaned her too…like they were embalming her… “

“Blunt force trauma to her head caused small amounts of bleeding…she was hit multiple times but it wasn’t enough to cause a fractured skull...killer was probably scrawny, couldn’t hit hard enough to cause anything more damaging. Both corners of her mouth have been slashed…I’d say…three inches on each side…someone must have been a fan of Kuchisake-onna… The damage to her head…and the excessive amounts of bleeding from the lacerations…cause of death: Hemorrhage and shock.” 

After the discovery of Short's body the media had dubbed her “The Black Dahlia '' due to the trend of giving news headlines nicknames. After word spread of her murder an envelope arrived at the LA examinar’s office 9 days after Short was murdered. Inside was a letter, her social security card, Short’s birth certificate, photos, and an address book with multiple missing pages. All the items were cleaned of fingerprints. However, one  partial fingerprint was recovered on the letter itself…but the fingerprint wasn’t in the LAPD police files. Even after cross referencing with other states authorities still weren’t able to find a match. Hundreds of people were questioned. But all leads kept coming to a dead end. All 75 men in Short’s address book were ultimately questioned but still no leads were found either. LAPD even went as far as to interview 300 USC medical students for some sort of lead,but all came empty. 

In the 7 decades this case has been left cold, there are two confirmed suspects for the Black Dahlia’s killer. The first being Robert Manley, who had been the last person to see Short alive. Their relationship began in San Francisco. Manley had driven Short home from a bus stop late at night and from then on, frequently went on dates whenever Manly was in San Francisco. In fact when Short was evicted from her apartment in San Francisco she called Manley for help.. On the evening of January 9th 1947 Manley had dropped Short off at her hotel, The Biltmore, just a week before her dead body was found. He pleaded his innocence and took two polygraph tests which confirmed his innocence and completely deducted him from the LAPD’s list of suspects.  

Manley died from an accidental fall in his Anaheim apartment on January 9th 1986, 30 years on the anniversary of when he last saw Short alive. 

The next suspect is most well associated with the Black Dahlia, one George Hodel. He was an extremely wealthy Los Angeles doctor who was well connected throughout the US. Having gone through medical school Hodel would’ve had the skill to do the dismemberment of Short. Not a single detective is more sure of this than his own son, Steve Hodel. When digging through old belongings after Hodel’s passing he had found pictures of what seemed to be Elizabeth Short, suggesting they knew each other at the time. Hodel even owned a car that bore a striking resemblance to the car spotted at the crime scene. An old recording of Hodel was recovered by the DA and this is what was stated: 

“Supposin’ I did kill the Black Dahlia? They couldn’t prove it now. They can’t talk to my secretary cause she’s dead. I’m sorry detective…but I’m not the one you’re looking for” 

However in 1950 either due to the lack of evidence, the LAPD being corrupt or Hodel’s connections within the justice system, this lead was abruptly suspended…

The case has been open for 70 years and yet not a single person has been able to solve it. In my humble opinion the likelihood of (name) being the culprit is extremely high from all evidence given…but unfortunately we’re never going to know who really killed Elizabeth Shorts…for now her name will be immortalized as The Black Dahlia and I hope that one day she’ll get her justice. 

Statement ends.

Ep.2 - Jack the Ripper

Disclaimer, this podcast is intended for viewers above 13 due to the graphic nature of this murder case. Viewer’s discretion is highly advised.

“We are all capable of becoming something monstrous.” A quote by Cyraus Foldger….

Welcome to _____

Hello, my name is Viena Raymond with the United Nations department of the unsolved and unexplained. A department dedicated to archiving the unsolved crimes of the world. I have been tasked to read out yet another file…*blows the dust off the file and cough* my gods--

Ahem--a extremely old case that hasn’t been solved in over 100 years…134 years of mystery in one case file…what an honour…yet another famous unsolved murder known by even people who only daple in unsolved criminality… The Leather Apron…The Whitechapel Murderer…or his more memorable name…Jack the Ripper, 1888. Whitechapel, East End of London. England”

“Statement begins”

At the crack of dawn of August 31th 1888, a dead body was discovered on Buck’s Row Whitechapel by Charlse Cross at 3:40 AM. The body belonged to one 43 year old Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols. 

Nichols’ body was found on her back laying in a pool of her own blood. Her throat had been severely and horrifically slashed. She had been disemboweled, some organs were butchered and taken. Her night gown and gloves were completely saturated in her own blood under a street lamp on the west end. It has been confirmed that this murder occurred not 30 minutes before Cross found her corpse. The street was empty. Not a soul was seen when Cross walked down that path. 

September 8th, 1888. The body of 47 year old Annie Chapman was discovered on 29th Hambury street by John Davis. Her body was in a similar state as to Nichols, on her back, throat brutally slashed, however whoever the killer was, along with disembowelment had taken her womb. Which caused the investigators at the time to conclude that this killer was a doctor or at least at anatomical knowledge. 

On the evening of September 27th later that month a letter was sent to the Central News Agency. The letter itself has been lost to time however a copy was made for the sake of documentation which I will read out as followed:

“Dear Boss,

I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work, the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now? I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha. ha. The next job I do I shall clip the lady's ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn't you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife's so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance. Good Luck. Yours truly

Jack the Ripper

Don't mind me giving the trade name

PS Wasn't good enough to post this before I got all the red ink off my hands curse it. No luck yet. They say I'm a doctor now. ha ha”

What a sick freak…

Three days later on the 30th of September, Elizabeth stride had been found dead on Berner street by Louis Diemschutz. Many people have speculated that this killing may not have been Jack Ripper due to the cause of death being a sloppy slice of the throat. Police say the reason why this murder was so hestily done was that the killer might have been interrupted mid murder when Diemschutz appeared on the street. While investigating Stride’s body, west of the crime scene, another body was discovered in Mider Square. The body of Catherine Eddows. 

Seemingly to make up for the hasty job on Stride. The Ripper had mutilated her face, almost making it unrecognizable. Just like the other victims Eddows was disemboweled, Her left kidney along with her uterus had been carved out of her body and taken by the killer. 

The very next day the police received a postcard. One from the Leather Apron himself. Inside is as stated: 

“I was not codding dear old Boss when I gave you the tip, you'll hear about Saucy Jacky's work tomorrow double event this time number one squealed a bit couldn't finish straight off had not the time to get ears for police. thanks for keeping last letter back till I got to work again.

Jack the Ripper.”

Alot of people have stated that this letter was most likely fabricated however this postcard was sent a day after Stride and Eddows were murdered. At the time it would’ve been imposibble for a prankster to fabricate the letter since the printing press hadn’t published the double murders on the paper. especially considering the specification that the Stride’s murder was hastely done. No one but the police would’ve known. Unless it was the ripper himself who sent the card.

The last and final victim…Mary Kelly. November 9th 1888. 13 miller’s court. Unlike the other four she wasn’t killed on the streets, she wasn’t even killed outside. She was murdered in her own house. Her landlord had found her still in her bed, clothes neatly folded as if readying for sleep. Not only was she disembowled like the other women, she had ben skinned down.  

This doesn’t appear to be just a murder. This seemed too personal 

These 5 murders were later dubbed the canonical five. 

Scotland yard along with the general public had concluded there are at least 8 suspects for the killings, ranging from asylum hopers to the prince of england himself. But time seems to be mocking me and the rest of the deparent as not only have they completely lost the other manuscripts for other 4 murder suspects but the majority of Scotland yard’s reports for the remaining 4 have been eaten away by time. How unfortunate…

For the time being I shall read out the most concrete and popular suspect we have on record. Joseph Barnett. Those who have claimed to seen the ripper say he’s around the ages of 25 to 35. Between 5’5 to 5’7 in height. And stawky with a mushtouche. Barnett fit this description perfectly. 

The reason why he’s such a popular suspect was because he lived with one of the victims. The last of the canonical 5, Mary Kelly. Seemingly to be in love with her, claiming Kelly his wife despite only being roomates. When they fell victim to financial struggles and alcohol they often got into fights. Some escalating drastically. One occasion their living room window was broken in the myths of an argument. After the window incident Barnett moved out of their shared house. And 10 days later Kelly was murdered. 

Since Kelly and the other canonical five shared an occupation it is speculated Barnett would’ve been on friendly terms with the victims. Hence why he had been able to kill them with little struggle. His knowledge of the Whitechapel district  would explain why the ripper seemed so light on his feet when escaping from the crime scene. More so the fact that Kelly was murdered in her own house in her sleep was suspicious as Barnett would’ve either still had the keys to the house or Kelly would’ve let him in. The murders did stop with Kelly, Barnett’s supposed love. 

This case is one of many that unfortunately due to the sheer ancientness of this crime we aren’t able to fully know who did it. It’s a shame really. My one hope is that the canonical five have found peace in the last century. And whoever Jack the Ripper truly was, may hell be harsh on him. 

Statement ends.

Podcast Drafts

EP. 1 - The Black Dahlia

First Draft

This is the first draft of episode 1 of our podcast. Erina voiced the narrator and part of the advert and Hugo voiced the Intro and the advert. I was the one who edited the recordings and added BGM and SFX, outro not included yet.

Mr Nick listened to it and gave us a few feedback and suggestions:

• 1,10 - the time between when you stop speaking and when the music starts is too long.
• the audio in the tape recording sections is a little quiet. 
• 6,18 - "call Manly? for help" Maybe have a dial tone play as background music 
• try a different accent for the recorded voices, especially the man. Maybe experiment with a male voice to see if it works. 
•  the gag about being interrupted breaks with the tone of the show, just go to "And now a word from our sponsor
• For the outro music, I would read out the credits. "Written by ....., edited by.... voice acting by...." Or maybe a teaser for the next weeks episode. 
• Intro. Are you going to have the podcast name at the start of the show?

Second Draft

Changes:

• Added intro, outro, credits and "This has been a Regents Media Production"
• Changed Hodel's dialogue to Jaydon's voice (Guest Actor)
• Changed Bersinger's dialogue to Lynn's voice (Guest Actor)
• Lowered the pitch of Erina's voice LAPD dialogue (temporary, erina's friend is going to voice this)
• 4,51 - Added opening letter/envelope sfx
• 6,12 - Added dial tone sfx 
• 8,42 - Added stop tape recording sfx
• Removed advert gag

Third Draft

Changes:

• Added "Episode 1: The Black Dahlia" in intro
• Changed LAPD dialogue to Lynn's voice (Guest Actor)
• updated credits

EP. 2 - Jack the Ripper

First Draft

 

This is the first draft of episode 2 of our podcast. I was the one who edited the recordings and added BGM and SFX

Mr Nick listened to it and gave us a few feedback and suggestions:

• Intro: (while the music is playing). Hugo does a great job outlining the show, can he say the name of the episode as well? eg. “Episode 2: Jack the Ripper” (do this for your first episode, too)

• Charles Cross scream at the beginning: is it possible to find a different sound effect. Maybe a guy confused, “what’s that” (scared) “oh my god”. If not, no worries, keep the scream.

• The teaser for the next episode is Jack the ripper again. Is this a mistake?

Second Draft

Changes:

• Added "Episode 2: The Black Dahlia" in intro
• Added dialogue for Charles cross by Arvin (Guess Actor)
• Fixed teaser for next episode (the Zodiac killer)
• Updated credits