Unraveling the Enigma of Dorothy Kilgallen's Unsolved Demise: The Investigative Journalist Who Allegedly held Excessive Knowledge
Dorothy Kilgallen, a renowned investigative journalist, radio broadcaster, and popular game show panelist, made a name for herself by covering big stories like President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first presidential campaign and the Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial. Born on July 3, 1913, Kilgallen's career took off when she came in second in a race around the world in 1936.
In the 1950s and 60s, Kilgallen became known for her column "Voice of Broadway," her radio show "Breakfast with Dorothy and Dick," and her appearances on the TV show "What's My Line?" She frequently wrote about major news stories, including the 1954 trial of Sam Shepherd.
However, it was her investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy that would become the focus of much speculation and controversy. Kilgallen found the Warren Commission's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone "laughable." She continued to investigate the assassination in 1965, even securing an interview with Jack Ruby, Oswald's alleged killer, during his trial.
Kilgallen's meticulous research into Kennedy's assassination went missing after her death. On Nov. 8, 1965, she was found dead at her Manhattan home. The New York Times reported that she died after overdosing on alcohol and barbiturates, but a police investigation found "no indication of violence or suicide."
Author Mark Shaw expressed serious suspicions about Kilgallen's death, claiming she was murdered to stop her investigation into Kennedy's assassination. Shaw discovered two additional barbiturates in Kilgallen's system and powder residue in the glass by her bed, suggesting someone had broken up the capsules. He also found a petition to have Kilgallen exhumed, stating she was found dead in a bed she never slept in, in sleeping clothes she didn't wear, next to a book she'd told people she'd finished reading.
Despite these suspicions, there is no definitive evidence that Dorothy Kilgallen’s death was directly related to her investigation into the JFK assassination. Recent efforts to have her death re-examined by the Manhattan District Attorney’s cold-case unit have been declined, showing that official law enforcement has not found sufficient cause to link her death to her JFK investigation or reopen the case.
In summary, although Dorothy Kilgallen’s death occurred under somewhat mysterious circumstances soon after investigating the JFK assassination and has inspired widespread conspiracy theories, there is no confirmed factual link between her death and her JFK-related work. However, her sudden death in 1965 and the missing research have left many questions unanswered.
- Dorothy Kilgallen's career spanned various areas of interest, including travel, as she participated in a race around the world in 1936.
- In the realm of general-news, Kilgallen covered significant trials such as the 1954 Sam Shepherd trial, but she gained notoriety for her investigations into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
- Despite the controversy surrounding her death and the theories suggesting it was related to her Kennedy investigation, official law enforcement has not found sufficient evidence to link her death to her JFK-related work, thereby leaving the history of crime-and-justice with another unsolved mystery.
