Summary based on the NamUs case record (CP999655989) and
1 other sourceJean Elizabeth Spangler, a 26-year-old actress and dancer, vanished from Los Angeles, California, on October 7, 1949. On the evening of her disappearance, Spangler left her home in the Wilshire district around 5:00 p.m., telling her sister-in-law, Sophie, that she was going to meet her ex-husband, Dexter Benner, to discuss a child support payment before heading to a night film shoot.
Later that evening, Spangler called home and told her sister-in-law she would have to work the full eight hours and likely wouldn't be home that night. However, police investigations later revealed that no film studios had any record of her working that night. The last confirmed sighting of Spangler was at a grocery store a few blocks from her home at approximately 6:00 p.m., where a clerk noted she appeared to be waiting for someone.
Two days later, on October 9, 1949, Spangler's purse was discovered near the Fern Dell entrance of Griffith Park, about 5.5 miles from her home. The purse's straps were torn on one side, suggesting it might have been ripped from her arm. Inside the purse, investigators found an unfinished note addressed to a "Kirk," which read: "Kirk: Can't wait any longer, Going to see Dr. Scott." The discovery of the note immediately drew public and media attention. This led actor Kirk Douglas, who had recently worked on the film "Young Man with a Horn" with Spangler as an extra, to contact the police to clear his name, stating he was in Palm Springs at the time of her disappearance. Police were satisfied with his explanation.
The investigation into Jean Spangler's disappearance explored several theories, none of which have been definitively proven. One prominent theory was that she died from a botched abortion, a speculation fueled by the mention of "Dr. Scott" in the note found in her purse. Police looked for a former medical student known as "Doc" who reportedly performed illegal abortions, but he was never located. Another line of inquiry focused on Spangler's potential connections to organized crime figures in Los Angeles. She had reportedly been seen with associates of mobster Mickey Cohen, and it was suggested she might have fled with a gangster named David "Little Davy" Ogul, who also disappeared around the same time. There were reported sightings of Spangler and Ogul in various locations, but none were ever confirmed.
Despite extensive searches of Griffith Park by police and volunteers, no further evidence was ever found. The case grew cold, and Jean Spangler's whereabouts remain unknown. Over the years, her disappearance has been linked to other unsolved Los Angeles crimes, including the infamous Black Dahlia murder of Elizabeth Short, due to some similarities between the two women. However, no concrete evidence has ever surfaced to connect the cases. The disappearance of Jean Elizabeth Spangler remains one of Hollywood's most enduring mysteries, leaving behind a host of unanswered questions and speculative theories.Last Seen: Oct 7, 1949
