HIGHLAND HILLS – James Badal, an English and Journalism professor at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), is finishing the final pages of his fourth book, “Though Murder Has No Tongue: The Mad Butcher’s Forgotten Victim” – his latest true crime book, in which he revisits Cleveland’s gruesome torso murders.
Dr. Badal, a Cleveland resident, takes a closer look at the circumstances surrounding the death of a Slavic immigrant who was a suspect in the killings. “This book deals with different aspects at far greater length. There are some things that were only touched on in the first book,” he explains.
“In 1939, the sheriff of Cuyahoga County arrested a man by the name of Frank Dolezal. He was charged with at least one of the torso murders. But he supposedly committed suicide by hanging himself in the cell before the case had a chance to go to the grand jury.”
Although the official cause of death was determined to be suicide, Dr. Badal says there are allegations that Dolezal was beaten by sheriff’s deputies. “If he was murdered it becomes a question of why and by whom? It’s very clear that there is a cover-up. I have access to photographs taken of Dolezal’s corpse before the final autopsy. And the mark on his neck seems completely inconsistent with the cloth noose he supposedly used to hang himself.” Dr. Badal said he has sought the advice of highly-regarded forensic anthropologists and medical examiners. “They all agree that the official cause of death is more than just questionable.”
In 2001, Dr. Badal released “In the Wake of the Butcher: Cleveland's Torso Murders,” the first detailed, book-length examination of the torso murders. His findings were based on police reports, autopsy protocols, personal interviews with the descendants of victims and investigators, and unpublished manuscripts. The torso murders, committed between 1935 and 1938, are believed to be serial killings. They were called torso murders because of the way the victims were dismembered.
“The torso murders are officially unsolved and probably the most famous crimes in Cleveland,” said Dr. Badal. “The torso murders put Cleveland on the map back in the 1930s. They were unbelievably gruesome, decapitation murders.” Cleveland’s safety director at the time of the murders was Eliot Ness, known largely for his role in capturing notorious organized crime leader, Al Capone.
Dr. Badal’s other writing credits include the true crime book “Twilight of Innocence: The Disappearance of Beverly Potts” and “Recording the Classics: Maestros, Music, and Technology,” which explores the impact of recording technology on contemporary musical culture. Like his other three books, “Though Murder Has No Tongue” will be published by Kent State University Press. For more information about Dr. James Badal or his books, contact him at (216) 987-2252 or
James.Badal@tri-c.edu.