MARK SHAW - AUTHOR and DOROTHY KILGALLEN ADVOCATE ASKS US TO CONTACT THE NEW YORK DA
I've covered Mark Shaw's book about journalist Dorothy Kilgallen's mysterious death, an improbable "suicide," here on this blog circa October 2023, long after it was published. I've listened to many YouTube videos in which Shaw talked about the investigations behind his books, in particular at the Commonweath Club of California and City of Allen ACTV.
This interview is an overview of his path of authorship, one of many - mostly a year old or older, that are up on YouTube. In this one Shaw talks about the spiritual connection he believes he has with Dorothy as well as how his book talks have lead to more informants coming forward to him as well as synchronicity. Dorothy Kilgallen was, back in the day, one of the few women journalists who had national, even international respect. As a writer of news she brought her reader to the trials she attended. Thought of as one of the What's My Line television show panelists, she was hot on the trail of the JFK Assassination story.
I received a message from Shaw asking me/us to help the cause of reopening the case of Dorothy Kilgallen's death.
NEWSLETTER - February, 2024
“If a writer is so cautious that he/she never writes anything that cannot be criticized, he/she will never write anything that can be read.”
- Thomas Merton
Distinguished NYC Councilman Robert Holden Demands New York County DA Bragg Investigate Dorothy Kilgallen's Death
Hon. Alvin Bragg
District Attorney
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office
One Hogan Place
New York, NY 10013
Dear District Attorney Bragg,
I am writing to you as an elected official and a concerned citizen who deeply values
justice and the preservation of truth in our society.
Today, I wish to bring to your attention the case of Dorothy Kilgallen, a revered
journalist whose name was synonymous with courage, tenacity and an unyielding pursuit
of the truth. Her mysterious death on November 8, 1965, not only robbed the world of a
journalistic titan, but also left a cloud of suspicion and unanswered questions that have
persisted for nearly six decades.
Kilgallen, also well-known as the star panelist on the CBS hit program, “What’s My
Line?” was a pioneer, a celebrated journalist who navigated and excelled in a field
dominated by men. She was a force to be reckoned with, possessing a rare combination
of wit, intelligence, and a fearless commitment to unveiling the truth. From challenging
the Mafia's connections to Frank Sinatra to boldly questioning the circumstances
surrounding Marilyn Monroe's death, Dorothy never shied away from contentious and
dangerous truths.
Dorothy’s investigative work, particularly concerning her friend John F. Kennedy’s
assassination, was not only groundbreaking but also, as it tragically turned out, perilous.
The reported scare tactics, surveillance, and threats she endured just prior to her death
speak volumes about the potential gravity and sensitivity of the information she
possessed. Her sudden and mysterious demise, under circumstances that many believe
were meticulously staged, raises grave concerns about the integrity of the lackluster
investigation that followed.
The official narrative of Dorothy's death, hastily labeled as a drug overdose did not just
tragically misrepresent her legacy but also conveniently silenced a voice that was on the
verge of perhaps revealing epochal truths. The subsequent looting of her Manhattan home, the disappearance of her files and “tell-all” book manuscript about the
assassination, and the defamatory portrayal of her character in the media are all glaring
indications that the story presented to the public was, at best, incomplete and, at worst, a
deliberate obfuscation. 2
In light of recent revelations by Dr. Michael Baden acknowledging the mistakes in the
Kilgallen autopsy and the premature conclusions drawn by the Manhattan Medical
Examiner's office, it becomes not just an opportunity but a moral imperative to reexamine this case. Mark Shaw, a noted historian and bestselling author, possesses a
remarkable amount of highly relevant documents and credible statements from nearly 30
witnesses who swear Kilgallen did not overdose that will be crucial to an investigation as
will the new evidence Shaw has uncovered.
Without question, Shaw’s contributions, which I have reviewed, can significantly aid in
uncovering the truth about why and how Kilgallen died in 1965. There thus exists a
pressing need to unearth the truth, not just in the name of justice for Dorothy Kilgallen
but also to honor the principles of journalistic integrity and truth she valiantly stood for.
As Lois McMaster Bujold aptly said, "The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is the duty
of the living to do so for them." Dorothy Kilgallen was more than an iconic journalist;
she was a beacon of truth in a world rife with concealment and deceit. Opening an
investigation into her death is a step towards rectifying a historical wrong and a testament
to our commitment as a society to uphold truth, justice, and the values Dorothy so
fiercely championed.
I urge your office to consider this request earnestly and to take the necessary steps toward
opening and diligently pursuing an investigation into the mysterious death of Dorothy
Kilgallen. Let us strive to bring closure and justice to a case that has lingered in the
shadows for far too long.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope the truth will finally see the light of
day.
Sincerely,
Robert F. Holden
Council Member, District 30 “Investigative reporting at its best. Mark Shaw’s original work into the questionable deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Kilogallons is now focused on the many unanswered questions left by the Warren Commission’s inquiry into the JFK assassination.Fighting for Justicehas to be read.”
-- Nicholas Pileggi, author of Wiseguy (movie: Goodfellas) and Casino
“If a writer is so cautious that he/she never writes anything that cannot be criticized, he/she will never write anything that can be read.” — Thomas Merton
About Mark Shaw
A former criminal defense attorney and legal analyst for CNN, ESPN, and USA Today for the Mike Tyson, O.J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant cases, Mark Shaw is an investigative reporter and the author of 25+ books whose latest is the bestseller, "The Reporter Who Knew Too Much."
Regarding his books, Mark says, “My purpose is to make people stop and think about historical subjects and important issues confronting society today.
News, views and commentary on social issues of importance in today’s crazy world will be forthcoming in the Mark Shaw Books blog. Best of all, you’ll get to weigh in.
