Famous True Crime Locations
The Places Behind America's Most Notorious Crimes
From the unsolved Black Dahlia murder in 1947 Los Angeles to the Manson Family's rampage on Cielo Drive, explore the real locations where America's most infamous crimes took place. Some are memorials, some are museums, and some have been erased entirely.
The cases behind the addresses
- 18 places
- 35 businesses on record
- on record since 1884
- 18 buildings standing
This collection maps 18 real places where notorious crimes or famous deaths happened, from an 1892 hatchet murder in Massachusetts to the 1997 killing of the Notorious B.I.G. at a Los Angeles red light. 6 of the sites are in Los Angeles alone. The archive records 35 businesses at these addresses over the years, because most of them went on being hotels, homes and shops long after the headlines faded.
In Fall River, the Lizzie Borden house is where Andrew and Abby Borden were killed with a hatchet on August 4, 1892; it now operates as a bed-and-breakfast museum. Near Gibsland, Louisiana, a monument marks the Bonnie and Clyde ambush site, where both outlaws died in a police ambush on May 23, 1934. In Manhattan, John Lennon was shot in the archway of The Dakota on December 8, 1980. In Tallahassee, the Chi Omega sorority house where Ted Bundy killed two women on January 15, 1978 is still an active chapter.
We treat these as history, not spectacle: each place page sticks to dates and documented facts. Several of these buildings are private homes, so please view them from the street. The full list is below.
America's Most Infamous Crime Scenes
True crime has captivated the American imagination for over a century. From the unsolved axe murders in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1892 to the "Trial of the Century" that gripped the nation in 1995, these locations tell the stories of crimes that shaped law enforcement, media coverage, and popular culture.
Many of these sites have become destinations for true crime enthusiasts and history buffs. The Lizzie Borden House operates as a bed and breakfast where guests can sleep in the actual rooms where the murders occurred. The Dakota building where John Lennon was shot still stands as one of Manhattan's most prestigious addresses, with the Strawberry Fields memorial in nearby Central Park drawing visitors from around the world.
Landmark True Crime Cases
The Black Dahlia Murder (1947)
On January 15, 1947, a woman walking with her daughter through a vacant lot at 3825 South Norton Avenue in Los Angeles made a discovery that would haunt the city for decades. The body of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short — surgically severed at the waist, drained of blood, and posed — became the most infamous unsolved murder in Hollywood history. The press dubbed her "The Black Dahlia," and despite over 60 suspects and thousands of pages of investigation, the case remains officially open.
The Manson Family Murders (1969)
On the night of August 8-9, 1969, members of Charles Manson's cult entered the home at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles and murdered five people, including 26-year-old actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant. The following night, they killed Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their home across the city. The Tate house was demolished in 1994; a new home was built with a different address.
The O.J. Simpson Case (1994)
The murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman at 879 South Bundy Drive in Los Angeles on June 12, 1994 led to the most-watched criminal trial in American history. O.J. Simpson's slow-speed Bronco chase was viewed by 95 million people, and his acquittal divided the nation along racial lines. The Bundy Drive condo has been renumbered but still stands.
The Versace Mansion Murder (1997)
On July 15, 1997, fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot twice on the steps of his oceanfront mansion, Casa Casuarina, at 1116 Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. His killer, Andrew Cunanan — already wanted for four other murders across the country — was found dead on a houseboat eight days later. The mansion is now a luxury boutique hotel.
True Crime & Celebrity Death Locations
Black Dahlia Murder Site
The vacant lot where Elizabeth Short's body was found, severed at the waist. Hollywood's most infamous unsolved murder.
Unsolved MurderNicole Brown Simpson Murder Site
879 South Bundy Drive. The crime scene that launched the "Trial of the Century."
True CrimeThe Dakota (John Lennon)
The legendary apartment building where the former Beatle was shot by Mark David Chapman.
Murder SiteExterior ViewableCasa Casuarina (Versace Mansion)
Gianni Versace's oceanfront mansion. Now a luxury hotel where you can stay.
Murder SiteNow a HotelCielo Drive (Manson Murders)
Sharon Tate and four others were murdered by the Manson Family. The original house was demolished in 1994.
Mass MurderBonnie and Clyde Ambush Site
America's most notorious outlaws died in a hail of 167 bullets on a quiet Louisiana highway.
Ambush SiteMemorialLizzie Borden House
"Lizzie Borden took an axe..." The Victorian murder house is now a B&B where you can stay overnight.
Unsolved MurderB&B MuseumChi Omega Sorority House
Ted Bundy's final murder spree. He attacked sleeping sorority sisters in the middle of the night.
Serial KillerChateau Marmont (Belushi)
The legendary Sunset Boulevard hotel where John Belushi died in Bungalow 3.
Celebrity DeathStill OperatingMarilyn Monroe Death House
12305 Fifth Helena Drive. The hacienda-style home where the screen icon was found dead at 36.
Celebrity DeathGraceland (Elvis Presley)
The King of Rock and Roll's mansion, where he died at age 42. Now America's second most-visited private home.
Celebrity DeathMuseumKurt Cobain Death House
The Lake Washington Boulevard home where the Nirvana frontman was found dead at 27.
Celebrity DeathFrequently Asked Questions
Where was the Black Dahlia found?
Elizabeth Short was found on January 15, 1947 in a vacant lot at 3825 South Norton Avenue in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Her body had been severed at the waist and drained of blood. The case remains officially unsolved.
Can you visit the Manson murder house?
The original house at 10050 Cielo Drive was demolished in 1994. A new home was built at the site with a different address (10066 Cielo Drive). The property is private and not accessible to the public.
Where was John Lennon shot?
John Lennon was shot outside The Dakota apartment building at 1 West 72nd Street in New York City on December 8, 1980. The Strawberry Fields memorial in nearby Central Park honors Lennon with an "Imagine" mosaic.
Can you stay at the Lizzie Borden House?
Yes! The Lizzie Borden House at 230 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts operates as a bed and breakfast museum. Guests can stay overnight in the rooms where the 1892 murders occurred.
Every place in this collection (18)
Each name opens its archive page: the full timeline of the address, what is there now, connected places and nearby history.
Beverly Hilton (Whitney Houston Death Site)
Beverly Hills, CA · 1955–present · Still hereWhitney Houston was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton the night before the Grammy Awards. Clive Davis's pre-Grammy party continued in the ballroom…
Black Dahlia Murder Discovery Site
Los Angeles, CA · 1947–1947 · Still hereThe vacant lot where Elizabeth Short's bisected body was discovered on January 15, 1947 - Hollywood's most infamous unsolved murder.
Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Site
Gibsland, LA · 1934–1934 · Still hereThe exact location where outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed in a police ambush on May 23, 1934. Marked by a historical monument.
Casa Casuarina (Versace Mansion)
Miami Beach, FL · 1930–present · Still hereThe oceanfront mansion where fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered on July 15, 1997. Now operates as a luxury boutique hotel.
Chateau Marmont (John Belushi Death Site)
West Hollywood, CA · 1929–present · Still hereJohn Belushi died in Bungalow 3. Led Zeppelin rode motorcycles through the lobby. And the hotel owner once told Lindsay Lohan to leave.
Chi Omega Sorority House (Ted Bundy Attack Site)
Tallahassee, FL · 1978–1978 · Still hereThe sorority house where serial killer Ted Bundy murdered two women and attacked two others on January 15, 1978. Still an active FSU sorority chapter.
Cielo Drive (Sharon Tate / Manson Murders Site)
Los Angeles, CA · 1969–1969 · HistoricFormer site of the Manson Family murders on August 8-9, 1969. The original house at 10050 Cielo Drive was demolished in 1994.
Days Inn Corpus Christi (Selena Murder Site)
Corpus Christi, TX · 1980–1995 · HistoricSelena Quintanilla was shot by her fan club president in room 158. She was 23 years old and about to cross over to mainstream pop stardom.
Graceland (Elvis Presley Estate)
Memphis, TN · 1957–present · Still hereElvis bought Graceland for $100,000 in 1957. Today it's the second most-visited private home in America, after the White House.
James Dean Memorial (Crash Site)
Cholame, CA · 1955–present · Still hereJames Dean was speeding to a car race when he died at this junction. His last words: "That guy's gotta stop. He'll see us."
Kurt Cobain Death House
Seattle, WA · 1902–1994 · Still hereKurt Cobain's body was found by an electrician three days after he shot himself. The suicide note ended with "I love you, I love you."
Lizzie Borden House (Bed & Breakfast Museum)
Fall River, MA · 1892–present · Still hereThe house where Lizzie Borden allegedly murdered her father and stepmother with a hatchet on August 4, 1892. Now operates as a museum and haunted B&B.
Marilyn Monroe Death House
Los Angeles, CA · 1929–1962 · Still hereOn August 4, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood home. Sixty years later, the conspiracy theories haven't stopped.
Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman Murder Site
Los Angeles, CA · 1994–1994 · Still hereThe Brentwood condominium where Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered on June 12, 1994 - catalyst for the "Trial of the Century."
Notorious B.I.G. Murder Site
Los Angeles, CA · 1997–present · Still hereSix months after Tupac's murder, Notorious B.I.G. was killed at a red light in LA. He was in town to promote peace between East and West Coast rap.
Paisley Park (Prince Estate & Death Site)
Chanhassen, MN · 1987–present · Still herePrince built his dream studio in suburban Minnesota. On April 21, 2016, he died in an elevator there, alone, from a fentanyl overdose.
Petersen Automotive Museum (Tupac Last Seen)
Los Angeles, CA · 1994–present · Still hereTupac Shakur left a party at this museum on September 7, 1996. Twenty minutes later, he was shot at a red light. He died six days later.
The Dakota (John Lennon Murder Site)
New York, NY · 1884–present · Still hereHistoric luxury apartment building where John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980. Home to celebrities since 1884.