Real Crimes: The Red Lipstick Murder

Real Crime Stories of 1947 Los Angeles that Inspired L.A. Noire Cases

An element of our "Red Lipstick Murder" directly inspired by this case - the eponymous red lipstick scrawled on the corpse.

In L.A. Noire, virtually all of the cases you'll play are inspired in some part by real life incidents that happened in and around Los Angeles circa that crime-plagued era of 1947. Team Bondi meticulously researched stacks of original articles reported in the newspapers of the day to cull authentic elements of real life crimes that would inspire the in-game cases.

One of those is "The Red Lipstick Murder" from the Homicide desk. Like all such cases in the game, our version is an original story inspired by some element of the 1947 crime. It could be an intriguing aspect of the crime scene, or a particularly fascinating twist of a case, or a surprising lead. The game's writers embellished and fictionalized these real cases to create a thrilling playable story - including in some instances, re-imagined outcomes to real world cases that remain unsolved to this day.

"The Red Lipstick Murder" is based on the real life homicide investigation into the murder of Jeanne French. French was a 45 year old veteran Army nurse who was discovered stripped and stomped to death in an isolated lover's lane type area of LA known as "The Moors" early one morning in February '47.

Occurring just weeks after the notorious 'Black Dahlia' murder of Elizabeth Short, the killer in this case infamously created a stir when it was discovered that the letters "B.D." (along with some obscenities) were scrawled in red lipstick on Mrs. French's nude body. Was this the work of a serial killer, responsible for both killings, and possibly others? Or was it a sick copycat inspired by the Black Dahlia crime? As one would imagine, a sensational media frenzy ensued and the case of Jeanne French spurred a wide LAPD dragnet.

The investigation yielded an intriguing list of possible suspects who were investigated by the police. French's husband, who proclaimed his innocence as the tabloids reported he was abusive to Mrs. French and even had an argument with her the very evening of her murder. The mysterious "other man" who shared a private post office box with her? The unidentified 'dark-haired' male companion who reportedly shared a last meal with her at a Chinese restaurant hours before her death?

In the end, the case remained unsolved. French's husband famously passed a lie detector test in effort to prove his innocence. The other men were proven to be false leads or never identified. Jeanne French was just another cold case from the year of 1947.

Our "Red Lipstick Murder" in L.A. Noire takes some very specific kernels of inspiration from this tragic story, including the eponymous red-lipstick scrawled on the corpse, other similarities to the crime scene, and the suspected husband who protests his innocence. But in the game's original story, the player does close the case. The outcome is one we won't be spoiling for you of course, leaving it to you to solve the mystery this May.

Look for more real crime case stories to come...

An original Jeanne French case article clipping as it appeared in the Los Angeles Times, February 13th 1947

Crime Desk: Arson (3/3)

With fire trucks still on site, Nicholson surveys the damage first hand.

Howard Hughes addresses the press about his revolutionary new aircraft, the "Hercules H-4".

Phelps grills Fred Nicholson for all he knows at the site of the explosion.

Phelps and Biggs have an unexpected meeting with retired LAPD officer Vernon Mapes.

Phelps surveys the devastation from the Nicholson explosion.

Crime Desk: Arson (2/3)

Cops bantering in the briefing room.

Phelps and Detective Herschel Biggs arrive at the scene.

The explosion took many casualties including several Nicholson employees.

Nicholson walks amongst the ruins of his factory.

Phelps and Nicholson discuss the case.

Crime Desk: Arson (1/3)

All it can take is a simple strike of a match – and an entire home, building, city block… livelihoods and lives can be destroyed forever.

Scary enough that such danger can teeter on an accidental mishap like a kitchen grease fire, or a misplaced candle... But terrifying when at the hands of an arsonist who creates this devastation with intent.

After LA's bravest have fought and quelled a fire – if the responding fire chief determines any cause for suspicion, the LAPD Arson Crime Desk is alerted and its detectives go to work meticulously examining the scene for clues.

As Detective Cole Phelps working the Arson desk, you will see firsthand the charred ruins, scorched corpses and anguished survivors that are the victims of this most heinous of crimes.

Head of the Arson desk, Captain Lachlan McKelty relays the grisly details of a new fire.

Thorough examination can turn up key pieces of evidence.

Phelps looks over the unfortunate victims.

One of L.A.'s bravest surveys the devastation.

Sifting through the wreckage of a devastating fire.

Crime Desk: Vice (2/2)

At the precinct, Phelps accepts Lieutenant Colmyer's wishes on a job well done.

Phelps and Earle pay a visit the Parnell Soup Co. to question its owner on some employees possible involvement in marijuana smuggling.

A suspicious late night shipment to the Parnell Soup Co.

An unusual coin found on the body of a dead drug dealer - could this be linked to other members of the drug ring?

Phelps examines a weapon in the aftermath of a shootout with local drug dealer, Juan Garcia Cruz.

Crime Desk: Vice (1/2)

Vice is a desk that can replace any officer's wide-eyed optimism - with hardened cynicism - in no time at all.

LAPD Vice detectives plunge themselves down into the seedy underbelly of LA, overturning the most decrepit of stones to expose the city's dregs, druggies, pimps, pushers, prostitutes, bootleggers, bookies, mob lords, thugs and gangsters. Working these cases will defy your worst and lowest expectations of humanity.

Cole Phelps 'graduates' to this department following a harrowing stint investigating murders on the Homicide desk, to find that things can indeed get even more vicious in LA. Among the crimes Phelps and his Vice partner Roy Earle will face are illicit gambling activity, the case of a missing boxer, and an investigation into the latest casualties in the dope scourge plaguing the city.

The switchblade - a favored weapon of the underworld's street thugs and hustlers.

A big fight in LA brings spectators of all kinds, from petty gamblers to powerful mobsters.

Illegal slot machines designed to take advantage of Los Angeles' gambling addicts.

In Hollywood, Phelps phones in to Central on a police phone, or "Gamewell".

Taking a witness statement at the 111 Club, where a shootout has occurred.

Crime Desk: Patrol (3/3)

Pipes and ladders can be climbed when necessary to inspect a site on a case.

Make good use of that flashlight when investigating crime scenes at night. Vital clues may lay hidden in the dark.

Phelps and Dunn patrol the area on a bright Los Angeles afternoon.

When on patrol, always be at the ready for emergency report calls.

Trying to determine whether a handgun can be traced back to this gunshop owner’s store.