Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

In Part 1, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examined the autopsy reports of Andrew and Abby Borden and the injuries at the center of one of America’s most infamous murder cases. Now, in Part 2, he puts that evidence to the test. Using a ballistics gel head, Dr. Crowns recreates injuries described in the Borden autopsy reports to examine whether a hatchet could have produced the wounds. Then, we head inside the courtroom to explore the mysterious hatchet found at the Borden home, Lizzie’s burned dress, the unusual evidence presented at trial and why the prosecution ultimately failed to secure a conviction. Lizzie Borden walked away a free woman. More than 130 years later, the question remains: Did the jury get it right? Watch Part 1: https://youtu.be/PCgROpRvpX8 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 130 years after the brutal murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns takes a forensic look at one of America’s most infamous cold cases. Using the original autopsy reports, crime scene photographs and images of the victims’ skulls from the trial, Dr. Crowns reconstructs the injuries and examines what they reveal about the weapon, the attacks and potentially even the order of the blows. Were the wounds really “incised wounds,” as originally documented? Could the suspected shingle hatchet have produced the distinctive injuries found on both victims? And what can modern forensic pathology tell us that investigators in 1892 may have missed? Then, Dr. Crowns puts the theory to the test. In Part 2, he’ll take a hatchet to a ballistic gel head to see how the injuries compare to the original Borden autopsy findings.Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/PCgROpRvpX8See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns looks back at some of the most memorable moments from his decades as an expert witness, including courtroom exchanges like being asked "How do you walk?” and “Have you ever shot someone?” during cross-examination, along with a lengthy debate over whether an evidence envelope was yellow-tan, manila, or goldenrod. He also revisits two pro se murder trials: one involving a defendant who killed a man with a mountain bike and another involving a doomsday prepper who murdered his companion days before the world was supposed to end. As Dr. Crowns puts it, testifying is interesting for the science, the unusual questions attorneys ask, and, when a defendant chooses to represent themselves, “it’s always a circus. ” Related Episodes Mayhem in the Morgue | Tree Fall Mayhem in the Morgue | Courtroom Limbo Mayhem in the Morgue | Outburst Mayhem in the Morgue | Contempt Over a Sticky Note? Highlights (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns (0:30) Why forensic pathologists testify to the science, not for either side in a criminal case (1:30) Unexpected courtroom questions, including “Doctor, how do you walk?” and “Have you ever been shot?” (5:15) The courtroom debate over whether an evidence envelope was yellow-tan, manila, or goldenrod (8:30) How forensic pathologists distinguish entrance wounds from exit wounds (11:00) Sleeping jurors, double juries, and the surprise of discovering a courtroom translator (14:15) How medical examiners confirm someone is dead before beginning an autopsy (16:15) Self-represented defendants, Ted Bundy, and the challenges of pro se trials (18:30) A doomsday prepper’s murder trial, “double tap” questions, and a courtroom manifesto About the Host  Dr. Kendall Crowns is the chief medical examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often-misunderstood realities of forensic pathology. About the Show Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners inside the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. Connect and Learn More Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and be sure to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns explains what happens after a body arrives in the morgue, including the external examination, internal dissection, toxicology testing, and final report. He also discusses the care taken to preserve evidence, minimize unnecessary incisions, and prepare the body for release to the funeral home. Dr. Crowns also shares some of the more surprising things he's encountered in the morgue, including hazardous body bags, hundreds of feet of intestines, and Herman, the crawfish who became a morgue mascot. Highlights (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns (0:30) Medical versus forensic autopsies and the specialized training required to perform them (2:00) What can arrive inside a body bag, including weapons, debris, and unexpected personal belongings (3:30) How X-rays can reveal bullets, fractures, and hidden dangers before the autopsy begins (5:30) Confirming identity, preserving trace evidence, and completing the external examination (7:45) The Y-shaped incision and the hazards created by CPR and decomposition (10:00) Why toxicology samples are collected from different areas of the body (11:45) The Virchow, Rokitansky, and Letulle techniques for examining the organs (16:00) The wide range of gastric contents found at autopsy, including an unexpected crawfish named Herman (19:00) Pill paste, intact medications, and the clues that may indicate an intentional overdose (20:15) Running the bowels, becoming "Bowel Boy," and removing the brain (24:15) Microscopic testing, retained organs, and what happens before the body is released to the funeral home About the Host Dr. Kendall Crowns is the chief medical examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often misunderstood realities of forensic pathology. About the Show Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners into the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. Connect and Learn More You can learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and be sure to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts. If you liked this episode, don’t keep it to yourself. Follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 50th episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns discusses the forensic realities of fatal helicopter crashes. Drawing from one of his own autopsy cases involving a rancher killed in an ultralight helicopter accident and the reported death of musician Oliver Tree, he explains how aviation fatalities are investigated, the devastating injuries caused by midair collisions, ground impact, and post-crash fires, and how medical examiners determine whether someone died before, during, or after a fire. He also examines the postmortem changes caused by extreme heat and why dental records and DNA often become the only reliable methods of identification. Highlights (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns (0:15) Why helicopter crashes create unique forensic challenges compared to automobile accidents (1:45) A rancher’s fatal ultralight helicopter crash and the pilot error that caused it (3:15) The FAA CAMI toxicology kit and the additional testing required after aviation fatalities (7:00) The reported helicopter death of Oliver Tree and the mechanics of a deadly midair collision (10:00) How post-crash fires cause fatal burns and how burn severity is classified (13:30) The rule of nines and how doctors determine whether someone died before or during a fire (15:15) What charring, pugilistic posture, thermal fractures, and heat-induced epidural hematomas reveal during an autopsy (19:30) Why teeth and DNA often become the only reliable methods of identifying severely burned victims (21:00) Celebrating 50 episodes of Mayhem in the Morgue with thanks to listeners and production team About the Host Dr. Kendall Crowns is the chief medical examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in courthundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often-misunderstood realities of forensic pathology. About the Show Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners inside the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. Connect and Learn More Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and be sure to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts. If you like this episode, don’t keep it to yourself; follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.