Autopsy: The Last Hours Of…

Verne Troyer, the much-loved diminutive star, adored by millions who played Dr. Evil’s pint-sized sidekick, Mini-Me in the hugely successful Austin Powers franchise died at the tender age of 49. His death was ruled as a suicide, attributed to alcohol intoxication. But was his death really a suicide or a tragic accident? World renowned forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Hunter, investigates all the medical evidence to unravel the truth behind Verne Troyer’s tragical early death, to uncover some startling revelations.

On May 8th 2020, the entertainment world was rocked by the news that legendary Las Vegas illusionist Roy Horn had become a victim to the coronavirus pandemic. As one half of Siegfried and Roy, he was the animal-tamer who helped re-invent the magic act as multi-million-dollar spectacle. It was during a traumatic childhood in post-war Germany that Roy developed a unique ability to communicate with animals. In partnership with budding magician Siegfried, he took his talent to the stage – and the pair developed a live act that starred cheetahs, lions and tigers. They went from touring the clubs of Europe - to scoring their own headline residency as the hottest act in Vegas. They performed over 30,000 shows, becoming one of the most successful live acts of all time – and the official ‘Magicians of the Century’. But in 2003 tragedy struck – when Roy was mauled onstage and almost killed by one of his tigers. He was left permanently paralysed – but his strength to survive and recover from the incident was heralded as close to miraculous. Then, at the age of 75, he died from complications due to coronavirus. It’s a highly contagious disease, but has a low mortality rate – and 94 per cent of those who die have at least one other pre-existing health condition. So what made Roy’s infection turn fatal? World renowned forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Hunter needs to analyze every detail in the limited available information to piece together what else was going on in his body to find the answers.

Jerry Lewis was still working into his nineties, up until just a few months before his death. But 75 years in the limelight took its toll on this comic legend. His body paid the price for his knockabout clown image, which centred around elaborate pratfalls, when he suffered a serious back injury in his early thirties which caused a lifetime of chronic pain, and led to an addiction to opioid painkillers. He was a heavy smoker for more than 40 years and the Doctors discovered congenital heart issues when he was just a teenager. He died at the age of 91 of cardiac disease. However, world-renowned forensic pathologist Dr Michael Hunter doesn’t think this is the whole story. He needs to delve deep into Jerry Lewis’ records to discover whether there was, in fact, something else going on in Jerry’s body that contributed to his eventual demise.

On September 4th 2006 Australian zookeeper and wildlife expert Steve Irwin was tragically killed while filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef. Steve had won global notoriety as the ‘Crocodile Hunter’, handling deadly snakes, toxic reptiles, and apex predators on programmes watched by an estimated worldwide audience of 500 million. But the world was shocked to learn that, at the age of just 44, the seemingly invincible conservationist, had been killed by a creature not known for being aggressive or dangerous – a stingray. Now, world renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter is investigating what led one of the world’s most iconic wildlife experts to be killed by an otherwise docile animal?

On July 3 2012, Americans were saddened by the death of Andy Griffith. Andy was notoriously private, and very little is known about what happened, or the state of his health in the last few years of his life. Dr Hunter will be analysing every detail in the available information, to piece together what led to his demise. In a career spanning almost seventy years, he had charmed audiences as an actor, comedian and recording artist. But it was his performance as Sheriff Andy Taylor, in The Andy Griffith Show, that catapulted him into the hearts of Americans everywhere. Beloved for this character’s gentle kindness and good humour, audiences believed he was their friend and father figure. But the public perception of Andy was at odds with who he was. Friends recall a Jekyll and Hyde personality and a man who became increasingly reclusive. Andy’s death certificate states that he died as a result of a heart attack, after years of suffering from other illnesses. Dr Hunter’s investigation builds up a picture of a man whose private habits and behaviours left him susceptible to heart disease in multiple ways. Though his death, at 86, may not have come as a surprise, what did raise eyebrows was the fact that he was buried in the grounds of his home within four and a half hours of the 911 call alerting the emergency services that he was unresponsive. As part of his investigation Dr Hunter will uncover whether this bears any significance on the manner in which he died.

A Kate Spade handbag has been one of the world’s most desired fashion accessories. Kate was the fun-loving and exuberant fashion journalist who created an international fashion empire. Despite no formal design training, she mocked up her first handbags from tracing paper. Then, she and husband Andy, took those designs, and created a fledgling business. They grew from their small Manhattan apartment to stores and offices worldwide. They expanded from handbags to shoes, women’s wear, accessories and stationary. In 2006 they sold the company and settled down to have a family. But Kate also nursed a secret. She was prone to anxiety and depression. Her mental health deteriorated to the point that, she took her own life by hanging on June 6th 2018. She died in her apartment alone, aged 55. It was a tragic end to a life, and all the more tragic as it was preventable. Now, in this heartfelt and empathetic episode, forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter investigates the mystery of Kate’s darkness that caused her to end it all.

On March 4th, 2019, the much-loved actor Luke Perry died after suffering a massive, and totally unexpected, stroke. He was just 52 years old. Born in an Ohio backwater, Luke learned to appreciate the simple things in life, but his desire to escape small-town living took him to California. There, after years scraping a living, Luke hit the big time when he landed the role of bad-boy Dylan McKay in the hit teen TV series ‘Beverly Hills 90210’. Idolised by millions around the world, Luke never succumbed to his celebrity status. A humble, generous & talented actor, who loved a quiet family life, Luke was far from a ‘live hard, die young’ cliché. Dr. Michael Hunter uses Luke’s Death certificate and first-hand accounts of Luke’s life to uncover the mystery behind what may have caused his death.

Sir Roger Moore died of liver cancer in 2017 at the age of 89. The famously modest and unassuming British actor had been many people’s favourite James Bond. Where Sean Connery had played 007 straight, Roger had played him for laughs. He’d identified the joke at the heart of the role – James Bond, the secret agent so familiar that everybody knows his favourite drink. For Roger Moore, Bond was a parody or he was nothing. But Roger’s swashbuckling, devil-may-care Bond had belied a life of serious health problems. He was not as robust as the movie image of indestructibility suggested. Roger’s life story read like a medical textbook with major ailments at every turn. It had started with near terminal double-pneumonia at the age of five – the doctor had told his father he’d be back in the morning with a death certificate. The son of a south London policeman, Roger had been forced to reinvent himself at RADA - the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art – after being told that his cockney accent wouldn’t do. This, coupled with his father’s advice to remember that success might be short lived fostered in him a sense of life’s precariousness. His international standard hypochondria and almost pathological self-deprecation were the consequence. His critics described his acting as wooden and shallow and deep down, he probably agreed with them. But as his friend, Sir Michael Caine says, making it look easy is the hardest thing. Sir Roger had made friends wherever he had gone, and long before the end of his life had been elevated to the status of National Treasure without ever quite understanding how. World-renowned forensic pathologist Dr Michael Hunter analyses the details of this fascinating case to unearth the truth behind Sir Roger Moore’s death. He had suffered years of ill health and fought three different types of cancer but had somehow made it to the age of 89. Maybe there had been more 007 in Sir Roger Moore than he had let on.

On Christmas Day 1995, Dean Martin, nicknamed the “King of Cool”, died at the age of 78, leaving behind a five decade legacy in music, movies, and television. Dean Martin started life in the limelight as a crooner in local bars and clubs, but quickly shot to international stardom as a singer, releasing over 30 albums, and even knocking The Beatles off the top spot in the charts with his hit rendition of “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes.” He started his acting character as one half of the comedy duo, “Martin and Lewis” with Jerry Lewis, but after 10 years he cut ties and decided to go it alone. He subsequently starred in more than 40 movies, from Westerns with John Wayne to Oceans 11 with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Junior, with whom he would join forces in movies, on stage and television. The press dubbed them “The Rat Pack”. Dean went on to host his very own TV show, “The Dean Martin Show”, which earned him a Golden Globe award for Best Male Television Star. But 50 years in the limelight took its toll on this popular entertainer. He chain smoked his whole life and was a drinking man, even using alcohol as a prop for a convincing “drunky” stage persona. However, one tragic moment in 1987 would see Dean Martin’s life unravel. During the last 8 years of his life his alcohol intake spiralled out of control and he became dependent on opioid painkillers. He died at the age 78 of respiratory arrest. As a lifelong smoker he developed Emphysema and later, lung cancer. However, world renowned forensic pathologist, Dr Michael Hunter doesn’t think this is the whole story. He needs to delve deep into Dean Martin’s records to discover whether there was, in fact, something else going on in Dean’s body that contributed to his eventual demise.

On May 14th 1998 the world was saddened by news that the singer and actor Frank Sinatra had died. Arguably the most popular entertainer of the 20th century, he had been at the forefront of the american consciousness for 60 years by the time of his death from heart attack. He overcame birth trauma and a chaotic and lonely childhood to win the hearts of people around the world with his emotional delivery of songs, and his charismatic performances on screen. A heart-throb, Frank was the embodiment of sex appeal, but that didn’t mean he escaped the traumas of love. His second marriage to Ava Gardner ended following infidelity, and several suicide attempts by Frank. At around this time in his life he started drinking Jack Daniels, a habit which would result in a decades long alcohol dependency. He also smoked and had a famously short temper. When he died at age 82 of a heart attack, the causes of his heart failure appeared transparent. But Dr Michael Hunter believes that Frank’s fate was far from inevitable, and that there was an event in Frank’s life which could have caused him to turn his life around.

On May 15th 2003, June Carter Cash died in a Nashville hospital following complications from heart surgery. A devoted wife and mother, June’s life in the limelight was not without its troubles. Despite her enormous success as a country music artist, it was her tumultuous 35 year marriage to country superstar Johnny Cash that dominated her life. In this episode, renowned forensic pathologist Dr Michael Hunter analyses June’s records and first hand accounts to determine exactly how she died.

In the supersized world of pro-wrestling, Randy “Macho Man” Savage was one of the most muscular, the most daring and most intensely competitive in and out of the ring. Famed for his aggressive demeanour, his colourful outfits and incredible stunts, he was regarded as one of the greatest pro-wrestling showmen to have ever lived. To his fans, he appeared incredibly fit and in-dominatable. But in 2011, following a terrifying loss of consciousness at the wheel of his Jeep forcing the vehicle into oncoming traffic and into a tree, they were shocked to learn that it was a massive heart attack that ended his life at the age of just 58. So did Randy’s athleticism and physical prowess come at a price ? With the help of medical reports and first hand testimony from those who knew him well, world renowned Forensic Pathologist, Dr.Michael Hunter explores Randy’s life story and 30 years in the pro-wrestling spotlight to uncover a shocking medical history in which Randy piled pressure after pressure on his increasingly battle-weary heart.

At 09:50am on August 16, 2018 Aretha Franklin tragically died, aged 76. Aretha will endure as one of the world’s greatest ever vocalists, who entertained us for over 50 years with her unique brand of gospel, soul and pop music. Her genius reached into many diverse genres of music, and she wrote and produced some of the most enduring classics of modern times, setting the bar for modern vocalists. Renowned for her generosity, Aretha stood for civil rights worldwide, and gave voice to the struggles of millions of people. A fiercely private woman, Aretha overcame her own childhood trauma and had to face tragedy and heartbreak throughout her life as she battled with booze, cigarettes and her diet. Aretha was always a fighter, and she bravely resisted the rare but treatable cancer that finally took her life. So how did she come to have this fatal disease? Dr Michael Hunter, world renowned medical examiner, will investigate and analyse all the available evidence.

On January 5, 1998, Congressman Sonny Bono died, after crashing head-first into a tree on a family skiing vacation. Born in Detroit to Italian parents, Sonny was the visionary behind the iconic pop duo & Tv stars, Sonny & Cher. After an acrimonious split from Cher, Sonny, a born risk-taker, never looked back. He went from bit-part actor, to restaurateur, to Mayor of Palm Springs and eventually a highly-regarded Republican Congressman. There were no witnesses to Sonny’s fatal accident, so in this episode, world-renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter uses Death Investigation reports alongside first-hand accounts of Sonny’s life to discover what may have caused the 62-year-old expert skier to lose control and crash.

On the afternoon of June 29th, 1978, Hogan’s Heroes star Bob Crane’s body was discovered bludgeoned to death. He was just two weeks away from his 50th birthday. The nation was stunned. Bob Crane’s autopsy report stated he died from a blunt force impact to the left temporal scalp that caused massive bleeding and brain injury. There was also a ligature tied around his neck used to strangle him. His murderer has never been found. Forensic Pathologist Dr Michael Hunter reopens one of Hollywood’s most famous cold cases, examining over 700 pages of original police reports together with crime scene photographs and video to try and work out who would have wanted Bob dead. Some believe his brutal divorce battle had something to do with it, others that the mob had got to him, but everyone agreed Bob’s addiction to sex and filming his own sex tapes had something to do with it. Police found his apartment crammed full of cameras, lights and editing equipment and quickly assumed that one of his tripods was the murder weapon as it was missing from the scene. Their attention quickly turned to John Carpenter, a home video salesman, who had introduced Bob to the new technology and who featured in several of Bob’s sex tapes. He had fled the scene on the morning of the murder, and when the police found blood in John’s rental car, and then tested it and found it belonged to the same rare blood group as Bob’s, they believed they had their man. But it would take another 16 years to bring him to trial, when prosecutors believed that new techniques in DNA testing would prove the blood was Bob’s. Carpenter protested his innocence throughout. Why would he kill his best friend? But if it wasn’t Carpenter who was it? A jealous boyfriend or husband? A spurned lover? Could advancements in DNA testing today provide answers?