Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

Mayhem in the Morgue | Autopsies

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Tree Fall

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:00:00 +0000

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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | He’s Alive

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines the rare phenomenon known as the Lazarus effect, or autoresuscitation, where signs of life return after a person has been declared dead. He starts with the case that’s been making headlines: 18-month-old Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, pronounced dead after a drowning, then found alive hours later in a hospital morgue. Dr. Crowns explains how death is actually determined, what might cause circulation to kick back in after resuscitation has already stopped, and the safeguards hospitals use to prevent a person from being declared dead prematurely. He also shares other reported cases of people showing signs of life at funeral homes and explains how he knows the person on his autopsy table is, in fact, actually dead.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(00:30) The case of 18-month-old Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, who was found alive in a hospital morgue

(1:15) Childhood drowning risks and why crowded gatherings around swimming pools can become dangerous

(2:45) What happens to the body during drowning and the five stages that can lead to death

(6:15) Vincent’s resuscitation, declaration of death, and the signs of life reportedly noticed by his family and first responders

(7:15) What agonal breathing looks like and why it can be mistaken for signs of recovery

(8:30) A medical examiner transporter discovers Vincent alive more than five hours after he was pronounced dead

(9:45) The Lazarus effect, or autoresuscitation, and where the term comes from

(10:45) Other reported cases of people showing signs of life after being declared dead

(12:45) How medical professionals determine death and the additional criteria used to establish brain death

(15:15) What the Lazarus effect looks like when it occurs

(16:00) The theories behind why circulation can sometimes return after CPR has stopped

(17:15) Why patients should be monitored after CPR ends before death is declared

(18:00) How Dr. Crowns knows someone is dead before beginning an autopsy

(19:15) Dr. Crowns’ grandmother, a family fear of being buried alive, and a needle that may have been involved in confirming a death

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

Connect and Learn More

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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Got Milk? Part Two

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:35:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns concludes his two-part series on prescription drug misuse by examining the death of Michael Jackson, whose fatal overdose centered on the anesthetic propofol. He explains why the drug is not a sleep aid, how fast it can turn fatal without proper monitoring, and what makes it dangerous when administered outside an appropriately equipped medical setting. Using Jackson’s autopsy report, Dr. Crowns discusses what investigators found in the bedroom, what toxicology revealed, and why the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide instead of an accidental overdose.

Missed Part One?

Mayhem in the Morgue | Got Milk? Part One

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Continuing the prescription drug misuse series with Michael Jackson’s case

(2:45) What propofol is, why it is called “milk of amnesia,” and how it differs from common sedatives

(4:15) Dr. Crowns’ first encounter with propofol during an autopsy

(5:00) Why propofol requires constant monitoring and has little margin for error

(7:30) Why propofol abuse is rare outside healthcare but more common among anesthesiology professionals

(9:00) Michael Jackson’s repeated use of propofol and the medications administered before his death

(12:30) Jackson’s bedroom scene and the medications, supplies, and other details investigators documented

(16:15) The autopsy findings that pointed to fatal respiratory depression

(18:30) Toxicology results, cause of death, and why propofol combined with benzodiazepines proved fatal

(20:00) Why Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide instead of an accident

(21:45) Dr. Murray’s conviction, sentence, and his return to medicine overseas

(22:00) Physician responsibility, standards of care, and the lesson behind Michael Jackson’s death

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

Connect and Learn More

If you like this episode, don’t keep it to yourself; follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review.

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Mayhem in the Morgue | Got Milk? Part One

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns begins a two-part series on prescription drug misuse and the ordinary ways pills can end up in the wrong hands. He shares a childhood story about missing medication from his mother’s cancer treatment, a residency assignment that blurred an ethical line, and a hospital encounter that highlights the difficult position doctors can face when patients demand controlled substances. He also discusses doctor shopping, what pill bottles can reveal at a death scene, and why fame can make access to prescription drugs even easier.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Prescription drug misuse and why legal medications are often overlooked as drugs of abuse

(1:15) How certain prescription drugs become tied to medical professionals instead of street dealers

(1:30) Dr. Crowns recalls his mother’s hydrocodone prescription and her missing pills

(3:45) Stealing medication from friends, family members, and deceased relatives as a common route to prescription drug misuse

(4:15) What pill bottles can reveal at a death scene, including labels, prescribing doctors, pill counts, and mixed contents

(5:30) Doctor shopping, emergency room visits, claimed allergies, and other red flags

(6:45) The risk of doctors prescribing to relatives and friends, and a case of a secretary’s husband who died unexpectedly

(10:45) Why Dr. Crowns never obtained a DEA number

(12:45) Patient pressure, medical school rotations, and a hospital encounter with an inmate asking for morphine or hydrocodone

(17:15) Dr. Crowns introduces Michael Jackson’s death as the focus of Got Milk? Part Two

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, andKansas. 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

Connect and Learn More

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Courtroom Limbo

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns discusses a part of courtroom testimony most listeners never hear about: what happens while a medical examiner waits to be called to the stand. Before smartphones existed, those delays could mean hours alone with nothing but a case file, an empty courtroom, a hard wooden pew, and on one occasion, a poorly timed nap. Dr. Crowns shares stories from his years in Chicago courtrooms, waking up groggy right before testifying and briefly blanking on his own educational background, hearing a retired officer’s account of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and navigating the particular awkwardness of waiting-room small talk with civilian witnesses and gang members.

Mentioned Episode:

Mayhem in the Morgue | Outburst

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Today’s topic: what Dr. Crowns does while waiting to testify

(1:00) The George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building and a multiple gunshot wound case

(3:00) Left alone in an empty courtroom with nothing but a case file, Dr. Crowns rolls up his trench coat and takes a nap

(4:15) Waking up groggy, entering the courtroom, and briefly forgetting his own educational background

(7:15) The reality of waiting rooms, court delays, and being trapped with nothing to do

(8:30) Passing the time with Chicago police officers, courtroom stories, and conversations about the job

(10:45) A retired officer’s account of policing during the 1968 Democratic National Convention

(13:15) Waiting with civilian witnesses, awkward silence, and the question that usually broke the ice

(14:30) Conversations with Chicago gang members, gang tattoos, nicknames, and forensic curiosity

(18:00) How Dr. Crowns became “The Tooth,” also known as “El Diente”

(21:00) A courthouse conversation with a young gang member and the autopsy that followed a month later

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

Connect and Learn More

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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Overkill: Part Two

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns continues his discussion of overkill, explaining the five categories recognized in forensic literature: expressive, instrumental, sexual, psychotic, and culturally motivated overkill. He shares two of his own cases, including a Chicago stabbing case that later sent him to the crime scene of a homicide he had already autopsied and a Texas case involving sexual overkill, necrophilia, and schizophrenia. Dr. Crowns closes by considering how the University of Idaho murders may fit within the overkill framework and what Bryan Kohberger’s reported behavior may suggest about his possible motive.

Missed Part One?

Mayhem in the Morgue |Overkill: Part One

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Dr. Crowns recaps Overkill: Part One and introduces the five categories of overkill

(1:00) Expressive overkill: impulsive, emotionally charged attacks and their key characteristics

(1:45) Instrumental overkill: calculated violence driven by financial gain, revenge, or escalation

(2:30) Sexual overkill: sadistic or paraphilic arousal, ritualistic elements, and targeted wounds

(3:00) Psychotic overkill: disorganized attacks, delusional ideation, and cognitive fragmentation

(3:30) Culturally motivated overkill: honor murders, dominance, punishment, and purification

(4:00) The link between overkill and mental illness and why no single disorder prevails

(5:00) Dr. Crowns’ Chicago case: a 175-stab-wound homicide and the crime scene he visited a week later

(11:45) Dr. Crown’s Texas case: sexual overkill, necrophilia, and a roommate with schizophrenia

(14:45) Dr. Crowns considers Bryan Kohberger’s reported behavior and the unanswered question of motive

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

Connect and Learn More

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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Overkill: Part One

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines the concept of overkill through the autopsy reports of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, four University of Idaho students murdered in Moscow, Idaho. He reviews the timeline of the attack, the alleged weapon used, and the sharp force, blunt force, and defensive injuries documented in their autopsies. Dr. Crowns explains how forensic pathologists evaluate wound number, distribution, hemorrhage, toxicology, and injury patterns to better understand what happened in those final moments. This episode offers a forensic look at overkill, including how it differs from ritualistic homicide, mission-oriented homicide, torture, and body mutilation.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Chatzinikolaou, F., Vavoulidis, E., Tsiapla, T., Margioula-Siarkou, C., Dinas, K., & Petousis, S. (2025). Overkill in forensic medicine: A systematic review. Acta Psychologica, 259, 105388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105388

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Dr. Crowns introduces Overkill: Part One and the recently released University of Idaho autopsy reports

(0:45) The murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in Moscow, Idaho

(3:30) The alleged KA-BAR knife, its military history, and why it can cause devastating sharp force injuries

(5:00) Madison Mogen’s autopsy findings, defensive wounds, toxicology, and why her death was not immediate

(9:15) Kaylee Goncalves’ injuries, including sharp force trauma, blunt force trauma, and evidence of strangulation

(14:30) Xana Kernodle’s extensive injuries, defensive wounds, toxicology, and evidence that she fought back

(17:45) Ethan Chapin’s injuries, defensive wounds, toxicology, and the evidence that suggests he was asleep when attacked

(19:15) Dr. Crowns explains why he believes one person could have caused all of these injuries

(20:00) What overkill means in forensic pathology and why it can suggest more than wound count alone

(21:15) How medical examiners, forensic psychiatrists, criminologists, and law enforcement may interpret overkill differently

(22:15) Differentiating overkill from ritualistic homicide, mission-oriented homicide, torture, and body mutilation

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

Connect and Learn More

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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | H.R. Huffing Stuff

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns discusses inhalant abuse and the everyday household products people use to get high. He explains how substances like spray paint, canned air, Freon, and other chemicals affect the nervous system, limit oxygen, and sometimes trigger fatal heart rhythms. Through cases involving whipped cream canisters, dental nitrous oxide, hairspray, and jenkem, Dr. Crowns shows why these deaths can be difficult to diagnose, often leaving few obvious autopsy findings and relying heavily on scene investigation and toxicology.

Episodes Mentioned:

Mayhem in the Morgue | Foraging Misadventures

Mayhem in the Morgue | Minty Fresh

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Huffing, bored teenagers, and the pre-internet search for ways to get high

(4:30) What huffing means and why inhaling chemical vapors can be deadly

(5:15) The household products commonly abused as inhalants and how these chemicals affect the brain

(7:15) Spray paint, “chromers, ” and the autopsy clues that can point to toluene exposure

(9:00) Canned air cases and the unusual scene findings investigators often encounter

(10:15) Nitrous oxide abuse, a dentist found dead in his chair, whipped cream cans, and whip-its

(15:30) How plastic bags increase the risk of asphyxiation and the lasting damage caused by chronic nitrous oxide abuse

(17:15) Freon, frostbite injuries, and sudden sniffing death syndrome

(20:30) A hairspray huffing death with misleading alcohol levels in the vitreous fluid

(23:00) A 17-year-old found dead in a bathtub, a bottle found at the scene, and Dr. Crowns’ firsthand jenkem case

(29:00) Hydrogen sulfide toxicity, drowning, and Dr. Crowns’ closing advice

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

Connect and Learn More

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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Coffin Birth

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns discusses coffin birth, the rare postmortem phenomenon formally known as postmortem fetal extrusion. He explains how human decomposition creates gases, bloating skin, skin slippage, purge fluid, maggot activity, and other artifacts that can change the body after death and sometimes mimic trauma, sexual assault, or other evidence. He also discusses the Shanann Watts and Laci Peterson cases to explain how coffin birth is evaluated and why it must be distinguished from live birth or other possibilities.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Coffin birth, decomposition gases, and the autopsy artifacts that can complicate a death investigation

(0:45) What happens after death: autolysis, putrefaction, and the bacteria already waiting inside the body

(2:30) Why decomposition smells so distinct, from rotten eggs and stale urine to rotting fish and foul garlic

(4:00) Dr. Crowns remembers his first decomposed body during medical school in Wichita, Kansas

(8:15) Inside the morgue with flies, maggots, maggot masses, and the daily reality of decomposition cases

(11:45) The Cook County decomposition morgue, the air-handling problem, and one doctor’s very questionable workaround

(18:00) Bloating, skin slippage, brighter tattoos, and the forensic details that can help or hinder identification

(19:30) When decomposition mimics trauma: ruptured scars, gaping wounds, and the risk of misreading the body

(21:15) Purge fluid, mistaken sexual assault concerns, and the importance of separating artifact from evidence

(24:00) Dr. Crowns explains postmortem fetal extrusion, also known as coffin birth, through the Shannan Watts case

(25:00) Laci Peterson, fetal separation, and why coffin birth must be carefully distinguished from live birth or other possibilities

About the Host:

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Doggy Death Penalty: Part Two

Wed, 27 May 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns continues Doggy Death Penalty with an unusual thank-you note, a Texas process server killed by a pack of dogs, and the long civil trial that followed. He explains how bite patterns, wound severity, pack behavior, and autopsy documentation helped the jury weigh the central question in court: did all six dogs participate in the attack? The case becomes a lesson in forensic evidence, public safety, and the difficult truth that animals can be deeply loved and still become dangerous.

Missed the First Episode?

Mayhem in the Morgue | Doggy Death Penalty: Part One

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:30) Dr. Crowns picks up where Part One left off with an unusual thank-you card

(2:00) The final fate of the bulldogs and why Dr. Crowns’ “pardon” did not hold

(2:15) A Texas process server arrives at a rural property and is attacked by six dogs

(4:00) Law enforcement, animal control, neighborhood complaints, and warning signs before the fatal mauling

(5:00) Autopsy findings, 455 wounds, and injury patterns pointing to a multiple-dog attack

(6:45) A judge orders the dogs euthanized, and the owner begins a lengthy appeal

(7:15) The “doggy death penalty” trial and the debate over which dogs participated in the attack

(9:30) A dog behavior expert challenges the maternal instinct theory and testifies about pack involvement

(10:45) Dr. Crowns takes the stand and explains why the autopsy supported a pack attack

(14:00) The jury’s decision, the denied appeal, and the lasting lessons for forensic documentation

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

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Doggy Death Penalty: Part One

Wed, 20 May 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns discusses the rare but devastating reality of fatal dog attacks. He challenges common breed myths, explains the specific triggers behind predatory instincts, and shares a personal childhood memory of surviving a dog attack at age three. Dr. Crowns also examines a fatal case involving an elderly man mauled by his family's beloved dogs and recounts the strange turn that came afterward when the victim’s grieving family made an unexpected plea regarding the dogs’ fate.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(1:00) Fatal dog attack data, breed myths, and why aggression is not determined by breed alone

(3:00) Factors and predatory instincts that can trigger an attack

(5:15) Why children can trigger a prey response and Dr. Crowns’ childhood dog attack at age three

(9:45) How dangerous dog investigations work and why euthanasia after an attack is not automatic

(11:00) Bite wounds, claw injuries, and the Dunbar Bite Scale used to classify bite severity

(13:15) Dangerous dog hearings, owner responsibility, and legal requirements for keeping a dangerous dog

(14:30) A 77-year-old man is found dead after being mauled by his family’s two English bulldogs

(17:15) Autopsy findings, femoral vessel injuries, and the cause and manner of death

(19:30) The family’s plea to spare the dogs and Dr. Crowns’ limited role in their fate

About the Host:

About the Show:

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Death and Dismemberment: Part 2

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns picks up where Part One left off, returning to the Traci Todd case, where dental work found in a damaged skull helped identify the victim and a confession later clarified her cause of death was strangulation. He then continues through the four categories of dismemberment, from defensive and offensive mutilation to aggressive and necromantic cases. Dr. Crowns wraps up the episode by returning to the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case, pointing out the nearly two-week gap between her death and her eventual dismemberment and the lingering questions about what happened during that time.

Mentioned in the Episode:

Mayhem in the Morgue | Death and Dismemberment: Part 1

Mayhem in the Morgue | Ghost Stories

Mayhem in the Morgue | Mom Stuff

Mayhem in the Morgue | The Bully

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:30) Recap of the D4VD case, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, and the four categories of dismemberment

(1:00) Returning to the Traci Todd case after a human skull is discovered in Beaubien Woods

(4:30) Identifying Traci Todd through previous dental work and what the recovered remains reveal

(5:30) Why Traci’s cause of death was difficult to determine and how Kevin Williams’ mistakes helped connect the case

(6:15) Defensive dismemberment, the Traci Todd case, and how cutting a body apart can conceal cause of death

(6:45) Offensive mutilation, mental illness and Dr. Crowns’ related case from “Ghost Stories”

(7:30) Aggressive mutilation, decapitation, and Dr. Crowns’ related case from “Mom Stuff"

(8:30) Necromantic mutilation, body-part retention, and the disturbing forensic conference presentation Dr. Crowns still remembers

(17:00) Returning to the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case and the timeline between death, dismemberment, and disposal

About the Host:

About the Show:

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Death and Dismemberment: Part 1

Wed, 06 May 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns analyzes the autopsy of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered and decomposing remains were discovered inside the “frunk” of a Tesla belonging to the artist D4VD. Dr. Crowns explains how medical examiners read decomposition, insect activity, saw marks, and trace evidence to determine what happened before and after death. He also introduces the four major types of dismemberment, using a gang-related homicide and the Traci Todd case to show how these crimes are categorized and what postmortem injuries can reveal.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:30) Dr. Crowns opens Death and Dismemberment, Part One with the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case

(3:00) Alleged purchases, disposal materials, and the timeline leading up to the discovery of Hernandez’s remains

(5:00) How decomposition changes the body and what insect activity can reveal during autopsy

(7:15) What the autopsy report says about Hernandez’s dismembered remains

(8:00) How chainsaws mark bone and leave behind significant DNA evidence

(10:00) Interpreting injuries from the report: blue plastic fragments, penetrating wounds, and signs of postmortem damage

(13:00) Toxicology findings and the official cause and manner of death

(14:00) The four categories of dismemberment and why defensive mutilation is the most common

(18:15) A gang-related homicide shows how postmortem dismemberment was used for transport

(22:00) The Traci Todd case, Kevin Williams, and the missing-person investigation that led to Beaubien Woods

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 NancyGrace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often-misunderstood realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Cold Cases, Lover’s Lane Murder, and the Brown’s Chicken Massacre

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines how forensic pathology, DNA evidence, and meticulous evidence preservation can revive years-long cold cases, specifically focusing on the 1990 Lover’s Lane murder and the 1993 Brown’s Chicken massacre. Dr. Crowns details the physiological realities of neck trauma and the four stages of hemorrhagic shock, and explains how tools like the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) allow investigators to match decades old DNA to identify potential suspects. The episode closes with Dr. Crowns sharing lessons learned from testifying in court and the importance of using precise language.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) The Lover’s Lane murders, cold case questions, and Dr. Crowns’ follow-up to a recent Crime Stories with Nancy Grace discussion

(1:15) Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson are reported missing before searchers discover their bodies in the woods

(2:15) What incised wounds reveal about sharp force trauma to the neck

(3:00) Why injuries to the carotid arteries and jugular veins can lead to hemorrhagic shock and rapid death

(9:00) What Henry and Atkinson likely endured before losing consciousness

(10:15) A 2026 tip, CODIS, and the DNA match that may move the Lover’s Lane case toward trial

(12:00) How DNA and trace evidence are collected during autopsy and preserved for future testing

(14:45) The Brown’s Chicken massacre and how discarded food evidence led to preserved DNA samples

(21:30) Breakthrough in the case and the identification of the suspects

(22:45) Why substitute medical examiners sometimes testify in older cases and the importance of using precise language in court

(29:30) Smith v. Arizona, the confrontation clause, and legal changes affecting substitute testimony

(31:15) Closing thoughts on how modern forensic science continues to solve cold cases

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, andKansas. 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

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Lightning

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines one of the rarest and most violent natural causes of death: lightning. Using a case involving two teenagers killed in a park, along with the only lightning-related autopsy he has personally performed, Dr. Crowns explains how lightning forms, the different ways it damages the body, and the statistics that show who is most at risk and when lightning strikes are most likely to occur.

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:45) Two teenagers are killed by lightning in a park, and Dr. Crowns reflects on growing up weather-aware in Kansas

(2:45) A substitute teacher replaces the fired teacher, and a lightning strike on his family’s house deepens Dr. Crowns’ fascination with lightning

(4:00) The aftermath of the fatal strike in the park and the severe injuries it caused

(5:45) How lightning forms and why lightning deaths are so rare

(8:45) Lightning strike statistics, who is most at risk, and when strikes are most likely to occur

(10:45) Activities most commonly linked to lightning fatalities

(12:00) Dr. Crowns’ only lightning-related autopsy

(14:00) The different ways lightning can injure or kill

(16:15) How lightning affects the nervous system, heart, lungs, eyes, and skin

(17:45) The autopsy findings that can help confirm a lightning death, including Lichtenberg figures

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 into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Buzzkill

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines how an ordinary day outdoors can turn deadly after an encounter with bees, wasps, hornets, or fire ants. Using real forensic cases, he explains the four stages of anaphylaxis, the aggressive nature of killer bees, and how forensic pathologists determine whether an insect attack caused, contributed to, or merely complicated a person’s death.

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Why stinging insects can turn an ordinary summer day into a fatal emergency

(1:30) Dr. Crowns’ childhood story involving yellow jackets, his brother, and a very bad idea

(5:30) How stinging insects are classified and the anatomy of stingers

(6:15) The Schmidt sting pain index and the varying pain of insect stings

(9:00) Sting frequency, allergic reactions, and seasonal danger patterns

(11:00) Case one: a fatal bee swarm after a lawn mower disturbs a nest

(13:30) The difference between bees, wasps, hornets, and the threat of killer bees

(19:15) The four stages of anaphylaxis and autopsy findings that help confirm a fatal reaction

(24:00) Case two: a woman found covered in fire ants, and what really caused her death

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 into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show:

Connect and Learn More

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Epstein

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns departs from the show’s usual format to take a forensic look at the Jeffrey Epstein case through the lens of a medical examiner. While Epstein’s death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, Dr. Crowns re-examines the autopsy findings and scene evidence to address the persistent debate: did Jeffrey Epstein die by suicide or by ligature strangulation?

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(1:45) Epstein’s arrest, time in custody, reported prior incident, and removal from suicide watch

(2:30) How Epstein was reportedly found in his cell on August 10, 2019

(3:45) Why the condition of his cell and the scene raised questions for Dr. Crowns

(6:15) The ligature evidence, the photographed noose, and why its condition is difficult to reconcile with the scene

(7:30) Hanging vs. ligature strangulation: the basic forensic distinction

(11:15) Epstein’s ligature furrow, knot position, and why the neck markings are central to the debate

(16:45) Petechial hemorrhages, facial congestion, and the difficulty of interpreting signs of struggle

(19:30) Epstein’s hyoid and thyroid cartilage fractures and why Dr. Crowns find them unusual

(23:30) A forensic comparison of hanging versus ligature strangulation and Dr. Crowns’ final conclusion

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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Look Out!

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns looks at the often catastrophic and unexpected ways an ordinary drive can turn deadly when a vehicle encounters a hazard on the roadway. Through memories of his old 1979 Mustang and fatal cases involving wildlife strikes, blown tires, and flying road debris, he shows how quickly an everyday trip can turn into a forensic case.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:30) Why fatal crashes are a near-daily part of work in the morgue

(2:00) Dr. Crowns’ 1979 Mustang and Beth’s nighttime deer collision in Kansas

(4:45) Case one: a deer crashes through a pickup windshield, killing the driver instantly

(6:45) Why deer-related crashes happen in the fall, and why time of day and headlights make them even more dangerous

(10:00) A tire-blowout beside the ‘79 Mustang on the Memphis beltway

(11:45) Case two: a woman is killed after a semi-truck tire smashes through her windshield and roof

(15:15) Causes of wheel-off accidents

(16:30) Case three: a passenger is killed when a piece of steel falls from a flatbed truck

(18:45) Road debris, evasive driving, and the everyday hazards drivers never see coming

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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd 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. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Mom Stuff

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Content warning: This episode contains graphic discussion of homicide, dismemberment, and postmortem injury. If these topics are upsetting to you, this episode may not be for you.

Understanding violent cases sometimes takes creativity and, in one case, a trip to the local craft store. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns tells the story of a horrific double homicide that led him to think beyond the usual tools of forensic pathology, including using a Styrofoam mannequin head to reconstruct one victim's crushed skull. As he describes the injuries, the autopsies, and the challenge of separating damage done before death from damage done after, the episode opens into a disturbing look at synthetic marijuana and the extreme paranoia, psychosis, and violence it can trigger.

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:30) Dr. Crowns recounts a double homicide involving dumpster recovery, mutilation, and a second victim in the roadway

(1:15) Why bodies recovered from dumpsters create major forensic and evidentiary challenges

(3:15) How forensic pathologists distinguish antemortem trauma from postmortem damage

(4:15) Case one: a woman is found decapitated, with extensive chop wounds and mutilation

(5:15) The challenge of separating machete wounds from injuries caused by a tile scraper

(6:15) Case two: a second victim is found in the roadway after being run over multiple times

(7:15) Why the second autopsy became even harder once the victims’ head is found to be severely crushed

(8:00) The idea that led Dr. Crowns to stop at the local craft store and the impromptu line that explained the mannequin head purchase

(10:00) How the mannequin head helped reconstruct the skull and clarify the wound patterns

(11:00) What police say happened during the killings and how the suspect moved from one victim to the next

(13:45) What synthetic marijuana is, how compounds like spice entered the illicit drug market, and why K2 can be significantly more dangerous than marijuana

(19:15) The effects linked to synthetic cannabinoids: hallucinations, paranoia, violence, and psychosis

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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | In the Water, No One Can Hear You Sweat

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Some drowning cases only begin to make sense after forensic pathology reveals what was happening inside the body before death. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns explains how forensic pathologists use vitreous fluid from the eye to detect dangerous electrolyte imbalances like hyponatremia after death, then he shares two memorable cases that show how something as ordinary and necessary as water can become deadly under the wrong circumstances. It is a sobering look at how heat, exertion, overhydration, and underlying mental and physical illness can intersect in ways most people never expect.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, help is available. For support, education, and treatment referrals, contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at 1-866-663-1235.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Why vitreous fluid from the eye is useful for postmortem toxicology and electrolyte testing

(2:30) Sodium basics: how the body regulates hydration, blood pressure, and cellular function

(5:15) Case one: a 24-year-old competitive swimmer is found floating face down in a lake

(7:30) A mother’s challenge prompts a closer look

(8:45) Vitreous electrolyte testing results: critically low sodium and severe hyponatremia

(9:45) How heat, exertion, sweating, and drinking only water can trigger exercise-associated hyponatremia

(13:45) Why open-water swimming carries a high risk for exercise-associated hyponatremia and neurological collapse

(15:15) Final ruling: drowning with hyponatremia as a significant contributing factor

(15:45) The Fran Crippen case and the safety rule created to prevent similar deaths in open-water racing

(18:00) Case two: a malnourished 21-year-old grad student is found dead after compulsive water consumption

(20:45) Psychogenic polydipsia, anorexia, and OCD: how excessive water intake led to fatal dilutional hyponatremia

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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

Connect and Learn More Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Gallstones

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The gallbladder is one of those organs most people don't think about until it suddenly demands attention. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns looks back on one of his less glamorous jobs as an autopsy technician in 1988: spending Friday afternoons in the morgue disposing of the week’s surgical specimens and, in one memorable case, clearing marble-sized gallstones from a clogged surgical disposal. He explains gallbladder basics, how gallstones form, and how bile, blocked ducts and acute cholecystitis can turn the often-overlooked gallbladder into the source of a serious medical emergency.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) Dr. Crowns’ Friday afternoon job disposing of the week's surgical specimens in the morgue

(1:30) The industrial disposal system, the mess, and the risks of the job

(4:00) Dr. Crown's discovery of marble-sized gallstones clogging the disposal

(5:30) Gallbladder basics: how gallstones form and why many people don't know they have them

(8:45) How blocked ducts and acute cholecystitis can turn into a serious medical emergency

(10:00) The judge's case: sudden abdominal pain and an unexpected in-chambers medical consultation

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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Minty Fresh

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

What happens when people try to get drunk from products never meant to be consumed? In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns explains the forensic reality of non-beverage alcohol intoxication, from mouthwash and rubbing alcohol to antifreeze and even hairspray. He shares real cases and describes what these substances do to the body and how medical examiners determine cause and manner of death. What starts as a story about a childhood friend and bottles of Listerine leads into a forensic look at the deadly consequences of ingesting everyday household products.

If you or someone you know needs support for substance use, emotional distress, or thoughts of self-harm, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) “Minty Fresh”: the childhood friend who drank Listerine and even tried hairspray

(1:30) Household products people drink when regular alcohol is not available

(2:15) Why Listerine became the focus: easy access, high alcohol content, and deaths tied to mouthwash

(3:15) Alcohol by volume vs. proof: a quick lesson on intoxication math

(4:30) Acute alcohol poisoning: how blood alcohol rises, what overdose looks like, and when it turns fatal

(6:30) Mouthwash case study: a chronic alcohol user drinks multiple bottles of Listerine and is found collapsed at home

(7:30) High anion gap metabolic acidosis: what it is and why it explained the Listerine death

(11:00) Rubbing alcohol: a common toxic ingestion, including the risk of using isopropyl alcohol on children with a fever

(13:00) Antifreeze deaths: alcohol misuse, suicide, homicide, and why ethylene glycol is so dangerous

(15:45) Hairspray as a non-beverage alcohol, the “Ocean” preparation, and Dr. Crowns’ closing message

About the Host:

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationallyrecognized 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of death of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

Chicago commutes can be routine until they are not. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns recounts his years navigating public transportation and the commuter rules he learned the hard way. Through a civil deposition tied to a crash, he explains positional asphyxia, how a catastrophic spinal cord injury can leave someone unable to reposition, and why body position can become the deciding factor when breathing mechanics fail. Dr. Crowns then shares two transportation stories that still stick with him: a speeding cab ride that turns surreal when the driver recognizes him, and a late-night ride out of O’Hare that goes sideways fast enough to end with Dr. Crowns getting out at a random neighborhood intersection. The episode throughline is simple: trust licensed rides, keep your situational awareness, and do not ignore the early signs that a “normal ride” is turning into something else.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:30) The “Barney-Mobile” era: one car, long commutes, and using public transportation

• (1:15) Commuter basics: early trains, conductors, and the “only open seat” rule

• (3:45) Cook County court run and Dr. Crowns’ Chicago taxi education

• (6:15) Lower Wacker hatchet homicide: an autopsy reveals fatal chop wounds

• (9:00) A civil case tied to a roadway hazard and a catastrophic crash

• (10:30) Case breakdown: positional asphyxia after a spinal cord injury and a head-down position

• (12:00) Positional asphyxia: what it is and what investigators look for

• (14:00) Risk groups and common scenarios: children, intoxication, and confined positioning

• (15:30) Taxi ride #1: zigzagging, speeding, and the “how does he know my name?” moment

• (19:00) Forensic pathology board exams and the travel grind

• (22:15) Taxi ride #2: “What have you gotten into?” Locked doors, no meter, dead phone, and worst-case thoughts

• (26:15) Exit plan: cash on the console, out into the snow, and hiding until the car is gone

• (28:00) Closing takeaway: “Take an Uber.”

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Grapes of Death

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of deaths, including the deaths of children. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

Choking is fast, quiet, and more common than most people think. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns explains what happens when the airway is fully obstructed, why panic and oxygen loss escalate in seconds, and how irreversible brain injury can follow within minutes. Through a series of cases, he shows how choking deaths present across age groups: swallowing problems in the elderly, intoxication and unpredictable behaviors in adults, and everyday household hazards in children. From pica-related obstructions to foreign-body ingestion and a devastating battery case with delayed, catastrophic injury, Dr. Crowns ties the forensic details to the real-world patterns that show up again and again in preventable deaths.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:30) Grapes of Death: prevalence, risk groups, and who's most at risk

• (1:00) Choking physiology: complete obstruction and the fast countdown to unconsciousness

• (2:00) Heimlich maneuver basics and why it works

• (4:00) Café coronary syndrome: the misread emergency that can cost a life

• (5:15) Case 1: a 22-year-old, trashed room, and injuries that don’t match a fight

• (7:30) Adult risk factors: impaired gag reflex, talking while eating, and certain mental health conditions

• (7:45) Case 2: pica, latex gloves, and fatal choking

• (9:45) Diagnostic criteria and patterns: the obsession, sensory pull, and short-term relief

• (11:15) Case 3: ballpoint pen ingestion, bowel perforation, peritonitis, and sepsis

• (12:30) Pediatric choking: the biggest hazards and why the youngest kids are most vulnerable

• (13:45) How kids’ airways are different: size, shape, larger tongue proportion, and a floppier epiglottis

• (14:00) Case 4: a 5-month-old, a missed item on the floor, and a cherry blocking the airway

• (15:45) Case 5: swallowed battery, delayed symptoms, burns, erosions, and fistulas into major vessels

• (18:15) Closing: prevention, awareness, and why messaging can save lives

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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Outburst

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of death of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

Courtroom testimony is meant to be clinical, controlled, and objective. In reality, it often cracks open the rawest moments of grief, rage and disbelief. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns recounts cases in which his autopsy testimony triggered emotional outbursts inside the courtroom and, in one instance, nearly followed him into the parking lot. From a slain Chicago police officer whose widow fled the courtroom in anguish to gallery eruptions, post-verdict violence, and a murder trial that ended with Dr. Crowns sprinting for his car, this episode looks at what happens when forensic facts meet human emotion and why the witness stand can become one of the most volatile places in the justice system.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:30) Introducing Outburst and the book Defending the Damned

• (1:00) Dr. Crown’s first appearance in print and the case that put him there

• (2:15) The murder of a Chicago police officer and the autopsy findings

• (3:30) Testifying in the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building, gunshot wounds to the head, and a widow’s courtroom response

• (8:30) Fishbowl courtrooms and how their design changes courtroom dynamics

• (9:30) Gallery eruption during a gang-related murder trial

• (10:15) A stabbing case, a rapid jury verdict, and violence following “not guilty”

• (12:30) A particularly brutal home-invasion murder and its autopsy findings

• (17:00) Neck trauma, spinal fractures, and paralysis without immediate death

• (18:00) Testifying to extreme violence and a mother’s accusatory outburst in court

• (19:45) Sprinting across an empty parking lot and a close call after testimony

• (22:00) Verdicts, sentencing outcomes, and final reflections on courtroom outbursts

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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | The Weather Outside Is Frightful

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of death of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

When winter weather hits, the danger is not only what happens on the roads, but also what happens when the heat goes out, help slows down, and people misjudge how quickly the body loses it margin for error. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns breaks down hypothermia through three cases: a bascule bridge immersion event, an elderly woman whose final behavior included paradoxical undressing and terminal burrowing, and an unidentified man recovered frozen inside a Chicago railcar.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:15) Winter storm context, power outages, and why hypothermia cases spike

• (2:00) Common scenarios in cold exposure fatalities

• (2:30) Dry vs. immersion hypothermia and why water changes the timeline

• (3:00) Case one: bascule bridge repairs, harness failure, and near-freezing immersion

• (4:30) Cold water heat transfer, loss of consciousness, and arrhythmia risk

• (5:15) Hypothermia progression: early shivering and impaired judgment, then shivering stops as confusion escalates and paradoxical undressing can appear, including alcohol’s role

• (8:00) Case two: elderly woman, initial foul play concern, paradoxical undressing, and terminal burrowing

• (10:45) Case three: unidentified man recovered frozen from a railcar in Chicago and what it takes to thaw remains before autopsy

• (12:30) Thawing protocol: warming lights, artifact risk, and the unglamorous “poke test”

• (14:30) The classic triad and why hypothermia is a diagnosis built from findings plus context

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | What's the Manner?

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of death of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

In forensic pathology, a single word on a death certificate can carry the weight of an entire investigation. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns details the difference between cause of death and manner of death and explains why manner is often an evidence-based opinion rather than a simple label. He discusses the five standard manners and tests them against real cases, including a multi-fatality crash, Russian roulette, a delayed medical consequence tied to an old stabbing, and an 18-year-old college student whose death remained unsolved. It's a practical guide to how one classification can reshape everything that follows.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:15) Cause of death versus underlying mechanism

• (1:45) Manner of death as a classification built from scene context, autopsy, and investigative follow-through

• (2:15) The five manner and the NAME guidebook framework for definition and disputes

• (4:45) Why “clear-cut” cases still fracture consensus inside a medical examiner’s office

• (5:15) Case one: multi-fatality collision and the initial assumption of accident

• (7:30) Investigative information changes the classification: suicide attempt by driver, homicide for the victims

• (9:30) Court outcomes, public backlash, and why intent to kill is not required for homicide classification

• (10:15) Russian roulette, “redneck Russian roulette,” and the never-ending suicide- versus-accident argument

• (13:15) Case two: vitreous glucose, acetone, and the autopsy logic behind diabetic ketoacidosis

• (16:15) Records connect the death to an old abdominal stabbing that damaged the pancreas and reshaped the manner

• (17:30) The “but for” principle and why delayed consequences can still be classified as homicide

• (20:00) Case three: 18-year-old college student with no findings, no answers, and an undetermined conclusion

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Have a question for Dr. Crowns? Submit them to mayheminthemorgue@gmail.com

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Foraging Misadventures

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of death of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

The line between curiosity and catastrophe is thinner than most people expect. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns uses a series of foraging mistakes to show how curiosity, mixed with a hint of bravado, can turn lethal when people rely on folklore, hearsay, or incomplete information. From toxin- secreting toads and misidentified “magic mushrooms” to a drowning case complicated by zebra mussels and cyanotoxins, each case tracks the same pattern: confidence first, consequences later.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:30) A radio story from Arizona: people reportedly licking toads to get high

• (1:00) A high school “toad hunt” in Kansas goes sideways with the wrong species and 24 hours of vomiting

• (2:30) Colorado River toad, 5-MeO-DMT, and why "toad licking" is dangerously misunderstood

• (5:45) Case one: a 20-year-old “confirms” magic mushrooms with library photos and dries a batch for tea

• (7:30) Psychedelic tea results in vomiting and GI complications, followed by multiorgan failure and death

• (12:45) Case two: a drowning case is complicated by foreign shells in the airway and stomach

• (15:15) Zebra mussels and cyanotoxins enter the investigation

• (22:00) Closing warning: all mushrooms are edible, some only once

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Have a question for Dr. Crowns? Submit them to mayheminthemorgue@gmail.com

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Skeletons

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of human remains and skeletal material. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

After death, decomposition proceeds predictably, but the fate of what remains is not always controlled. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines the journeys skeletal remains can take long after death. From medical school anatomy labs and public sidewalks to airport cargo facilities and forgotten attics, Dr. Crowns recounts cases where bones became objects of confusion, investigation, and unintended alarm.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:30) Decomposition, bone persistence, and what ultimately remains after death

• (2:15) Medical school anatomy labs and learning from real human bones

• (5:30) A forgotten skull on public transportation and a police response

• (8:00) A failed carrying strap and an unexpected public reaction

• (11:00) Studying anatomy at home and introducing skeletons at Thanksgiving

• (13:30) Customs and Border Protection encounters human remains in transit

• (17:45) Two skulls intercepted at an airport and forensic evaluation

• (20:00) Homeowners discover skulls in their attic

• (22:45) Ancient remains, museum custody, and the long journey toward repatriation

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Have a question for Dr. Crowns? Submit them to mayheminthemorgue@gmail.com

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Neighbors

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode discusses the death of an individual. If you’re sensitive tothis topic, this episode may not be for you.

Proximity has a way of revealing character, especially when the walls are thin, and patience runs thinner. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns reflects on neighbors whose actions left an enduring impression. From a disruptive medical school neighbor whose behavior eroded routine and focus to a volatile homeowner whose actions escalated into gunfire and a contested death investigation, Dr. Crowns traces how proximity can transform daily life.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:45) Medical school housing and the quiet routine that made it work

• (2:15) A new upstairs neighbor and the slow collapse of routine and focus

• (4:45) Noise confrontation and the limits of courtesy

• (6:00) Retaliation by anonymous landline calls

• (10:15) Finals arrive and behaviors spiral

• (13:30) Years later, a new home brings a new kind of conflict

• (16:00) A routine afternoon in the backyard turns violent

• (18:00) Law enforcement responds, but the behavior continues

• (22:30) A familiar face arrives in the morgue

• (25:00) Gunshot wound analysis and suicide determination

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsiesand testified in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Have a question for Dr. Crowns? Submit them to mayheminthemorgue@gmail.com

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Exposure (Part 3): The Nuclear Option

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

If you ever suspect a chemical or toxin exposure, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate assistance.

Content Warning: This episode contains information about the deaths of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

In this third installment of Exposure, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns explains the chemical hazards that accompany autopsy work. From formaldehyde used in specimen preservation to tear gas and pepper spray residues that cling to clothing and skin, each substance carries the potential for secondary exposure. He recounts several cases that demonstrate how these agents behave once they reach the morgue, including a fatal standoff involving riot-controlled chemicals and a man who coated himself with insecticide in an attempt to kill mosquitoes. These stories illustrate how chemical contamination can extend beyond the deceased.

If you missed the first two episodes in this series, listen to Mayhem in the Morgue | Exposure (Part 1) and Exposure (Part 2): "TB or Not TB, That Is the Question."

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:30) Common chemical exposures in the morgue and how they occur

• (1:15) Formaldehyde management, long-term irritation, and what happens when an allergy develops mid-career

• (3:00) Chemical hazards linked to meth labs, riot control, and suicide scenes

• (3:45) Tear gas and pepper spray: how they're made, used, and why they're so difficult to clean from skin and clothing

• (6:45) A standoff ends in tear gas contamination and a challenging autopsy

• (8:45) Decontamination becomes an exercise in improvisation, with fans, Dawn dish soap, and a forgotten cookout grill• (11:45) “The Nuclear Option”: a man uses insecticide to fight mosquitoes

• (14:30) Accidental splash, rising symptoms, and malathion exposure

• (18:30) Poison control, the antidote, and the dinner Dr. Crowns never forgot

• (24:15) Reflections on safety, recovery, and the lasting legend of “Splashy” the technician

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Holidays

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode discusses the deaths of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns reflects on how celebration and death often share the same season. From Christmas music echoing through the medical examiner's office to a door-decorating contest that nearly led to suspension, he recalls the unusual ways morgue culture adapts to the holidays. Dr. Crowns also recounts a corporate holiday party that ended in homicide, explains the science behind neck injuries, and remembers the “death watch” he and his father kept while delivering newspapers to those who died alone during the most festive time of the year.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:45) Christmas music in the morgue and a memory that tested family tolerance

• (3:45) Door-decorating competitions from residency and the Rudolph controversy

• (7:30) Holiday parties, the rumored poisoning case, and the politics of the potluck table

• (11:00) The dangers of open bars at holiday office parties and a rivalry gone wrong

• (14:00) Understanding subarachnoid hemorrhages, vertebral artery tears, and blunt-force trauma

• (17:45) Decomposition and the reality of those who die unnoticed, leading to the “death watch” lessons learned on a paper route

• (22:15) Closing reflections: the importance of checking in on others during the holiday season

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Have a question for Dr. Crowns? Submit them to mayheminthemorgue@gmail.com

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Cabrini-Green

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of death, decomposition, and violence. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you. i

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns revisits a case from his years at the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office in Chicago. He recounts a death investigation that began as a routine toxicology review and led him into the crumbling towers of Cabrini-Green. When an apparent overdose raised suspicions of carbon monoxide poisoning, Dr. Crowns joined his chief and co-fellow deep inside a housing project marked by gang control, decaying high rises, and the eerie legacy that inspired Candyman.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:15) Inside Chicago's Cook County Medical Examiner's Office and Chicago's scale of urban death investigation

• (2:00) A 30-year-old man found dead in his apartment: no injuries, no drugs in sight

• (4:15) How carbon monoxide poisons the body and produces its “cherry red” signature

• (8:00) The chief's rule: always test for CO to prevent future deaths

• (9:45) The M80 ride to Cabrini-Green and its violent reputation

• (16:45) The reality of “elevator pirates” and life inside the decaying towers

• (18:00) Entering the apartment: crowded room, cigarette smoke, and confusion

• (22:45) The basement inspection and the sewage-soaked search for a CO leak

• (25:00) The chief's conclusion: secondhand smoke and cocaine toxicity

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Twins

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of death, decomposition, and violence. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you.

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines the fallibility of non-scientific identification and the consequences when it fails. The case of “Crackhead Carl,” remembered by a single tree, and the story of identical twins mistaken in death both reveal how clothing, jewelry, and circumstance can mislead even the most seasoned investigators. With his characteristic precision and dry wit, Dr. Crowns illustrates why science, not assumption, defines the truth.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:30) Non-scientific methods of identification: clothing, jewelry, and location as early clues

• (1:15) Why dentures, facial features, and decomposition make visual ID unreliable

• (3:00) Before digital databases: when family contact and fingerprints were the only available tools

• (3:45) “Crackhead Carl” and a small-town identification built on assumption

• (5:30) The twin mistaken for dead after his brother’s heroin overdose

• (11:30) The family’s reaction and the unsettling phone call that followed

• (13:00) A second twin story: the living sister stands before Dr. Crowns with the same face he autopsied the day before

• (16:00) The birthmark that confirmed identity and closed the case

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las led death investigations in Travis County, FortWorth, 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd 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. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Exposure (Part 2) “TB or Not TB, That Is the Question”

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of infectious disease, autopsy procedures, and workplace exposure. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you.

In the morgue, danger doesn’t end when the heart stops beating. In this second installment of Exposure, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns recounts two life-threatening encounters with invisible hazards that linger within the morgue. From a chance exposure to meningococcal meningitis that turned a friendly chat into a medical emergency, to a tuberculosis case that nearly landed him on a delinquent-patient arrest list, Dr. Crowns reveals the real-world risks faced by medical examiners who work at the edge of science and safety. Part science lesson, part cautionary tale, this episode exposes the ongoing threat of infectious disease and the discipline required to work among it.

If you missed the first episode in this series, listen to Mayhem in the Morgue | Exposure (Part 1)

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:30) Recap of Exposure (Part 1) and an introduction to autopsy hazards

• (1:30) Case 1: Meningococcus: a deadly bacterium and a moment of exposure

• (3:45) The friend, the mask, and the realization that came too late

• (6:00) Preventive treatment and a lasting reminder to always wear PPE

• (6:45) Case 2: Tuberculosis: an ancient pathogen meets modern medicine

• (8:00) The resident-year autopsy that led to lifelong TB exposure

• (13:15) Public health protocols, medications, and unexpected consequences

• (21:00) A near-arrest for missing a medication pickup after his daughter's birth

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Storieswith Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where you get your podcasts.

If you liked this episode, don’t keep it to yourself—follow the show, share it with afriend, and leave us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Pet Food

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode discusses the deaths of individuals and animal scavenging. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

It started with a song lyric: “She was a winner that became a doggie’s dinner.” But behind that darkly humorous line lies a story stranger (and sadder) than the myth it inspired. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns investigates the real story behind the tragic death of silent film star Marie Prevost, separating rumor from forensic reality. Through real cases and forensic insight, Dr. Crowns shows how devotion, biology, and the harsh realities of animal scavenging can collide in the aftermath of death.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

• (0:30) A song lyric leads Dr. Crowns down an unexpected rabbit hole

• (1:00) The real story of Marie Prevost, her silent film fame, heartbreak, and decline

• (2:15) The 1937 discovery, the truth behind the rumor, and how the book Hollywood Babylon distorted the facts

• (4:30) From myth to morgue: the forensic reality of postmortem pet scavenging

• (6:00) How hunger, instinct, and biology drive behavior in dogs, cats, and even rodents

• (7:45) The Chihuahua pack case and the nightmare scene investigators walked into

• (9:15) When pet hoarding turns horrific: 20 cats, one body, and the survival instinct at work

• (11:15) Displacement behavior and the Memphis case involving a loyal dog, a group of raccoons, and the forensic clue that revealed the truth

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Parts and Pieces (Part 1)

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode discusses the deaths of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

A leg on the shore, a hand with no body, and a pair of feet in yellow socks. Every fragment tells a story, and every story leads somewhere unexpected. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns investigates the unsettling cases where only parts arrive in the medical examiner’s office, and the truth must be reconstructed piece by piece.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:30) When the medical examiner’s office receives only parts of a body: heads, hands, and torsos
(1:45) The case of the unclaimed pinky finger
(3:30) A leg washes up on the shore of Lake Michigan, exposing the reality of what happens when bodies meet ship propellers
(6:30) A pair of traumatically amputated legs discovered on the roadside in blood-stained yellow socks
(7:45) Matching the legs to a hit-and-run victim discovered twelve miles from the point of impact

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd 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. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Hoof Prints (Part 2)

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of autopsy findings, field investigations, and animal-related trauma. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you.

What begins as a curious question about a patterned injury turns into a full-scale ranch investigation involving a horse, a farrier, a sheriff, and one very angry Chihuahua named Pepe. In this sequel to Hoof Prints (Part1), Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns returns to the scene to discover what truly happened that night. The question, as always, remains the same: was is methamphetamine, alcohol, or women that caused a man to do the thing that led to his death? One perfect hoof print reveals the answer.

🎧 Haven’t heard Part 1 yet? Listen to Mayhem in the Morgue | Hoof Prints (Part1)

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:30) Recap of the first hoof prints case and how this investigation began
(1:15) A night of partying turns deadly on a Texas ranch
(2:45) A patterned head injury raises the question: rock or hoof?
(3:45) The farrier and the sheriff join Dr. Crowns to test the theory
(5:30) Printing a horse’s hoof and a surprise appearance by Pepe, the angry Chihuahua
(9:15) The perfect impression that confirms the cause of death
(10:30) Final reflections from the field and lessons learned from the pasture

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Exposure (Part 1)

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of autopsies, workplace injuries, and bodily hazards. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you.

They say the dead can't hurt you. Anyone who's worked in a morgue knows better. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns begins Exposure, a two-part look at the hidden hazards of working among the dead. From bees buzzing out of body bags to bullets, snakes, and sparking pacemakers, these true stories prove that even in death, the threat of harm is still alive.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:45) The dead are still dangerous: hazards that arrive with the body
(1:15) Bees, scorpions and other stinging surprises
(3:15) A garter snake slithers out of a body bag
(4:45) When lice from a deceased patient cause an office-wide infestation
(7:40) The six main autopsy hazards: mechanical, sharp force, electrical, chemical, radiation, and infection
(10:00) Back injuries and gurney accidents caused by the morbidly obese
(12:15) Slippery floors, crush injuries, and repetitive strain
(13:00) Sharp force dangers: knives, scalpels, broken glass, and needles
(15:00) Decomposition fluid, broken bones, and close calls
(17:15) Electrical hazards and sparking pacemakers
(18:00) Radiation exposure and the early days of fluoroscopy
(19:30) Closing reflections: the dead are always dangerous

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Ghost Stories

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains disturbing descriptions of the death of an individual. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

In the stillness of dawn at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, a baby’s cry echoes through the halls, breaking the silence of the morgue. In this special Halloween episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns shares eerie encounters from his forensic pathology career that defy explanation. From the spectral Lady in Red who visits dying patients to a gruesome Halloween murder displayed on a suburban porch, these stories teeter on the edge of science and the supernatural.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:30) The morgue on Halloween: no ghosts, no portals, just an ordinary workday
(2:30) Sounds of a baby crying in the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office and a haunting coincidence
(4:45) Linda Turner’s story: a dying patient’s wise advice for a young Dr. Crowns
(12:45) Lady in Red, a spectral figure said to visit dying hospital patients
(18:00) The Halloween homicide: a son, his mother, and a gruesome porch display
(27:00) A Halloween “scary story” assignment takes an unexpected turn when the teacher learns it’s real

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Vapors

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of autopsies, bodily fluids, and morgue mishaps. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you.

In ninth grade, Kendall Crowns spent a day at the local morgue, arranged through his father’s friendship with a medical examiner. One autopsy was enough to set his course for life. Decades later, he has seen how morgue tours have a way of separating strong stomachs from the squeamish. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns explores the fainting fits, sudden bouts of vomit, and the unforgettable lessons learned when visitors get the vapors.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:15) Kendall Crowns’ first autopsy at age 14
(4:00) The case that set a career in motion: witnessing a Russian roulette victim’s autopsy
(7:15) The FBI agent who knocked himself unconscious on a morgue door
(7:30) Why morgue tours often end in fainting or vomiting, and how to spot the signs
(9:30) A boasting cadet crumbles after a cyst explodes
(11:30) The resident who fainted, recovered, and went on to become a chief medical examiner

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin, catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Submarine

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of decomposition, autopsy findings, and homicidal investigation. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you.

A floating trash can on the Chicago River leads to a grisly discovery. Inside, duct tape, chains and tarps conceal a body. Nicknamed “the submarine,” the case exposed just how strange body disposal attempts can be. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns recounts the investigation from his days at the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office where a body dumped in the river resurfaced in unforgettable fashion.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:15) Inside the massive Cook County morgue cooler, built for mass disaster victims
(3:30) The dreaded trash can cases
(4:45) The “submarine”: a duct-taped trash can pulled from the Chicago River
(6:45) Opening the can: tarps, chains, slime, and a smell like “unwashed elephant anus”
(8:30) After a disastrous attempt to drain the contents, the body emerges
(10:45) Autopsy findings: blunt force trauma, cocaine use, and possible asphyxia

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin, catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Road Trip

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of autopsy practices and morgue mishaps. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you.

A $50-a-case job, a scalpel, and almost no training. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns looks back on his early days as an autopsy technician. From botched haircuts and awkward funeral home encounters to wheeling a body across a sunny hospital parking lot, these road trip mishaps show how even mistakes can shape a medical examiner’s career.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:15) Landing a $50-a-case job as an autopsy technician in the 1980s
(1:15) Training on the fly with little more than a scalpel and a saw
(2:00) A less-than-friendly resident, endless “running the intestines,” and a bag of hair for the funeral home
(4:30) Moving a body to the “mysterious white building” across the parking lot in broad daylight
(9:15) A windowless van, a collapsing gurney, and a body on the pavement

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin, catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Hoof Prints

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of autopsy findings and the accidental death of an individual involving animal trauma. If you're sensitive to detailed accounts of injury and investigation, please proceed with caution.

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns unpacks the strange case of a 75-year-old man found dead beside a horse trailer. What began as a question of accident or homicide quickly turned into a hoof-print analysis and a chaotic field investigation with the donkey named Arnold.

From pattern matching injuries to near misses in the pasture, this case shows that sometimes the truth really is in the hoof print.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:15) A ranch hand goes missing and turns up dead
(1:00) Strange pattern injuries and internal damage
(1:45) Accident or homicide? The investigation begins
(2:15) The case of the aggressive bull
(3:45) The horse has an alibi, the donkey does not
(4:45) Hoof print as evidence?
(5:45) Cows, fog, and Arnold enters the scene
(7:15) Donkey wrangling gets dangerous
(8:45) A forensic near-miss and a smeared print
(10:15) Match confirmed. Arnold did it
(11:00) Innocent bull, roaming donkey, and one accidental death

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin, catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Fame, Fourth Graders, and Darth Vader

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

What happens when a classroom of fourth graders learns that their guest speaker once autopsied a Star Wars actor? In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns recounts his career day presentations, the bizarre questions kids love to ask, and the one time he was derailed by a child named Monty. From explaining forensic pathology to grade schoolers to calming a room full of kids convinced that Darth Vader actually killed someone, this story shows that sometimes the toughest crowd is not in a courtroom, but a classroom.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:15) Career days and the mission to spread forensic pathology
(1:00) How to make autopsy talk school friendly
(2:15) Spielberg, Jaws, and the art of showing just enough
(4:00) The bizarre questions kids ask
(5:00) "Who is the most famous person you have autopsied?”
(5:30) The Star Wars actor autopsy story
(6:45) Chaos breaks out in the classroom
(8:00) Monty vs. logic, round one
(8:15) “Darth Vader gave him cancer,” Monty strikes again
(9:00) Teacher to the rescue
(9:45) Lessons learned about grade schoolers

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin, catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Gator Bait

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of autopsy findings, decomposition, and animal predation. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you.

A fisherman’s disappearance, his empty boat, and circling alligators lead to a grim discovery. In a separate case, a family Labrador retriever trots home with her latest find, a human head. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns investigates two extraordinary cases of scientific identification, showing that forensic science can reveal the truth in the strangest circumstances.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:15) An introduction to scientific identification and how it helps solve difficult cases
(2:15) Stomach contents, swamp water, and the first clues of what really happened
(5:00) A second case: Carly the Labrador retriever brings home a human head
(6:15) Mummified remains are tested, and DNA reveals the victim’s connection to the U.S. Marshals’ Most Wanted list
(8:15) A press conference overshadowed by an unexpected star: the dog

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin, catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Alcohol, Meth, or Showing Off for Women?

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of fatal injuries and autopsy findings related to a fireworks-related death. If you’re sensitive to detailed accounts of trauma, please proceed with caution.

What happens when alcohol, bravado, and high-powered explosives mix? In this explosive episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns breaks down a July 4th case that began with fireworks and ended in fatal blunt force trauma. What seemed like a freak accident soon turned into a full-blown forensic experiment, complete with shattered ribs, broken equipment, and one very disgruntled physicist.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:15) The fatal trifecta: alcohol, meth, or women?
(1:00) Fireworks 101 — and why they don’t belong on your chest
(2:00) A party turns tragic
(2:30) Autopsy reveal devastating internal injuries
(3:30) The physicist with a luggage scale
(4:30) Broken scales slow-mo failures and scientific dead ends
(5:00) Enter Bonnie: the PhD student with the right tools
(6:15) Blistered thumbs and the final answer — 90mph to the chest
(7:00) The final cause: intoxication, bravado, and a deadly decision

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las 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 unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology.

About the Show

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin, catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Contempt Over a Sticky Note?

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue, an unfiltered, often absurd look inside the world of forensic pathology. In this episode, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns recounts the day a routine courtroom testimony over a strangulation case turned into a showdown with a defense attorney, a sticky note, and a very impatient judge. What began as standard expert witness work spiraled toward a contempt charge, a trip to the judge’s chambers, and one critical phone call that kept Dr. Crowns out of county lockup.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(1:00) The strangulation case
(3:00) A sticky note becomes a legal weapon
(4:00) The defense attorney’s tactics
(4:30) Choosing between a boss’s wrath and a night in jail
(6:00) One phone call in the judge’s chambers

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas, performing thousands of autopsies and testifying in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd 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 cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. With gallows humor and unflinching detail, Dr. Crowns shares investigations that range from decomposing feet with no bodies to deaths even seasoned pathologists struggle to explain.

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin, catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | The Bully

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Content Warning: This episode discusses the death of an individual, including details of electrocution and injury, which some listeners may find distressing.

Two burn marks on the chest. No sign of fire. A man collapses at work and is pronounced dead. In this episode, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns walks through a case that seemed straightforward until a witness came forward with a story that changed everything.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:30) “We don’t autopsy in a vacuum.”
(1:30) Middle-aged man collapses at work
(2:00) Mysterious burn marks
(3:45) Witness confession
(5:00) Deadly misuse of a defibrillator
(5:45) Actual cause of death

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas, performing thousands of autopsies and testifying in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd 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 cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. With gallows humor and unflinching detail, Dr. Crowns shares investigations that range from decomposing feet with no bodies to deaths even seasoned pathologists struggle to explain.

Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin, catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | First Day

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the debut episode of Mayhem in the Morgue — an unfiltered, insightful look into the world of forensic pathology, hosted by veteran medical examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns. With more than 35 years of experience in death investigation, Dr. Crowns brings a unique perspective shaped by countless real-world cases.

In this premiere episode, Dr. Crowns rewinds to his very first day on a forensic pathology rotation during medical school, when a potential homicide call spiraled into something far more bizarre: a fatal case of autoerotic asphyxia. What followed was a crash course in death, dignity, and the unpredictable mechanics of a Wiffle ball bat. It’s chaotic, educational, and a vivid example of just how strange real life — and death — can be.

Highlights:

● (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue

● (0:30) First day on the job — and straight into the deep end

● (2:00) A supposed homicide takes a wildly unexpected turn

● (4:30) “Cut him down, Kendall”: initiation by rope

● (5:30) Rookie mistakes and awkward landings

● (6:45) Lessons you never forget

---

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. Kendall Crowns is a nationally recognized forensic pathologist and a frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. His career has taken him from tornado-ravaged Kansas, to the blood-streaked banks of the Mississippi, gang-torn Chicago, and the meth-fueled madness of Texas. With thousands of autopsies under his belt, he brings unparalleled insight into thestrange, grisly, and sometimes absurd world of death investigation.

About the ShowMayhem in the Morgue takes listeners deep into the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable realities of forensic pathology. Each week, Dr. Crowns shares gritty stories from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and cases that range from unsettling to unforgettable — think decomposing feet with no bodies, courtroom bombshells, and the kinds of deaths that even seasoned pathologists can’t quite explain. If you think you’ve heard it all… you haven’t.

Connect & Learn More

You can learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn, 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 us a review.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue Trailer

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:01:48 +0000

It’s chaos, blood, and body parts. Join Dr. Kendall Crowns each week as he discusses stories and cases from his over 35-year journey with death, from the tornado alley of Kansas, to the bloody Memphis shoreline of the muddy Mississippi River, to the ultra-violence of Chicago, and finally, the methamphetamine fueled insanity of Texas.

Encompassing his days as an autopsy tech, medical student, resident/fellow, and finally as a medical examiner, his stories range from humorous to horrifying and cover a wide variety of topics from week to week. You will never know what you’ll hear, will it be courtroom drama, decapitations, gangland shootings, feet with no body, or chihuahuas feasting on the flesh of decomposing bodies? The cases will never end.

It will always be different, and there is never a dull moment. So tune in each week and climb aboard, your nightmares will never be the same.

Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners deep into the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable
realities of forensic pathology. Each week, Dr. Crowns shares gritty stories from the morgue, the
crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and cases that range from
unsettling to unforgettable — think decomposing feet with no bodies, courtroom bombshells,
and the kinds of deaths that even seasoned pathologists can’t quite explain.
If you think you’ve heard it all… you haven’t.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.