Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan (CrimeOnline and iHeartPodcasts)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 2022 | The Murder of Nancy Anderson: DNA Technology Leads to An Arrest After 50 Years - | 00:51:02 | |
On January 7th, 1972, Nancy Anderson, 19, is found dead in her Waikiki apartment with over 60 stab wounds. The case goes cold for fifty years until new DNA technology and detective work leads to the arrest of a suspect: Tudor Chirila Jr. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the lack of evidence the crime scene, why Nancy’s roommate thought this might have been a suicide, distinguishing between stab wounds, how phenotyping lead to the breakthrough in this case, and much more.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 2:37 - Background and overview of case 4:15 - How do you investigate a case once it's gone cold? 7:20 - Stab wounds 11:30 - No evidence of foul play at the crime scene 15:45 - The roommate and thinking Nancy had comitted suicide 18:40 - Water running in the bathroom 21:00 - How do you distinguish between wounds? 24:40 - The salesman as suspects 26:35 - Bathrooms as a popular crime scene 30:05 - Blood testing process 35:35 - How do you preserve evidence? 41:17 - What is Phenotyping and how did it help the investigation? 47:55 - Genealogy and a son 49:20 - The suspect is found 50:43 - Wrap up See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 25 Jul 2024 | A Judge's Decision: The Death of Lauren Johansen | 00:46:50 | |
Bricen Rivers nearly beat his girlfriend to death in their car in Nashville while on a romantic weekend getaway. Jailed with bond set high enough so he couldn't get out, his victim, Lauren Johansen, is recovering in Mississippi when a judge lowers River's bond, and lets him out to finish what he started. On this episode of "Body Bags," Joseph Scott Morgan will explain the horrible injuries Lauren sustained in the first beating in Nashville, while Dave Mack breaks down the backstory on the relationship that was so toxic, Lauren Johansen winds up dead in the back of her own car in the middle of a cemetery. Transcript Highlights 00:00:04.19 Introduction - Being a parent, Father . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 27 Apr 2023 | Murder in the Margins: A Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Comic Book Obsession Gone Wrong | 00:44:34 | |
In this episode of the Body Bags we delve into the chilling case of Elizabeth Capaldi, who was murdered by her husband, Stephen Capaldi. Capaldi, 57, has been sentenced to 22 to 44 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Elizabeth "Beth" Capaldi, 55, in October 2022. Incriminating evidence was found on his cellphone, including internet searches on how to get away with murder. Hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the unusual factors that contributed to the crime, including infidelity and a comic book obsession, the meticulous research Stephen conducted before the murder, the initial police response to Beth's missing person report, filed by her daughter Emma, and how inconsistencies during police interviews can raise red flags and lead to a suspect's downfall.
Time-codes: 00:00 - Introduction. 01:07 - Overview of Beth Capaldi's murder case. 02:00 - Joseph asks Dave about his experience with comic books. 03:10 - Joseph's childhood love for comic books. 05:00 - Driving factors in Stephen Capaldi's case: infidelity and comic book obsession. 06:20 - Alternative ways Stephen could have ended his marriage. 08:15 - Sinister research Stephen did prior to Beth's disappearance. 11:50 - Emma Capaldi involves the police after talking to her father. 14:50 - JoScott explains how investigators approach missing person cases. 16:30 - Significance of observing behavior patterns in missing person's cases. 17:40 - Police questioning spouses and detecting deviations from their stories. 20:11 - Suspicious internet searches made by Stephen Capaldi. 33:10 - Joseph describes the intimate nature of the murder. 35:10 - Methods researched to dispose of Beth's body. 36:20 - Bloody aftermath in the basement and timeline of murder. 38:30 - Emotional impact of the crime scene. 45:15 - Outro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 26 Sep 2024 | Where is Ana Walshe? Lead Investigator Not Testifying at Trial | 00:32:34 | |
Ana Walshe disappears in the first week of 2023. Her husband claims she caught a ride share to Logan Airport before flying to Washington DC. Ana Walshe never boarded the flight and has been missing ever since. Today on Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan talks about how investigators look through garbage at a landfill, and what is expected from the crime lab report at the next hearing in October.
00:00:37 Introduction - DNA Lab results 00:01:46 Case goes quiet 00:03:46 Karen Read Case trooper also involved in Walshe 00:06:49 Victim allegedly dismembered, nothing found but blood 00:10:54 Blood has to be verified, it isn't automatic 00:13:30 Discussion of decay in different environments 00:16:48 Investigators found very small amount of blood 00:19:42 Photographic evidence of Brian Walshe 00:22:32 Biological evidence is very fragile 00:25:32 Difficult to imagine what a perp is going to do 00:28:37 Body Parts in a landfill 00:32:02 Conclusion: Lab results coming in October See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 10 Aug 2023 | Ticking Time Bomb: Ildiko Krajnyak's Final Moments | 00:34:28 | |
Ildiko Krajnyak, having just returned from a visit to her family in Hungary, finds herself on the cusp of a life-altering moment as she opens a seemingly innocuous package, only to be thrust into a realm of near-instant vaporization by a devastating explosion. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unfurl the intricate threads of Stephen Beal's connection to Ildiko Krajnyak. They delve deep into the captivating dynamics that once defined the relationship between Beal and Krajnyak, former lovers and business partners, and explore the deadly explosion that tragically marked their intersecting paths. Alongside this narrative, Joe Scott and Dave illuminate facets of the human psyche, the complexities of relationships, and the intricate artistry involved in crafting lethal devices.
Time Codes: 00:00:20 - Joseph Scott Morgan introduces the potential inside a package, setting the episode's tone about potential energy and explosive themes, hinting at a devastating event where a package almost vaporized its opener. 00:03:20 - Stephen Beal, with his obsession as a model rocket hobbyist, is introduced as the episode's main subject. 00:04:20 - Dave Mack delves deeper into Beal's progression from model rockets to destructive explosives, he touches upon the mysterious circumstances surrounding Stephen's first wife, suggesting a potential link to Ildiko Krajnyak's case. 00:07:38 - Joe Scott discusses the challenges of assimilating into a new culture in the context of Ildiko, a Hungarian woman who was very attached to her family. 00:08:20 - Dave Mack elaborates on the professional relationship between Stephen and Ildiko Krajnyak after their romantic split with reflection on the complexities of maintaining business ties after a personal relationship ends. 00:10:40 - Dave gives insights into Ildiko Krajnyak's new romantic affiliations and Stephen's continued obsession with her. He narrates the tragic event when Ildiko was nearly vaporized after a package exploded as she opened it. 00:15:22 - Joseph Scott Morgan recalls a gas explosion from his past, shedding light on the horrors of such incidents. Dave Mack offers a riveting survivor's perspective on enduring an explosion. 00:18:31 - Morgan walks listeners through the investigator's precise methods in an explosion's aftermath, describes the challenges, and highlights the complexity of the task. 00:20:09 - The Olympic Park bombing is referenced, emphasizing the enduring trauma of explosion victims. 00:22:57 - Morgan describes the significance of minutiae at a crime scene, explaining the process of triaging survivors and securing a scene after an explosion, highlighting the potential of everything as evidence. 00:24:14 - Mack decodes the investigative process post-explosion, including deciphering the intended victim. The intricacies of blast trauma and bomb residue in forensic science are explained. 00:30:41 - Discussion of the complexities of constructing a lethal device with common materials, with emphasis on the importance of knowledge and access to the environment where the device will be placed. 00:32:07 - Dave Mack points out the immediate suspicions about Stephen Beal after Ildiko Krajnyak's tragedy and highlights the strategic search at Beal's residence, leading to explosive discoveries. 00:34:23 - Joe Scott Morgan expresses his suspicion over Beal's claim that he did not have the materials to create an explosion that large, pointing out the length of time it took for this case to make it through the system See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 11 Apr 2024 | 44-Years of Mystery, Dismembered Torso Identified, “You Found My Brother” | 00:36:01 | |
A bag with a burned, dismembered torso is found by a boy out for a horseback ride about a mile from town. The police chief says he was mowing his lawn when he got the call about the headless, armless, legless, burned torso, and from that moment on it was "chaos". On this episode of Body Bags Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will tell the story of the dismembered and burned torso and how, after 44-years, he was finally identified with DNA and Othram labs.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:00 Introduction of episode 00:02:13 Talk about identifying Joseph Caliva 00:06:15 Discussion of years beginning in 1979 00:10:40 Talk about dismemberment 00:15:48 Discussion of what was found 00:17:39 Talk about burned remains 00:22:25 Discussion about trying to ID person 00:27:25 Talk about finding portions of the torso 00:31:54 Talk about creating a person out of evidence 00:36:34 Discussion after 44 years, victim identified See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 05 Jul 2022 | The Murder of Tammy Jo Blanton | 00:34:24 | |
Tammy Jo Blanton's body is found in her bathtub by police responding to a welfare check request. Just the night before, September 10th, 2014, Blanton called 911, saying that her ex-boyfriend, Joseph Oberhandsley, would not leave the front of her home. The welfare check had been requested by Blanton's friend and co-worker when Blanton did not show up for work. When police arrive at the home, Joseph Oberhandsley answers the door, covered in blood. Police find signs of a forced entry, and ultimately Tammy Jo Blanton's body. She has not only been stabbed repeatedly, but her body mutilated and also cannibalized. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the differences between dismemberment and mutilation, the perspective of the judge and jury when it is revealed that injuries to the body are post-mortem, and the horrific details in the case of Tammy Jo Blanton’s murder.
Show Notes: 0:30 - Introducing Tammy Jo Blanton’s murder 1:30 - Tammy Jo Blanton calls the police because her ex-boyfriend, Joseph Oberhansley would not leave her home 3:00 - Describing the initial murder scene 5:00 - Cause of death: sharp force injuries. Multiple stab wounds all over her body. 10:00 - How exactly does the body stop functioning when you are stabbed to death? 12:30 - Post-mortem vs Antemortem 13:30 - The additional “twisting of the knife” when injuries to a deceased body are post-mortem 14:00 - Section 2: Walking into the crime scene 16:30 - A section of Tammy Jo’s chest is open, a parts of her heart and a lung are missing 18:00 - The differences between dismemberment and mutilation 20:00 - A jigsaw was found on the scene. This continues to show evidence of how much time it took to mutilate the body 23:00 - Section 3: Joseph Oberhansley’s mental state and the trial for this case 27:00 - Oberhansley’s criminal record included shooting his own mother, shooting and killing the teenage mother of his child. He had also shot himself, attempting suicide in the past. 29:30 - An exploration into the different types of cannibalism 33:00 - Joseph Oberhansley was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 27 Nov 2024 | The New Jersey Mansion Murders, Part Two | 00:49:46 | |
In part two of the New Jersey Mansion Murders, Joseph Scott Morgan explains how investigators determined the fire in the mansion is actually arson to coverup the brutal murders of Keith and his family. The fire at Paul Caneiro's home is quickly determined to be arson and Paul Caneiro is arrested the day after the fire. Paul Caneiro's wife and adult daughters think he is a hero for waking them up and getting them out of the house safely and vow to testify on his behalf. A few days after Paul Caneiro is charged with setting fire to his own home, he is charged with the murder of his brother and Keith Caneiro's family. Prosecutors say Paul Caneiro was motivated by greed. Three days before the killings, Keith Caneiro told his father-in-law, Vlassis Karidis, that Paul had stolen $90,000 from the children's college funds, and that he was planning to cut off the $225,000 salary that Paul drew from a family business. Autopsies show that Keith, Jennifer, and Jesse Caneiro all died instantly, but Sophia lived for 9 hours and died from smoke inhalation. This has led Sophia Caneiro's maternal grandfather, Vlassis Karidis, to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Paul Caneiro. Because Sophia survived her parents, she inherited their estates and died intestate, passing the estates to her grandparents, and Karidis has standing to bring the claim.
Transcribe Highlights 00:02.96 Introduction Part Two, New Jersey Mansion Murders 04:53.02 Shooting adults, stabbing the children, 8 and 11 10:17.82 Keith Caneiro shot in head and lower back 15:06.25 Projectile investigation 20:17.30 Fire started in early morning, not reported until after 12 noon 25:45.68 Fire Hose would go right over a body in the yard if needed 30:28.94 When door opens, fire hit with oxygen 35:04.17 20 different fire companies involved for hours to put out mansion fire 40:15.09 Investigators knew the scene was more than just a fire 47:02.93 Autopsy determines Sophia lived 9 hours, died from smoke inhalation 49:41.57 Conclusion - waiting for trial See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 28 Sep 2023 | Layers of Evidence: Paint, Blood, and a Courtroom Drama | 00:35:51 | |
In a chilling twist of events, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala is found dead, her stiff body soaked in both paint and blood. The spouse, Cara Rintala, finds herself in a situation that marks a legal first in Massachusetts—a woman charged with the murder of her wife. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack delve into the perplexing nature of the evidence, from the viscosity of paint and blood to the subtleties of rigor mortis. Morgan discusses the troubling aspects of multiple trials and the contentious role of so-called experts in courtroom drama. The hosts also scrutinize the telltale signs of asphyxial death and the importance of scientific validation in legal cases.
Time-coded Highlights:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 13 Aug 2024 | For the Want of a Baby: The Death of Ashley Bush | 00:42:08 | |
Ashley Bush, pregnant with her fourth child, is the main breadwinner in her home. However, she has been diagnosed with gestational hypertension and needs a job she can do from home. She connects with a woman named Lucy on a social media site for expectant mothers, who offer the exact type of job Ashley needs. In this episode of "Body Bags," Joseph Scott Morgan explains how medical professionals determine when a birth has occurred naturally and when something has gone wrong. Dave Mack will delve behind the headlines to uncover what happened to Ashley Bush and what will become of those responsible for causing her harm.
Transcript Highlights 00:17.33 Introduction - times are tough See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 08 Feb 2024 | Online Life-Real Life Murder: The Death of Kat West | 00:38:47 | |
Jeff and Kat West are a typical American couple living just south of Birmingham Alabama. They have a 12-year-old daughter, Jeff works in security, Kat is a stay at home mom, but she has developed a very successful online business, in adult entertainment. She posts sexy photos on multiple sites and has her own pay site that provides even more adult photos. Jeff often takes the photos for his wife, and she is becoming quite popular online. Everything seems fine when Jeff and Kat go out for date night, photos of the couple in a store that evening show them lovingly touching one another. How is it possible that the next morning as the sun comes up, Kat West's lifeless body is found laying out in the front yard of her house with a bottle of absinthe placed on her broken phone right next to her posed body. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take you through the last night in the life of Kat West.
Transcribe Highlights 00:00:05 Origin of things 00:01:46 Talk about a different kind of fairy 00:02:29 Discussion of life 00:03:16 Talk about very special drink 00:05:59 Discussion setting up a scene 00:10:54 Talk about date night 00:12:50 Discussion strong alcohol 00:16:48 Talk about Jeff and Kat playful at store 00:19:42 Discussion of intimate photos, sharing 00:22:32 Talk theory Jeff West beat his wife 00:25:32 Discussion of Stalkers 00:29:37 Talk tiny details in investigation 00:34:02 Discussion of two primary spots of blood 00:38:58 Talk about holding bottle as weapon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 02 Nov 2023 | Uncovering the Mystery: Kara Nichols' Disappearance and a Broken Family | 00:39:40 | |
Kara Nichols is found dead, strangled and buried alongside a horse on a property owned by her murderer's parents, several years after she has been declared missing. Confessed killer Joel Hollendorfer is at the center of this tale that explores not just the murder itself, but its far-reaching repercussions. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack traverse the winding roads of Kara's life and the cold case that took years to solve. They discuss the forensics of strangulation, the ethics of grief, and the complexities of moral responsibility. Dave delves into the timeline of Kara's last days, while Joseph navigates the complicated web of legal hurdles that investigators faced. This episode also questions whether it's possible to die of a broken heart, highlighting the psychological and emotional toll a murder can take on the families involved.
Mentioned Podcast:
Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum on Apple Podcasts
Time-coded Highlights:
00:00:43 — Joseph Scott Morgan discusses the theme of the episode, which is whether people can die of a broken heart, or from grief. He introduces a case where a murderer believes his father died from the shock of his confession.
00:02:03 — Dave Mack shares his philosophical views on the overwhelming power of grief.
00:03:20— Details about the murder of Kara Nichols are shared.
00:05:00—Joseph Scott Morgan talks about the emotional burden for the perpetrator's parents.
006:10, Dave questions the moral responsibility of those who know about the crime.
00:07:58—The close relationship between Kara and her brother is spotlighted.
00:08:27—The discussion shifts to the challenging circumstances of Kara's life. 00:09:14—Joe Scott Morgan reveals that persistence and hard work solved this cold case.
00:10:05 — Dave Mack expresses admiration for cold case workers like Cheryl McCollum.
00:15:05 — The movements of Kara are traced back to a specific suspect via her phone.
00:16:40 — Joel Hollendorfer’s conversation with Detective Gugliotta is discussed.
00:18:20 — The complexities of obtaining a search warrant are outlined.
00:23:11 — Morgan discusses the complexities of using ground penetrating radar in investigations.
00:24:14 — Dave Mack reveals that Joel Hollendorfer confessed to his parents about killing a young woman.
00:28:08 — Explaination of the use of lime on a body to speed up the decompositional process.
00:36:48 — Morgan explains the intricacies of strangulation and the role of the hyoid bone in determining the cause of death.
00:38:20 — The trial and conviction of Joel Hollendorfer are dissected, leaving listeners with the unsettling thought that he still has a chance at a life outside prison. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 06 Jun 2023 | An Unthinkable Execution in Broad Daylight | The America Thayer Case | 00:31:40 | |
In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the tragic saga of America Thayer, a domestic violence victim from Minnesota, whose horrific demise parallels historical methods of capital punishment. They explore the gruesome details of her death, shedding light on a disturbing trend of bystander apathy in today's digital world, the intricate mysteries of the crime scene, the decoding of brutal injury patterns inflicted by seemingly innocuous farming tools, and the critical role that evidence preservation plays in court.
Time-codes: 00:00: Introduction. 00:35: King Charles I. 01:35: Decapitation as a homicide method. 02:35: Joe’s experiences with complex cases involving dismemberments. 04:56: America Thayer's abusive relationship. 07:45: Jo reveals the shocking public execution details of America Thayer, drawing historical parallels. 10:00: Afternoon timing of the crime and its filming by bystanders. 13:42: Machete's typical uses, design, and historical agricultural significance. 15:30: How the murder and decapitation could have occurred within a car's confined space. 18:35: The systematic procedure of crime scene documentation. 19:20: The gruesome crime scene specifics inside America Thayer's car. 23:10: Was America Thayer dead before decapitation? 24:20: Explanation of the morgue process: including body cleaning and external injury identification. 26:45: The role of autopsy photographs in court proceedings. 27:15: America Thayer’s cause of death. 31:50: National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. 32:20: Outro of the episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 30 May 2023 | From Suspicion to Verdict: The Poisonous Truth Behind Julie Jensen's Death | 00:33:29 | |
In this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack dissect the chilling case of Julie Jensen. They discuss the intricate dynamics of the Jensen family, the suspicions Julie had about her husband Mark and his fatal intentions towards her, how he slowly killed her, the challenges police faced in building a case against Mark, and the concept of a "dying declaration".
Time-codes: 00:25 - Introduction. 01:55 - The complex dynamics of the Jensen family. 08:30 - Julie Jensen's increasing suspicion towards her husband's behavior. 13:10 - Devastating effects of ethylene glycol poisoning. 17:40 - Forensic pathology involved in Julie Jensen's case. 21:15 - Exploring a historical method of murder, burking, potentially used in the Jensen case. 23:55 - Description of the crime scene. 26:55 - The legal concept of a "dying declaration" relevant to Julie's letter. 31:40 - The police interview with Mark Jensen. 33:30 - The toxicologist's testimony. 33:45 - Outro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 19 Dec 2023 | Gone Without A Trace - Where are Joey and Jaclyn? | 00:30:32 | |
In Battle Creek, Michigan, Chad Allen Reed is the owner of a property. He lives on the bottom floor and rents out the top floor. He complains to everyone about the couple renting his upstairs, Joe Soule and Jaclyn Lepird are loud at night and Reed doesn't like it. When Joe and Jaclyn vanish, everyone is looking for them, except for Chad Allen Reed. He is too busy trying to hide what he has done. His property burns 5 times in 7 days but Chad Allen Reed is being haunted by the smell. Two bodies, wrapped in plastic, hidden in the back of a pickup truck. When nobody solves the mystery of what happened to Joe Soule and Jaclyn Lepird, Chad Allen Reed calls the tip line himself, and tells them what happened! Join Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack break down the story of the Murdering Landlord and find out what evidence is left behind when two people are murdered on grass in a yard.
Transcript Highlights
00:00:07 Joseph Scott Morgan shares a renting nightmare 00:04:23 discussion of landlord complaining about tenant 00:05:20 Joe talks about trauma and evidence left behind at the scene 00:07:58 Landlord confronted tenants over noise 00:10:37 Discussion of the matter of cutting and bludgeoning someone 00:12:25 Talk about postmortem interval 00:13:23 Chad Allen Read shoots Joe Soule, shoots Jaclyn Lepird in the back 00:15:38 Discussion about Read beating Lepird with a pipe 00:16:37 Joe explains “Bullet Wipe” 00:18:32 Discussion about evidence left in yard 00:19:42 Talk about 2 people missing 00:21:51 Evidence left behind by 2 victims 00:23:31 Explanation of how bodies are examined in morgue 00:25:44 Discussion about perpetrators not putting distance between themselves and their victims 00:27:49 Bodies wrapped in plastic create more evidence 00:29:18 Talk about 5 fires in 7 days 00:30:13 Chad Allen Read calls the tipline himself
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 11 Jan 2024 | Testimony from Beyond the Grave: The Suspicious Death of Maria Muñoz | 00:47:42 | |
When a panicked husband calls 911 for help saying his wife has overdosed the first officer on the scene notices some pretty big red flags. The forensics tell the story of what killed Maria Munoz, but Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will dig deeper to find out what really happened to a Texas mom with a penchant for writing in her journal, about everything. Transcript Highlights 00:01:29 Talk about nurses, great investigators 00:03:21 Discussion of body cam 00:04:45 Talk about scene, shadows 00:05:31 Talk about what police expect based on 911 call 00:06:55 Discussion of relationship 00:08:37 Talk about surgery, different duties 00:10:20 Talk about steroid use 00:11:08 Talk about husband being suspicious 00:12:06 Discussion of red flags 00:13:45 Talk about husband pockets pill bottle 00:15:38 Talk about medicine bottle on scene 00:21:00 Talk about medical pro letting police officer take over cpr 00:22:44 Discussion of husband talking to police 00:24:59 Discussion of Police body cam 00:27:21 Talk about how to find needle hole in arm 00:29:24 Discussion of suspect 00:31:48 Talk about scenes involving drugs 00:34:07 Discussion of home dynamics 00:35:55 Discussion of medical careers 00:40:48 Talk about tox screen 00:43:52 Discussion of toxicology report 00:45:37 Talk about how drugs were used 00:48:18 Discussion about Maria diary entries 00:49:44 Diary and Toxicology gave jury no choice
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 16 Nov 2023 | Dismemberment and the Desecration of the Dead | Body Bags Live at CrimeCon 2023 | 00:43:54 | |
Over the last few years, more and more death scenes involve dismemberment. An "obsessed" true crime fan in South Korea thinks she can pull off the perfect murder, so how did Jung Yoo-Jung get caught? Taylor Schabusiness tells police she doesn't remember strangling her boyfriend, but it felt good. She leaves his severed head in a bucket for his mother to find. And in Tennessee, prosecutors say Joel Guy Jr created a "diabolical stew of human remains" with his mother's head when he finds out his parents are cutting him off. Joseph Scott Morgan breaks down the forensics and Dave Mack keeps the stories moving in this fast-paced edition of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan in front of a live audience at CrimeCon 2023 in Orlando, Florida Time Code Highlights. 00:02:50 South Korean Woman Jung Yoo-Jung is said to be an obsessed crime fan 00:03:17 Discussion of how 23-year-old woman pretends to be a 14-year-old school girl 00:04:19 Jung Yoo-jung wants to commit a homicide and dismember the victim to try and get away with murder.. 00:05:33 Her plan is to kill, dismember, and dispose of the victim. 00:06:27 Talks about the tools needed to do the job she wants to do 00:10:19 What would she used to clean up the area? 00:12:00 Talk about Gilgo and Rex Heuermann 00:12:44 Talking about the getaway and getting rid of the remains 00:12:57 To commit the perfect crime she uses a cab as a getaway car, leads to her capture 00:14:39 Joseph Scott Morgan tells story of transporting a head as a young man working in New Orleans with the coroner. 00:15:52 Under no circumstances are you to allow this bot this head out of your sight. 00:16:23 Had to use a cooler with ice to transport the head 00:18:40 Discussion about Taylor Schabusiness case. 00:19:14 The mother of the victim finds his head in bucket 00:20:20 Discussion of the relationship between suspect and victim 00:21:56 Schabusiness told police she didn't remember strangling him, but she remembered liking it. 00:23:16 She told police, you found this part of him, good luck finding the rest 00:25:48 Discussion about the types of knives needed to do what was done to the victim 00:27:46 Talk about the forensics of different types of blades 00:30:47 Joe Scott Morgan talks about the time it takes to dismember a body 00:32:09 Joel Guy Jr, created a game plan for what he was going to do to his parents 00:32:23 Discussion about Joel Guy Jr and why he killed his parents 00:34:18 Joel Guy Jr stabbed his parents to death, then cut them up. 00:35:04 Talk about police interrupted Joel Guy Jr and found his "list" of things to do 00:39:42 Discussion of the medical examiner at the trial 00:40:09 Talk about anti-mortem and post-mortem 00:43:11 Joseph Scott Morgan explains the way a body can be disarticulated
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 26 Jul 2023 | The Trial of Taylor Schabusiness - Meth, Sex, and Murder in the Heartland | | 00:24:30 | |
The trial of Taylor Schabusiness, accused in murder of her boyfriend Shad Thyrion is currently underway. In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack look at the evidence coming out in the courtroom. They discuss the devastating impacts of drug usage, the murder weapons, and an unconventional dating relationship that culminated in Thyrion's brutal murder.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 26 Dec 2023 | The unimaginable case of Francisca Monteiro-Balla | 00:32:59 | |
When Camille Balla calls a coworker and says "I think I killed my mother", the coworker calls 911 on her way to Balla's mother's house. Police find a scene straight out of a horror movie as the follow a blood splatter trail leading to the body of Francisca Monteiro-Balla. Checking the body for vitals an officer notices something on a box a few feet away. It isn't something anyone expects to see, two eyeballs, sitting on a box, appearing to watch the officers as they try to save the life of Francisca Monteiro-Balla. Join Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack as they take a close-up look at a case that is just as scary and strange at the beginning as it is in the end.
Transcript Highlights 00:01:26 Joseph Scott Morgan compares Lewis Powell screaming “I am Mad” to 00:02:50 Talk about Police arrive to scene and find woman’s eyes removed 00:04:05 Dave Mack breaks down story of Camille Balla calls co-worker and tells her “I think I killed my mother” 00:06:12 Talk about County Jail versus prison 00:08:05 Discussion about Camille Balla screaming “I’m a murderer” 00:10:08 Discussion of bloody crime scene, eyeballs removed from victim, placed on cardboard box 00:11:25 Describing difference between blood “spatter” and blood “splatter” 00:13:46 Discussion about victim’s injuries 00:16:01 Talk about the fight between mother and daughter, and eyeballs removed from victim 00:17:56 Joe describes removal of eyeball 00:20:37 Discussion of suspect removing eyes from the front 00:22:43 Talk about Camille Balla claims to have smoked marijuana laced with Flocka prior to attack on her mother 00:26:12 Discussion of charges being reduced from First-Degree Murder to Manslaughter 00:28:34 Talk about broken glass around scene, blood from perpetrator and victim co-mingled making thing forensically more complicated 00:29:06 Camille Balla pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 15-years in prison followed by 15-years on probation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 07 Feb 2023 | The Mystery of Ana Walshe | 00:30:23 | |
Ana Walshe, a property manager for Tishman Speyer, goes missing January 1, 2023. She is reported missing by her employer and by her husband Brian Walshe. Her husband is arrested on January 8th and charged with misleading the police investigation. Police then obtained a search warrant to the couple’s home where in the basement they find a damaged and bloody knife. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the timeline of Ana’s disappearance, the bloody knife found in the basement, the logistics of dismembering a body, looking at suspects deviating from their behavior, and much more.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:18 - Background and overview of the case 2:45 - The disappearance timeline 4:20 - Bloody knife in the basement 7:20 - Evidence found from blood 10:40 - The husband and tracking his moves 14:20 - Hacksaw 15:20 - Dismembering a body 18:45 - Determining the search radius for a missing body 23:00 - Suspects deviating from their regular behaviors 26:20 - Investigators relying on intuition 28:20 - Death threats 29:45 - Outro See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 22 Aug 2024 | Kept Alive To Be Tortured: The Death of Jennifer Paxton | 00:43:45 | |
Jennifer Paxton was looking for a place to stay with friendly faces for a few days. Rebecca Dishman and Sean Finnegan seem to be the friendly faces she is looking for...until she walks into their apartment. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will talk about how Jennifer Paxton was beaten with a baseball bat, shackled to a bed, raped, tortured, and eventually murdered.
Transcription Highlights 00:08.43 Introduction of Jennifer Paxton death See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 12 Mar 2024 | At The Hands of The Student: The Murder of Colleen Ritzer | 00:30:34 | |
When Phillip Chism, 14, doesn't come home from school, his mother calls the police to report him missing. As the town begins to look for the 9th grader, word spreads around town that a 24-year-old teacher, Colleen Ritzer, is also missing. Chism is found walking along a road just after midnight. After a quick search of his backpack, he is arrested. Later in the morning, Colleen Ritzer's body is found on school grounds, sexually positioned with a folded note next to her body that says, "I hate you all." Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack break down the story of the student from Tennessee and the horrifying final moments in the life of Colleen Ritzer.
Transcription Highlights 00:01:00 Introduction of location, suspect, and victim 00:02:53 Suspect is student, 14, victim is a teacher 00:04:04 Discussion of suspect family 00:08:22 Talk about motive and possible “trigger” 00:11:49 Discussion of why victim went to public bathroom 00:15:28 Discussion of witness and surveillance video 00:19:07 Talk about investigation, pinging cell phones 00:21:47 Discussion of suspect on surveillance video 00:27:25 Talk about body being covered 00:30:36 Breaking down the evidence 00:34:35 Discussion of sentence See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 19 Jul 2022 | Lorenzen Wright: Death of the Basketball Star | 00:45:38 | |
Lorenzen Wright, an NBA star basketball player, goes missing on the night of July 18th, 2010 leading to a 10-day search that ends when investigators find Lorenzen Wright’s remains in a heavily wooded area near Germantown, Tennessee. By the time his body is found, the 6’11” star athlete has decomposed to the point of his remains totaling only 57 pounds, just one of the many struggles that investigators need to overcome in order to solve this case. It took over 7 years, but investigators finally found the gun that they believe was used to murder Lorenzen Wright, leading to multiple convictions related to 1st Degree Murder. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard provide details on Lorenzen’s life including the death of one of his children, the financial troubles that may have played a role in the motives behind his murder, and why it can be so difficult to find sufficient evidence in a forensic investigation that starts ten days after a death has occurred. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 27 Dec 2022 | Something Strange Afoot - The Exceptional Case of Kleanthis Konstantinidis | 00:36:49 | |
In April of 2019, police are investigating the death of a man named Phillip Pointer, who’s believed to have died of natural causes. When searching his property to confirm this, they stumble across a bucket, inside which they find a severed human foot. Little did they know that this foot would contain answers to a case police had been investigating for three years. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the difficulties of tracking body parts found in different locations, identifying a body, phenotyping, and more.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:25 - Background and overview of the case 2:48 - What the police found at the scene 5:00 - What do investigators do to determine if there are any more remains on the property? 8:50 - Figuring out who the foot belongs to 10:50 - Is there a database that tracks body parts and when they are found? 12:55 - Connecting the dots 17:00 - What was the purpose behind the crime? 18:25 - Cause of death and how it was determined 22:45 - Identifying the body parts 26:50 - Identifying tattoos 29:20 - Different types of identification 32:38 - Phenotyping 35:50 - Identifying the victim See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 11 Jun 2024 | Serial Killer Blueprint For Murder Found on Heuermann's Computer | 00:37:47 | |
The victims of the Long Island Serial Killer have been known in the media as the “Gilgo 4”, but now that Rex Heuermann has been charged with two more murders the media will have to change the name to the “Gilgo 6”. Rex Heuermann is an architect by trade, someone who can create and use blueprints. Investigators found a Serial Killer Blueprint on Heuermann’s computer. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how DNA evidence and hair might be enough to put away Rex Heuermann for good, and Dave Mack will explore some of the items found on Heuermann’s computer. From disturbing images of abuse and porn, to lists of supplies for torture, investigators found a goldmine during a recent search of Heuermann’s home.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:08 Introduction of Gilgo details 00:02:09 Discuss Rex Heuermann two new murder charges 00:07:19 Discussion of Data from a forensic standpoint 00:12:01 Talk about seeing the dumping ground and home of Heuermann 00:16:58 Discussion of more bodies found along Gilgo 00:21:18 Discussion of area, easy to be seen 00:25:25 Discussion of the court documents, new information 00:29:37 Talk about changes in DNA science since early 90s 00:33:36 Discussion of skin and injury 00:37:05 Conclusion – more bodies See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 07 Mar 2024 | Jealousy, Murder, Death Sentence: The Conviction of Christa Pike | 00:39:38 | |
Christa Pike was 18-years-old when she thought her 19-year-old job corps classmate, Colleen Slemmer, was trying to steal her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp. Pike spent over 30-minutes beating Colleen Slemmer with her hands and feet, as well as a box cutter and a meat cleaver. Slemmer tried to escape. Shipp,17, caught her so Pike could continue the beating. Pike carved a pentagram into Slemmer's chest, used the box cutter to slice her throat. When she didn't die, Pike picked up a chunk of asphalt and slammed it onto Slemmer's head. The next day Pike brought a piece of Slemmer's skull to breakfast and told classmates what she had done. Convicted of murder and sentenced to death, Christa Pike now wants a judge to vacate her death sentence. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack detail the story that Joe Scott says is the worst case he has ever seen.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:31 Joseph Scott Morgan says he has never seen a crime so vile 00:02:10 Woman on death row in Tennessee 00:05:16 Talk about dynamic between suspects and victim 00:10:09 Description of box cutter and meat cleaver 00:15:03 Discussion of pentagram carved into chest 00:20:56 Description of wounds to victim 00:25:15 Talk about how to occult and satanism factor into case 00:30:40 Description of taking piece of skull as a trophy 00:35:50 Discussion about letting murderer out of prison 00:39:15 Talk about sadistic murder See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 06 Sep 2022 | Joshua Drennen's Murderous Rampage in Charleston, West Virginia | 00:38:54 | |
First responders arrive at a “battle scene” in 77-year-old Barbara Steele's West Virginia home. Her body is beaten, eviscerated, and positioned on a makeshift altar by 28-year-old Joshua Drennen, who after leaving her residence, continues his string of assaults on unsuspecting civilians, until immobilized by a Charleston police officer. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the antique item used in the physical attacks and injuries sustained by Barbara Steele and two other individuals in the community.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 2:46 - Description of an antique iron owned and utilized by 77-year-old Barbara Steele 6:47 - Police are alerted to a criminal act committed by Joshua Drennen inside Barbara Steele’s home 8:03 - Joe describes the crime scene, the assault on Barbara Steele’s vehicle, and her participation within the community. 10:45 - Jackie and Joe discuss the continued acts of violence by Joshua Drennen against a woman inside her parked vehicle 9:23 - An explanation of cubing injuries to a body from an explosion of safety glass and how investigators use that information to determine a body’s position within a vehicle 13:31 - Joshua Drennen’s continued acts of violence throughout the community 17:29 - Charleston Police Patrolman Terrence Casto stops the threat by Joshua Drennen 18:24 - Joe describes the violent crime scene and the horrendous blunt force trauma Barbara Steele’s body experienced 26:21 - Beyond the trauma to her face and head, the police noticed Barbara's body had been eviscerated, as well as sexually assaulted post-mortem 31:33 - Joe and Jackie discuss the way Barbara Steele’s body was positioned and items located near her after the attack 35:49 - Why Barbara Steele and the woman in the parking lot? 37:24 - Overview of Joshua Drennen’s trial and conviction See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 29 Feb 2024 | Murder or Suicide: The Wild Life and Sad Death of Alex Pennig | 00:44:38 | |
A Minnesota man claims his mistress fatally shot herself with his gun. The question of Murder or Suicide plays out in this episode of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan. Joe will walk you through all of the forensic problems with the story being told. And when everything is said and done, you decide, was it murder, or suicide?
Transcript Highlights 00:01:20 Would a right-handed person use left hand to shoot 00:02:19 Discuss murder or suicide 00:04:15 Talk about “accidental” 00:05:51Discuss science and determination 00:11:16 How quick does a body become stiff 00:13:50 Different jurisdictions 00:18:25 Talk about the scene 00:21:40 Difference in suicide among genders 00:26:27Discuss drying blood 00:29:31Discuss ER Nurse can’t do CPR 00:33:14 Talk about short timeline 00:38:50 Discuss can you wash away evidence? 00:41:36 Talk about skin, brain, muzzle flash 00:44:14 Discuss desire to help people and achieve and throw it all away
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 11 Apr 2023 | Sex, Deception, and Murder: The Chilling Story of Shaye Groves and the Brutal Death of Frankie Fitzgerald | 00:29:22 | |
In this episode of "Body Bags," we unravel the harrowing story of Shaye Groves, a woman consumed by her obsession with serial killers and ultimately implicated in the brutal murder of her boyfriend, Frankie Fitzgerald. Delving into the chilling fascination that permeated her life and relationships, the hosts uncover the disturbing evidence that led to the gruesome crime. Hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack explore the challenges investigators face when encountering an unfamiliar crime scene and the unsettling environment they discover including a macabre collection of serial killer images and the couple's history of violent, videotaped sex acts. They discuss Shaye Groves' possible premeditation of the murder, her manipulation and blackmail of previous partners through recorded sex acts, and her meticulous execution of the crime, such as using bleach to clean up the scene.
Shownotes: 00:20 - Intro to case. 02:10 - Dave Mack gives background and overview of case. 04:10 - What impact did having serial killer images in her home have on Shay Groves and her mindset? 05:25 - The disturbing nature of Shay Groves' obsession and how it relates to the crime and her life. 07:10 - Shay Groves and Frankie Fitzgerald's romantic relationship and Shaye's controlling nature. 09:25 - Challenges investigators face when entering an unfamiliar crime scene and disturbing evidence and how their first impressions can impact their investigation. 11:50 - The couple's history of violent sex acts captured on video and how this escalated. 14:00 - The use of bleach in morgue cleanups and how the smell of bleach can linger, connecting it to the crime scene. 15:10 - Possibility of Shea Groves planning the murder and the use of bleach to clean the crime scene. 19:50 - Shea's obsession with serial killers, dark imagery, and the types of knives used in the murder. 21:55 - JoScott talks about the differences between single-edged and double-edged knife wounds. 24:40 - The catastrophic loss of blood that led to Frankie's death and Shaye’s possible motives and methods during the attack. 26:40 - Determining if any wounds were inflicted post-mortem and whether the crime was a torture event or a dark fantasy acted out by Shaye. 28:54 - Outro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 06 Jun 2024 | 'Gilbert Goons' Reign of Terror Ends In Murder of Preston Lord, 16 | 00:38:13 | |
They called themselves the "Gilbert Goons", a group of teens that were suspected of assaults at parties and parking lots, as well as armed robberies. Defended by their parents, the teens' reign of violence culminated with the fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord. Preston was at a Halloween Party with friends when one of the "Gilbert Goons" stole a cheap necklace from a friend of Preston Lord. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will tell the story of how a town in Arizona was terrorized by a group of entitled teens who were defended by their entitled parents for years until they almost got away with murder.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:08 Introduction: Group Think 00:03:56 Discussion of group of teens in Gilbert, Arizona 00:07:22 Discussion of Gilbert Goons videotaping the beating 00:11:15 Talk about the assaults attributed to the teens in Gilbert 00:16:09 Discussion of how the beating of Preston Lord continued 00:21:07 Discussion of a bully 00:25:45 Talk about parents joking about the beating 00:30:19 Discussion of severe blunt force trauma 00:33:52 Discussion of shoe imprint on the body of victim 00:38:02 Conclusion: judgement is coming.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 27 Aug 2024 | The Language of the Dead Spoken From The Grave | 00:44:48 | |
There really is a Language of the Dead and it is spoken by the deceased in a way that people like Professor Joseph Scott Morgan can understand. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan explains the Language of the dead known as the Post Mortem Interval, PMI. Many phrases are used on podcasts, tv shows, and movies where it is assumed the audience knows the meaning, but many times, we don't. Joseph Scott Morgan takes the time to define and explain PMI; Post Mortem Interval, in this somewhat different, very informative episode of Body Bags.
Transcribe Highlights See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 03 Oct 2024 | Dead On Roadside: The Murder Of Amber Berbiglia | 00:42:07 | |
On a Friday afternoon in North Myrtle Beach a 911 call comes in about a person apparently injured on the side of the road under an overpass. By the time help arrives, the victim is dead and the person that called 911 has vanished. No eyewitnesses but lots of information. The victim appears to have been shot in the face, her car is still running, her phone is inches away from her fingers and is working as there are messages and email chimes going off. The woman's purse with cash is inside the car, her name is Amber Berbiglia, 23-years-old. Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how the first impression that Amber was shot in the face with a gun turns out to be wrong and Dave Mack will breakdown the timeline on a murder that happened on a sunny afternoon near the beach that has gone as cold as a winter snow storm.
00:00 Introduction 02:06 Amber Berbiglia Unsolved murder 05:05 How paying a bill in person plays into the story 09:20 Encampents under overpasses 15:11 Woman laid out dead on side of road 19:28 Amber's Cell Phone used up until 2:3024:30 What made Amber stop her vehicle 28:51 Wound so bad it was assumed to be gunshot wound 33:23 First Responder would not see the bones underneath 36:25 Whoever called 911 did not wait for help to arrive 41:49 Conclusion - Horry County, South Carolina still asking for tips See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 17 Sep 2024 | Mom Said So: Maddie Soto, 13, Sent to Sleep in bed With Mom's Boyfriend, 38, on Her Last Night Alive | 00:32:12 | |
This is an update to the story of Madeline Soto and her heartbreaking death, allegedly at the hands of her mother's boyfriend. A cause of death has been released but not the autopsy report due to the victim's age and it is a case of domestic violence. Joseph Scott Morgan pours through investigators reports to shed new light on what happened to Madeline Soto in the time before she was murdered as well as the days before her body was found.
00:00 Introduction, life of Madeline Soto
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 25 Oct 2022 | Trapped in a Suitcase - The Murder of Jorge Torres Jr. | 00:39:08 | |
Sarah Boone calls authorities to report that her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr. is dead in their home in Winter Park, Florida. The couple had been drinking the night before and thought it would be “funny” if Mr. Torres crawled inside a suitcase and Ms.Boone zipped him inside. She then goes upstairs and passes out in her bed. When she woke up the next morning she finds Torres still in the suitcase and unresponsive. After police uncovered video from Boone’s phone with Torres yelling Boones name and attempting to escape, they charge her with second-degree murder. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss what happens to your body when it’s deprived of oxygen, positional vs. compression asphyxiation, how much of a role the couple’s alcohol consumption played into the case, injuries sustained by Mr. Torres, and much more.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:40 - Background and overview of case 3:25 - Cause of death 5:40 - Positional asphyxiation 8:00 - What volume of oxygen does your brain require? 10:30 - What does lack of oxygen do to your body? 15:45 - How is it exactly that lack of oxygen makes you die? 18:05 - Fear of running out of oxygen 20:25 - Other items found in the suitcase 23:25 - Compression asphyxia vs. Positional asphyxia 26:35 - How compressed does your chest have to be for asphyxiation to occur? 28:45 - How much of a role did alcohol play in this case? 30:55 - Discovering a body in a suitcase 31:35 - Injuries Mr. Torres sustained 35:40 - Could Torres have gotten out of the suitcase? 37:55 - History of domestic violence 39:14 - Wrap up See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 02 Aug 2022 | The Murders of Scott Sessions and Heather Frank | 00:42:45 | |
Talented and beloved musician, Scott Sessions, is found brutally murdered in an ambush attack, his throat slashed to near decapitation. Shortly afterward, his lover, who lured him to the moment of his death, Heather Frank, is also found dead with gunshot wounds to her chest. Investigators find Heather Frank wrapped in the same burnt plastic as they found Scott Sessions. The suspect? Heather Frank’s boyfriend, Kevin Eastman. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the horrific murders of Scott Sessions and Heather Frank. They delve into the mechanics of murder by an edged weapon to the throat, the pathology of an enraged killer, rendering a body by fire, and the connective evidence found at both crime scenes.
Show Notes: 1:00 - Introducing the deaths of Scott Sessions and Heather Frank 3:39 - The connection between Scott Sessions, Heather Frank, and Kevin Eastman 4:55 - The visibility of a toxic, abusive relationship on a body 6:54 - Anatomy of bruises and how professionals grade them in abuse cases 13:08 - What happened to Scott Sessions 14:54 - The mechanics of slitting a throat with an edged weapon 17:05 - Volume of blood within the body, types and locations of injuries that cause blood loss, and the forensic importance of a victim’s blood that has pooled outside of the body 22:14 - The horrific injuries Scott Sessions sustained 27:30 - Pathology of a killer who is full of anger and rage 29:18 - The death of Heather Frank 31:59- Why did Heather have to die? 34:36 - The failed attempt to render down Scott’s body by fire and the common evidence found on both victims 39:07 - Looking for connectivity/tieback in forensics: evidence found at both crime scenes 41:57 - The discovery of Scott Sessions and Heather Frank’s bodies 43:57 - The conviction of Kevin Eastman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 23 May 2023 | Inside the Crime | Lawrence Anderson's Horrific Reign - A Deep Dive into a Triple Murder | 00:28:53 | |
In this episode of 'Body Bags,' hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unravel the case of Lawrence Anderson, a parolee who committed a horrifying triple murder. They discuss the gray areas of the justice system, his history of drug abuse, the controversial circumstances of his premature release from prison, and the disturbing implications of Anderson's physiological responses at the crime scene.
Time-codes: 00:00 - Episode introduction and case overview. 00:50 - Introduction to Lawrence Anderson's heinous crimes. 02:10 - Discussion on the term "criminally insane." 02:40 - Background of Anderson's criminal past and release. 05:30 - Prison overcrowding. 07:00 - Questions about the role of the parole board in Anderson's release. 08:40 - Exploration of Anderson's violent past and drug use. 10:15 - Aftermath of Anderson's release and subsequent crimes. 11:45 - Detailed description of Andrea Blankenship's murder. 13:05 - Discussion on forensic evidence and forced entry. 15:05 - Speculation on Anderson's choice of victim. 16:25 - Focus on facts over motivations. 18:10 - Recap of Anderson serving a human heart to family. 20:25 - Mention of a voice recording capturing victims' screams. 21:15 - Review of surviving aunt's injuries. 23:15 - Speculation about family's perspective and chilling meal prep. 24:20 - Highlighting surviving aunt's resilience. 27:00 - Discussion of Anderson's courtroom confession. 30:10 - Speculation on crime scene and police interpretations. 31:40 - Reflection on Anderson's confession and its community impact. 32:00 - Episode conclusion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 02 Jul 2024 | The Body Under the Stairs: The Death of Eric Mercado | 00:42:30 | |
Trista Spicer tells everyone her live-in boyfriend, Eric Mercado, left the house on October 11, 2014, and never returned. Mercado’s family called him “Nino” and they printed up posters, circulated info on social media and physically looked for their “Nino” with no luck. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will detail what happens when someone is hit in the face with a frying pan and their throat is slit with a box cutter. Dave Mack will investigate the relationship between Trista Spicer, Eric Mercado, and Waylan Gentry, and who gave the police the “tip” that turned a missing persons case into a homicide investigation.
Transcript Highlights 00:00.01. Introduction - walking through graveyards 05:08.07 Discussion of social media, sharing too much 10:07.10. Discussion of victim, early 40s 15:35.82. Talk about spouses 20:20.01. Discussion about a missing family member 26:08.66 Discussion of what did Suspect tell new boyfriend 31:18.61. Talk about tattoos 36:39.54 Discussion - somebody always talks 40:26.66 Discussion of soft tissue, dehydrated skin 42:04:13 Conclusion - Face smashed in with frying pan, throat slit See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 22 Feb 2024 | Man Beats Girlfriend to Death, Drops Sofa on Her Body and Sleeps | 00:38:42 | |
Annabel Meenan was only 21, but she had been romantically involved with 33-year-old Leroy Brahm since she was in high school. Their relationship was filled with abuse but on the final night of her life, video cameras placed around the home recorded every hit with a fist and kick with a foot. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will break down what happened when Leroy Brahm beat his girlfriend unconscious, dropped a couch on top of her, then laid down on the couch and went to sleep as the weight slowly crushed Annabel.
Transcript Highlights 00:01:42 Discussion of age 00:03:00 Talk about Annabel 00:06:07 Victim had sofa dropped on her 00:09:24 Talk about cameras recorded every punch 00:13:38 Discuss the cameras everywhere 00:18:51 Talk about contusions 00:21:36 Discuss injuries suffered by the attacker 00:23:54 Talk about evidence all over the house 00:28:38 Discussion of ruling death a heart attack 00:32:23 Surveillance cameras record everything 00:35:37 Discuss domestic abuser calls 911 00:37:23 Talk about Annabel is gone too young 00:38:50 Domestic Abuse Hotline
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 10 Oct 2024 | Nancy Grace and Joseph Scott Morgan: One-On-One | 00:52:47 | |
Nancy Grace joins Joseph Scott Morgan to talk about their years working together in front of the camera as well as their time BEFORE they were both on TV. This is the first episode to be recorded in the brand new facility at Jacksonville State University, where Joseph Scott Morgan is the Distinguished Scholar of Applied Forensics. Nancy Grace talks with Joe about Chris Watts, Ellen Greenberg, and the most recent events in the Scott Peterson case. Recorded Live at JSU on October 9, 2024
02:33.81 When did Nancy Grace and Joseph Scott Morgan meet? 05:08.13 Talking about working with Nancy Grace on HLN 10:16.87 Nancy talks about victim families. Kaylee Goncalves in particular 15:07.06 What is the biggest need for prosecutors from Forensics, be prepared 20:26.83 Talking about people coming from rural areas and metro areas 25:55.57 Processing an outdoor scene 30:19.17 The importance of the right time of death 35:42.26 Talking about Ellen Greenberg case. 40:24.33 Scott Peterson and the new testing of duct tape 45:19.91 Training Evidence custodian and the chain of evidence 50:16.21 Multiple areas of Forensics 52:47.16 Conclusion - Thanks to Nancy Grace
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 20 Apr 2023 | A Shot in the Dark: Investigating Lincoln's Assassination and the Chilling Conspiracy | Part 2 | 00:36:05 | |
In part one of this two-part series on Body Bags hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take listeners through the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and its aftermath. They describe the chaos at Ford's Theater, the attending physicians' struggles as they assessed Lincoln's condition with limited medical knowledge and tools, the removal of Lincoln's body, and the irony of increased security after the assassination. They also delve into the autopsy process, highlighting the physicians' extensive experience and the challenges they faced.
Time-codes: 00:20 - Start of show. 01:35 - John Wilkes Booth's actions in the theater. 02:00 - Immediate response to the shooting. 02:35 - Lincoln's condition when the surgeon arrived. 03:15 - Initial confusion among the audience. 04:00 - Booth's calculated timing for the shooting. 05:30 - Surgeon realizes Lincoln's gunshot wound location. 05:55 - Limitations of medical knowledge and tools. 07:40 - Lincoln stops breathing and has dilated pupils. 08:10 - Surgeon removes clot, Lincoln breathes again. 09:20 - Difficulty transporting Lincoln to the White House. 09:55 - Physicians try to locate the lead ball in Lincoln's head. 11:30 - Attempt to drain blood and reduce intracranial pressure. 12:00 - Lincoln's death at 7:30 a.m. 13:50 - Lincoln remains unconscious throughout the ordeal. 16:40 - Removal of Lincoln's body from the boarding house. 17:15 - Absence of security and irony of increased security. 18:00 - Lincoln's tendency to dismiss security. 18:40 - Lincoln's body conveyed to White House for autopsy. 19:55 - Handsaw used to open Lincoln's skull. 21:10 - Delicate nature of dissecting the brain. 22:15 - Autopsy challenges: lack of electricity, reliance on touch. 23:00 - Physicians' extensive experience in dealing with trauma. 29:40 - Modern gunshot wound examination process. 30:30 - Role of x-rays in understanding bullet trajectories. 31:15 - Autopsy confirms nothing could have saved Lincoln. 32:55 - Limitations of 1800s medical treatments. 33:30 - John Wilkes Booth's autopsy. 34:50 - Physician's anger and resentment towards Booth. 35:30 - Booth's body relocation before returning to family. 36:05 - Outro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 09 Dec 2021 | The Strange Case of Tammy Daybell | 00:30:04 | |
Chad Daybell's trial for multiple counts of first-degree murder is set to begin just after the new year. The Idaho man is accused of killing his wife, Tammy Daybell and the children of the woman he marries just two weeks after Tammy died. JJ and Tylee Vallow are missing for months before their bodies are found on Daybell's property. At first, Tammy Daybell's death is ruled natural cases. The seemingly healthy 49-year-old is training to run a 4K race, but Chad Daybell reports that his wife is dead in the bed beside him one morning. The coroner does not attend the scene, only officers who say the death appears to be natural. What's more, an autopsy is refused by the family. As bodies seem to pile up around the newlywed family, questions are raised. Other deaths connected to this investigation include Lori Vallow Daybell's ex-husbands, and her brother. Today on Body Bags, forensic expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan looks into the unexplained death of Tammy Daybell. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 09 Nov 2023 | A Not So Natural Death: The Murder of Betty Bowman | 00:32:05 | |
On the evening of August 15, Connor and Betty Bowman stay home and have drinks together. The last drink Betty remembered having was a smoothie. The next morning Betty Bowman is sick. So sick she goes to the hospital where they admit her and treat her for what seemed like food poisoning. Betty Bowman is 32 and healthy but over the next 4 days her condition worsens and she dies. When her husband, Connor Bowman, tries to have her cremated right away with no autopsy, alarms bells go off and police are called. It seems that Connor Bowman was researching a particular medication used to treat gout, and what would be the lethal amount for someone the size of Betty Bowman. Join forensic expert Joseph Scott Morgan and co-host Dave Mack as look into the almost perfect weapon and crime. Time Code- Highlights 00:00:00 Some natural remedies have been know to humanity for thousands of years. Could one have been used for murder? 00:04:46 Discussion of Betty and Connor Bowman's educations and professions. Both are pharmacists. 00:07:59 Bowman marriage difficulties discussed. 00:09:08 Betty Bowman hospitalized with what is thought to be food poisoning and dies 00:09:12 Connor Bowman has to be smart, based on educational accomplishments 00:09:15 32 years old Betty Bowman found a way to travel. She traveled the world. 00:09:20 Betty went to Hawaii, the Caribbea, Iceland, Grand Canyon. 00:09:35 Connor had such massive debt from college that they kept their money separate 00:09:44 Conner Bowman told a friend there was $450,000 life insurance on Betty Bowman 00:10:05 Betty Bowman was in good health. She and Conner talking about divorce. 00:10:12 August 15, Betty and Connor Bowman at home, drinking and watching movies 00:10:39 Betty wakes up sick, thought food poisoning, went to Mayo clinic, St Mary Hospital August 16 00:10:59 Betty admitted to hospital and they treat her for food poisoning 00:11:05 Treat her for gastrointestinal distress and dehydration 00:11:14 After treatment, nothing gets better and she dies after four days. 00:11:58 Marriage on downhill slope 00:35:21 Connor Bowman says no autopsy, wife doesn't want to be a cadaver. 00:39:02 Connor Bowman asked if cremation would cause more "in depth" tox screen 00:41:35 Bowman looked up colchicine on laptop. What's a lethal dose?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 02 Dec 2024 | Oscar Pistorius - Bladerunner Update - Olympic Hero, Convicted Killer, Janitor | 00:34:29 | |
One year ago, Joseph Scott Morgan explained the death of Reeva Steenkamp at the hands of the "Bladerunner", Oscar Pistorius. One month after the episode dropped, Oscar Pistorius was released from prison on parole in January of 2024. We thought it would be a good time to review the case and see what Pistorius has been doing since his release from prison. Based on his conditions of parole, Pistorius is not allowed to do interviews, but his lawyer, Julian Knight, told People he spent the first four months out of prison getting settled into a quiet life in Pretoria where he is living with his Uncle, Arnold Pistorius. The home is a 24-room Mansion, a fortified compound located with armed guards, electronic defenses, and attack dogs.Although he is not required to wear an electronic monitor, a parole officer checks on him at random hours of the day or night. He is not allowed to drink alcohol or do drugs. He cannot be on social media and is forbidden from contacting the Steenkamp family. A Tabloid headline about Pistorius screamed: From Olympics to Prison to Janitor - and that is somewhat accurate as he is doing some janitorial work. According to his parole paperwork, Pistorius has listed his volunteer work at NG Kerk Waterkloof, the Dutch Reformed Church attended by his uncle. He does light maintenance and janitorial work and quietly attends services. Parishioners told The New York Post that he is serious and doesn’t interact with others.
Transcript Highlights 00:00.96 Introduction 01:00.02 Update on Pistorius out of prison 06:17.82 Explaining the tibia 12:04.25 Pistorius and Steenkamp dated 90 days 19:17.30 Shooting through a door 24:41.68 Shot through hip - loud scream 28:18.94 Pistorius one of the most famous people in the world 32:39.17 Steenkamp bled to death 34:04.17 Pistorius Update
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 24 Jul 2024 | A Visit from Relatives | 00:41:33 | |
Cleo Loizides is 81-years-old and living in a senior care facility in Virginia. After a visit from her daughter, 53 and grandson, 24, an orderly finds her stiff and cold to the touch. In this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain what happens when someone in a senior care facility passes away and how to tell the difference between a natural death and a murder. Dave Mack will look at the history of the family that begins with Cleo Loizides as a Model in the 1960s and ends with her death in 2024.
00:00:02.39 Introduction - circle of life See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 30 Jul 2024 | For The Love of Money: The Death of Fasil Teklemariam | 00:37:08 | |
Police arrive at the apartment of Fasil Teklemariam in Washington DC for a call of an unconscious person. Police quickly note that Fasil is more than unconscious, he is dead. Multiple stab wounds, and it appears that one of his thumbs has been cut off. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain what happens when a thumb is severed from a hand, and can experts tell if it happened when the victim was alive or dead. Dave Mack will dig into the background of those involved and try to figure out who talked.
00:02.12 Introduction: "The Rule of Thumb" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 17 Oct 2024 | A Tooth Tells the Story: The Disappearance of Crystal Rasch | 00:45:05 | |
Crystal Rasch is missing and her husband is using her bank card to purchase cleaning supplies. He also fails to report his estranged wife missing. Joseph Scott Morgan explains the cleaning materials used as well as the type of experts that have to be brought in when investigators suspect a victim has been cremated in a backyard burn pile. Dave Mack will help uncover the relationship that left Crystal Rasch identified by a single tooth and her husband in jail. The trial has yet to happen but this is the first part of the story of Crystal and Zachariah Rasch.
Transcribe Highlights 01:00.71 Strangers in London tell Joe to watch for "pickpockets" 05:03.49 The married couple had separate bank accounts 09:55.96 Working a case from back to front 15:08.97 CCTV Records coupled with receipts from purchases 20:29.75 Wife missing, husband admits spending her money with her card 25:57.18 List of searches done on phone, gunshot wound to head vs chest 29:51.13 Search warrant explanation 35:07.58 Evidence found in a car, what to take out 39:31.91 Relationships between law enforcement and experts 44:02.09 Investigators find a tooth
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 09 Oct 2024 | The Missing Daughter's Scooter: The Death of Luna | 00:42:43 | |
Shortly before 11 pm on a Sunday night, Annette Jackson calls the Calhoun County Sheriff's office to report her daughter missing. Living in the town of Farnhamville with a population of just 400 people, Annette Jackson and another daughter set out on foot to see if they can find Luna. As they are walking, calling out for Luna, they come upon a man, Nathaniel Bevers-McGivney, who appears to be covered in blood and he is in possession of Luna's scooter and other personal effects. When Police find Bevers-McGiveney, they read him his Miranda Rights and he immediately asks for a lawyer. Questioning ends before finding out where Luna is. Joseph Scott Morgan will dig into the forensic evidence to identify what could have happened to the teen as well as where it happened.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:00.00 Introduction 00:04:03.54 Mom reports daughter, 17, missing, starts looking 00:08:04.52 Mom sees a man, appearing to be covered in blood, with Luna's scooter 00:12:19.82 Description of passive action, preventing finding of body 00:17:45.25 Location of body 00:22:15.61 Is there an attempt to obscure who Luna was? 00:27:01.48 How did perpetrator know about location to hide body 00:32:18.54 Was this a sexual assault gone "bad"? 00:36:40.66 Very Personal, cutting of a throat is intimate 00:40:20.04 Prosecutor possibly seeking oversight due to size of community 00:42:43.14 Conclusion, will continue to update
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 01 Aug 2024 | The Death of a King: The 500 Year Mystery | 00:50:14 | |
Richard the Third died on the battlefield on August 22nd 1485. He had only been King of England for a little more than 2 years but he became the last King of England to die in battle. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will take a deep dive into history to tell the story of the Battle of Bosworth, and use current science to find the remains of the King, more than 500 years after they were lost.
Transcription Highlights 00:00:11.09 Introduction of Richard the Third See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 06 Dec 2022 | Mariticide in Ohio - The Case of Dr. Christopher Osborn | 00:51:28 | |
Dr. Christopher Osborn is found and pronounced dead in his home in Dublin, Ohio on July 18th, 2018, just after 7:30 a.m. He had been shot in the head three times in his sleep. His wife, Holli Osborn, drunkenly calls her father to tell him that her husband is dead. Her father calls the police and shortly thereafter they arrive at the house. After finding two guns next to the bed and seeing the state of Ms. Osborn, they take her into custody and eventually charge her with the murder of her husband. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the state Dr. Osborn was murdered in, gunshot residue, how to assess a crime scene after its been altered, how the location of where Holli’s DNA was found eventually proved she was the perpetrator, and more.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:25 - Background and overview of the case 2:43 - Evidence from the bed 6:23 - In a case like this, what evidence do you start with first? 9:28 - Who arrived at the scene first? 12:20 - Assessing the crime scene after it's been damaged 15:40 - How to tell the difference between something that was part of the crime vs. caused by first responders when they arrived at the scene 19:40 - Does the amount of blood depend on how many times you were shot or where you were shot? 29:20 - Does Dr. Osborn’s physical state (sleeping) factor into his body’s reaction when he was shot? 34:40 - Gunshot residue 40:43 - Are all gun powders the same? 42:30 - Distribution of gunpowder 47:00 - “10 particles” 49:35 - Holli’s DNA being found on the gun and how it was proven that she was the perpetrator 50:50 - Outro See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 23 Aug 2022 | Daniel Printz - Serial Killer | 00:36:16 | |
Video surveillance captures the final images of 80-year-old Edna Suttles alive in a hotel parking lot in one of the most beautiful places in the United States, a tiny South Carolina town called Travelers Rest. Nearly a month after her disappearance, Edna's body is found buried across state lines in a wooded area of North Carolina. Investigators work tirelessly to piece together the events that lead to her death, and in the process, realize they’re dealing with a serial killer. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the details of Edna Suttles’ death and the unexpected discovery during the investigation. They talk about the similarities between the four confirmed victims, the behavior of serial killers, and the methods Daniel Printz used to murder his victims. Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 3:16 - Joseph Scott and Jackie discuss the details of Edna Suttles’ disappearance 4:20 - Discussion about Edna Suttles as South Carolina’s first female bail bondsman, and the heightened awareness that someone develops while working in that career 5:55 - Who reported Edna as a missing person? 7:12 - The discovery of Edna’s body and why the FBI was involved in this case 9:23 - The ominous findings by the medical examiner 11:52 - Surveillance video confirms Edna Suttles and Daniel Printz were in the same place and had some type of relationship 14:01 - The lethal cocktail that was given to Edna and how a body reacts when administered in those doses 15:22 - The unusual location on Daniel Printz’s property where he stored Edna’s belongings 18:34 - Using cadaver dogs to facilitate the discovery and recovery of remains 22:40 - The massive discovery by police at Daniel Printz’s home while investigating Edna’s death 25:56 - Connecting Daniel Printz to multiple murders through evidence found and commentary he made 28:42 - Analysis of serial killers’ behaviors and the unusual deviation Daniel Printz took in the murder of Nancy Rego 34:55 - Investigators learn of a fourth murder victim, Leigh Goodman 36:17 - Joe talks about Daniel Printz as a predator and the relationship between him and Leigh Goodman 39:04 - What sets these murders apart? 40:46 - Daniel Printz’s case is tried in the federal district court 42:27 - Where else has Daniel Printz been and who else has he impacted? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 16 Aug 2022 | Frozen in Time: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School | 00:40:55 | |
On February 14, 2018, a 19-year-old named Nikolas Cruz opens fire on students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, murdering 17 people and injuring 17 more. It is still the deadliest high school shooting in United States history, surpassing even the Columbine shooting, in 1999, which ended with 15 people dead. Nikolas Cruz arrives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School via an Uber, constructs his firearm, and then begins his assault on his former classmates. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the details of the shooting, the weapon used in the attack, how the crime scene remains untouched after all these years, the reasons behind preserving the high school in this way, and the significance of the date of the shooting.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Joseph Scott and Jackie discuss the details of the shooting itself 7:45 - Did Cruz pull the fire alarm or could it have been triggered by smoke from the gun? 9:23 - Explanation of the layout of the building, crime scene, and how investigators would go about analyzing it 12:23 - The evolution of crime scene investigations 14:56 - The duration of the shooting and how hurricane proof glass ended up saving lives 19:01 - Nikolas Cruz’s background and how he blended in with students to escape the scene 20:29 - Cruz’s arrest and recovery of the weapon 21:30 - Joe talks about the weapon used in the attack 22:51 - The fear that teachers and students experienced seeing and hearing the gunshots 24:44 - Joe explains the Big Black Gun Theory 27:18 - Joe and Jackie discuss the crime scene remaining untouched since the shooting 28:50 - As evidence is collected, it’s sealed - how do you seal an entire building? 31:05 - Why would you want to leave a crime scene untouched for this long? 33:14 - Joe talks about the importance of chain of custody in forensics 35:34 - The reasons for preserving the high school in its condition 39:22 - Joe talks about the significance of this occurring on Valentine’s Day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 02 Apr 2024 | Jack-in-the-Box Murder Mystery Becomes Fugitive Wife Murder Trial | 00:41:01 | |
Burned remains of a man found inside a foot locker and left in a blueberry field in Michigan were not identified for 13 years. In 2015 the case was called "The Jack-in-the-Box Murder because it was a catchy title. The remains were not identified until the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office received a tip in 2015 that gave them the information they needed to use dental records to identify the deceased as Robert Caraballo. Investigating Caraballo's life at the time of his death took investigators to the home he shared with his wife and stepdaughter. Joseph Scott Morgan will break down the forensics that brought this case to a conclusion and Dave Mack will help tell the story of how the Jack-in-the-Box Murder became The Fugitive Wife Murder Trial.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:44 Introduction of story a burned body in a trunk found in blueberry field 00:02:40 Talk about conspiracy and escaping to other side of the planet 00:05:28 Discussion of victim being alive with hammer stuck in skull 00:08:02 Discussion of injury caused by falling downstairs 00:12:34 Talk about how remains could not be identified 00:15:11 Discussion of evidence in hammer attack 00:19:49 Discussion of hitting head with a hammer 00:23:51Talk about how the skull breaks 00:28:19 Discussion of destroying a body 00:32:37 Discussion of “old school” identifying remains 00:35:15 Talk about the plan to push victim down the stairs, hit him with a bat 00:35:53 Talk about the conspiracy 00:38:01 Discussion of law in Italy for hotel guests 00:39:15 Discussion of cover-up 00:40:06 Beverly McCallum guilty on all charges 00:40:42 Talk about keeping a secret
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 26 Oct 2023 | The Unthinkable Crimes Against Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom: A Forensic Dive | 00:32:26 | |
Two horrific murders shake a university town to its core, as Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom fall prey to a monstrous crime. In a dilapidated house in East Knoxville, Tennessee, the young couple are kidnapped and tortured in an environment that can only be described as hellish. In this gripping episode, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unravel the gruesome details, chilling forensics, and unfathomable cruelty behind the case. With firsthand experience and unsettling revelations, they bring you closer to understanding the harrowing ordeal these victims went through. The episode delves into forensic complexities, offers insights into the minds of the perpetrators, and discusses the pivotal moments that led to their capture. Brace yourselves for a haunting journey through one of the darkest chapters of true crime.
Time-coded Highlights: 00:00:20 — Joseph Scott Morgan sets the stage for the episode’s chilling focus: two horrific murders in a university town, considered among the most horrifying covered by Morgan. 00:01:20 — The names of the victims, Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, are introduced alongside the setting—a rundown house in East Knoxville. 00:01:40 — Joseph Scott Morgan discloses his personal involvement in covering the Eric Boyd trial. 00:03:00 — A visceral account of the kidnapping and the setting is provided by Dave Mack. 00:04:40 — It's revealed that the atrocities committed against Channon and Christopher are akin to acts of “Satan himself." 00:07:31 — The suffering endured by Christopher Newsom, including torture and being set on fire, is hauntingly detailed by Dave Mack. 00:08:04 — The agonizing torment Channon Christian went through is elaborated upon by Joseph Scott Morgan. 00:08:46 — The seclusion and inaccessibility of railway tracks as common dumping grounds for victims are discussed. 00:10:02 — Dave Mack specifies that Christopher was not killed at the house but was later taken to the railway tracks. 00:10:54 — Dave Mack reveals that unusual activities at the house on the night of the crime were noticed by a dump truck driver. 00:11:27 — Treatment of the victims is equated to "torture," akin to how prisoners of war are treated. 00:15:04 — The crime scene’s dehumanizing aspects and the extreme physical abuse suffered by the victims are dissected. 00:23:05 — Psychological manipulation used on the victim by promising release is exposed. 00:30:27 — The discovery of the female victim's body in a garbage can, constricted into a fetal position, adds another layer of horror to the narrative. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 28 Mar 2024 | Dead in a Bathtub: Warm Water, Cold Body - Suicide or Murder? | 00:36:13 | |
Suicide or Murder? Kendy Howard is found in a bathtub full of water with a gunshot wound to the head. His body is cold, but the water in the tub is warm! Red Flag number one. On this episode of Body Bags Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will take a look at all of the "Red Flags" present in the reported suicide of Kendy Howard. Why is there so little blood in the water? Why is her ex-trooper husband arrested at the airport? The biggest question of all, is the death of Kendy Howard a Suicide or Murder?
Transcript Highlights 00:00:27 Joe talks about admiration for Troopers 00:03:03 Discussion of law enforcement 00:05:59 Discussion of “Red Flags” 00:08:14 Talk about the water is warm, body is cold 00:12:23 Investigation of suicide/murder 00:16:33 Discussion of damage caused by gunshot in mouth 00:17:49 Talk about direction of bullet 00:21:26 Comparing murder of Travis Alexander 00:25:53 Defining different types of asphyxiation 00:30:08 Talk about injuries “frozen in time” 00:35:33 Discussion of how much blood would be expected See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 30 May 2024 | History of Coroners: The Truth You Never Knew | 00:43:40 | |
The National Institutes of Health, comparing a medical examiner and coroner, states that Coroners are elected lay people who often do not have professional training, whereas medical examiners are appointed and have board certification in a medical specialty. All of this is true. On this episode of "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan," Joe will take you back in history to a time when the person who finds the dead body in their yard has to gather a posse and solve the murder mystery or be stuck with paying taxes!! The coroner system has a long history, some funny stories, some strange people, and a few mysteries to unpack. Transcript Highlights 00:22.56. Introduction of studying the dead. 03:04.63 Discussion most people don’t die from bullet wounds 06:01.87 Talk about forensics 11:38.68 History of “Normans” 17:44.17 Discussion of power of Coroners 22:25.90 Discussion of Coroners Jury 26:18.76 Discussion of authority of coroner 31:00.67 Discussion of scientific people in coroner system 32:05.27 Talk about who backs up the coroner 37:48.5 Discussion of medical examiner state vs coroner state 42:49.50 Conclusion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 12 Sep 2023 | A Cold-Blooded Christmas: Unwrapping the Sturmfels Murder Case | 00:33:57 | |
Robert and Georgette Sturmfels, spending the winter holiday season in their cozy Florida home, are blissfully unaware that their lives are about to be irrevocably shattered. Tragically, their lives abruptly end on December 20, 1989, as they become the victims of a chilling double homicide. In this episode, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack delve into the horrifying details of the Sturmfels' murders. They meticulously unravel the case, from the suspect's choice of a 22-caliber rifle to the unsettling finality of the crime scene. The conversation goes beyond the murder itself to examine its broader implications, such as the weapon's surprising lethality, common misconceptions about gunshot wounds, and the cold-blooded nature of the perpetrator.
Time codes: 00:00:00 — Joseph Scott Morgan starts off with a touching reflection on Christmas. From stress to joy, his sentiments evolve over time, especially as he becomes a grandfather. At 00:01:20 — The tragic case of Robert and Georgette Sturmfels is introduced by Joe Scott. Their murder in Florida sets the stage for a disconcerting episode. 00:04:20 — Diving deeper, Joseph Scott Morgan paints a vivid picture of the Sturmfels' murder. He describes the horrific scene in disquieting detail. 00:05:20 — Louis Gaskin, the suspect, is discussed by Dave Mack. He outlines Gaskin's ruthlessness and the premeditation behind the crime. 00:06:20 — Weaponry is the topic as Joe Scott and Dave debate the lethal nature of a 22-caliber rifle used in the crime. 00:08:00 — A lesson in firearms ensues as Joseph Scott Morgan distinguishes between long arms and pistols, explaining why the latter is more easily concealed. 00:10:20 — Unveiling the crime, Dave shares how Louis Gaskin meticulously planned, and executed the murders of the Sturmfels couple. 00:12:20 — Debunking Hollywood myths, Joseph Scott Morgan explains that gunshot wounds are not just dramatic effects; victims often realize they've been shot and experience pain. 00:13:00 — Gaskin's own words add horror to the narrative as Dave recounts the unsettling sounds Mrs. Sturmfels made during her final moments. 00:14:20 — Joe Scott dives into the world of forensics, explaining how a gunshot through glass has implications on bullet behavior. He describes how the bullet’s trajectory and energy are affected upon impact. 00:17:04 — Joseph Scott Morgan elaborates on snipers and the adjustments they have to make due to the influence of gravity on bullets, especially when glass is involved. 00:20:36 — The episode’s atmosphere becomes tenser as Morgan and Mack discuss Gaskin's execution of Mr. Sturmfels and his chilling confession. 00:21:00 — The term "death wheeze" is introduced as Joe Scott explains the physiological impact of a gunshot wound to the lungs. 00:24:01 — Dave summarizes Gaskin's crime spree; from killing to covering the bodies with blankets and burglary. 00:24:35 — Gaskin, dressed in all black and carrying a 22 rifle, drives to the home of Joseph and Mary Rector, where he shoots at them after waking them up. 00:26:20 — Dave Mack discusses the gunshot wounds and how the Rectors managed to escape. 00:28:20 — The hosts ponder Gaskin's motivations, diving into the psychology behind these appalling acts. 00:33:40 — The episode concludes with Joseph Scott Morgan revealing the final fate of the killer, a grim but just end to a twisted journey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 26 May 2022 | The Death of Kathleen Peterson: Accident , Murder or Owl | 00:41:09 | |
December 9th, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson calls 911 telling the operator that he's found his wife at the bottom of stairs in their home. She is still breathing, but there's lots of blood coming from her head. Kathleen Peterson later dies. When police and emergency personnel first enter the home, Peterson's injuries are characterized as accidental and the scene is not handled properly, forensically. Soon, however, the facts do not add up and Michael Peterson is charged with murder. Kathleen Peterson has seven head injuries. So where does the owl come in? The owl theory speculates that an owl attacked Kathleen, precipitating her fall, but in fact, this theory never makes it into court. Michael Peterson is found guilty at trial, and sentenced to life in prison. Eight years later, he is granted a new trial after evidence comes to light that a prosecution witness lied. Peterson is eventually released. New charges aren't filed because Michael Peterson takes an Alford plea. This allows him to not admit guilt, but rather acknowledge that the state has enough evidence to convict. Peterson said he simply didn't want to go through another trial ordeal. He was sentenced to time served. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 14 Aug 2024 | Bonus: Killer Dad Chris Watts Fears For Life Behind Bars | Crime Alert Hourly Update | 00:04:15 | |
Today we'd like to direct your attention to another podcast - the new Crime Alert Hourly Update. The Crime Alert team delivers hourly updates on breaking crime news as it happens throughout the day! Follow now on your favorite podcast app: https://link.chtbl.com/CrimeAlert_HourlyUpdate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 10 Sep 2024 | PHD Student Allegedly Kills Friend's Baby, Injures His Twin | 00:45:52 | |
Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts are the proud parents of twin boys, Ari and Leon. The twins are just six-weeks-old when family friend, Nicole Virzi, comes to visit and help with the babies. Virzi is a PHD candidate at UC San Diego in the Clinical Psychology program on break from school and she is welcomed with open arms. Days later, Ari Katz is at the hospital with injuries to his penis and Leon is fighting for his life with massive head trauma. And all of the injuries suffered by the twins happened when they are left alone in the care of Nicole Virzi. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how the injuries suffered by the twins don't match the description of what happened as told by Nicole Virzi.
Transcript Highlights 00:00.00 Introduction
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 12 Oct 2023 | The Ear Witness: Breaking Down Brenda Powell's Homicide | 00:34:37 | |
Struck on the head with an iron skillet and stabbed multiple times, Brenda Powell’s life comes to a shocking and tragic end at the hands of her daughter. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack delve into the perplexing aspects of this chilling homicide that has captivated public interest. They explore the unique role an 'ear witness' plays in the investigation and scrutinize the difficult transition Sydney experienced from high school to college, as well as the financial and emotional challenges involved. Armed with Morgan's forensic expertise and Mack's keen investigative insights, the duo crafts an episode filled with emotional depth, compelling narrative, and sharp analysis. As they walk you through key moments, witness testimonies, and the complicated criminal landscape, they raise important questions about family dynamics, criminal psychology, and the advancements in forensic science.
Time-coded Highlights: 00:00:20—Joe Scott Morgan sets the tone by reflecting on the impact of sounds and memories on a murder investigation. He introduces Brenda Powell's brutal homicide case. 02:20:00—Dave Mack shares a unique description related to the case. 04:00:00—The emotional toll of working in oncology is illuminated. 05:20:00—The concept of an earwitness is introduced, offering an innovative twist to the narrative. 06:40:00—Sydney Powell's academic struggles are revealed. 07:35:00—Joe Scott explores the emotional and financial challenges of transitioning from high school to college. 09:23:00—The boiling point leading to violent crimes is dissected. 10:00:00—A critical phone call from Brenda to her university is detailed, becoming a key moment in the investigation. 12:20:00—The chilling moment when Brenda Powell is struck on the head by an iron skillet. 15:40:00—Morgan reflects on the cultural portrayal of frying pans as weapons compared to their real-world lethal potential. 23:05:00—The absence of premeditation in the crime is suggested, considering the presence of ‘ear witnesses’. 27:16:00—The immediate reaction of university administrators on the phone during the attack and their subsequent 911 calls are narrated. 34:00:00—Concluding the episode, Joe Scott Morgan explains that the multitude of injuries led to Brenda Powell's death. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 21 Nov 2023 | The Piketon Massacre: 1 night. 4 crime scenes. 8 Murders. | 00:44:51 | |
Hanna Rhoden,15, gives birth to a daughter. 2-years later, Rhoden and the baby's father, Jake Wagner, fight over custody. A custody battle begins and the Wagner family pressures Hanna to give up her daughter. The Wagners hack Hanna Rhoden's Facebook account and read a private message in which Hanna vows she will not give up the child, quote "they (the Wagners) will have to kill me first." That is exactly what happens. The Wagner family decide to not only kill Hanna Rhoden, but the rest of her family, anyone who might stand in the way of the Wagner family gaining custody of the little girl. The Wagner family plan is to take out the Rhoden family in one night, four locations, eight murders. Join Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack as they dig deep into the Pike County Murders. Joseph Scott Morgan gives a firsthand account of the crime scenes and the forensic evidence left behind. Time code highlights: 00:00:02 Joseph Scott Morgan asked to take part as a forensic expert in a complex case 00:02:12 Discussion about the investigation of the Pike County Murders 00:02:37 Description: One night. Four Scenes. Eight Murders 00:03:09 Description of two families that have been friends a long time 00:03:16 Discussion about Hanna Rhoden becomes pregnant with Jake Wagner's baby when she is 15-years-old. Hanna Rhoden breaks up with Jake Wagner 00:04:01 The Wagner's tried to force Hanna Roden to sign papers to turn custody of Sophia over to Jake. 00:04:22 Discussion of Wagner family plan to kill Hanna Rhoden to get custody 00:05:01 Discussion of the first person to be murdered and location of murder scene 00:06:50 Discussion of shots fired through wall first, Chris Rhoden was shot 9 times 00:07:36 Discussion of second victim, Gary Rhoden, visiting from Kentucky 00:10:06 Talk about the injuries to Chris Rhoden's arm 00:11:01 Description of head shots to both Chris Rhoden and Gary Rhoden 00:12:24 Talk of how Wagner Sr said "I just killed my best friend" 00:16:25 The Wagner's didn't know Gary Rhoden would be at the scene 00:17:30 Discussion of the Wagner's make silencers for their weapons 00:19:38 Joseph Scott Morgan talks about being at the site and what it looked like, 00:21:56 The Wagner's arrived at Chris Rhoden's house barefoot but put on shoes inside the house. 00:22:44 Investigator researched shoe print found in Rhoden trailer and found a match 00:24:45 The forensic shoe print match the best evidence used to convict 00:25:34 Description of second murder scene. Frankie Rhoden, Hannah Gilley, and two small children. 00:25:26 Older child came to door (the next morning) and said "daddy's playing zombie" 00:27:10 Discussion of Hannah Gilley was shot 5 times in the head 00:30:25 Discussion of distance from Frankie Rhoden's house to Dana Rhoden home 00:32:37 Dana Rhoden's home was unlocked, Dana Rhoden's face was illuminated by her phone, made eye contact with Jake Wagner and he shot and killed Dana Rhoden 00:33:40 Discussion of Hanna May Rhoden being the reason for the murders 00:34:00 Discussion of Hanna Rhoden had baby 4 days earlier 00:34:15 The child Hanna Rhoden had with Jake Wagner was with the Wagner family at the time of the murders 00:34:35 Discussion of Jake Wagner placing baby next to body of Hanna May Rhoden so the baby could feed off the dead mother 00:36:01 Discussion of Hanna Rhoden and Hannah Gilley both shot 5 times in the head 00:36:45 Chris Rhoden jr, 16, shot dead in bed 00:37:45 Discussion of Kenneth Rhoden living in travel trailer 7 miles from the other scenes, shot once in head. 00:41:22 Discussion of Jake Wagner and his brother going to great lengths to get rid of weapons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 13 Sep 2022 | The Hollywood Hills Homicide of Amie Harwick | 00:46:10 | |
Dr. Amie Harwick, a sex therapist and former fiancé of actor Drew Carey, is found unresponsive under a balcony in her Hollywood Hills home on the morning of February 15th, 2020. She is rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, passes away. The evidence at the crime scene and on Harwick’s body indicated signs of a struggle and her having been thrown from the balcony. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss blunt force trauma, the difference between falling/being thrown from a great height, how to tell in what order injuries occur, and why a nicotine syringe became a major factor in this case.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:25 - Background and overview of the case 3:45 - Where do you start with a case like this? 5:10 - Amie Harwick being thrown from her balcony 7:30 - How do we know she was thrown off the balcony? 15:45 - Do the injuries differ depending on whether you are thrown from a great height or fall from one? 19:00 - Blunt force trauma 20:10 - How does the M.E. go about examining all the injuries? 25:50 - Is it possible that Amie was beaten and that caused the injuries to her liver, not the fall? 29:40 - How can you tell what order the injuries happened in? 32:00 - If Amie fell, and was not thrown, would her death still be considered blunt force trauma? 34:00 - Suspects in Amie’s case 34:55 - How investigators suspect the murder played out 36:40 - Finding a nicotine filled syringe and what that signifies 42:10 - Harwick’s ex-boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, becomes the prime suspect 44:45 - Pursehouse has been charged with murder, first degree residential burglary, and special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 13 Jun 2023 | Blueprint of a Killer | Inside the Mind of Samuel Little | 00:36:40 | |
In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack dissect the haunting story of Samuel Little, one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. They explore the grim details of Little's crimes, the nationwide investigation that ensued, and the vital role of Little's memory recall in revealing his terrible deeds.
Time-codes: 00:00 - Introduction. 00:30 - Samuel Little. 03:20 - Little's life and methods of recalling his murders. 07:10 - Little's early life and criminal beginnings. 10:25 - Little’s evasion from law enforcement. 13:20 - The rudimentary crime-solving techniques used in the 1970s. 19:05 - The importance of evidence collection in forensic analysis. 22:35 - The procedure consistency of rape kits between 1977 and present day. 23:05 - Introduction of a 1977 case from Macon, Georgia involving an unidentified woman. 26:45 - The role of the preserved rape kit from 1977 in linking Samuel Little to the Macon case. 30:35 - The role of genealogy in solving cold cases. 33:30 - Ethical concerns around personal DNA data on genealogy websites. 34:00 - Potential of genetic genealogy to solve cold cases exemplified with Macon's Jane Doe case. 35:35 - Closure brought to Yvonne Pless's family after her identification. 36:10 - Outro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 18 Mar 2022 | The Corn Rake Murder | 00:36:27 | |
Todd Mullis calls 911 as he drives his wife to an Iowa hospital. Amy Mullis was found by the couple's 13-year-old son, impaled on a corn rake and does not survive her injuries. An autopsy is completed and the forensic pathologist finds not four puncture wounds in Mullis' back, but six. The corn rake Todd Mullis says his wife fell on, only has four tines. Also, while Mullis told police he had a good relationship with his wife, investigators learn that Amy was apparently unhappy in the marriage and had at least two affairs. She reportedly told a friend that if Mullis caught her he would “throw her to the pigs.” Court documents showed Amy Mullis called a friend petrified and screaming that Todd Mullis had found out about her affair. Todd Mullis is arrested and convicted of killing his wife. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 07 Dec 2023 | Peaceful Commune to Violent Murder: The Ezra Ralston Story | 00:38:20 | |
Ezra Ralston, 29, moves in with his grandparents on their beautiful property on the water in the Pacific Northwest, and repays their love and kindness by coming up with a plan to create a commune on his grandparents property. The only thing he needs to do is kill his grandparents and steal their property to make his dreams come true. Join Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack as they take an in-depth look at death, fire, and the lies of Ezra Ralston on this episode of Body Bags.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:19 Joe Talks about finding save place for your family 00:01:18 Grandparents welcome 29-year-old grandson 00:02:15 Discussion about early 70s 00:03:47 Talk about the murder of Grandparents 00:04:46 Discussion of fire and explosion 00:06:16 Talk about arson, murder, investigation 00:09:02 Discussion about origin of fire in the house 00:11:05 Joe shares insight into recurring nightmare 00:13:09 Talk about finding the bodies of Joanna Gormley and Ted Ralston. 00:17:40 Discussion about gasoline used in fire 00:19:14 Joe explains assessing the bodies 00:23:02 Explaining what happens working a fire scene 00:24:54 Discussion of when to examine bodies 00:26:36 Looking around a fire scene is very confusing 00:27:47 Talk about the victims' wounds 00:32:03 Talk about plan to kill victims in their sleep 00:35:45 Ezra Ralston being encouraged by girlfriend 00:37:04 Discussion of using bleach to get rid of evidence 00:39:15 Fire creates more evidence
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 28 May 2024 | Missy Bevers Murderer Caught on Tape: Why is Murder Unsolved? | 00:47:06 | |
Missy Bevers was murdered inside a church before 5 a.m. while she was preparing for her morning fitness class. Her body is found by a student and Missy is pronounced dead at the scene. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will discuss the possible weapons used to kill Missy Bevers and Dave Mack will dig into the possible suspects in an unsolved murder where the main suspect is caught on camera wearing a police swat kit and walking the halls of the church with an unusual gait, waiting for Missy to arrive.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:24 Introducing Missy Bevers 00:01:51 Discussion of unsolved murder 00:04:12 Talk about Camp Gladiator 00:08:38 Discussion of murderer seen on video 00:12:28 Discussion of odd gait 00:17:13 Talk about suspect, man or woman? 00:21:13 Discussion of SWAT disguise 00:26:09 Talk about new kit 00:30:13 Discussion of long hammer as a weapon 00:34:31 Discussion of injuries matching weapon 00:39:05 Talk about coverage of case in media 00:43:20 Discussion of no gun belt 00:46:44.Conclusion
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 21 Dec 2023 | The Faceless Frozen Body in the Ditch: The Ilene Gowan Story | 00:41:50 | |
An adult female body is found outside of Council Bluffs city limits. The body was found with bruises all over her body, a large laceration on her head, her body was found frozen to the ground. Also, her face is missing. The body is of a woman who has been missing for 11 days, 60-year-old Ilene Gowan. Investigators will use everything at their disposal to determine how the grandmother ended up dead in a ditch without her face, and who is responsible for her death. Join Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack as they breakdown a case that includes forensics of a frozen body as well as the latest video surveillance tools that creates a timeline that builds a map leading right to the killer.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:06 Joseph Scott Morgan talks about scene of crime 00:02:42 Victim 60-year-old woman, without a face 00:04:00 Talk about victim and suspect relationship 00:06:22 Brammer does not report girlfriend missing 00:07:44 Talk about remains being discarded like trash 00:09:48 Discussion about alcohol and relationships 00:11:21 Victim is missing for 11 days 00:12:49 Talk about remains still frozen at autopsy 00:16:46 Discussion of weather on decomposition 00:18:32 Talk about arriving to scene of crime 00:22:54 Discussion about Pathologist in the field 00:24:01 Victim face is missing 00:27:19 Timeline: victim last seen on 13, reported missing on 15th 00:30:37 Discussion of Post-Mortem and Anti-Mortem 00:31:36 Video evidence of Brammer in truck with victim 00:33:34 Discussion of victim cause of death 00:34:39 Talk about wounds 00:37:10 Discussion about Dr. Michael Baden brought in for second opinion 00:38:50 Brammer deposits $1,500 in his bank account day Ilene is reported missing 00:39:46 Discussion about face missing due to animal life 00:41:46 Brammer has truck crushed and shredded 00:42:08 Brammer was found guilty of second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and second-degree theft.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 26 Dec 2024 | The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey. Part Two | 00:39:17 | |
Twenty eight years ago today, six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was murdered. The case has remained in the spotlight for nearly three decades and still, no arrest has been made and no suspect has been named. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the case and what evidence is still available for testing as well as the new documentary on Netflix.
Transcript Highlights 00:02.48 Introduction 28 Years today See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 10 May 2022 | Live From CrimeCon Las Vegas: The Death of Ellen Greenberg | 00:39:45 | |
Recorded live in front of a studio audience at CrimeCon in Las Vegas, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan re-examines the injuries to Ellen Greenberg. The teacher and soon-to-be-bride, is found death in her apartment with more than 20 stab wounds, and her death is ruled a suicide. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 11 Apr 2022 | Murder Between Friends | 00:31:15 | |
Linda Collins was a self-made woman. She built a financial empire based in real estate and hotel management. Her passion, however, was love of community. She worked tirelessly to support the area in which she lived, by supporting improvements in tourism and civic pride. Collins was elected to both the state house and senate. Her body was found wrapped in a tarp at the end of her driveway. What happened to Linda Collins? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 05 May 2022 | The Lindquist Triple Murder | 00:46:30 | |
Kenneth, Janet and Matthew Lindquist die at the hands of two vicious killers. 21-year-old Matthew Lindquist, a recovering heroin addict, has a relapse and makes a deal with Sergio Correa, exchanging his dad's guns for drugs. Correa shows up to the deal with his adopted sister Ruth, and the carnage begins. The couple chases Matthew into the woods, hacking him to death with a machete. It is months before Matthew's body is found. The Correa's then invade the Lindquist home, pulling the parents from their bed, beating them with a baseball bat, strangling Janet, then setting the house on fire to cover their evil. Today on Body Bags, forensic expert Joseph Scott Morgan explains the extensive injuries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 16 Oct 2024 | Quinton Simon, 20-Months Old, Vanishes From His Bed Before Morning | 00:45:40 | |
Quinton Simon is just 20-months old when he vanishes from his home. His mother and her boyfriend claim they Woke up, the front door was ajar, and Quinton was gone. Searches are conducted, the mother's story is vetted. Eight days into his disappearance, law enforcement announces they do not expect to find Quinton alive and his mother,Leilani Simon, is a suspect. Joseph Scott Morgan goes deep into the investigation, explaining what it is like to look for a child.What do searchers hope to find in a landfill and what can they expect to find. Joe Scott explainsDave Mack will fill in the background on all of the adults involved as this case continues to move through the system.Will there ever be justice for Quinton Simon? 00:00.01. Introduction - Liars 01:20.05 The death of Quinton Simon 05:08.07 Detective says within every lie is a nugget of truth 10:07.10. Story about someone coming into house makes no sense 15:35.82. Talking about death investigations of children 20:21.01. Looking for a child, close look. Finding Quinton, alive. 26:08.66 Perpetrator will take everything wrapped around victim 31:18.61. Garbage trucks push down on the waste, compressing 36:39.54 In a landfill, everything looks the same 40:26.66 Dealing with skeletal remains, what will you find? 45:04:13 Conclusion - Mom and Grandma drinking in bar while people are looking for Quinton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 10 Dec 2024 | Coroner's Mistress and Her Ex's Dead Body: The Murder Trial | 00:40:55 | |
Dead bodies and romance.....in Horry County South Carolina, Meagan Jackson is a contractor for the county delivering dead bodies to the morgue of the funeral home. She and her longtime boyfriend Gregory Rice have broken up and they are negotiating custody and support for their four children. Deputy Coroner Christopher Dontell is married to a school teacher and they have two children. The deputy Coroner and the woman bringing dead bodies to the morgue strike up a romance. When Gregory Rice goes missing and turns up dead, suspicion falls on his ex, Meagan and her new boyfriend, the very married Deputy Coroner, Christopher Dontell. Joseph Scott Morgan will explain what happens in the world of death investigation and how people can grow close to their coworkers under extreme circumstances. Joseph Scott Morgan will also take a close look at Meagan Jackson and Chris Dontell - did she think Dontell, because of his occupation, would know better how to get rid of a dead body? Dave Mack will help untangle the web of lies as Joseph Scott Morgan explains why Dontell has changed his plea and what will happen when he testifies against the woman who was carrying his child when her ex-boyfriend is found dead.
Transcribe Highlights 00:00.50 Introduction 03:29.84 South Carolina has rich Coroner history 05:12.67 Elected Coroner in Horry County 10:03.41 Explaining "Livery" service 14:52.41 Deputy Coroner having affair with woman who delivers bodies 20:11.42 An affair the includes death and getting rid of body 24:25.02 Special training, would a deputy coroner have a better idea how to get rid of a body 29:57.62 Questions of a death investigator 35:05.65 Digital evidence puts suspect at the scene of where body is found 41:08.05 Conclusion - Deputy Coroner cuts a deal and will testify for the state See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 26 Sep 2023 | Medical Misadventure or Manslaughter? A Tragic Childbirth Tale | 00:26:41 | |
Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor are filled with joy at the prospect of welcoming their newborn into the world. Tragically, their world is turned upside down when what should have been a routine childbirth becomes a horrifying series of events that end in the loss of their baby. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unravel the deeply disturbing story of a young couple who were denied the chance to bond with their deceased child. They explore the complex layers of emotion, science, and legality surrounding the case. From a shocking refusal to permit an autopsy, to startling revelations of the baby's decapitation, the hosts scrutinize every angle. They underscore the necessity for trust between medical professionals and patients, particularly when the stakes are this high.
Time-coded Highlights: 00:00:20 — Joseph Scott Morgan delves into the human need for tactile confirmation during grief, emphasizing the irreplaceable role touch plays in coping with a loved one's death. 00:02:40 — Dave Mack begins the narration of Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor's story, and describes the complications that arose during the delivery. 00:05:00 — The condition called “shoulder dystocia” is explained by Joe Scott. 00:08:11 — A distinction between stillbirth and sudden infant death is made by Morgan. 00:10:42 — Morgan addresses the perilous state of the mother during childbirth, pondering on medical errors that can tip the scale from life to death. 00:11:46 — A conversation around the shocking force needed to fracture an infant’s bones brings listeners to a grim realization about the case. 00:13:00 — The timeline of the events is shared by Mack, highlighting the urgency and critical nature of the situation at hand. 00:13:54 — Parents in the dark: Mack discusses the hospital’s lack of transparency concerning the baby's condition. 00:15:42 — Exploring emotional trauma, Morgan reveals how the young couple missed a crucial bonding moment with their baby due to medical complications. 00:16:16 — Mack raises the curtain on the grim reality that the parents were actively deceived about the state of their child. 00:17:20 — Joseph Scott Morgan sheds light on the hospital's suggestion to avoid an autopsy and opt for cremation, deepening the layers of this tragic tale. 00:18:40 — The term "medical misadventure" is introduced by Morgan, who likens the medical failures in the case to manslaughter. 00:20:40 — In any medical tragedy, trust is paramount, emphasizes Morgan, particularly when the stakes are a matter of life and death. 00:21:40 — The legal implications come into play as Morgan articulates that this case should have been immediately reported to medical legal authorities. 00:24:06 — Mack discusses the parents' decision to hire Dr. Jackson Gates for an independent autopsy, and the shocking revelation that images of the decapitated baby were posted on Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 19 Jul 2023 | Gilgo Beach Murders - Special Update | 00:15:09 | |
"Body Bags", host Joseph Scott Morgan and renowned guest Dave Mack explore the complex world of the Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann, as investigators discover 92 gun permits and two storage facilities. With a media circus surrounding the search of Heurmann's possessions, a medical examiner's unexpected presence at one of the storage sites raises eyebrows and questions. What could be lurking inside? As Morgan and Mack unpack the investigative processes, from understanding decomposition to the role of cadaver dogs, they also shed light on a decade-long series of murders in Long Island. Oddities surface, including the peculiar behavior of a killer who seemingly retires after three victims and the challenges of sifting through a hoarder's chaotic household. This episode takes listeners on a rollercoaster of emotions, with new revelations promising to reshape the narrative of the notorious Gilgo Beach cases. Join Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack as delve deeper into the mysteries of the Gilgo Beach murders.
Time-coded Highlights: [00:00:00] The episode kicks off with Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack exploring the latest on the Gilgo Beach murders. [00:01:30] Mack drops a bombshell about Huerman's alarming collection of gun permits and the existence of two storage facilities. [00:02:36] Mack comments on the rampant media attention and the unexpected appearance of a medical examiner at one storage site. [00:03:18] Morgan decodes the reasons for summoning a medical examiner to crime scenes, drawing listeners into the world of forensics. [00:06:50] Mack's skepticism surfaces, questioning the examiner's inconsistent appearances at the storage units. [00:08:23] The spotlight turns to Long Island's decade-old mysteries, with Morgan giving insights into a defendant tied to three cases. [00:09:30] The duo ponders the potential use of cadaver dogs before a medical expert's arrival, emphasizing their significance. [00:11:00] Mack and Morgan dissect the erratic behavior of a suspected serial murderer, who ceased his actions after claiming three lives. [00:12:00] Serial killer patterns emerge, with Morgan speculating on their familiarity with hunting grounds and possible storage unit links. [00:14:00] Morgan postulates on killers' tendencies to retain "souvenirs", stressing the importance of a detailed home examination. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 16 Jan 2024 | Murder or Suicide? The Death of Jeffrey Epstein | 00:48:23 | |
The death of Jeffrey Epstein has been debated since the minute it was announced to the world. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will share what it was like to be on the air with the news and notice "red flags" as certain parts of the death story didn't seem to be correct. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will break down the death of Jeffrey Epstein. Did Jeffrey Epstein commit suicide, or was he murdered? Transcript Highlights 00:01:17 Joe hears story about where the meanest men in America live 00:04:47 Joseph Scott Morgan talks about covering Epstein death 00:08:23 Discuss first attack/suicide attempt 00:11:45 Talk about unusual circumstances 00:14:37 Discuss conflicting statements about noose 000:17:15 Talk about Epstein allowed unmonitored phone call 00:18:23 Discuss no cellmate to attack or stop suicide 00:20:33 Talk about two nooses in the cell 00:22:42 Discussion of cell condition and contents 00:25:49 Talk about July 23rd event 00:29:25 Discuss observing body at time of death 00:32:25 Talk about putting hospital gown on Epstein 00:34:03 Mark Epstein told his brother may have been dead 2 hours or more 00:37:40 Talk about Epstein body wheeled into hospital 00:40:34 Discussion of hyoid bone 00:42:05 Discuss facts of the body at time of death 00:44:24 Discuss agreement overturned regarding suicide 00:45:14 Talk about autopsy, who was present 00:47:00 Discuss distribution of force 00:48:16 Mentions that noose wasn't collected for evidence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 23 Jan 2024 | Alec Baldwin Indicted on Manslaughter Charge: What really happened on the set of "Rust" | 00:45:52 | |
Alec Baldwin has been indicted again for Involuntary Manslaughter. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will pull back the curtain on the "Rust" movie set and explain what really happened, who is lying, and will there ever be justice. Should somebody go to jail, or was it a horrible accident? Listen and decide for yourself.
Transcript Highlights 00:01:29 Describing the shooting location 00:04:45 Talk about the victims 00:05:31 Discussion of responsibility on set 00:08:37 Joe talks about being a producer 00:11:08 Talk about armorer 00:13:45 Discussion Alec Baldwin charged 00:15:38 Joe breaks down angles of shot 00:21:00 Talk about producer role on set 00:22:44 Dave tells story about loaded gun in house 00:24:59 Discussion of handling a gun 00:27:21 Talk about Baldwin interview about shooting 00:29:24 Joe talks forensic science ballistics 00:31:48 Discussion of accountability 00:34:07 Talk about shooting cases 00:40:48 Joe talks about the 44 Magnum 00:45:37 Description of shooting of Brandon Lee 00:48:18 Discussion about handling firearms on set See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 21 May 2024 | SHOCKING AUTOPSY: Who or What Killed Noah Presgrove? | 00:44:34 | |
The autopsy of Noah Presgrove is released and for the first time in the history of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan, Joe is going to issue you a warning for what you are about to hear. Noah Presgrove is at a birthday, end of summer, labor day party with friends all weekend. But something happened Sunday night to cause Noah to leave the party by himself. He is found the next morning at 5:53am, alone, dead, on the side of a rural highway. He is naked except for a pair of shoes, but one of the shoes isn't his, it belongs to a guy asleep at the house where the party took place. The "friends" he has known all of his life aren't talking. His brother sees teeth scattered near his brother's body and pieces of chain. Who or What killed Noah Presgrove? Will the autopsy help answer the question?
Transcript Highlights 00:00:08 Introduction: Growing up in rural area 00:03:10 Talk about List of Injuries 00:05:17 Discussion of group dynamics 00:09:12 Discussion of what happens to clothing 00:12:27 Talk about social media evidence 00:16:11 Discussion of internal injuries 00:20:26 Discussion of injuries cased by falling out of a truck 00:24:14 Talk about skull fractures 00:28:32 Discussion of brain fluid 00:32:52 Discussion of broke teeth 00:36:03 Talk about animals and body on road 00:37:52 Discussion of cervical injuries 00:40:00 Discussion of abrasions 00:41:47 Talk about being hit by car 00:43:59 Discussion of data 00:44:17 Conclusion; After the autopsy we still don’t have answers See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 16 May 2023 | Behind the Veil | Murder, Mayhem, and the Mystery of Tammy Daybell | 00:37:39 | |
In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unearth the details of Tammy Daybell's untimely death in Rexburg, Idaho. They dissect the initial misdiagnosis of a heart event and navigate through a labyrinth of murder allegations ensnaring her husband, Chad Daybell, and his new wife, Lori Vallow Daybell. They also highlight the crucial role of the coroner, the complexities of exhumation procedures, and the startling forensic evidence that contradicts prior claims about Tammy's death. Time-codes: 00:00 - Intro. 01:25 - Introduction of Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell's connection to Tammy's death. 02:45 - Overview of Tammy Daybell's life and suspicious circumstances around her death. 05:50 - Critique of the initial lack of an autopsy and conflicting reports about Tammy's health. 08:40 - Discussion on the mysterious deaths surrounding Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow. 10:20 - Challenges of determining cause of death without an autopsy and the importance of the coroner's role. 16:30 - Overview of the complex circumstances surrounding the investigation. 18:05 - Examination of physical clues found on Tammy's body and ensuing exhumation. 21:00 - Tammy's alleged convulsions and implications, with Chad as the sole source of information. 24:15 - Explanation of the legal proceedings surrounding Tammy's exhumation. 27:05 - Emphasis on the role of detailed evidence in post-mortem examinations. 29:05 - Revelation of restraint and asphyxiation as the cause of Tammy's death. 33:30 - Forensic techniques used to understand Tammy's death. 35:00 - Speculation on multiple perpetrators and scrutiny of the timeline following Tammy's death. 37:15 - Conclusion and sign off from the episode of Body Bags. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 01 Nov 2022 | Four Men on Bikes - A Mysterious Quadruple Homicide in Oklahoma | 00:46:37 | |
Four men in Okmulgee, Oklahoma leave a friend's house on bikes on the evening of October 9th, 2022. Investigators believe that these men intended to commit a crime, or series of crimes. They are soon reported missing. On October 14th, their bodies are found in Deep For River having been shot and dismembered. After looking into the case officials believe that this act was premeditated. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the overt violence of the murder, how to track a bicycle, how you distinguish between blood types, how investigators retrieve body parts, and much more.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:12 - Background and overview of the case 3:20 - How do you track a bicycle? 9:45 - How do you calculate how far to extend your search? 12:10 - Police using tracking information to find the victims 15:30 - Bodies dumped in the river 16:15 - How is it physically possible to kill four men in a short period of time? 20:35 - What exactly is “a violent act”? 24:15 - The steps taken in an autopsy to distinguish between blood types 29:00 - What do two different blood types look like on a slide? 30:58 - Visual deception 32:10 - Would the victim's skeleton be visible by this point? 36:10 - How does the gruesome state of the victim’s bodies interfere with being able to figure out what happened to them? 39:40 - How do you retrieve body parts and keep them in the state they’re found? 46:05 - Wrap up See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 12 May 2022 | Introducing 'Shattered Souls: The Car Barn Murders' | Episode One: "The Oldest Cold Case" | 00:32:53 | |
SPECIAL LOOK AT THE HIT PODCAST! "Shattered Souls: The Car Barn Murders." Retired detective Karen Smith discovers that her father kept a family secret for decades. In 2002, her father revealed that Karen's great uncle, Emory Smith, was the victim of a heinous murder and that her grandfather had been held as a suspect. Karen begins her journey to solve her great uncle Emory's murder. Subscribe to the Shattered Souls podcast now to hear all new episodes! Episodes 1-8 available NOW!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 24 Apr 2024 | Deadly First Date: Dinner, Drinks, Dismemberment- The Sade Robinson Murder | 00:39:50 | |
Sade Robinson is having fun on her first date with a new guy. They pose together and post the picture to social media. Sade had no idea she was taking a picture with the devil and she only had hours to live. In this episode of "Body Bags," Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how the killer sealed his fate by trying to destroy evidence with fire. Transcribe Highlights 00:22.97 Introduction Milwaukee 05:01.65. Talk about Jeffrey Dahmer 07:29.72 Discussion of dismemberment 09:53.60 Talk about getting rid of smell with tires 14:06.81 Discussion of finding leg 20:10.93 Talk about remains being compromised 25:18.19. Breaking down the timeline 30:30.67. Discussion of other women missing 34:38.48 Talk about fire inside a car 36:38.64 Discussion of witness who saw person use lighter to start car fire 39:33.42 Conclusion – how remains will tell what really happened to Sade See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 21 Nov 2024 | SHOCKING! 1978 Double-Homicide SOLVED! | 00:43:58 | |
Nov. 19, 1978The remains of Theresa Marcoux and Mark Harnish were discovered after an officer from the West Springfield Police Department located a 1967 green Dodge pickup truck owned by Harnish, parked in a roadway rest area on Route 5/Riverdale Street. Their bodies were lying by a nearby guardrail." "The officer saw that the driver's side window of the truck was damaged and noticed blood in and around the vehicle," the police post added, stating the victims — who had last been seen alive at approximately 12:30 a.m. that morning when leaving a friends' party — "appeared to have sustained gunshot wounds." No Firearm is found at the scene but investigators do find a fingerprint...the suspects' left thumb print is found. The "latent print" is found in what appeared to be blood on the passenger-side vent window.....but no match is found and the case goes cold. Joseph Scott Morgan breaks down fingerprints and how they are of no use if you don't have something to compare it to. Joe will also show how the suspect almost got away with a double homicide.
Transcript Highlights 00:00.00 Introduction 04:04.70 Changing from analog to digital 05:30.85 History of fingerprinting 10:04.68 Truth about fingerprints 15:15.96 A print on the scene 19:26.74 Old Truck with bullet could be old 24:34.49 There was an "ear witness" 29:17.43 Blood and drag marks 35:03.19 Was glass embedded in the bodies 40:01.98 A match 42:45.74 Conclusion - arrest See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 17 Dec 2021 | Gannon Stauch - Not Missing, Murdered | 00:34:08 | |
11-year-old Gannon Stauch is reported missing by his stepmother. Two months later the boy's body is found 1400 miles away from his Colorado home. We now know, Gannon Stauch was, according to police, murdered in his bedroom by his stepmother. Recovered evidence supports a violent event occurred in the bedroom with blood spatter on the walls, and soaked through the carpet. Police say Stauch was shot in the jaw and stabbed more than 18 times. Today, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Josph Scott Morgan, breaks down the evidence that could be used in Leteica Stauch. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 14 Nov 2024 | Shocking Details! Kansas Moms Update: AUTOPSY OF JILLIAN KELLEY | 00:54:59 | |
Jillian Kelley, 39, and Veronica Butler, 27, disappeared in late March while on a trip from Hugoton, Kansas, to pick up Butler’s children. Their abandoned car was found 3-miles from their intended location and there are signs of struggle near and in the vehicle. On April 14, nearly two weeks after they went missing, investigators discovered their bodies sealed inside a freezer and buried under concrete in a remote area of a leased field. Joseph Scott Morgan will explain the details of Jillian Kelley's autopsy, what it is like to find two bodies in one location, buried together, and what new information is known after going over the autopsy report.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:11.31. Introduction - update Kansas Moms 00:01:31.84 Jillian Kelley Autopsy 00:03:18.70 Explanation of custody arrangements 00:06:47.31 Autopsy room 00:11:28.26 Freezer with bodies inside dropped into a hole that is 10 feet deep 00:16:12.44 Looking at the tracks around the area where freezer was buried 00:21:31.67 Opening the freezer in the lab 00:26:29.62 Know idea of what type of evidence will be recovered 00:31:30.98 Veronica Butler Autopsy expected later, Jillian Kelley Autopsy now 00:36:02.75 Veronica Butler body on top of Kelley. Bodies removed 00:41:04.70.Kelley has defensive wounds, grabbed blade of knife with her hand 00:46:03.01 Difficult to determine the order of when injuries occurred 00:51:02.87 Injury with hemorrhage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 12 Jun 2024 | Woman Declared Dead, Found ALIVE in Funeral Home | 00:38:40 | |
Imagine waking up inside a body bag, declared dead and transported to a funeral home, where you find yourself short of breath, BUT STILL BREATHING! In this episode of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan we will explore something that is happening far more often than you think, people being declared dead, who wake up on a table in a funeral home! And how to make sure you are not Buried Alive!
Transcript Highlights 00:00:08 Introduction: worst nightmare come true 00:03:02 Discussion being buried alive 00:07:28 Talk about funeral homes 00:11:49 Discussion of hospice care nursing 00:16:29 Discussion of soldier Battle of the Bulge 00:20:24 Talk about forensic pathology 00:24:46 Discussion of dead body, signs of death 00:28:30 Discussion of death investigation 00:31:34 Talk about people declared dead, waking up in funeral home 00:34:16 Discussion of death and declaring someone dead 00:38:04 Conclusion: cautionary tale, death investigation is important See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 20 Aug 2024 | Death of a "Friend" | 00:37:04 | |
Matthew Perry became a star surrounded by "Friends" and became a falling star surrounded by "Friends" who did nothing but feed his addiction. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how a death investigator determines if a body found submerged in a hot tub died from drowning, drugs, or a combination of both. And in the end, who is responsible?
Transcript Highlights 00:00.00 Introduction of a "friend" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 16 Apr 2024 | Killer Tortures New Mom To Death, Leaves Her Infant Alone To Starve | 00:31:55 | |
Destiny Duckett’s cousin couldn’t reach her by phone, so she stopped by her apartment to check on her. The cousin knocks on the door, but Destiny doesn’t answer. The cousin can hear the baby crying and she is worried. She calls police to do a welfare check and when they enter Destiny Duckett’s apartment, her 8-week old son is on the bed, crying, and his 22-year-old mother is on the floor, dead. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will look into the mysterious death of 22-year-old new mother, Destiny Duckett and Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how fingernails play a keep part in solving the murder.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:00 Introduction of case 00:02:20 Discussion of fingernails 00:05:37 Talk about cousin called police, heard baby crying 00:10:56 Discussion of protective order leading to arrest of suspect 00:15:26 Talk about leaving crying baby on the bed, alone, mother dead on floor 00:19:43 Discussion of body being the biggest evidence 00:24:16 Discussion of proving knees were on chest of victim 00:28:26 Talk about fingernail marks on the neck 00:33:55 Discussion of why suspect was already in jail 00:36:33 Conclusion – Convicted, sentencing to come
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 04 Dec 2024 | The Piketon Massacre - The Trial of Billy Wagner | 00:42:44 | |
The Piketon Massacre happened when 8 members of the Rhoden family were wiped out in one night at four different locations. Billy Wagner, the patriarch of the Wagner family, and the accused leader of the murderous rampage, is finally going to trial next month. With 8 murders and four crime scenes, Joseph Scott Morgan has a lot to explain. He will take you inside the trailers and talk about how forensic evidence was damaged by law enforcement. As in all cases a person is innocent until proven guilty and Billy Wagner continues to plead not guilty to all 22 charges including eight counts of aggravated murder from the execution-style slayings of his son’s ex-girlfriend and seven of her family members in April 2016.
Transcript Highlights 00:02.98 Introduction 02:12.91 The Piketon Massacre 05:32.43 Who Could have pulled off killing 8 people in one night 10:04.49 Killer lays baby next to dead mothers' breast so he wouldn't go hungry 15:02.77 Billy Wagner trial coming up next year 19:53.21 Wagner's in Alaska,, woman escapes in fear 25:02.16 Baby Sophia was not in trailer, she was with grandmother 30:08.95 Billy Wagner had moved away from family 35:09.77 So many oddities in the Piketon Massacre 40:13.85 How will Billy Wagner be defended 42:33:26.Conclusion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 04 Oct 2022 | Eliza Fletcher: Mother, Teacher, Heiress, and Victim | 00:44:49 | |
Eliza Fletcher, a Memphis teacher and mother, is reported missing the morning of September 2, 2022 after she doesn't return home from her morning jog. A search is launched shortly thereafter and comes to an end on September 5th when her body is found by police. Suspect, Cleotha Abston has been arrested and charged for her murder. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss what the autopsy report shows, what her cause of death was determined to be, what drugs were found in her system, and more.
Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:50 - Background and overview of case 1:42 - The autopsy report: how you read it and what you learn from it 16:17 - Eliza’s cause of death 22:16 - What the gunshot wound tells us 26:23 - Internal and external beveling 28:03 - Le Fort fracture 32:25 - Submission 34:10 - Fentanyl 40:13 - Was Eliza Fletcher raped? 43:36 - Wrap up See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 07 May 2024 | Corey Micciolo: Forced To Run to Death | 00:39:50 | |
Corey Micciolo did not meet his father until he was 5-years-old. Soon thereafter Corey landed in the middle of a custody battle. From the first time he was left alone with his father, Corey came home with bruises, busted lips, and more. His mother complained but nobody listened. Only now are people paying attention because of an awful video showing 6-year-old Corey Micciolo being forced to run on a treadmill and falling off, over and over. Each time he falls off the treadmill, his father puts him back on and turns the speed up, allegedly. Christiopher Gregor is on trial facing murder charges for allegedly killing his own son in what the media calls the Treadmill Abuse Trial. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain what really happened to Corey Micciolo and why 6-year-olds don't drop over dead, and Dave Mack will fill in the rest of the story of how Corey was given to a father that never bonded with him while his mother begged for anyone to listen.
00:38.98 Introduction, talk about weapons 05:17.90 Discussion of exorcise as punishment 10:01.23 Talk about making 6-year-old run on treadmill 16:01.12 Discussion of bruises and injuries 21:06.32 Talk about Corey's health is fine, except for bruises
39:12:19 Conclusion Final Diagnosis, Blunt Force impact, laceration of heart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 25 Apr 2023 | Unraveling the Gannon Stauch Case | A Forensic Odyssey | 00:39:10 | |
Gannon Stauch, an 11-year-old boy from Colorado, was found dead nearly two months after he was reported missing by his stepmother, Letecia Stauch. Gannon was initially reported as a runaway, but was later classified as a missing/endangered person. Surveillance footage revealed Letecia leaving with Gannon and returning without him, raising suspicions, and then Gannon's body was found in Florida. His stepmother now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder. In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the timeline of the case, from Gannon's disappearance in Colorado Springs to the discovery of his body in a suitcase in Florida, the search warrants and investigation process in Gannon's bedroom, the challenges faced by the medical examiner when examining the body, and determining the cause of death.
Time-codes: 00:00 - Introduction. 01:40 - Overview of Letitia Stauch's ongoing trial. 03:55 - Timeline of Gannon's disappearance and investigation. 05:25 - Discovery of Gannon's body in Florida. 08:00- Difficulty in determining postmortem interval and medical examiner's ability to ascertain information. 10:10- Blood detection methods at crime scenes and investigating scenes with cleansers used. 14:20 - Role of forensic pathologists in death investigations and inspecting a child's bedroom for foul play. 17:15 - Search warrant limitations in a residence and police walkthrough. 19:35 - Blood evidence found in Gannon's bedroom and challenges faced by the medical examiner. 21:50 - Establishing identification and cause of death in Gannon's case. 24:10 - Shared jurisdiction and forensic pathologist's expertise in tropical environments. 27:40 - Establishing a timeline of Gannon's death and managing emotions during trial testimonies. 31:00 - Forensic pathologist's clinical and objective testimony and Gannon's injuries. 33:30 - Presentation of Gannon's injuries in court and quantifying drug levels in decomposed bodies. 34:25 - Testing for substances in decomposed bodies, including maggots. 35:45 - Medication found in Gannon's system and detailing his injuries. 37:30 - Differentiating between lacerations and sharp force injuries and interpreting wounds on decomposed bodies. 39:20 - Importance of medical examiner's experience. 39:35 - Outro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 14 Nov 2023 | A Cold-Blooded Murder: The Case of Maleesa Mooney | 00:38:00 | |
Maleesa Mooney's family hasn't heard from the 31-year-old model for several days. Worried, they ask police to do a welfare check. Los Angeles police let themselves into her apartment with a key obtained from the manager. The air conditioner has been turned down and the apartment is very cold. Police discover the beaten and bruised body of Maleesa Mooney, with her hands and feet bound, wedged into the refrigerator. There is blood underneath her body. Join Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack as they discuss how this beautiful and talented woman died. Time Code Highlights. 00:02:30 Family of Maleesa Mooney ask police to check on her. 00:03:06 Police find Maleesa Mooney, 31, bound, gagged, stuffed in refrigerator with blood 00:04:19 The police are working as a homicide. 00:05:25 Family gets answers from mortuary 00:07:11 Joe Scott Morgan shares story of mistake he made notifying a mother of how her son died 00:08:27 The victim was greatly traumatized. 00:09:39 What it would take to put a person inside a refrigerator 00:11:44 Victim was beaten and broken. 00:14:24 Mooney seen walking into her building on surveillance camera 00:14:42 No forced entry into apartment 00:15:20 The air conditioning in apartment had been turned down and it had been flooded 00:18:00 Items on the table that are commonly associated with needing to be refrigerated, as if the refrigerator been cleaned out. 00:18:58 Is running water an effort to destroy evidence? 00:19:40 Details on the last time anybody talked to Melissa Mooney. 00:21:27 There's a six day window between last communication and when body is found. . 00:22:23 Victim has multiple trauma about her head and her neck. 00:24:03 Victim is pregnant. 00:27:27 Family received vague text messages. 00:30:08 Victim is bound ankles and wrists. 00:33:11 Victim is gagged. 00:35:15 How would body be examined at the morgue?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 04 Jan 2024 | The House Is Gone: The Idaho Student Murders | 00:34:39 | |
The Idaho house where Madison Mogen , Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were murdered has been demolished. Prosecution and Defense were both in agreement about the resident being demolished before the trial. Join Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack as they discuss what might be missed and who might be helped by the biggest pieced of evidence being destroyed.
Transcript Highlights 00:01:08 Talk about why the odd shaped home had to come down 00:02:18 Discussion about destroying house before trial 00:03:47 Compare being able to visit the home of Lizzie Borden 00:05:47 Discussion of taking down horrible crime scenes 00:08:33 Comparing evidence like knife to house, would a picture of knife be sufficient 00:09:06 Discussion of both sides in agreement in taking building down 00:11:28 Talk about how to tell if someone could hear noise from top to bottom of house 00:13:36 Discussion of first-person perspective 00:15:48 Discussion of Parkland scene 00:17:42 Talk about taking jury to crime scene 00:19:26 Discussion of house layout – would killer have to be familiar 00:20:39 Talk about moving around rooms in the dark 00:21:53 Discussion about seeing size of rooms and 'ear' witness 00:24:15 Talk about effective documentation 00:26:23 Discussion about where suspect entered home 00:27:07 Discussion about room size 00:29:51 Talk about dynamic distribution of blood, being able to see it in context 00:31:32 Discussion of Jeffrey MacDonald case, jury saw murder scene in house 00:32:4 Talk about without house, no way to know where sound would go 00:33:51 Discussion comparing Gettysburg site to a house
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 18 Apr 2022 | The Terrible Deaths of Russell and Shirley Dermond | 00:41:40 | |
After seven years, the murders of Russell Dermond, 88 and his 87-year-old wife Shirley, remain unsolved. Friends go to check on the couple days after the Dermonds did not show up for a planned Kentucky Derby party. The headless body of Russell Dermond is found in the garage. Police say there is no forced entry to the home, nor is the house ransacked. Shirley Dermond's body is found 5 miles away, murdered and floating in a lake. Her body has been weighted down by cement blocks. Today on Body Bags, forensics expert and professor Joseph Scott Morgan explains what possible evidence may have been left behind. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 04 Feb 2022 | The Unspeakable Death of Ingrid Lyne | 00:38:30 | |
40-year-old Ingrid Lyne, a mother of three, disappears after a date to a professional baseball game. Her date, 37-year-old John Charlton, tells police he was too drunk the night before to remember what happened. Lyne's partial remains were found in a recycling bin miles away from her home. Investigators believe Lyne was killed in her own home, and dismembered in the bathtub with a 15-inch pruning saw. Human flesh and blood were found in the bathtub drain. An investigation finds that Charlton has a criminal history in six states and that his parents had taken out a restraining order against him. Today on Body Bags, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan looks at what it would take to go through with this type of grisly crime. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 06 Dec 2024 | JFK - 61 Years and Autopsy Questions Still Remain: The Best of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan | 00:56:33 | |
November 22, 1963: John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was shot and killed during a presidential motorcade in Dallas, Texas.The President is taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital. By law, Dallas County Coroner Dr. Earl Rose had jurisdiction over the case and should have performed the autopsy. However, against Dr. Earl Rose's protestations, the body of President Kennedy was wrapped in a sheet, placed in a casket with a broken handle, and flown over 1,300 miles away to Washington DC, where 2 naval doctors, who had never conducted a forensic autopsy performed the autopsy on John F. Kennedy.
Time Code Highlights See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 10 Jul 2024 | Cold Case Murder of Beloved Teacher Solved After 29-years! | 00:46:52 | |
Mary Catherine Edwards is found naked and in handcuffs in her bathtub with about 4 inches of water. She has been sexually assaulted and murdered. Cause of death is drowning and asphyxia. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how the case that went unsolved for nearly 30-years was solved with DNA, Genetic Genealogy and a tip of the cap to Othram . Dave Mack will help tell the story of the 31-year-old beloved schoolteacher and the killer who almost got away with her murder.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:06 Introduction of Cold Case Murder 00:05:42 Discussion of shutting down crime scene 00:09:44 Talk about Parents discovering body of their daughter 00:13:27 Discussion of motivation 00:18:01 Talk about “torture” 00:22:21 Discussion of cause of death, drowning and asphyxia 00:27:30 Discussion of drowning in bathtub 00:31:23 Discussion of Shera LaPoint, the Gene Hunter 00:35:33 Talk about familiarity between victim and suspect 00:39:20 Discussion of DNA and genetic genealogy 00:41:52 Discussion of Rape Kit 00:46:35 Conclusion: DNA Solves
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 19 Mar 2024 | Real Amityville Horror – Two Heads, Other Body Parts Scattered in Long Island | 00:36:58 | |
Two severed heads, an arm here, a leg there, on this episode of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan, the Reel Amityville Horror will meet the Real Amityville Horror. A group of Long Island High School students find a severed left arm on the side of a road in Babylon on their way to school. While Police investigate the scene, a K-9 officer locates a leg sticking out of a pile of leaves in a wooded area, not far from the original scene. Over time more body parts were found in multiple areas. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will detail what was found and where and what the suspects were up against when they began writing their own Amityville Horror.
Transcript Highlights 00:00:07 Introduction – to horror 00:01:39 Discussion about charges for dismembering a person 00:04:48 Talk about how the bodies were treated in death 00:08:03 Discussion of arm with tattoo found in tree limb 00:11:51 Body part found by high school students on the way to school 00:15:16 Parts of 2 bodies found, 4 people charged 00:15:17 None of the 4 people is charged with murder 00:16:14 Discuss what the ME will have to do with parts 00:18:04 Talking about Black Dhalia 00:19:49 Discussion of none of the drains work in the rental 00:21:30 Discussion of body parts from more than one person 00:25:11 Talk about unique case 00:28:51 Joe describes investigation taking place 00:31:30 Discussion of dismemberment 00:34:01 Discussion of blood, muscle, skin, hair, Drano won’t work 00:37:13 Talk about revisiting the case in the future See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| 02 Dec 2021 | The Skull in the Swamp | 00:34:18 | |
After weeks of searching for Brian Laundrie, the main suspect in the death of his girlfriend Gabby Petito, a partial skull is found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida. The remains and skull are confirmed to belong to Laundrie. The medical examiner concluded laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Today on Body Bags, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan explain what we can learn from the recovered skull. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||