Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

Mayhem in the Morgue | Overkill: Part Two

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns continues his discussion of overkill, explaining the five categories recognized in forensic literature: expressive, instrumental, sexual, psychotic, and culturally motivated overkill. He shares two of his own cases, including a Chicago stabbing case that later sent him to the crime scene of a homicide he had already autopsied and a Texas case involving sexual overkill, necrophilia, and schizophrenia. Dr. Crowns closes by considering how the University of Idaho murders may fit within the overkill framework and what Bryan Kohberger’s reported behavior may suggest about his possible motive. Missed Part One? Mayhem in the Morgue |Overkill: Part One [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayhem-in-the-morgue-overkill-part-one/id1832515666?i=1000773109468] Highlights (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns (0:15) Dr. Crowns recaps Overkill: Part One and introduces the five categories of overkill (1:00) Expressive overkill: impulsive, emotionally charged attacks and their key characteristics (1:45) Instrumental overkill: calculated violence driven by financial gain, revenge, or escalation (2:30) Sexual overkill: sadistic or paraphilic arousal, ritualistic elements, and targeted wounds (3:00) Psychotic overkill: disorganized attacks, delusional ideation, and cognitive fragmentation (3:30) Culturally motivated overkill: honor murders, dominance, punishment, and purification (4:00) The link between overkill and mental illness and why no single disorder prevails (5:00) Dr. Crowns’ Chicago case: a 175-stab-wound homicide and the crime scene he visited a week later (11:45) Dr. Crown’s Texas case: sexual overkill, necrophilia, and a roommate with schizophrenia (14:45) Dr. Crowns considers Bryan Kohberger’s reported behavior and the unanswered question of motive About the Host:  Dr. Kendall Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often-misunderstood realities of forensic pathology. About the Show Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners inside the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. Connect and Learn More Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and be sure to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts. If you like this episode, don’t keep it to yourself; follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Overkill: Part One

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines the concept of overkill through the autopsy reports of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, four University of Idaho students murdered in Moscow, Idaho. He reviews the timeline of the attack, the alleged weapon used, and the sharp force, blunt force, and defensive injuries documented in their autopsies. Dr. Crowns explains how forensic pathologists evaluate wound number, distribution, hemorrhage, toxicology, and injury patterns to better understand what happened in those final moments. This episode offers a forensic look at overkill, including how it differs from ritualistic homicide, mission-oriented homicide, torture, and body mutilation. Mentioned in this Episode: Chatzinikolaou, F., Vavoulidis, E., Tsiapla, T., Margioula-Siarkou, C., Dinas, K., & Petousis, S. (2025). Overkill in forensic medicine: A systematic review. Acta Psychologica, 259, 105388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105388 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105388] Highlights (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns (0:15) Dr. Crowns introduces Overkill: Part One and the recently released University of Idaho autopsy reports (0:45) The murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in Moscow, Idaho (3:30) The alleged KA-BAR knife, its military history, and why it can cause devastating sharp force injuries (5:00) Madison Mogen’s autopsy findings, defensive wounds, toxicology, and why her death was not immediate (9:15) Kaylee Goncalves’ injuries, including sharp force trauma, blunt force trauma, and evidence of strangulation (14:30) Xana Kernodle’s extensive injuries, defensive wounds, toxicology, and evidence that she fought back (17:45) Ethan Chapin’s injuries, defensive wounds, toxicology, and the evidence that suggests he was asleep when attacked (19:15) Dr. Crowns explains why he believes one person could have caused all of these injuries (20:00) What overkill means in forensic pathology and why it can suggest more than wound count alone (21:15) How medical examiners, forensic psychiatrists, criminologists, and law enforcement may interpret overkill differently (22:15) Differentiating overkill from ritualistic homicide, mission-oriented homicide, torture, and body mutilation About the Host Dr. Kendall Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often misunderstood realities of forensic pathology. About the Show Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners into the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. Connect and Learn More You can learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and be sure to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts. If you liked this episode, don’t keep it to yourself. Follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | H.R. Huffing Stuff

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns discusses inhalant abuse and the everyday household products people use to get high. He explains how substances like spray paint, canned air, Freon, and other chemicals affect the nervous system, limit oxygen, and sometimes trigger fatal heart rhythms. Through cases involving whipped cream canisters, dental nitrous oxide, hairspray, and jenkem, Dr. Crowns shows why these deaths can be difficult to diagnose, often leaving few obvious autopsy findings and relying heavily on scene investigation and toxicology. Episodes Mentioned: Mayhem in the Morgue | Foraging Misadventures [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayhem-in-the-morgue-foraging-misadventures/id1832515666?i=1000746040416]  Mayhem in the Morgue | Minty Fresh [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayhem-in-the-morgue-minty-fresh/id1832515666?i=1000753040437]   Highlights: (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns (0:15) Huffing, bored teenagers, and the pre-internet search for ways to get high (4:30) What huffing means and why inhaling chemical vapors can be deadly (5:15) The household products commonly abused as inhalants and how these chemicals affect the brain (7:15) Spray paint, “chromers, ” and the autopsy clues that can point to toluene exposure (9:00) Canned air cases and the unusual scene findings investigators often encounter (10:15) Nitrous oxide abuse, a dentist found dead in his chair, whipped cream cans, and whip-its (15:30) How plastic bags increase the risk of asphyxiation and the lasting damage caused by chronic nitrous oxide abuse (17:15) Freon, frostbite injuries, and sudden sniffing death syndrome (20:30) A hairspray huffing death with misleading alcohol levels in the vitreous fluid (23:00) A 17-year-old found dead in a bathtub, a bottle found at the scene, and Dr. Crowns’ firsthand jenkem case (29:00) Hydrogen sulfide toxicity, drowning, and Dr. Crowns’ closing advice About the Host Dr. Kendall Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often misunderstood realities of forensic pathology. About the Show Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners into the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. Connect and Learn More You can learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and be sure to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts. If you liked this episode, don’t keep it to yourself. Follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review.   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Coffin Birth

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns discusses coffin birth, the rare postmortem phenomenon formally known as postmortem fetal extrusion. He explains how human decomposition creates gases, bloating skin, skin slippage, purge fluid, maggot activity, and other artifacts that can change the body after death and sometimes mimic trauma, sexual assault, or other evidence. He also discusses the Shanann Watts and Laci Peterson cases to explain how coffin birth is evaluated and why it must be distinguished from live birth or other possibilities. Highlights (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns (0:15) Coffin birth, decomposition gases, and the autopsy artifacts that can complicate a death investigation (0:45) What happens after death: autolysis, putrefaction, and the bacteria already waiting inside the body (2:30) Why decomposition smells so distinct, from rotten eggs and stale urine to rotting fish and foul garlic (4:00) Dr. Crowns remembers his first decomposed body during medical school in Wichita, Kansas (8:15) Inside the morgue with flies, maggots, maggot masses, and the daily reality of decomposition cases (11:45) The Cook County decomposition morgue, the air-handling problem, and one doctor’s very questionable workaround (18:00) Bloating, skin slippage, brighter tattoos, and the forensic details that can help or hinder identification (19:30) When decomposition mimics trauma: ruptured scars, gaping wounds, and the risk of misreading the body (21:15) Purge fluid, mistaken sexual assault concerns, and the importance of separating artifact from evidence (24:00) Dr. Crowns explains postmortem fetal extrusion, also known as coffin birth, through the Shannan Watts case (25:00) Laci Peterson, fetal separation, and why coffin birth must be carefully distinguished from live birth or other possibilities About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often-misunderstood realities of forensic pathology. About the Show Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners inside the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. Connect and Learn More Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and be sure to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts. If you like this episode, don’t keep it to yourself; follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Mayhem in the Morgue | Doggy Death Penalty: Part Two

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns continues Doggy Death Penalty with an unusual thank-you note, a Texas process server killed by a pack of dogs, and the long civil trial that followed. He explains how bite patterns, wound severity, pack behavior, and autopsy documentation helped the jury weigh the central question in court: did all six dogs participate in the attack? The case becomes a lesson in forensic evidence, public safety, and the difficult truth that animals can be deeply loved and still become dangerous. Missed the First Episode? Mayhem in the Morgue | Doggy Death Penalty: Part One [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayhem-in-the-morgue-doggy-death-penalty-part-one/id1832515666?i=1000768727488] Highlights: (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns (0:30) Dr. Crowns picks up where Part One left off with an unusual thank-you card (2:00) The final fate of the bulldogs and why Dr. Crowns’ “pardon” did not hold (2:15) A Texas process server arrives at a rural property and is attacked by six dogs (4:00) Law enforcement, animal control, neighborhood complaints, and warning signs before the fatal mauling (5:00) Autopsy findings, 455 wounds, and injury patterns pointing to a multiple-dog attack (6:45) A judge orders the dogs euthanized, and the owner begins a lengthy appeal (7:15) The “doggy death penalty” trial and the debate over which dogs participated in the attack (9:30) A dog behavior expert challenges the maternal instinct theory and testifies about pack involvement (10:45) Dr. Crowns takes the stand and explains why the autopsy supported a pack attack (14:00) The jury’s decision, the denied appeal, and the lasting lessons for forensic documentation About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in courthundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often-misunderstood realities of forensic pathology. About the Show Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners inside the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. Connect and Learn More Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on LinkedIn. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where you get your podcasts. If you like this episode, don’t keep it to yourself; follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.