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