Mayhem in the Morgue | Vapors

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

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

Highlights

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

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

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

About the Show

Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners inside the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations.

Connect and Learn More

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.