What Happened to Joseph Smedley? Episode Eight: Less than 1%
A Heavy Weight1 Joulu 2025

What Happened to Joseph Smedley? Episode Eight: Less than 1%

In this episode we return to the death of Indiana University student Joseph Smedley, whose body was found in Griffy Lake with a backpack weighed down with rocks. Drawing on a twenty year study of suicide by drowning and the insight of forensic pathologist Dr Darin Wolfe and forensic aquatic death investigator Andrea Zaferes, we ask how likely it really is that Joseph died by suicide in the way his case was closed.

We unpack the challenges of determining cause and manner of death in bodies recovered from water, revisit the original autopsy and the attempted second autopsy, and explore the confusing trail of cell phone pings that suggest Joseph was not alone in his final hours. Along the way, we raise larger questions about how death determinations are made, what it means when a case is labeled suicide instead of undetermined, and why some missing students receive wall to wall coverage while others are met with silence.

Content note This episode includes discussion of suicide, death, and possible foul play.


Jaksot(58)

Episode 9: Narrative

Episode 9: Narrative

Episode nine of A Heavy Weight: What is the narrative in Joseph’s story? Who has tried to control it and why? We’re diving into a few strange details in Joseph’s case, starting with the letter found b...

24 Marras 202132min

Episode 8: Less Than 1%

Episode 8: Less Than 1%

Episode eight of A Heavy Weight: Forensic pathologists Dr. Andrea Zaferes and Dr. Darin Wolfe join us again to talk about the likelihood of suicide by drowning in Joseph’s case. What does the evidence...

17 Marras 202129min

Episode 7: Extremely Unusual

Episode 7: Extremely Unusual

Episode seven of A Heavy Weight: We begin to unpack Joseph’s autopsy and toxicology reports with the help of experts Andrea Zaferes and Dr. Darin Wolfe. What do the reports tell us about Joseph’s deat...

10 Marras 202139min

Episode 6: Confidential Informant

Episode 6: Confidential Informant

Episode six of A Heavy Weight: The investigation into Joseph’s death takes shape; but does the story being presented make sense?Joseph’s family try to get more answers from law enforcement and begin t...

3 Marras 202133min

Episode 5: Does this make sense to anyone in the room?

Episode 5: Does this make sense to anyone in the room?

Episode five of A Heavy Weight: The body of 20 year old IU sophomore Joseph has been recovered and the investigation into what could’ve happened to him shifts. The prevailing theory around his death i...

27 Loka 202133min

Episode 4: 66 Pounds of Rock

Episode 4: 66 Pounds of Rock

Episode four of A Heavy Weight: 20 year old IU sophomore Joseph has been missing for nearly a week. What clues could the group chat found on his laptop hold? The search for Joseph takes a turn no one ...

20 Loka 202127min

Episode 3: Rumors

Episode 3: Rumors

Episode three of A Heavy Weight: 20 year old IU sophomore Joseph hasn’t been heard from in days. What clues do detectives and his sister find as the search continues…

14 Loka 202128min

Episode 2: Someone Knows Something

Episode 2: Someone Knows Something

Picking up the night of September 27th, 2015 after Joseph vanished. Where could he have gone? What clues did he leave behind?

6 Loka 202129min

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