Mayhem in the Morgue | Death and Dismemberment: Part 2

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns picks up where Part One left off, returning to the Traci Todd case, where dental work found in a damaged skull helped identify the victim and a confession later clarified her cause of death was strangulation. He then continues through the four categories of dismemberment, from defensive and offensive mutilation to aggressive and necromantic cases. Dr. Crowns wraps up the episode by returning to the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case, pointing out the nearly two-week gap between her death and her eventual dismemberment and the lingering questions about what happened during that time.

Mentioned in the Episode:

Mayhem in the Morgue | Death and Dismemberment: Part 1

Mayhem in the Morgue | Ghost Stories

Mayhem in the Morgue | Mom Stuff

Mayhem in the Morgue | The Bully

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:30) Recap of the D4VD case, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, and the four categories of dismemberment

(1:00) Returning to the Traci Todd case after a human skull is discovered in Beaubien Woods

(4:30) Identifying Traci Todd through previous dental work and what the recovered remains reveal

(5:30) Why Traci’s cause of death was difficult to determine and how Kevin Williams’ mistakes helped connect the case

(6:15) Defensive dismemberment, the Traci Todd case, and how cutting a body apart can conceal cause of death

(6:45) Offensive mutilation, mental illness and Dr. Crowns’ related case from “Ghost Stories”

(7:30) Aggressive mutilation, decapitation, and Dr. Crowns’ related case from “Mom Stuff"

(8:30) Necromantic mutilation, body-part retention, and the disturbing forensic conference presentation Dr. Crowns still remembers

(17:00) Returning to the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case and the timeline between death, dismemberment, and disposal

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. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where you get your podcasts.

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