Mayhem in the Morgue | Got Milk? Part Two

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns concludes his two-part series on prescription drug misuse by examining the death of Michael Jackson, whose fatal overdose centered on the anesthetic propofol. He explains why the drug is not a sleep aid, how fast it can turn fatal without proper monitoring, and what makes it dangerous when administered outside an appropriately equipped medical setting. Using Jackson’s autopsy report, Dr. Crowns discusses what investigators found in the bedroom, what toxicology revealed, and why the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide instead of an accidental overdose.

Missed Part One?

Mayhem in the Morgue | Got Milk? Part One

Highlights

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

(0:15) Continuing the prescription drug misuse series with Michael Jackson’s case

(2:45) What propofol is, why it is called “milk of amnesia,” and how it differs from common sedatives

(4:15) Dr. Crowns’ first encounter with propofol during an autopsy

(5:00) Why propofol requires constant monitoring and has little margin for error

(7:30) Why propofol abuse is rare outside healthcare but more common among anesthesiology professionals

(9:00) Michael Jackson’s repeated use of propofol and the medications administered before his death

(12:30) Jackson’s bedroom scene and the medications, supplies, and other details investigators documented

(16:15) The autopsy findings that pointed to fatal respiratory depression

(18:30) Toxicology results, cause of death, and why propofol combined with benzodiazepines proved fatal

(20:00) Why Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide instead of an accident

(21:45) Dr. Murray’s conviction, sentence, and his return to medicine overseas

(22:00) Physician responsibility, standards of care, and the lesson behind Michael Jackson’s death

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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