The Body Under the Stairs: The Death of Eric Mercado

On August 5, 2008, a beach goer near the former Silver King Resort, west of Port Angeles, Washington, found a shoe containing a sock and what appeared to be human remains. It was not the first discovery of its kind—and would not be the last—but today, the person behind the foot has been identified. Since 2007, at least 20 detached human feet, often in sneakers, have washed ashore along the Salish Sea in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington state. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack examine the mystery and go behind the scenes at Othram to explain how forensic experts identified the remains—and how the public can help. Othram collaborates with forensic scientists, medical examiners, and law enforcement to solve cases when other methods have failed. Transcript Highlights 00:00.12 Introductin 01:57.78 A shoe with a human foot found on beach 06:48.11 Water meeting the sea, creating odd currents 12:09.99 How do feet wind up on the beach inside shoes 17:02.94 Geography of the area 23:51.44 Investigation starts very broad 28:31.49 Forensic anthropologist needed to ID remains 33:34.69 Why say "human remains" instead of "foot" 37:10.65 Othram Labs solving mysteries 43:12.33 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 Maalis 44min

Jessie Marie Peterson, 31, an attorney with Type One Diabetes, is admitted to the hospital for a diabetes-related illness.Two days later, she calls her mother around 2:30 p.m. and asks her to come pick her up and take her home. When her mother shows up two-hours later, she is told that Jessie Marie Peterson checked herself out of the hospital, Against Medical Advice (AMA). Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take a close look at what really happened to Jessie Marie Peterson and why was her mother told she had checked out, when according to their own records, she was pronounced dead at 4:27 p.m. at the medical center.While the family spent over a year looking for Jessie, her body had been sitting in a storage facility. Transcript Highlights 00:05.18 Introduction 01:59.25 Hospital tells family patient left AMA 06:53.65 Family is looking for Jessie Peterson, attorney 11:48.34 Jessie is ready to leave hospital, accomplished woman 16:11.54 Lawsuit filed 21:10.19 She calls her mother at 2:30, two hours later she is gone 25:20.07 Hospital claims she left AMA 30:22.43 Mother begins looking for Jessie 35:15.51 Jessie Marie Peterson was dead and for a year the family is looking for Jessie 40:06.21 Body is placed into cold storage 45:08.31 Her body is found after a year, remains are not viewable 49:01.24 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 Maalis 49min

Jared Ondrea, 22, and Deshea Butler, 35, are both living in a halfway house in South Carolina when Marc-Anthony Cantrell is placed in the home. Jared Ondrea goes missing and a search fails to find the young man who was trying to learn to live on his own as an adult. Five months later, Deshea Butler goes missing, and this time when police begin searching they find security footage of Marc-Anthony Cantrell carrying what appears to be the body of Butler out of the house. Confronted with the information, Cantrell confesses to killing both men, and adds some information not everyone was ready to hear. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take a look at what it was like to have a person called a "Budding Serial Killer" as a roommate in a halfway house. Joe will also explain how the devil worshiping man with tattoos of devil horns, could remove enough blood from one of his victims to drink it from a coffee cup for a week. Transcript Highlights 00:20.04 Introduction 02:34.85 Marc-Anthony Cantrell, 26, satanist, called a budding serial killer 09:13.65 Two murders in South Carolina 14:44.86 Grandmother of Jared Ondrea files suit 19:28.08 Jared Ondrea, 22, body hasn't been found 24:21.46 Orders of Protective custody in New Orleans 29:07.42 People in need of help, not getting it 33:11.64 Why has this story stayed under the radar for two years 37:22.67 Removing the ears, ritualized 44:20.51 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 Maalis 44min

Families and friends looking for answers about what happened to their loved ones who vanished. A volunteer group uncovers a site that looks like a concentration camp out of WW2, but it is in 2025 Mexico! Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take an up close look at what was found, including three underground ovens used for cremating bodies. Joe explains the forensics in trying to identify some of the souls whose remains, are now cremains. Transcript Highlights00:00.03 Introduction 02:38.66 Disposal of human beings like WW2 Concentration camps 06:53.11 Since 1962, 120,000 people have gone missing in Mexico 11:09.42 Amongst the horror, children's toys are found 16:44.94 Volunteers using methods that are not very high tech 21:33.74 Looking for markers in the ground 26:36.78 Look for bodies by poking the ground 31:12.08 Piles of shoes at the Holocaust museum 35:03.34 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Maalis 46min

Kenneth Perry thought he got away with the rape and murder of Pamela Sumter and the murder of her brother, John Sumter. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack dive into a case that remained unsolved for over 30 years but was eventually solved by a combination of good detective work and brilliant DNA work done by Othram labs. Check out www.dnasolves.com to find out how you can help. Joe explains the crime scene and how investigators were able to use a "dying declaration" to get justice for Pamela and John Sumter,Kenneth Perry was convicted of the rape and murder of Pamela Sumter and the murder of her brother, John Sumter. He was sentenced on March 18, 2025 to three consecutive life sentences, plus 100 years in custody. Transcribe Highlights00:00:01.81 Introduction - Malignant Heart 00:03:19.67 Othram solving the cold cases 00:05:53.64 Unsolved case of double homicide 00:09:47.60 DNA And "dying declaration" 00:14:12.53 Why Would some die after surviving two weeks 00:20:48.31 Early days of genetic material of sex offenders 00:25:18.44 Pattern wear of shoe providing evidence 00:30:01.82 Determining knife, double edge or single edge 00:36:23.44 Learning about DNA watching the OJ Trial 00:41:31.50 Crowdfunding and Access to grant writers 00:46:05.88 Suspect is now 56, got DNA sample that matched victims in Ga and Detroit 00:49:01.54 Othram helping solve cold cases 00:53:02.29 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 Maalis 53min

Collin Griffith shoots his father to death at 15 and claims self-defense. 18-months later, Collin Griffith kills his mother, he is now 17 and claims self-defense again. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take on the story of the teen who killed both of his parents, in different states and in different years and used two different types of weapons to kill his parents and claims self-defense. It is a story can only be understood when the forensic evidence is brought to the front. Collin Griffith, 15, is charged with killing his father on February 14, 2023 in Oklahoma. Judge drops charges. Same teen, now 17, charged with killing his mother September 8, 2024, jury decision Not Guilty. What Happened! Transcript Highlights00:00.23 Introduction 03:04.77 The Fickle Finger of Fate, defined 04:59.94 Boys kills dad when he is 15 and mother when he is 1709:53.26 The prosecution walking a tight wire talking about age of suspect 15:44.30 Finding a weapon doesn't tell the whole story 20:25.10 Kills dad with a gun, claims self-defense 25:42.92 Judge drops the charges against the boy30:23.32 How does a teen kill both parents, time and distance apart35:22.38 What evidence is left behind in the blood40:13.23 Griffith claims long fight leading up to fatal injury 43:03.56 Conclusion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 Maalis 41min

Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the latest information regarding the death of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Their deaths have been called "suspicious" by some in the press, but Joe Scott explains what actually happened and why their deaths, while shocking and sad, are not suspicious. Transcribe Highlights 00:00.90 Introduction - The Death of Gene Hackman 03:40.86 Gene Hackman found in "Mud Room" and wife found in Bathroom with pills spilled around her 08:59.26 Dog found dead in bathroom had some type of treatment at the vet 14:09.85 Actors with dementia trying to perform 19:03.30 Gene Hackman was totally dependent on his wife 24:31.11 What does "mummify" mean 28:59.43 Gene Hackman's wife died from Hantavirus 33:23.47 Hantavirus is spread by rodents 39:08.17 Gene Hackman didn't drink any water or eat any food days leading up to his death 41:44.62 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Maalis 40min

January 9, 2024, three Kansas City Chiefs football fans were found dead in the snow outside their friend's house where they got together to watch the game between the Chiefs and the Chargers on January 7. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack update the case with the recent arrests of Jordan Willis and Ivory Carson, both charged with three counts of Involuntary Manslaughter and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. Transcribe Highlights00:07.65 Introduction - Intentions 04:06.26 Mixing chemicals in high school 10:03.72 Mixing Cocaine with fentanyl 15:00.84 Three men are found dead outside, one asleep inside. No foul play? 20:00.46 Homicide or accidental death 24:00.14 Did the three men go outside for a smoke? 29:08.22 How the men were found 34:18.27 Police know how to get information 39:08.15 Intention 42:13.77 Conclusion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Maalis 40min