Mayhem in the Morgue | Submarine

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of decomposition, autopsy findings, and homicidal investigation. If you’re sensitive to these topics, this episode may not be for you.

A floating trash can on the Chicago River leads to a grisly discovery. Inside, duct tape, chains and tarps conceal a body. Nicknamed “the submarine,” the case exposed just how strange body disposal attempts can be. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns recounts the investigation from his days at the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office where a body dumped in the river resurfaced in unforgettable fashion.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
• (0:15) Inside the massive Cook County morgue cooler, built for mass disaster victims
• (3:30) The dreaded trash can cases
• (4:45) The “submarine”: a duct-taped trash can pulled from the Chicago River
• (6:45) Opening the can: tarps, chains, slime, and a smell like “unwashed elephant anus”
• (8:30) After a disastrous attempt to drain the contents, the body emerges
• (10:45) Autopsy findings: blunt force trauma, cocaine use, and possible asphyxia

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, ranging from courtroom drama to deaths that even seasoned pathologists struggle to explain.

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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