Mayhem in the Morgue | Doggy Death Penalty: Part One

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns discusses the rare but devastating reality of fatal dog attacks. He challenges common breed myths, explains the specific triggers behind predatory instincts, and shares a personal childhood memory of surviving a dog attack at age three. Dr. Crowns also examines a fatal case involving an elderly man mauled by his family's beloved dogs and recounts the strange turn that came afterward when the victim’s grieving family made an unexpected plea regarding the dogs’ fate.

Highlights

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

(1:00) Fatal dog attack data, breed myths, and why aggression is not determined by breed alone

(3:00) Factors and predatory instincts that can trigger an attack

(5:15) Why children can trigger a prey response and Dr. Crowns’ childhood dog attack at age three

(9:45) How dangerous dog investigations work and why euthanasia after an attack is not automatic

(11:00) Bite wounds, claw injuries, and the Dunbar Bite Scale used to classify bite severity

(13:15) Dangerous dog hearings, owner responsibility, and legal requirements for keeping a dangerous dog

(14:30) A 77-year-old man is found dead after being mauled by his family’s two English bulldogs

(17:15) Autopsy findings, femoral vessel injuries, and the cause and manner of death

(19:30) The family’s plea to spare the dogs and Dr. Crowns’ limited role in their fate

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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