Mayhem in the Morgue | Courtroom Limbo

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns discusses a part of courtroom testimony most listeners never hear about: what happens while a medical examiner waits to be called to the stand. Before smartphones existed, those delays could mean hours alone with nothing but a case file, an empty courtroom, a hard wooden pew, and on one occasion, a poorly timed nap. Dr. Crowns shares stories from his years in Chicago courtrooms, waking up groggy right before testifying and briefly blanking on his own educational background, hearing a retired officer’s account of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and navigating the particular awkwardness of waiting-room small talk with civilian witnesses and gang members.

Mentioned Episode:

Mayhem in the Morgue | Outburst

Highlights:

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

(0:15) Today’s topic: what Dr. Crowns does while waiting to testify

(1:00) The George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building and a multiple gunshot wound case

(3:00) Left alone in an empty courtroom with nothing but a case file, Dr. Crowns rolls up his trench coat and takes a nap

(4:15) Waking up groggy, entering the courtroom, and briefly forgetting his own educational background

(7:15) The reality of waiting rooms, court delays, and being trapped with nothing to do

(8:30) Passing the time with Chicago police officers, courtroom stories, and conversations about the job

(10:45) A retired officer’s account of policing during the 1968 Democratic National Convention

(13:15) Waiting with civilian witnesses, awkward silence, and the question that usually broke the ice

(14:30) Conversations with Chicago gang members, gang tattoos, nicknames, and forensic curiosity

(18:00) How Dr. Crowns became “The Tooth,” also known as “El Diente”

(21:00) A courthouse conversation with a young gang member and the autopsy that followed a month later

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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