The Death of Savannah Hardin

What is the worst thing you have ever seen on the job? This is one of the most common questions asked of Joseph Scott Morgan.  Today on Body Bags, the professor breaks down the stages of decomposition while sharing his firsthand accounts of working the scene of bodies that have been decomposing in the heat from a day to a month or more. This is a can't miss episode that provides an up close look at those who deal with death and the very natural things that take place in every person when they die.           Transcription Highlights 00:00:00 Introduction - What is the worst thing you have ever seen?00:03:45 Sensory Memories and human remains00:05:06 Talk about the "smell" of burning flesh00:09:25 Particular smells, burning tires00:15:25 Life and Death are natural00:20:18 Description of decomposing body in a bed00:25:07 Smelling coworkers for the smell of decomposition00:30:14 Different levels of decomposition00:35:38 Environmental temperature impacting decomposition00:40:36 Looking at decomposition hiding injury00:42:48 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Sep 202442min

April  1977,  an unidentified body is pulled out of a septic tank and given the name, "Septic Tank Sam". The body had been burned before being wrapped in a yellow bed sheet and tied up with a nylon rope. Today, Joseph Scott Morgan explains how it was possible that over four decades passed before "Sam" got his real name back. Attempts were made to find out the name of the man they called "Septic Tank Sam," but it wasn't until the scientists at Othram Labs got involved in the case that an answer was found. Using genetic genealogy, Othram Labs was able to change the name of "Septic Tank Sam" and provide answers for the community that wondered, "whatever happened to Gordie?" "Septic Tank Sam" was actually Gordon "Gordie" Sanderson.  Please check out Othram: A Revolution in Cold Case Resolution.        Transcript Highlights00:00:05.95. Introduction - waste00:04:14.33 The story of Septic Tank Sam00:07:23.77 A couple looking in a septic tank finds a body00:12:40.12 The body is protected00:17:17.25 Environment helped preserve body00:21:43.62 Discussion of desiccation00:24:29.47 Body misidentified as caucasian00:30:01.26 Cause of death, gunshot wound 00:35:04.01 Defining prone and supine00:40:00.92 Identification of bodies00:45:40.95 Identifies body as indigenous00:47:11.38 Conclusion, Othram providing answersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 Sep 202447min

Ethan Katz and Savannah Roberts are the proud parents of twin boys, Ari and Leon. The twins are just six-weeks-old when family friend, Nicole Virzi, comes to visit and help with the babies. Virzi is a PHD candidate at UC San Diego in the Clinical Psychology program on break from school and she is welcomed with open arms. Days later, Ari Katz is at the hospital with injuries to his penis and Leon is fighting for his life with massive head trauma.  And all of the injuries suffered by the twins happened when they are left alone in the care of Nicole Virzi. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how the injuries suffered by the twins don't match the description of what happened as told  by Nicole Virzi.           Transcript Highlights 00:00.00 Introduction02:13.27 Talk about the Death Penalty05:13.45 Description of injuries suffered by Ari09:16.23 The is not a "sids" case14:47.53 Nicole Virzi is not a stranger, she is a friend19:07.90 Ari has bruises below belly button24:15.22 Scratches don't appear to be "baby scratches"29:09.13 Injuries to Leon's head34:47.86 Joe describes how the skull grows40:34.63 Virzi told 911 baby feel out of bassinet44:45.67 Conclusion - will continue to follow story     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Sep 202445min

An unidentified body is found in August 2005, in the picnic area of a rest stop off of a highway between Guelph and Rockwood in the Canadian province of Ontario. At the time, authorities determined the remains belonged to a woman who was potentially as young as 25 or as old as 45 when she died. In this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan sheds light on the remains known as Rockwood Jane Doe and how the scientists at Othram solved a missing person case that went unsolved for 18 years.       Transcribe Highlights00:00.01 Introduction - Family DNA04:57.36 Discussion of Rockwood Jane Doe found in 200509:47.82 Discussion of Remains15:35.81 Talk about the science of aging20:23.69 Discussion How teeth wear down is a clue 24:54.52 Discussion Broken Bones of victim, clues30:14.10 Discussion Body Found in area under sleeping bag34:11.55 Talk about suspicious death42:13.81 Conclusion victim was Tammy Penner   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 Sep 202442min

A Silver Alert was issued for 76-year-old Jackie Glynn. Her husband, Joe Glynn, tells the family their mother had terminal cancer and left home to attend a support group so she could die on her terms.  Joe Glynn had been married to Jackie Glynn for 24 years and her adult children don't believe what they are hearing from their mother's husband.  On this Episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan explain how the killer helped law enforcement by they way he chose to dispose of the body and the evil weapon he chose to carry out his murderous plan.           Transcribe Highlights 00:00.01 Introduction; Cancer breaking a Big Man04:57.36 Discussion of using cancer as reason for disappearanceJoseph09:47.82 Discussion of Jackie Glynn, an accomplished woman15:35.81 Talk about "Amber Alert" "Silver Alert"20:23.69 Discussion investigation targeting intimate24:54.52 Discussion of Joseph Glynn killing wife30:14.10 Discussion of getting innocents involved34:11.55 Talk about recently turned earth42:13.81 Discussion of suspect admitting everything42:17.33 Conclusion, guilty plea, life in prisonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Sep 202442min

Sandra Birchmore is 23-years-old and 3-months pregnant when she is found dead in her apartment. Her death is ruled a suicide, but her family doesn't believe it so they hire world renowned forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden, to review her death. The former chief medical examiner of New York City writes a letter of his findings in which he details why he believes the death of Sandra Birchmore is not a suicide, it is a homicide. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how Dr. Baden came to his conclusion and how the Federal Government got involved in the case that ended up with the arrest of Police Detective Matthew Farwell who is now charged with Murder and staging the crime scene.     Transcript Highlights00:42.43 Introduction: Trust02:12.59 Discussion of becoming numb to investigations04:57.94 Discussion of "explorer" group07:37.19 Discussion of police officers involved with children10:01.54 Talk about investigation of suicide15:01.44 Discussion of getting all possible info at scene20:08.48 Discussion of Post Mortem Lividity in seated position25:15.37 Talk about conversations among those who work closely30:09.57 Discussion of victim being involved sexually with police officer, allegedly35:21.22 Discussion about autopsy40:04.86 Talk about what level of contact between law officers in different departments44:17.43 Conclusion - Will Update See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Sep 202444min

Mother of two,  Melissa Wolfenbarger is missing. Her husband doesn't report her missing and tells investigators that they always talked of changing their names, getting fake identification and going "off-grid" out west, and that is what he thinks she did. A skull is found near where Chris Wolfenbarger works, but it is identified as the skull of a man. Years go by before the skull and other bones found near her husband's former workplace are identified as Melissa Wolfenbarger. But the case remains unsolved. Investigator Sheryl McCollum devotes years on the case and documents it in her incredible podcast called Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will give you the complete story and explain how a Serial Killer helped break the case in an attempt to get justice for his daughter.        Transcribe Highlights 00:11.82 Introduction - Avon Avenue and Melissa Wolfenbarger05:03.78 Discussion of a skull and a missing mother of two09:43.56 Discussion a head found in the road, where is the rest15:02.40 Discussion of family and contact 19:53.10 Talk about the "finder"24:57.23 Discussion of what to do when you find part of a body29:47.38 Discussion of skull identified as male34:41.20 Discussion of arms and legs found39:51.28 Discussion of investigation45:29.76 Discussion of serial killer helped solve crimeConclusion - listen to Zone 7 podcast for detailsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

29 Aug 202446min

In 1973, Martha and Flora Helmick went to a family reunion with Martha's employer, World War I War Hero,  John Keyton. The trio left Bridgewater, Virginia on August 3, 1973, but never arrived in Kentucky for the family reunion. As word spread about the WW1 War Hero and sisters vanishing, a search was conducted, but nothing was ever found. On this episode of Body Bags Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how a bone found in a car that was found by firefighters during a training exorcise in the Kentucky River helped solve a 45 year old mystery.         Transcript Highlight00:12.74 Introduction - Vanishing act circa 197305:00.88 Discussion of World War I veteran, Hero    09:42.25 Discussion of Ford Fairlane, driving at night    14:05.07 Discussion of 3 people vanishing on a trip     20:07.28 Talk about finding a bone    25:26.24 Discussion calling in expert    30:05.68 Discussion of broken bone not healing properly    35:01.86 Discussion of confirmatory evidence     40:02.16 Talk about sisters vanish, firefighter helps solve case    42:15.31 Conclusion remains tell the final tale     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Aug 202442min