The Body Under the Stairs: The Death of Eric Mercado

In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unravel the chilling murder case of Shad Thyrion by his girlfriend, Taylor Schabusiness. They discuss the overlooked victim in media coverage, the devastating impacts of drug usage, the murder weapons, and an unconventional dating relationship that culminated in Thyrion's brutal murder.    Time-codes:  00:00 - Introduction. 01:25 - Background and overview of case. 02:30 - JoeScott and Dave debate the media's impact on victims and perpetrators. 05:00 - Details of the drug-involved relationship between Thyrion and Schabusiness. 06:05 - The role of methamphetamine in the crime. 08:50 - The crime scene. 09:30 - Schabusiness's police confession and role in the crime. 13:45 - Thyrion's final moments. 14:55 - Schabusiness's further violent actions. 17:35 - Scientific aspects of post-mortem body state. 20:05 - The process of dismembering a body by a layperson. 21:20 - The tools used in the crime, notably a serrated bread knife. 22:45 - The discovery of the crime scene by the victim's mother. 24:35 - The case specifics involving drugs. 26:15 - Crime scene details and the perpetrator's arrest comments. 26:50 - Outro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 Juni 202324min

In this episode of the Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unpack the chilling homicide of famed neurosurgeon Dr. Devon Hoover, who was found in his Detroit mansion. They discuss the details of the murder, the physical evidence, the complexities of the gunshot wounds, the forensics, and theorize about the identity of the murderer and their familiarity with the residence.    Time-codes:  00:00 - Introduction. 01:20 - Dr. Devon Hoover. 02:45 - of Dr. Hoover's grand home and his profession. 05:30 - The demanding path to neurosurgery. 07:40 - Skills required for neurosurgery. 08:10 - Dr. Hoover's personality and devotion to work. 10:00 - Introduction to "crawlspace" in relation to the murder. 12:15 - Discovery of Dr. Hoover's body in the attic crawlspace. 13:00 - Peculiarities in the murder scene. 15:30 - Postmortem changes and body positioning. 16:40 - Importance of postmortem interval in the case. 17:15 - Speculation on potential suspects and motives. 18:55 - Dr. Hoover's attic. 20:00 - Forensic analysis of Dr. Hoover's gunshot wounds and the intimate nature of the crime. 23:20 - Evidence suggesting the perpetrator's familiarity with the house. 26:10 - Detailed impact of a close-range gunshot wound. 28:30 - Examination of the array of forensic tests. 30:30 - Observations indicating the murderer might be known to the victim, such as lack of forced entry. 31:05 - Perpetrator's meticulous body cover-up, suggesting a personal connection. 32:55 - Outro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Juni 202332min

In this episode of Body Bags Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack untangle the tragic story of Grant Brace, a promising young athlete who met an untimely end due to extreme physical exertion and dehydration. They discuss the dark side of athletic training, bringing to the forefront the harsh realities of sports conditioning regimes, the lethal risks of medications like Adderall when mismanaged in high-stress physical training, and explore the physiological horrors of severe dehydration.   Time-codes:  00:00 - Introduction. 01:18 - Grant Brace. 04:00 - Discussion on coach accountability and athlete safety. 09:10 - Exploration of Grant's diagnoses and effects of Adderall. 11:55 - Coach responsibility in athlete health and hydration management. 13:30 - Skepticism about university's promoted family-like atmosphere. 16:35 - 'Punishment Hill' and NAIA/NCAA school systems. 20:10 - Grant's final moments and symptoms of extreme dehydration. 28:15 - Criticism of response to Grant's plea for water and the reasons for 'Punishment Hill'. 30:00 - Physiological and psychological impacts of dehydration. 33:15 - Exacerbating conditions due to ADHD, narcolepsy, and Adderall. 34:15 - Grant's post-training condition and coaches' negligence. 35:40 - Impact of dehydration on Grant and the university's settlement. 37:00 - Lack of criminal charges despite allegations of negligence. 37:10 - Conclusion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 Juni 202336min

In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack dissect the haunting story of Samuel Little, one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. They explore the grim details of Little's crimes, the nationwide investigation that ensued, and the vital role of Little's memory recall in revealing his terrible deeds.   Time-codes:  00:00 - Introduction. 00:30 - Samuel Little. 03:20 - Little's life and methods of recalling his murders. 07:10 - Little's early life and criminal beginnings. 10:25 - Little’s evasion from law enforcement. 13:20 - The rudimentary crime-solving techniques used in the 1970s. 19:05 - The importance of evidence collection in forensic analysis. 22:35 - The procedure consistency of rape kits between 1977 and present day. 23:05 - Introduction of a 1977 case from Macon, Georgia involving an unidentified woman. 26:45 - The role of the preserved rape kit from 1977 in linking Samuel Little to the Macon case. 30:35 - The role of genealogy in solving cold cases. 33:30 - Ethical concerns around personal DNA data on genealogy websites. 34:00 - Potential of genetic genealogy to solve cold cases exemplified with Macon's Jane Doe case. 35:35 - Closure brought to Yvonne Pless's family after her identification. 36:10 - Outro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Juni 202336min

In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unravel the harrowing and complex case of Cassidy Rainwater. They discuss the crime scene, the intense investigation involving local law enforcement and the FBI, the critical role of digital forensics in modern investigations, and how vital evidence found on a suspect's phone leads them to a chilling exploration of the dark web.   Time-codes:  00:00 - Introduction. 01:15 - Cassidy Rainwater. 03:10 - Dave Mack gives us some background and an overview of the case. 05:50 - The crime scene's location in a rural and isolated area in southwest Missouri. 07:00 - The importance of digital forensics in modern investigations, particularly with photographic evidence. 10:15 - Disturbing photos found on the suspects phone. 13:00 - Disturbing content circulation in the dark web and its potential connection to the case. 16:25 - A small-town sheriff's investigator being contacted by federal agents. 19:35 - Cassidy Rainwater was found in an image suspended from a gantry crane and eviscerated. 22:45 - What could have been the possible motive for the careful labeling and preservation of Cassidy's remains? 24:30 - The process of identifying butchering marks on bones and what these marks can tell us about the tools used. 27:40 - Why were the remains preserved with a date? 29:45 - The tools and techniques one might use to dismember a body. 31:15 - What are "deer coolers"? 33:20 - A current update on the case. 33:45 - Outro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Juni 202332min

In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the tragic saga of America Thayer, a domestic violence victim from Minnesota, whose horrific demise parallels historical methods of capital punishment. They explore the gruesome details of her death, shedding light on a disturbing trend of bystander apathy in today's digital world, the intricate mysteries of the crime scene, the decoding of brutal injury patterns inflicted by seemingly innocuous farming tools, and the critical role that evidence preservation plays in court.    Time-codes:  00:00: Introduction. 00:35: King Charles I. 01:35: Decapitation as a homicide method. 02:35: Joe’s experiences with complex cases involving dismemberments. 04:56: America Thayer's abusive relationship. 07:45: Jo reveals the shocking public execution details of America Thayer, drawing historical parallels. 10:00: Afternoon timing of the crime and its filming by bystanders. 13:42: Machete's typical uses, design, and historical agricultural significance. 15:30: How the murder and decapitation could have occurred within a car's confined space. 18:35: The systematic procedure of crime scene documentation. 19:20: The gruesome crime scene specifics inside America Thayer's car. 23:10: Was America Thayer dead before decapitation? 24:20: Explanation of the morgue process: including body cleaning and external injury identification. 26:45: The role of autopsy photographs in court proceedings. 27:15: America Thayer’s cause of death. 31:50: National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. 32:20: Outro of the episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Juni 202331min

In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack unravel the mysterious death of Eric Richens, with links to a Moscow Mule cocktail and his wife, Kouri Richens. They delve into Kouri's persona, from her self-published grief book to her alleged actions leading to Eric's death, they shine a spotlight on the clandestine world of poisoners, the intricacies of CPR in a death investigation context, and the world of toxicology and post-mortem drug panels.   Time-codes:  00:20 - Introduction. 01:15 - Case of Eric Richens. 02:25 - Media attention dynamics in relation to high-profile cases. 03:00 - Intro and analysis of Kouri Richens' self-published grief book. 06:35 - Hypothesis on Kouri's grieving widow persona as a potential smokescreen. 07:35 - The nature of poisoners and speculation about Eric Richens' possible poisoning. 10:00 - In-depth profiling of the victim, Eric, and his wife, Kouri, along with a discussion on their financial dynamics. 14:15 - Theories around Kouri's possible poisoning attempts. 15:25 - Kouri's alleged financial theft from Eric and potential motivations. 17:20 - Toxicology and anaphylaxis. 20:45 - Role of medical examiners in unexplained deaths and the process of performing CPR. 23:40 - Examination of crime scene narratives vs. physical evidence. 27:40 - The autopsy process and specifics around gastric samples. 32:35 - Detection of substances like fentanyl in forensic pathology. 34:10 - Eric Richens' death announcement as a homicide due to fentanyl overdose. 34:25 - Outro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Juni 202337min

In this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack dissect the chilling case of Julie Jensen. They discuss the intricate dynamics of the Jensen family, the suspicions Julie had about her husband Mark and his fatal intentions towards her, how he slowly killed her, the challenges police faced in building a case against Mark, and the concept of a "dying declaration".   Time-codes:  00:25 - Introduction. 01:55 - The complex dynamics of the Jensen family. 08:30 - Julie Jensen's increasing suspicion towards her husband's behavior. 13:10 - Devastating effects of ethylene glycol poisoning. 17:40 - Forensic pathology involved in Julie Jensen's case. 21:15 - Exploring a historical method of murder, burking, potentially used in the Jensen case. 23:55 - Description of the crime scene. 26:55 - The legal concept of a "dying declaration" relevant to Julie's letter. 31:40 - The police interview with Mark Jensen. 33:30 - The toxicologist's testimony. 33:45 - Outro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 Maj 202333min