The Smell Of Death

A landlord staging a property in preparation for a new tenant, sees what appears to be the foot of a child sticking out of the ground. The landlord calls police, and they find the remains of 9-year-old Zemar King III buried in a shallow grave. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack talk about how the mother of Zemar King, Brandee Pierce, is caught in Georgia in January, where she is already in jail, charged with abuse of her three-year-old days before Christmas. Joseph Scott Morgan also explains how investigators determined how Brandee Pierce "smothered" and "choked" her 9-year-old son to death before burying him in a backyard grave and then skipping town. Transcript Highlights00:00.01 Introduction01:53.70 Zemar King, little boy left in shallow grave by his mother04:57.48 Would a human foot look different than a plastic foot in the dirt?10:25.76 Investigators benefit from "containment"14:33.47 Reactionary event, panic19:12.14 How long has it been since victim died24:41.84 What actually happened to Zemar?30:15.49 Hands and feet of Zemar were tied together36:24.94 Determining how Zemar died - smothering / neck compression39:28.72 Conclusion: Case is still active, we will updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 Feb 40min

James Dennis Ford and Richard Lee Tabler were both executed on February 13, 2025. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the crimes that led both men to be sentenced to death as well as take a look at methods for carrying out the death sentence. They also discuss what Bryan Kohberger might face if he is convicted in the Idaho Student murders. James Dennis Ford murdered Gregory and Kimberly Malnory while on a fishing trip. Ford shot Gregory Malnory in the head with a .22-caliber rifle, bludgeoned him, and slit his throat. Ford then raped, beat, and shot Kimberly Malnory. All of this in front of their 23-month old daughter, Maranda Malnory, who was left behind as Ford fled the scene. Maranda was found nearly a day later - dehydrated and covered in insect bites by an employee of a nearby sod farm. Florida executed James Dennis Ford by lethal injection. One Hour Later: Richard Lee Tabler was 24 when he fatally shot four people in 2004. He has always admitted this, but was only tried and convicted for the murders of Mohamed-Amine Rahmouni, 25, and Haitham Frank Zayed, 28. Texas used a lethal injection of pentobarbital to kill the 46-year-old Tabler, whose mother and sister were among the witnesses to the execution. Transcript Highlights 00:00.91 Introduction 04:34.95 Two executions take place on the same day09:08.11 During murders, mother puts 23-month old daughter in car14:42.77 Being present for autopsy of person sentenced to death20:08.51 Convict said to have mind of a child25:14.09 Victims lured to death29:14.60 Tabler gets "saved" while in prison38:48.20 Discussion of Capital Punishment qualified43:11.80 Using Capital punishment as a deterrent 48:10.55 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 Feb 48min

There are at least five murders attributed to "Jack the Ripper". Mary Ann Nichols: The first confirmed victim, murdered on August 31, 1888 Annie Chapman: Murdered on September 8, 1888 Elizabeth Stride: Murdered on September 30, 1888 Catherine Eddoweson: Murdered on September 30, 1888 Mary Jane Kelly: Murdered on November 9, 1888 Some people believe there were victims prior to August 31, 1888, and after November 9, 1888. That is a discussion for a different day. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the evidence that includes DNA from one of the victims as well as a possible suspect and how working with genealogists led investigators to the only person that could have provided the DNA found on the shawl of Catherine Eddoweson. Case Solved! Transcript Highlights 00:00.46 Introduction of Jack The Ripper case 04:02.28 Joe Scott describes time in London 09:11.12 Immigration impact 13:35.86 Murders included in the Jack the Ripper case 18:35.25 Studying the case 22:25.38 Developing skills with knife 28:47.48 Suspect described - leather apron 34:15.31 Ripper Case sold a lot of news papers 38:55.85 DNA from Shawl 43:45.68 Victim and suspect DNA evidence 49:28.75 Suspect was "hair dresser" as well as barber 50:13.83 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Feb 50min

When a young newly engaged couple pick up a couple bottles of "Homemade" Limoncello from a local restaurant, they assume they are buying a product that is safe to consume. Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and Els Arno Quinton, 36 are world travelers, she from Great Brittain, he from South Africa, and are celebrating their recent engagement. Cleaning service shows up to clean their room on Boxing Day (December 26) and discovers the couple dead. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take a look what really happened to the couple and other world travelers who are suffering the same or similar fate. Transcript Highlights 00:12.79 Introduction: Mardi Gras - Drinking Alcohol 05:07.20 Ethanol vs methanol 10:05.13 "Homemade" Limoncello 15:13.03 Alcohol effects 20:06.36 Atlanta Bathtub gin 25:01.39 Alcohol - different types 30:21.77 Victim contacted mother, talks about worst hangover 35:31.07 Tourist dying drinking methanol instead of ethanol 40:02.02 Methanol poisoning, suspects being charged with murder 43:17.41 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Feb 43min

Christy Giles, 24, and Hilda Cabrales-Arzola, 26, go out for a "Girls Night" of dancing and fun. Hilda is an interior designer and architect and Christy has been modeling since she was a teen, and is now becoming an actress. Dancing at an after party the girls meet a hollywood producer, David Pierce and a couple of his friends. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss what happened after Christy and Hilda went back to Pierce's apartment and how each woman was dumped on the sidewalk at different hospitals hours apart by men wearing masks in a car without a license plate Transcript Highlights 00:00.00 Introduction - producersprocess. 03:02.04 Christy and Hilda - Girls night out, never made it back home 08:07.00 Both women dropped off at hospitals, license plates removed from vehicle 12:01.75 Worst case scenario for medical professionals 16:31.12 UBER arrives, leaves without Christy and Hilda 21:27.31 How fast drugs breakdown in system 27:11.05 Hilda had different drugs than Christy in her system 32:32.43 When charges against Pierce became public, more women came forward 34:31.88 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 Feb 34min

In Nebraska a 56-year-old man dies alone in his apartment. He seemed to be in good health and his family wants to know what happened. A police officer decides the man died of "Natural Causes" so no autopsy is performed. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack talk about legal death investigation and who makes the call when it comes to the "Manner of Death". Transcribe Highlights 00:00.00 Introduction 04:38.56 Story of regret 10:35.89 Things that appear to be "natural" 15:35.28 When the coroner is elected position 20:18.72 Who makes a great legal death investigator 25:37.62 Determining manner and cause of death 30:50.66 Discussion of Coroner state 35:20.27 What qualifies a police officer to determine "natural causes"? 37:06.32 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Feb 37min

The death of Ellen Greenberg was initially ruled a homicide, but without warning or explanation, Doctor Marlon Osbourne changed the ruling to suicide. Ellen's parents have spent the last 14 years trying to have it changed back to homicide, or undetermined. The Greenberg's have two civil suits about the case, one headed for the state supreme court later this year, but on the first day of jury selection for the other case, a settlement is reached. Doctor Marlon Osbourne, who conducted the autopsy on Ellen Greenberg as the former assistant medical examiner with the ME's office, signed a sworn verification statement in which he says he now believes Ellen's manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the case and breakdown how this change impacts the case today and in the future. Transcribe Highlights 00:00:00 Introduction 03:29.50 Dr. Osbourne changes ruling from homicide to suicide 07:23.79 The life of Ellen Greenberg 12:21.71 location of injuries 17:19.04 Joe talks about autopsy 22:22.18 Greenberg had active day, no issues 27:36.97 Classification of "manner of death" 32:45.96 Giving a statement to police 37:06.32 Steps in death investigation 42:48.71 Conclusion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 Feb 41min

Best Friends Jennifer Duey, 20, and Michelle Xavier, 18, attended a birthday dinner for a family member and are last seen together around 10:15 p.m Saturday, February 1, 1986, at a convenience store. Just over two hours later Jennifer and Michelle are found dead on the side of the road, nude, their clothing hung on a barbed wire fence. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the crime scene and how DNA was used to get a conviction after 40 years as a cold case. In a shocking turn, after being convicted of the double homicide, David Misch sings "99 bottles of beer" during victim impact statements and sentencing Transcript Highlights 00:00.71 Introduction 01:29.45 Last Photo taken of victims 04:48.63 Joe Shares personal story of recent health issue 08:06.47 February 2, 1986, Jennifer and Michelle go to dinner party 10:50.46 Discussion of how victims came in contact with suspect 15:22.11 Jennifer and Michelle bodies found by person on motorcycle 20:06.70 Victims were nude, clothing hung on barbed wire fence 24:56.80 Jennifer killed by gunshot wounds 30:01.86 In rape cases, searching for forced sexual trauma 35:15.81 In 1986 DNA was known, but it wasn't until 2016 it was used to find suspect in this case 40:00.58 Convicted individuals acting out in court 46:01.90 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Feb 46min