Death Calls

This is a death call that began as a mystery. An abandoned vehicle and a missing person. Days later a floater in a flight suit found in stages of decomposition. How did the decedent get into the water? This is one of those cases that I felt went on forever and at the same time continued to still have unanswered questions. A case that haunted me for years and one I'll never forget.

This is part 3 of the 3 part series titled "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" where I talk about deaths related to plane crashes, train accidents, and car accidents. This episode is all about The Automobiles. Motor Vehicle Accidents and how I could do SO many episodes about this topic because they are so common.

In this episode I talk about some of the memorable cases, some surprises, and puzzles that can come with not going to the scene of the accident.

This is part 2 of a 3 part series titled "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" where I talk about deaths related to plane crashes, train accidents, and car accidents.  This episode is all about The Planes.  Plane Crashes - What are the most important focus areas of the investigation and the difficulties with identification.

Listen about how my exposure and experience in aviation helped in investigating aviation fatalities and how many factors could contribute to a plane crash.

This is part 1 of a 3 part series titled "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" where I talk about deaths related to plane crashes, train accidents, and car accidents.  This epsiode is all about The Trains.  Train deaths; the intentional and accidental.  The obvious and the questionable.  

Listen about how long it takes to stop a train and how that has a huge impact on these cases - and on the train engineers.

The cases described in this episode all have one thing in common... the bodies were hidden in some way. Contained and concealed and sometimes not very well. Some were in luggage, barrels, rubbermaid containers and storage units; some were rolled up in a rug. Coming from the perspective of the death investigator with preservation of evidence and identification being the most important, I talk about how these cases were handled. Difficult, yes. Fascinating and exciting, also yes.

This episode steps through a gunshot wound to the head that wasn't the typical self -inflicted gsw that we often see. This one was a high risk game that ended after one shot. The manner of death can be a challenge in certain cases for Medical Examiners. Would you call it an accident or a suicide? Listen to the case and decide for yourself.

This episode is talking about the hardest cases for most forensic professionals to work. The kids. I have been weary about recording an episode about child and infant death investigation because I know most shy away from listening to the terrible realities that exist. But they are a reality and they are some of the hardest cases to walk away from and not take home with you. They are some of the hardest to remain professional on and not react emotionally; specifically with anger. I have been asked the same question for years, "what are some of the hardest cases to work?" This episode is about just that. The hardest cases.

Something I have learned after leaving a career in death investigation is the identity crisis that becomes a daily struggle.  If I am no longer an active forensic investigator with an on call phone I carry everywhere, then who am I really?!  I allowed my career to define me to the level that when it was over, my anxiety became worse.  This episode is about growth.  It's my personal struggles post death investigator.  Who am I now?!

This is a special joint episode with another podcast, Crossing the Line with M. William Phelps. Here we talk about a 1994 Unidentified Female that was a victim of The Happy Face Killer; who was recently identified as Suzanne Kjellenberg. This episode is about our work together on her case and the backstory on how she finally got her name.

On this episode I recall a death where the body was in an Airstream.  Normally the location, especially if it's the decedent's residence, doesn't stick out in my mind.  But this one made its mark and surprised us all.  Listen to how this case, originally reported as an alcohol related death, completely changed with a simple rolling of the body.  It takes multiple personnel to contribute to a case and sometimes put the puzzle pieces together of what actually happened.