In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines how an ordinary day outdoors can turn deadly after an encounter with bees, wasps, hornets, or fire ants. Using real forensic cases, he explains the four stages of anaphylaxis, the aggressive nature of killer bees, and how forensic pathologists determine whether an insect attack caused, contributed to, or merely complicated a person’s death.

Highlights:

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

(0:15) Why stinging insects can turn an ordinary summer day into a fatal emergency

(1:30) Dr. Crowns’ childhood story involving yellow jackets, his brother, and a very bad idea

(5:30) How stinging insects are classified and the anatomy of stingers

(6:15) The Schmidt sting pain index and the varying pain of insect stings

(9:00) Sting frequency, allergic reactions, and seasonal danger patterns

(11:00) Case one: a fatal bee swarm after a lawn mower disturbs a nest

(13:30) The difference between bees, wasps, hornets, and the threat of killer bees

(19:15) The four stages of anaphylaxis and autopsy findings that help confirm a fatal reaction

(24:00) Case two: a woman found covered in fire ants, and what really caused her death

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 into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd 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. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where you get your podcasts. If you liked this episode, don’t keep it to yourself; follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review.

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