In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines how forensic pathology, DNA evidence, and meticulous evidence preservation can revive years-long cold cases, specifically focusing on the 1990 Lover’s Lane murder and the 1993 Brown’s Chicken massacre. Dr. Crowns details the physiological realities of neck trauma and the four stages of hemorrhagic shock, and explains how tools like the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) allow investigators to match decades old DNA to identify potential suspects. The episode closes with Dr. Crowns sharing lessons learned from testifying in court and the importance of using precise language.

Highlights

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

(0:15) The Lover’s Lane murders, cold case questions, and Dr. Crowns’ follow-up to a recent Crime Stories with Nancy Grace discussion

(1:15) Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson are reported missing before searchers discover their bodies in the woods

(2:15) What incised wounds reveal about sharp force trauma to the neck

(3:00) Why injuries to the carotid arteries and jugular veins can lead to hemorrhagic shock and rapid death

(9:00) What Henry and Atkinson likely endured before losing consciousness

(10:15) A 2026 tip, CODIS, and the DNA match that may move the Lover’s Lane case toward trial

(12:00) How DNA and trace evidence are collected during autopsy and preserved for future testing

(14:45) The Brown’s Chicken massacre and how discarded food evidence led to preserved DNA samples

(21:30) Breakthrough in the case and the identification of the suspects

(22:45) Why substitute medical examiners sometimes testify in older cases and the importance of using precise language in court

(29:30) Smith v. Arizona, the confrontation clause, and legal changes affecting substitute testimony

(31:15) Closing thoughts on how modern forensic science continues to solve cold cases

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, andKansas. 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 to the often misunderstood 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.

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