In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns looks back at some of the most memorable moments from his decades as an expert witness, including courtroom exchanges like being asked "How do you walk?” and “Have you ever shot someone?” during cross-examination, along with a lengthy debate over whether an evidence envelope was yellow-tan, manila, or goldenrod. He also revisits two pro se murder trials: one involving a defendant who killed a man with a mountain bike and another involving a doomsday prepper who murdered his companion days before the world was supposed to end. As Dr. Crowns puts it, testifying is interesting for the science, the unusual questions attorneys ask, and, when a defendant chooses to represent themselves, “it’s always a circus.

”

Related Episodes

Mayhem in the Morgue | Tree Fall

Mayhem in the Morgue | Courtroom Limbo

Mayhem in the Morgue | Outburst

Mayhem in the Morgue | Contempt Over a Sticky Note?



Highlights

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

(0:30) Why forensic pathologists testify to the science, not for either side in a criminal case

(1:30) Unexpected courtroom questions, including “Doctor, how do you walk?” and “Have you ever been shot?”

(5:15) The courtroom debate over whether an evidence envelope was yellow-tan, manila, or goldenrod

(8:30) How forensic pathologists distinguish entrance wounds from exit wounds

(11:00) Sleeping jurors, double juries, and the surprise of discovering a courtroom translator

(14:15) How medical examiners confirm someone is dead before beginning an autopsy

(16:15) Self-represented defendants, Ted Bundy, and the challenges of pro se trials

(18:30) A doomsday prepper’s murder trial, “double tap” questions, and a courtroom manifesto



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 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 and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and be sure to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns looks&nbsp;back at some of the most memorable moments from his decades as an expert witness,&nbsp;including courtroom exchanges like being asked "How do you walk?&rdquo; and &ldquo;Have you ever shot&nbsp;someone?&rdquo; during cross-examination, along with a lengthy debate over whether an evidence&nbsp;envelope was yellow-tan, manila, or goldenrod. He also revisits two pro se murder trials: one&nbsp;involving a defendant who killed a man with a mountain bike and another involving a doomsday&nbsp;prepper who murdered his companion days before the world was supposed to end. As Dr.&nbsp;Crowns puts it, testifying is interesting for the science, the unusual questions attorneys ask, and,&nbsp;when a defendant chooses to represent themselves,&nbsp;&ldquo;it&rsquo;s always a circus.
&rdquo;
Related Episodes
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayhem-in-the-morgue-tree-fall/id1832515666?i=1000778884614">Mayhem in the Morgue | Tree Fall</a>
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayhem-in-the-morgue-courtroom-limbo/id1832515666?i=1000774995651">Mayhem in the Morgue | Courtroom Limbo</a>
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayhem-in-the-morgue-outburst/id1832515666?i=1000749247132">Mayhem in the Morgue | Outburst</a>
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayhem-in-the-morgue-contempt-over-a-sticky-note/id1832515666?i=1000724728064">Mayhem in the Morgue | Contempt Over a Sticky Note?</a> 
Highlights
(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:30) Why forensic pathologists testify to the science, not for either side in a criminal&nbsp;case
(1:30) Unexpected courtroom questions, including &ldquo;Doctor, how do you walk?&rdquo; and &ldquo;Have&nbsp;you ever been shot?&rdquo;
(5:15) The courtroom debate over whether an evidence envelope was yellow-tan,&nbsp;manila, or goldenrod
(8:30) How forensic pathologists distinguish entrance wounds from exit wounds
(11:00) Sleeping jurors, double juries, and the surprise of discovering a courtroom&nbsp;translator
(14:15) How medical examiners confirm someone is dead before beginning an autopsy
(16:15) Self-represented defendants, Ted Bundy, and the challenges of pro se trials
(18:30) A doomsday prepper&rsquo;s murder trial,&nbsp;&ldquo;double tap&rdquo; questions, and a courtroom&nbsp;manifesto 
About the Host
&nbsp; Dr. Kendall Crowns is the chief medical examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized&nbsp;forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and&nbsp;Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court&nbsp;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&nbsp;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 and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok&nbsp;at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and be sure&nbsp;to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts.

It's chaos, blood and body parts. Join Dr. Kendall Crowns each week as he discusses stories and cases from his over 35-year journey of death from the tornado alley of Kansas, the bloody Memphis shoreline of the muddy Mississippi river, the ultra-violence of Chicago, and finally the Methamphetamine fueled insanity of Texas -- encompassing his days as an autopsy tech, medical student, resident/fellow and finally as a medical examiner. Stories range from humorous to horrifying and cover a wide variety of topics from week to week. You will never know what you will hear, be it courtroom drama, decapitations, gangland shootings, feet with no body, or chihuahuas feasting on the flesh of decomposing bodies. The cases will never end. It will always be different and there is never a dull moment. So, tune in each week and climb aboard, your nightmares will never be the same

It's chaos, blood and body parts. Join Dr. Kendall Crowns each week as he discusses stories and cases from his over 35-year journey of death from the tornado alley of Kansas, the bloody Memphis shoreline of the muddy Mississippi river, the ultra-violence of Chicago, and finally the Methamphetamine fueled insanity of Texas -- encompassing his days as an autopsy tech, medical student, resident/fellow and finally as a medical examiner. Stories range from humorous to horrifying and cover a wide variety of topics from week to week. You will never know what you will hear, be it courtroom drama, decapitations, gangland shootings, feet with no body, or chihuahuas feasting on the flesh of decomposing bodies. The cases will never end. It will always be different and there is never a dull moment. So, tune in each week and climb aboard, your nightmares will never be the same

Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

Mayhem in the Morgue | Courtroom Hijinks

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f1cab0cf-fc05-4f9b-a4cb-b4a20126276a/transcript