In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns departs from the show’s usual format to take a forensic look at the Jeffrey Epstein case through the lens of a medical examiner. While Epstein’s death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, Dr. Crowns re-examines the autopsy findings and scene evidence to address the persistent debate: did Jeffrey Epstein die by suicide or by ligature strangulation?



Highlights:

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

(1:45) Epstein’s arrest, time in custody, reported prior incident, and removal from suicide watch

(2:30) How Epstein was reportedly found in his cell on August 10, 2019

(3:45) Why the condition of his cell and the scene raised questions for Dr. Crowns

(6:15) The ligature evidence, the photographed noose, and why its condition is difficult to reconcile with the scene

(7:30) Hanging vs. ligature strangulation: the basic forensic distinction

(11:15) Epstein’s ligature furrow, knot position, and why the neck markings are central to the debate

(16:45) Petechial hemorrhages, facial congestion, and the difficulty of interpreting signs of struggle

(19:30) Epstein’s hyoid and thyroid cartilage fractures and why Dr. Crowns find them unusual

(23:30) A forensic comparison of hanging versus ligature strangulation and Dr. Crowns’ final conclusion



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 unparalleled insight 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.

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns departs&nbsp;from the show&rsquo;s usual format to take a forensic look at the Jeffrey Epstein case through the lens&nbsp;of a medical examiner. While Epstein&rsquo;s death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, Dr.&nbsp;Crowns re-examines the autopsy findings and scene evidence to address the persistent debate:&nbsp;did Jeffrey Epstein die by suicide or by ligature strangulation? 
Highlights:
(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(1:45) Epstein&rsquo;s arrest, time in custody, reported prior incident, and removal from suicide&nbsp;watch
(2:30) How Epstein was reportedly found in his cell on August 10, 2019
(3:45) Why the condition of his cell and the scene raised questions for Dr. Crowns
(6:15) The ligature evidence, the photographed noose, and why its condition is difficult to&nbsp;reconcile with the scene
(7:30) Hanging vs. ligature strangulation: the basic forensic distinction
(11:15) Epstein&rsquo;s ligature furrow, knot position, and why the neck markings are central to&nbsp;the debate
(16:45) Petechial hemorrhages, facial congestion, and the difficulty of interpreting signs&nbsp;of struggle
(19:30) Epstein&rsquo;s hyoid and thyroid cartilage fractures and why Dr. Crowns find them&nbsp;unusual
(23:30) A forensic comparison of hanging versus ligature strangulation and Dr. Crowns&rsquo;&nbsp;final conclusion 
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 unparalleled insight 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&nbsp;of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode&nbsp;delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows&nbsp;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&nbsp;Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where you get your podcasts. If you liked this&nbsp;episode, don&rsquo;t keep it to yourself&mdash;follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review.

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 | Epstein

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/50c2f84c-f1f9-4d96-9e5c-b4240103e4eb/transcript