Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of death of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you.

Chicago commutes can be routine until they are not. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns recounts his years navigating public transportation and the commuter rules he learned the hard way. Through a civil deposition tied to a crash, he explains positional asphyxia, how a catastrophic spinal cord injury can leave someone unable to reposition, and why body position can become the deciding factor when breathing mechanics fail. Dr. Crowns then shares two transportation stories that still stick with him: a speeding cab ride that turns surreal when the driver recognizes him, and a late-night ride out of O’Hare that goes sideways fast enough to end with Dr. Crowns getting out at a random neighborhood intersection. The episode throughline is simple: trust licensed rides, keep your situational awareness, and do not ignore the early signs that a “normal ride” is turning into something else.

Highlights

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

• (0:30) The “Barney-Mobile” era: one car, long commutes, and using public transportation

• (1:15) Commuter basics: early trains, conductors, and the “only open seat” rule

• (3:45) Cook County court run and Dr. Crowns’ Chicago taxi education

• (6:15) Lower Wacker hatchet homicide: an autopsy reveals fatal chop wounds

• (9:00) A civil case tied to a roadway hazard and a catastrophic crash

• (10:30) Case breakdown: positional asphyxia after a spinal cord injury and a head-down position

• (12:00) Positional asphyxia: what it is and what investigators look for

• (14:00) Risk groups and common scenarios: children, intoxication, and confined positioning

• (15:30) Taxi ride #1: zigzagging, speeding, and the “how does he know my name?” moment

• (19:00) Forensic pathology board exams and the travel grind

• (22:15) Taxi ride #2: “What have you gotten into?” Locked doors, no meter, dead phone, and worst-case thoughts

• (26:15) Exit plan: cash on the console, out into the snow, and hiding until the car is gone

• (28:00) Closing takeaway: “Take an Uber.”

About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns

Dr. 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.