Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan

Dr. Amie Harwick, a sex therapist and former fiancé of actor Drew Carey, is found unresponsive under a balcony in her Hollywood Hills home on the morning of February 15th, 2020. She is rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, passes away. The evidence at the crime scene and on Harwick’s body indicated signs of a struggle and her having been thrown from the balcony. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss blunt force trauma, the difference between falling/being thrown from a great height, how to tell in what order injuries occur, and why a nicotine syringe became a major factor in this case. Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:25 - Background and overview of the case 3:45 - Where do you start with a case like this? 5:10 - Amie Harwick being thrown from her balcony 7:30 - How do we know she was thrown off the balcony? 15:45 - Do the injuries differ depending on whether you are thrown from a great height or fall from one? 19:00 - Blunt force trauma 20:10 - How does the M.E. go about examining all the injuries? 25:50 - Is it possible that Amie was beaten and that caused the injuries to her liver, not the fall? 29:40 - How can you tell what order the injuries happened in? 32:00 - If Amie fell, and was not thrown, would her death still be considered blunt force trauma? 34:00 - Suspects in Amie’s case 34:55 - How investigators suspect the murder played out 36:40 - Finding a nicotine filled syringe and what that signifies 42:10 - Harwick’s ex-boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, becomes the prime suspect 44:45 - Pursehouse has been charged with murder, first degree residential burglary, and special circumstance allegation of lying in wait.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eliza Fletcher, a 34-year old mother of Memphis, Tennessee went missing around 4am, September 2nd, 2022 while out for a morning run. CCTV footage shows her being forced into an SUV. An arrest has been made in connection to her disappearance. Eliza Fletcher's remains have now been found and positively identified.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First responders arrive at a “battle scene” in 77-year-old Barbara Steele's West Virginia home. Her body is beaten, eviscerated, and positioned on a makeshift altar by 28-year-old Joshua Drennen, who after leaving her residence, continues his string of assaults on unsuspecting civilians, until immobilized by a Charleston police officer. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the antique item used in the physical attacks and injuries sustained by Barbara Steele and two other individuals in the community. Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 2:46 - Description of an antique iron owned and utilized by 77-year-old Barbara Steele 6:47 - Police are alerted to a criminal act committed by Joshua Drennen inside Barbara Steele’s home 8:03 - Joe describes the crime scene, the assault on Barbara Steele’s vehicle, and her participation within the community. 10:45 - Jackie and Joe discuss the continued acts of violence by Joshua Drennen against a woman inside her parked vehicle 9:23 - An explanation of cubing injuries to a body from an explosion of safety glass and how investigators use that information to determine a body’s position within a vehicle 13:31 - Joshua Drennen’s continued acts of violence throughout the community 17:29 - Charleston Police Patrolman Terrence Casto stops the threat by Joshua Drennen 18:24 - Joe describes the violent crime scene and the horrendous blunt force trauma Barbara Steele’s body experienced 26:21 - Beyond the trauma to her face and head, the police noticed Barbara's body had been eviscerated, as well as sexually assaulted post-mortem 31:33 - Joe and Jackie discuss the way Barbara Steele’s body was positioned and items located near her after the attack 35:49 - Why Barbara Steele and the woman in the parking lot? 37:24 - Overview of Joshua Drennen’s trial and convictionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian Obumseli, boyfriend of OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney is found by police in their Miami apartment fatally stabbed. The pair have been dating for approximately two years and have a reportedly “tumultuous” relationship. Courtney Clenney claims to have been acting out of self defense, but the physical evidence may seem to suggest something else. Courtney Clenney has since been charged with second degree murder. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the details of the stabbing, the physical evidence found at the crime scene, the injuries sustained by Christian Obumseli that led to his death, and how witness testimony will play into this ongoing case. Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 2:09 - Courtney Clenney’s OnlyFans account and relationship with Christian Obumseli 3:44 - Video and pictures of Courtney Clenney covered in blood 5:00 - Courtney Clenney and Christian Obumseli’s lavish lifestyle 7:32 - The 911 call and the physical evidence of the crime scene 12:02 - What are the police seeing at the crime scene? 18:58 - What it means for blood to “leech out” 22:03 - How the blood appeared on Courtney Clenney 25:36 - The timeline of the crime 29:05 - Injuries sustained by Christian Obumseli 35:34 - Knowing what we know now, is Courtney Clenney claim that she threw the knife while acting in self defense possible? 40:51 - If what Courtney Clenney claims happened is true, would the remaining blood patterns be different? 44:20 - How will the video evidence and witness statements of assault play into the case? 48:28 - How do you approach a “he said, she said” court case? 51:14 - Final thoughts and wrapping up the show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Video surveillance captures the final images of 80-year-old Edna Suttles alive in a hotel parking lot in one of the most beautiful places in the United States, a tiny South Carolina town called Travelers Rest. Nearly a month after her disappearance, Edna's body is found buried across state lines in a wooded area of North Carolina. Investigators work tirelessly to piece together the events that lead to her death, and in the process, realize they’re dealing with a serial killer. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the details of Edna Suttles’ death and the unexpected discovery during the investigation. They talk about the similarities between the four confirmed victims, the behavior of serial killers, and the methods Daniel Printz used to murder his victims. Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 3:16 - Joseph Scott and Jackie discuss the details of Edna Suttles’ disappearance 4:20 - Discussion about Edna Suttles as South Carolina’s first female bail bondsman, and the heightened awareness that someone develops while working in that career 5:55 - Who reported Edna as a missing person? 7:12 - The discovery of Edna’s body and why the FBI was involved in this case 9:23 - The ominous findings by the medical examiner 11:52 - Surveillance video confirms Edna Suttles and Daniel Printz were in the same place and had some type of relationship 14:01 - The lethal cocktail that was given to Edna and how a body reacts when administered in those doses 15:22 - The unusual location on Daniel Printz’s property where he stored Edna’s belongings 18:34 - Using cadaver dogs to facilitate the discovery and recovery of remains 22:40 - The massive discovery by police at Daniel Printz’s home while investigating Edna’s death 25:56 - Connecting Daniel Printz to multiple murders through evidence found and commentary he made 28:42 - Analysis of serial killers’ behaviors and the unusual deviation Daniel Printz took in the murder of Nancy Rego 34:55 - Investigators learn of a fourth murder victim, Leigh Goodman 36:17 - Joe talks about Daniel Printz as a predator and the relationship between him and Leigh Goodman 39:04 - What sets these murders apart? 40:46 - Daniel Printz’s case is tried in the federal district court 42:27 - Where else has Daniel Printz been and who else has he impacted?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On February 14, 2018, a 19-year-old named Nikolas Cruz opens fire on students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, murdering 17 people and injuring 17 more. It is still the deadliest high school shooting in United States history, surpassing even the Columbine shooting, in 1999, which ended with 15 people dead. Nikolas Cruz arrives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School via an Uber, constructs his firearm, and then begins his assault on his former classmates. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the details of the shooting, the weapon used in the attack, how the crime scene remains untouched after all these years, the reasons behind preserving the high school in this way, and the significance of the date of the shooting. Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Joseph Scott and Jackie discuss the details of the shooting itself 7:45 - Did Cruz pull the fire alarm or could it have been triggered by smoke from the gun? 9:23 - Explanation of the layout of the building, crime scene, and how investigators would go about analyzing it 12:23 - The evolution of crime scene investigations 14:56 - The duration of the shooting and how hurricane proof glass ended up saving lives 19:01 - Nikolas Cruz’s background and how he blended in with students to escape the scene 20:29 - Cruz’s arrest and recovery of the weapon 21:30 - Joe talks about the weapon used in the attack 22:51 - The fear that teachers and students experienced seeing and hearing the gunshots 24:44 - Joe explains the Big Black Gun Theory 27:18 - Joe and Jackie discuss the crime scene remaining untouched since the shooting 28:50 - As evidence is collected, it’s sealed - how do you seal an entire building? 31:05 - Why would you want to leave a crime scene untouched for this long? 33:14 - Joe talks about the importance of chain of custody in forensics 35:34 - The reasons for preserving the high school in its condition 39:22 - Joe talks about the significance of this occurring on Valentine’s Day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more than ten years, the family of Ellen Greenberg has been looking for answers and justice. The 27-year-old first grade teacher and bride-to-be was found stabbed behind the locked door of her apartment. In fact, she was stabbed 20 times, including wounds to her back and head. The original finding by the medical examiner determined homicide. So, why does the final ruling say Ellen Greenberg committed suicide? Listen to former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan's analysis, then join him as he and Nancy Grace recreate the crime scene and hear from Ellen Greenberg's parents in Teacher Death Mystery: A Nancy Grace Investigation, streaming now on Fox Nation. Was it suicide, or did something more sinister happen to Ellen Greenberg? Follow the push for justice with Teacher Death Mystery: A Nancy Grace Investigation, and Behind the Locked Door with Joseph Scott Morgan. STREAMING NOW: Teacher Death Mystery: A Nancy Grace Investigation Follow this case on Facebook at "Justice for Ellen." Subscribe to Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan : Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Avid big game hunter, Bianca Rudolph, is found unresponsive in a cabin in Zambia with a gunshot wound to her chest. Her husband of 34 years, Dr. Larry Rudolph, the only other person in the cabin at the time, claims to have been showering when he heard the gunshot. He claims accidental discharge, but investigators disagree. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the likelihood of Bianca Rudolph accidentally shooting herself, the complications of working a crime scene in the wilderness of Africa, the odd behaviors displayed by her husband at the time of her death, and the tip that lead authorities to an in-depth investigation, and eventual guilty verdict of her husband, Dr. Larry Rudolph. Show Notes: 0:15 - Introducing the death of Dr. Larry Rudolph’s wife of 34 years, Bianca Rudolph 2:14 - While packing up following a two-week hunting trip in Zambia, Dr. Rudolph claims his wife accidentally shot herself 6:56 - Is it physically possible to shoot yourself while packing away a shotgun? 8:48 - Explanation of the type of gun that killed Bianca, and ruling out possible suicide 12:05 - Joe explains the injury sustained to Bianca’s body from multiple 30-caliber-sized projectiles 16:29 - Looking for evidence of powder distribution on Bianca’s body and clothing 19:32 - Smooth bore weapons vs rifled weapons 21:37 - Working a crime scene in the wilderness of one of the world’s largest game preserves and how bodies are back to the US from Africa 25:24 - Dr. Rudolph’s push to have Bianca’s body cremated within three days of her death and the steps taken by the consular chief in Zambia to document her injuries 27:49 - The tip that leads to an in-depth FBI investigation 29:57 - Events that lead authorities to conclude Bianca’s death was no accident 34:09 - Odd behavior displayed by Dr. Larry Rudolph in the moments after he heard the gunshot 38:21 - Joseph Scott describes what happens when a round passes through an intermediate target and the amount of blood that he would be expected to be present in that situation. 40:39 - When the body is assaulted by such an event, does it fall in a specific manner? 42:47 - Resolution in the case against Dr. Larry RudolphSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talented and beloved musician, Scott Sessions, is found brutally murdered in an ambush attack, his throat slashed to near decapitation. Shortly afterward, his lover, who lured him to the moment of his death, Heather Frank, is also found dead with gunshot wounds to her chest. Investigators find Heather Frank wrapped in the same burnt plastic as they found Scott Sessions. The suspect? Heather Frank’s boyfriend, Kevin Eastman. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the horrific murders of Scott Sessions and Heather Frank. They delve into the mechanics of murder by an edged weapon to the throat, the pathology of an enraged killer, rendering a body by fire, and the connective evidence found at both crime scenes. Show Notes: 1:00 - Introducing the deaths of Scott Sessions and Heather Frank 3:39 - The connection between Scott Sessions, Heather Frank, and Kevin Eastman 4:55 - The visibility of a toxic, abusive relationship on a body 6:54 - Anatomy of bruises and how professionals grade them in abuse cases 13:08 - What happened to Scott Sessions 14:54 - The mechanics of slitting a throat with an edged weapon 17:05 - Volume of blood within the body, types and locations of injuries that cause blood loss, and the forensic importance of a victim’s blood that has pooled outside of the body 22:14 - The horrific injuries Scott Sessions sustained 27:30 - Pathology of a killer who is full of anger and rage 29:18 - The death of Heather Frank 31:59- Why did Heather have to die? 34:36 - The failed attempt to render down Scott’s body by fire and the common evidence found on both victims 39:07 - Looking for connectivity/tieback in forensics: evidence found at both crime scenes 41:57 - The discovery of Scott Sessions and Heather Frank’s bodies 43:57 - The conviction of Kevin Eastman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow’s bodies are discovered on June 9, 2020, on the property of Chad Daybell in Rexburg, Idaho. After months of missing person investigations, complicated circumstances surrounding their disappearance, and a string of suspicious deaths, police have charged Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell in the horrific murders of Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the complex case against Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell in the murders of Tylee Ryan and J.J Vallow. They also discuss the striking differences between the ways in which Tylee and J.J 's bodies were treated post-mortem, complications of processing the crime scene, and the request to allow for forensic DNA testing on the evidence collected by the state of Idaho. Show Notes: 1:00 - Introducing the deaths of Tylee Ryan and Joshua Jaxon “J.J.” Vallow 1:54 - Sections 1: A brief history of the confusing events that led to finding the remains of Tylee and J.J. buried on the property of Chad Daybell 5:29 - The mysterious death of Tammy Daybell 8:03 - Cause of death: natural causes, a seemingly inaccurate determination for a physically active woman who was in good health 10:32 - Searching for physical evidence of the cause of death in an exhumed embalmed body 12:00 - How authorities located the remains of Tylee and J.J. 15:41 - The striking differences between the treatment of Tylee and J.J.'s bodies 18:32 - Section 2: Processing the crime scene 20:57 - Examining the evidence on the tape and plastic bag encasing J.J. Vallow 22:17 - The problem with cutting open a bag containing remains at the crime scene 24:07- Recovery of Tylee’s remains 28:24 - Individualization of evidence: examining every bone fragment of a dismembered body 30:16 - Section three: Forensic DNA testing on the evidence recovered at Daybell’s property by the state’s crime scene unit 33:40 - Specific evidence found at the crime scene 39:30 - Consumptive testing: setting a dangerous precedent by allowing third-party observers See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lorenzen Wright, an NBA star basketball player, goes missing on the night of July 18th, 2010 leading to a 10-day search that ends when investigators find Lorenzen Wright’s remains in a heavily wooded area near Germantown, Tennessee. By the time his body is found, the 6’11” star athlete has decomposed to the point of his remains totaling only 57 pounds, just one of the many struggles that investigators need to overcome in order to solve this case. It took over 7 years, but investigators finally found the gun that they believe was used to murder Lorenzen Wright, leading to multiple convictions related to 1st Degree Murder. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard provide details on Lorenzen’s life including the death of one of his children, the financial troubles that may have played a role in the motives behind his murder, and why it can be so difficult to find sufficient evidence in a forensic investigation that starts ten days after a death has occurred.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily Noble goes missing on the night of her 52nd birthday. Leaving behind her phone, keys, ID, wallet, and car, with no signs of a forced entry, and her husband claiming that he went to bed in the couple's guest room; Emily Noble has essentially vanished in the middle of the night. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard detail the search effort, potential pathways to solve any case that begins with almost no tangible evidence, and the unfortunate scene when Emily Noble's body is finally found.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tammy Jo Blanton's body is found in her bathtub by police responding to a welfare check request. Just the night before, September 10th, 2014, Blanton called 911, saying that her ex-boyfriend, Joseph Oberhandsley, would not leave the front of her home. The welfare check had been requested by Blanton's friend and co-worker when Blanton did not show up for work. When police arrive at the home, Joseph Oberhandsley answers the door, covered in blood. Police find signs of a forced entry, and ultimately Tammy Jo Blanton's body. She has not only been stabbed repeatedly, but her body mutilated and also cannibalized. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the differences between dismemberment and mutilation, the perspective of the judge and jury when it is revealed that injuries to the body are post-mortem, and the horrific details in the case of Tammy Jo Blanton’s murder. Show Notes: 0:30 - Introducing Tammy Jo Blanton’s murder 1:30 - Tammy Jo Blanton calls the police because her ex-boyfriend, Joseph Oberhansley would not leave her home 3:00 - Describing the initial murder scene 5:00 - Cause of death: sharp force injuries. Multiple stab wounds all over her body. 10:00 - How exactly does the body stop functioning when you are stabbed to death? 12:30 - Post-mortem vs Antemortem 13:30 - The additional “twisting of the knife” when injuries to a deceased body are post-mortem 14:00 - Section 2: Walking into the crime scene 16:30 - A section of Tammy Jo’s chest is open, a parts of her heart and a lung are missing 18:00 - The differences between dismemberment and mutilation 20:00 - A jigsaw was found on the scene. This continues to show evidence of how much time it took to mutilate the body 23:00 - Section 3: Joseph Oberhansley’s mental state and the trial for this case 27:00 - Oberhansley’s criminal record included shooting his own mother, shooting and killing the teenage mother of his child. He had also shot himself, attempting suicide in the past. 29:30 - An exploration into the different types of cannibalism 33:00 - Joseph Oberhansley was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of paroleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

College freshman AJ Hadsell returns home for spring break, March 2015. Five weeks later her body is discovered face-down in a ditch, covered by a sheet of plywood. Investigators immediately identify that foul play is involved. Deep bruises are visible on Hadsell's torso and face. Hadsell has been murdered. Detectives turn their attention towards AJ’s stepfather, Wesley Hadsell, as their primary suspect, but why? AJ Hadsell dies of a heroin overdose, but the family is adamant that AJ did not use drugs. Here is the first connection to the stepfather. Wesley Hadsell has been kicked out of the family home by AJ’s mother due to his drug use, heroin specifically. Then, authorities find suspicious items in his car, including some of AJ’s belongings, as well as duct tape and a shovel. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard explore and explain the details of AJ’s murder, the difficulties of investigating a body that has been outside and exposed to the elements for weeks, and why AJ’s stepfather, Wesley Hadsell, was the first suspect in this case. Show Notes: 01:00 - Introducing the case; 18 year old AJ Hadsell, found face-down in a drainage ditch. 05:00 - The murder investigation begins immediately upon finding AJ Hadsell’s body. 06:40 - Why it was obvious that this was a death caused by another person, from the autopsy table. 11:00 - Once a body has excessive decomposition, it can be very difficult to ascertain cause, method, and/or modes of death. 15:30 - The unique and morbid skillset that Medical Death Investigators need to have in order to be successful in their jobs. 16:00 - The mode of death in the case of AJ Hadsell. 21:00 - With three times the lethal amount of Heroin found in her body, AJ Hadsell’s life had a horrific ending. 24:00 - Heroin as a mode of murder and the search for AJ’s killer. 25:30 - Drug testing via hair follicle and how this helped authorities rule out self-administered accidental Heroin overdose. 30:00 - Who had access to AJ Hadsell and could remove her from her home without signs of distress? 31:00 - Wesley Hadsell’s history of violence against women and other evidence used by investigators to charge Wesley with the murder of AJ Hadsell 32:30 - The tragedy in this case continues to intensify as details about the positioning of AJ’s clothing on her body when she was found. 37:30 - Determining assault can be extremely difficult after weeks of decomposition. 38:00 - Wesley Hadsell was found guilty of First-degree Murder and Concealment of a Dead Body in February, 2022. He maintains his innocence. He has been sentenced to Life + 15 years in prison. Rest in peace, Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell. 1996 - 2015.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Murdered in a uniquely gruesome and prolonged series of events; Reggie and Carol Sumner are the helpless victims of a month-long plan carried out with the help of a familiar face. Buried alive in a pre-dug hole near the Florida/Georgia line, these two high-school sweethearts suffer their terrible end at the hands of Tiffany Cole, her boyfriend Michael James Jackson, Alan Wade, and Bruce Kent Nixon, Jr. Tiffany Cole buys a vehicle from the Sumner family and travels to Jacksonville regularly to pay down her debt. That is, until her new boyfriend, Michael James Jackson, hatches a plan that ends in the Sumners' deaths. After being buried alive, under hundreds of pounds of dirt, an autopsy determines that the couple's cause of death is mechanical asphyxiation (i.e. physical interference with breathing and or circulation). In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard take a closer look at these horrifying deaths. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The body of Gloria Satterfield, longtime housekeeper for disgraced South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh, will be exhumed. Satterfield died after a trip and fall accident at the Murdaugh home. No autopsy was performed and her manner of death listed as natural. Now, after the string of deaths linked to the Murdaugh name, investigators want to know more. Exhumations are not ordered for just any old case, but when a court orders the embalmed remains of a human being be uninterred, everyone pays attention, including our forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan. In this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss what exhumation is, and why exhumation must be handled with the utmost of care. Subscribe to Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan : Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Show Notes:Introduction [02:00]Events that lead to the pending exhumation of Gloria Satterfield [03:32]Judiciary regulations regarding exhumations [05:58] The effect that embalming (or not) has on exhumations, and factors that impact a successful exhumation and investigation [08:31] Joseph Scott Morgan describes the investigative process, vital medical records, and test results he would study prior to the exhumation of Gloria Satterfield [17:08]The impact that medical intervention, autopsy, and body preparation for burial have on the investigation of a trauma-related death, and the particular problem with the Gloria Satterfield case [20:24]Information investigators will be looking for when reviewing Gloria’s body [27:27]The types of professionals who perform autopsies of exhumed bodies, and concerns regarding the omission of the South Carolina medical-legal community in the Satterfield case [29:46]Kathleen Savio, Shele Danishefsky Covlin, and other high-profile exhumation cases in the US [32:36]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beloved chef Daniel Brophy is found shot to the death in the kitchen of the culinary institute where he works. There is no sign of forced entry at the Oregon Culinary Institute Instructor, in fact, the door is locked. Students coming into class that day say it's normal for Brophy to come in early, set up the day's instruction, then open the door to students. On this day, that didn't happen. Another instructor had to open the door and that's when Brophy is found shot twice. Who killed Dan Brophy,  and why? Ultimately, police build a circumstantial case against Nancy Crampton Brophy, the chef's wife.  Where's the proof?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

December 9th, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson calls 911 telling the operator that he's found his wife at the bottom of stairs in their home. She is still breathing, but there's lots of blood coming from her head.  Kathleen Peterson later dies.  When police and emergency personnel first enter the home, Peterson's injuries are characterized as accidental and the scene is not handled properly, forensically.  Soon, however, the facts do not add up and Michael Peterson is charged with murder. Kathleen Peterson has seven head injuries. So where does the owl come in? The owl theory speculates that an owl attacked Kathleen,  precipitating her fall, but in fact, this theory never makes it into court. Michael Peterson is found guilty at trial, and sentenced to life in prison. Eight years later, he is granted a new trial after evidence comes to light that a prosecution witness lied.  Peterson is eventually released. New charges aren't filed because Michael Peterson takes an Alford plea. This allows him to not admit guilt, but rather acknowledge that the state has enough evidence to convict.   Peterson said he simply didn't want to go through another trial ordeal.  He was sentenced to time served.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teacher and former beauty queen Tara Grinstead vanishes from her Georgia home. There is no sign of forced entry. There is no sign of a struggle, but some things were out of place. Grinstead's bedside clock was found under her bed, and a broken lamp was propped against the wall on her nightstand.  The 30-year-old attended a beauty pageant and a cookout with co-workers before  going home.  Friends and family called Grinstead the next day, but couldn't reach her. When Grinstead did not show up to teach at Irwin County High school, co-workers called police.    Some 12 years later, Grinstead's remains are found in a pecan orchard and two of her past students charged with her murder. Today on Body Bags,  forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan looks at what details may have been overlooked at the time of Tara's disappearance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded live in front of a studio audience at CrimeCon in Las Vegas, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan re-examines the injuries to Ellen Greenberg. The teacher and soon-to-be-bride, is found death in her apartment with more than 20 stab wounds, and her death is ruled a suicide. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kenneth, Janet and Matthew Lindquist die at the hands of two vicious killers. 21-year-old Matthew Lindquist, a recovering heroin addict, has a relapse and makes a deal with Sergio Correa, exchanging his dad's guns for drugs. Correa shows up to the deal with his adopted sister Ruth, and the carnage begins. The couple chases Matthew into the woods, hacking him to death with a machete. It is months before Matthew's body is found. The Correa's then invade the Lindquist home, pulling the parents from their bed, beating them with a baseball bat, strangling Janet, then setting the house on fire to cover their evil. Today on Body Bags, forensic expert Joseph Scott Morgan explains the extensive injuries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebration, Florida police are asked to do a wellness check on the Todt family, who haven't been heard from in days. No one seems to be home at the residence. Soon thereafter federal agents, accompanied by local police, show up to serve an arrest warrant on Tony Todt.  Todt owns Family Physical Therapy and he's being investigated on fraud charges.  When investigators enter the home, they find the bodies of Todt's family, his wife, three children and the family dog.   Today on Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan looks at the Todt family massacre.           See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After seven years, the murders of Russell Dermond, 88 and his 87-year-old wife Shirley, remain unsolved. Friends go to check on the couple days after the Dermonds did not show up for a planned Kentucky Derby party. The headless body of Russell Dermond is found in the garage. Police say there is no forced entry to the home, nor is the house ransacked. Shirley Dermond's body is found 5 miles away, murdered and floating in a lake. Her body has been weighted down by cement blocks. Today on Body Bags, forensics expert and professor Joseph Scott Morgan explains what possible evidence may have been left behind. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Linda Collins was a self-made woman. She built a financial empire based in real estate and hotel management. Her passion, however, was love of community. She worked tirelessly to support the area in which she lived, by supporting improvements in tourism and civic pride. Collins was elected to both the state house and senate. Her body was found wrapped in a tarp at the end of her driveway. What happened to Linda Collins? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a long, hard work week , Andre Daigle looks to have a few laughs, a few beers, and a round or two of pool. What he had was a run in with evil. Daigle mets a woman at a Kenner. She lures him to her apartment. It's a plan set in motion by Charles Gervais, 24, of New Orleans, and Michael Phillips, 21, of Kenner. The men wanted to see if they had the nerve to kill someone, anyone, and Andre Daigle was the random person chosen. Once in the apartment, the men took turns beating Daigle on the head with a hammer, then strangled him with a vacuum cleaner cord. Then it was time to dispose of the body. Daigle was wrapped in curtains and placed inside a sofa, then dumped in a weedy area off a highway. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Savannah Hardin lied. She ate a candy bar given to her by a classmate. Hardin was not allowed to eat chocolate due to a medical condition, made worse by consuming caffeine. When her Joyce Hardin Garrard found out, the Alabama grandmother made the 9-year-old run. Eye witnesses told police that Garrard, made the little girl run for more than three hours without stopping. The little girl was also forced to carry firewood. By 6:30 that night, Savannah was on the ground, vomiting and seizing. Savannah died at the hospital days later from extreme physical exertion, an autopsy ruled. Her grandmother was convicted of capital murder. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Mullis calls 911 as he drives his wife to an Iowa hospital. Amy Mullis was found by the couple's 13-year-old son, impaled on a corn rake and does not survive her injuries. An autopsy is completed and the forensic pathologist finds not four puncture wounds in Mullis' back, but six. The corn rake Todd Mullis says his wife fell on, only has four tines. Also, while Mullis told police he had a good relationship with his wife, investigators learn that Amy was apparently unhappy in the marriage and had at least two affairs. She reportedly told a friend that if Mullis caught her he would “throw her to the pigs.” Court documents showed Amy Mullis called a friend petrified and screaming that Todd Mullis had found out about her affair. Todd Mullis is arrested and convicted of killing his wife. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty years ago, the discovery of a human skull would reveal one of Georgia’s most gruesome and bizarre crimes. More than 300 decomposing bodies were found discarded on the grounds of the Tri-State Crematory. Located in the mountains of northwest Georgia, the facility serviced funeral homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. An investigation revealed the abused could have been going on as long as the mid-1990's. The owner, Ray Brent Marsh, ultimately served 13 years in prison for multiple charges including abusing a corpse, burial service-related fraud and theft by deception. Even now, two decades later, not all of the remains have been identified. Today on Body Bags, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan reveals what it's like to work such a horrific case. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joel Guy Sr., 61, and Lisa Guy, 55, were stabbed to death inside their Knoxville home following Thanksgiving. Prosecutors said Joel Guy, Jr., 28, killed his parents after they informed him they planned to retire and would be cutting him off financially. Guy Jr. stabbed his father at least 42 times and his mother at least 30 times. He then dismembered their bodies and put their arms, torsos, and legs in plastic bins containing corrosive chemicals in an attempt to dissolve them. Court testimony revealed that Guy, Sr.’s head was placed facedown in the corrosive chemicals. Guy, Jr. also decapitated his mother and put her severed head in a covered stockpot — which he then placed on a burning stove. The couple’s bodies were discovered the following Monday after Lisa Guy failed to come to work. Guy, Jr. was sentenced to two life sentences, consecutively with an additional four years for abuse of a corpse. Today, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan looks at the case. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The release of autopsy and forensic reports for Brian Laundrie provides an interesting study in forensics. When Laundrie, 23, was found dead of an apparent suicide, police had been searching for him in connection to the death of his girlfriend Gabby Petito. The newly-released documents show that Laundrie’s “skeletal remains and personal effects were in plain sight and scattered upon the dirt ground.” Details also show that the area had been underwater, which could explain why investigators did not discover the remains sooner. The documents strongly indicate Laundrie died quite some time before his body was found, as there was no soft tissue left on the skeleton. There was also an indication of animal activity characterized by gnawing and chewing. Investigators reportedly believe that wild dogs, coyotes, and/or vermin were among the animal predators that disturbed the remains. The medical examiner’s report shows that Brian Laundrie killed himself with a single bullet, which entered his skull on the left side. Today on Body Bags, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan explains the details and the significance. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most men will do just about anything for a girlfriend, but would you murder your own family? Grant Amato did for a woman who was only his girlfriend in his own mind. After losing his job, Grant Amato became obsessed with a Bulgarian Webcam model. Night after night, Amato watched "Silvie" model, dance and more. He paid upwards of $200,000 for access to "Silve" and her online content, including sexually explicit photos and videos. When Amato began stealing money from his family to keep his "connection" to "Silvie," his family stepped in, getting him professional help. This did not stop Amato. His family gave him an ultimatum. Stop communicating with Silvie or move out. On January 25 ,2019, Grant Amato shot and killed his mother, father and brother inside their Orlando home. Amato was convicted of first-degree murder and a sentenced to life in prison. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

40-year-old Ingrid Lyne, a mother of three, disappears after a date to a professional baseball game. Her date, 37-year-old John Charlton, tells police he was too drunk the night before to remember what happened. Lyne's partial remains were found in a recycling bin miles away from her home. Investigators believe Lyne was killed in her own home, and dismembered in the bathtub with a 15-inch pruning saw. Human flesh and blood were found in the bathtub drain. An investigation finds that Charlton has a criminal history in six states and that his parents had taken out a restraining order against him. Today on Body Bags, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan looks at what it would take to go through with this type of grisly crime. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diane McIver was riding in the front passenger seat of a Ford Expedition SUV when she was shot by her husband Tex McIver. He admitted that to police. The question, as the investigation went on, was whether the firing was intentional or discharged by accident. Tex McIver claimed the latter...that the .38-caliber snub-nose revolver, discharged by accident. McIver's attorneys have filed an appeal of his murder conviction, claiming the judge made several errors during the trial. Today on Body Bags, former death scene investigator and forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan looks at what the evidence tells us. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A meal with Daddy at Chick-fil-A... that's what 22-month-old Cooper Harris enjoys the June morning that he dies. Father Justin Ross Harris, 41, takes his son to breakfast, and then instead of turning toward the daycare to drop off his son, Harris drives to work, parks his SUV in the lot and heads inside. The little boy is still strapped in his car seat. The temperatures that day are over 90 degrees outside, and 125 degrees in the car, according to experts. Cooper Harris suffers heatstroke and dies. Justin Ross Harris returns from lunch, stops to put a purchase inside the car, but doesn't see his son inside. The discovery of the body happens that evening as Harris is driving home. He pulls over into a parking lot, unlocking the lifeless body of his only child from it's restraints. Harris is charged and convicted of eight counts including malice murder. A judge sentences him to life without parole as well as 32 more years in prison. Now the killer dad is asking for a new trial. Today on Body Bags, former death scene investigator and forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan walks us through the terrible details of this case. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 1, Bart and Krista Halderson decide to go to their lakeside cottage...at least that's what their son, Chandler, says. Six days later, the 23-year-old reports his parents as missing. An investigation ensues, and a series of lies are uncovered, lies that start long before Chandler Halderson says he parents went on a trip. Halderson is now charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating and hiding a corpse, and giving false information to authorities. Police say Halderson killed his parents and dismembered their bodies after Bart and Krista discover their son's untruths. Today, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan breaks down the gruesome details surrounding this case, including how police believe Halderson burned his parents' skulls in the fireplace. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A body is found. Investigators are called, but who's going to show up? Will it be a coroner or a medical examiner? Today on Body Bags, former death investigator Joseph Scott Morgan answers the question: What's the difference? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A chaotic opening night at the Astroworld Festival results in 10 people dead and hundreds more injured, as the crowd of 50,000 people surges toward the stage during Travis Scott's concert. Victims range in age from 9-years-old to 27-years-old. According to the medical examiner's report all 10 of the victims died from compression asphyxia. Today on Body Bags, former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan explains the physical aspects of this type of death. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11-year-old Gannon Stauch is reported missing by his stepmother. Two months later the boy's body is found 1400 miles away from his Colorado home. We now know, Gannon Stauch was, according to police, murdered in his bedroom by his stepmother. Recovered evidence supports a violent event occurred in the bedroom with blood spatter on the walls, and soaked through the carpet. Police say Stauch was shot in the jaw and stabbed more than 18 times. Today, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Josph Scott Morgan, breaks down the evidence that could be used in Leteica Stauch. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chad Daybell's trial for multiple counts of first-degree murder is set to begin just after the new year. The Idaho man is accused of killing his wife, Tammy Daybell and the children of the woman he marries just two weeks after Tammy died. JJ and Tylee Vallow are missing for months before their bodies are found on Daybell's property. At first, Tammy Daybell's death is ruled natural cases. The seemingly healthy 49-year-old is training to run a 4K race, but Chad Daybell reports that his wife is dead in the bed beside him one morning. The coroner does not attend the scene, only officers who say the death appears to be natural. What's more, an autopsy is refused by the family. As bodies seem to pile up around the newlywed family, questions are raised. Other deaths connected to this investigation include Lori Vallow Daybell's ex-husbands, and her brother. Today on Body Bags, forensic expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan looks into the unexplained death of Tammy Daybell. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After weeks of searching for Brian Laundrie, the main suspect in the death of his girlfriend Gabby Petito, a partial skull is found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida. The remains and skull are confirmed to belong to Laundrie. The medical examiner concluded laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Today on Body Bags, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan explain what we can learn from the recovered skull. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A South Carolina dad drives his five children around the deep south for nine days. Their bodies are in garbage bags in the trunk. Timothy Jones Jr. strangles four of them. The other, a 6-year-old boy named Nahtahn, is forced to exercise until he dies. The dad uses the activity as punishment after he accuses Nahtahn of breaking an electrical outlet in the home. After driving for almost two weeks, Jones dumps the bags off a logging road in rural Alabama. Today on Body Bags, forensic expert Joseph Scott Morgan explains what happened to the children's bodies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katherine “Katie” Janness takes her dog, Bowie, for a late-night walk in the Midtown area of Atlanta. Janness stops at a local bar to say hello to her girlfriend, who's working. When Janness' girlfriend gets off work, no one is home, but should have been. After unanswered phone calls and texts, Emma Clark uses the 'find my phone' app, which leads her to a horrifying discovery. Just inside Atlanta's popular Piedmont Park, 40-year-old Katherine Janness has been brutally attacked, stabbed more than 50 times, and her body horrifically mutilated. Discretion advised: Details in this report may be disturbing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teen Heather Mack and her mother Sheila von Wiese-Mack plan a tropical vacation. The pair goes to Bali to work on their relationship, but they're not the only ones. Heather Mack buys her boyfriend a ticket, using her mother's credit card. Within 10 hours of Tommy Schaefer's arrival, the 62-year-old socialite is dead. Von Wiese-Mack is bludgeoned to death by Schaeffer with a heavy fruit bowl, and her body stuffed inside a suitcase. The lovers and soon-to-be parents are charged and convicted. Tommy Schaefer is still in an Indonesian prison. Heather Mack served 7 years of her ten-year sentence and gave birth behind bars. She was recently released and expelled from Bali. Upon her arrival back in the U.S., Mack was taken into custody on multiple charges. Today, forensics expert and former death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan explains the carnage to Sheila von Wiese-Mack's body. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Watts’ wife and daughters were missing for three days before their bodies were found on the dad's former jobsite at Anadarko. Shanann Watts was buried in a shallow grave. The girls were stuff through hatches into oil tanks. During the days before the bodies were discovered, Watts played the grieving dad, giving interviews, begging for information on his missing family. What no one knows is Chris Watts is having an affair, and no longer wants to be part of a family unit. Murder was his way out. Ultimately, he tells police where he deposited their bodies. Today on Body Bags, former death scene investigator and forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan walks us through what investigators would have found at Anadarko. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more than ten years, the family of Ellen Greenberg has been looking for answers and justice. The 27-year-old first grade teacher and bride-to-be was found stabbed behind the locked door of her apartment. In fact, she was stabbed 20 times, including wounds to her back. The original finding by the medical examiner determined homicide. So, why does the final ruling say Ellen Greenberg committed suicide? Follow this case on Facebook at "Justice for Ellen." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The confirmation is in. The human remains found in Florida's Carlton Reserve is the body of fugitive Brian Laundrie, the person of interest in the murder of Gabby Petito. The Laundrie family attorney says his clients are grieving. Brian Laundrie reportedly told his parent that he was going hiking in the Carlton Reserve. That was September 13th. He had not been seen since. The FBI confirming that dental comparisons were used to make the identification. Death scene investigator Joseph Scott Morgan walks us through the process of how an identification is made. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After weeks of speculation, the cause of death for Gabby Petito has been released. When Petito's autopsy was performed, the coroner said quickly that Gabby was murdered. This week, we found out that the young woman was strangled to death by “human force.“ Dr. Brent Blue said that Petito was throttled. In today's Body Bags, death investigator Joseph Scott Morgan explain what throttling means, and what clues the coroner may have found to lead to that ruling. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As news comes out the Maggie Murdaugh had sought the advice of a divorce attorney, Death Scene Investigator Joseph Scott Morgan takes us back to the Low Country of South Carolina to take a closer look at the double homicide of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. Mother and son were found shot to death on June 7 at their family’s hunting lodge. Alex Murdaugh – Paul’s father and Maggie’s husband – discovered the bodies that evening after returning to the property. The victims, who were located outside the residence, had multiple gunshot wounds. No suspects have been named. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gabby Petito vanishes during a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie. On Sept. 19, the FBI announces a body had been found in Wyoming. An autopsy confirms the remains belong to Petito. Her death is believed to be a homicide, but her cause of death remains a mystery. Why has Gabby Petito's cause of death not been revealed? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Launching this week! Join Joseph Scott Morgan every week as he explores a world that not many have had a chance to visit, the realm of death. Jo Scott will lead listeners on journey through the blood soaked death scenes of America and then into the autopsy room to fully understand the science behind each case. Joseph Scott Morgan was the youngest death investigator in America when he began his career at the coroner's office in New Orleans, he finished up 20 years later in Atlanta where he was the senior investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office. Jo Scott is one America’s leading experts on applied forensics and is regularly featured on ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’, ‘The Piketon Massacre’, Court TV and more.Theme Music: Audio Network Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.