Death Calls

This episode steps through a gunshot wound to the head that wasn't the typical self -inflicted gsw that we often see. This one was a high risk game that ended after one shot. The manner of death can be a challenge in certain cases for Medical Examiners. Would you call it an accident or a suicide? Listen to the case and decide for yourself.

This episode is talking about the hardest cases for most forensic professionals to work. The kids. I have been weary about recording an episode about child and infant death investigation because I know most shy away from listening to the terrible realities that exist. But they are a reality and they are some of the hardest cases to walk away from and not take home with you. They are some of the hardest to remain professional on and not react emotionally; specifically with anger. I have been asked the /episode/index/show/82e21c25-dd18-4812-96bc-6fa6145c1afc/id/31174567

Something I have learned after leaving a career in death investigation is the identity crisis that becomes a daily struggle.  If I am no longer an active forensic investigator with an on call phone I carry everywhere, then who am I really?!  I allowed my career to define me to the level that when it was over, my anxiety became worse.  This episode is about growth.  It's my personal struggles post death investigator.  Who am I now?!

This is a special joint episode with another podcast, Crossing the Line with M. William Phelps. Here we talk about a 1994 Unidentified Female that was a victim of The Happy Face Killer; who was recently identified as Suzanne Kjellenberg. This episode is about our work together on her case and the backstory on how she finally got her name.

On this episode I recall a death where the body was in an Airstream.  Normally the location, especially if it's the decedent's residence, doesn't stick out in my mind.  But this one made its mark and surprised us all.  Listen to how this case, originally reported as an alcohol related death, completely changed with a simple rolling of the body.  It takes multiple personnel to contribute to a case and sometimes put the puzzle pieces together of what actually happened.

This episode is about the mess.  About what the family experiences in the aftermath of however their family member leaves this world.  It can be messy, it can leave an odor, debt, stress, and more than just grief.  More specifically though, the physical mess.  When I first started working in the Medical Examiner’s office I learned that the general public thought that my office and/or crime scene cleans up when they leave.  And we try.  But aside from taking the body, evidence and any body pa /episode/index/show/82e21c25-dd18-4812-96bc-6fa6145c1afc/id/31174597

This solo episode steps you through a death scene where there was a lot of blood. Not all blood patterns are created equal and this one gave some serious hints as to what happened with the decedent prior to death. This case gives you blood, firearms, death planning, and an outcome that was perfect for training. Listen to this week's death call.

This solo episode is all about a death call I responded to where the decedent's skull was completely skeletonized; but her body was fresh.  I step you through the call, what I observed on scene, and what happened to this woman.  I discuss postmortem injuries, decomposition, and lividity patterns and how recognizing the differences can be so important to a case.  Listen and see if you can guess what happened to her head.

In this episode I'm joined by retired Crime Scene Investigator, Michael Watkins, who I worked with on numerous suicide death scenes. For years our viewpoint on suicides were the same; until a huge shift happened in his life with the loss of his son. I am so honored that Mike was willing to share his story and his new perspective on suicide as not only a retired CSI, but as a surviving parent.

This solo episode steps the listener through a death call, one where I walked through a home where the floor was covered by water as the bathtub, where the body was found, was overflowing. This wasn't your typical drowning case; instead the decedent's head was covered by a plastic bag. Listen as I step you through the scene and what kindof case this actually was. Hint, it's not what you think.

This episode is an interview with Jennifer Holler, a licensed clinical social worker that specializes in grief support services for children. This conversation talks about bereavement care for children, mental health care for professionals that work in the area of death and dying, and about Nonie's Place; a resource center for grieving children and families. Jennifer is also one of my favorite people and one of the few that I turn to when I need support.

This episode is walking through a death call that was reported as natural and how difficult it can be sometimes to be able to confirm information.  I talk about how a death that was presumed to be natural ended up much different that I thought it would be.  I discuss toxicology testing and the misconceptions related to how long it really takes and how difficult it is to not be able to provide an answer to family members right away.  Listen to what "The Missing Patch" is all about!

This episode is a conversation with Phil Metz, a Flight Paramedic and Medical Division Fire Chief.  We discussed how our paths crossed with a case and how that led to a bigger conversation about Cirme Scene Integrity and the need for first responder training.  I was invited to be an instructor on a program that could help change the future of how evidence and investigations are handled from the beginning!  Introducing the American Institute of Crime Scene Integrity (aicsi.com) and how it was created.< /episode/index/show/82e21c25-dd18-4812-96bc-6fa6145c1afc/id/31174632

How do you take skeletal remains found in the woods and determine a cause of death?  How do you figure out who they were and what their bones say about them?  It's no secret that skeletal cases are my favorite but this case taught me something new that I was able to use on numerous other cases.  Listen to how a discovery by ROTC students near a nature trail led to a missing persons case and closure for a family.

This week I have a chat with Dr. Dana Anderson, a clinical Forensic Psychologist, and learn all about Forensic Psychology and how this modern-day Clarice ((Silence of the Lambs reference)) spends her day and how she protects her mind.  I cannot wait to chat with her again and hear insights from the perspective of the mind.

The Body Farm, otherwise known as The Forensic Anthropology Research Facility at the University of Tennessee, is one of the most sought out training facilities in the field of forensics.  It is by far the best training of my career and the experience is one of my favorite memories.  Well, most of the experience.  Hear all about my time at The Body Farm (I want to go back!) and how I spent my birthday one year with my head in a grave.

This week I have a chat with a former co-worker and friend, Kristen. Most of our memories together involved lots of laughter and office pranks as we were using humor as a coping mechanism for our stress before we even knew what a coping mechanism was. Now we reflect on our time together and give some pros and cons and advice to those looking at a career in forensics.

Are you an organ donor? That's the question that begins this episode all about postmortem organ, tissue, and cornea donation and what that really means. How my opinion of it has changed over the years and how a very special friend taught me even more about it after he passed. Listen to this week's episode that will surely educate on a process that can easily be misunderstood.

Richard Roberts had a stroke in the hospital and when his family was notified of his death, we found out that he was not who we thought he was. Much like "The Ex-Husband" episode a couple weeks back, this episode talks about the process of identification when all of the efforts of investigators were exhausted. When you have a chronically unidentified decedent that you KNOW should be identified easily just based on his tattoos alone. This episode sheds light on cold cases and my desire to do mo /episode/index/show/82e21c25-dd18-4812-96bc-6fa6145c1afc/id/28824443

This episode, titled "The Journey" almost got called "The Struggle". I've been struggling lately and needed to just speak from the heart. I've learned SO much from death investigation but my greatest lesson I gained was from the families that I spoke to everyday. Over a decade of conversations about how there never is enough time. This episode isn't my typical story telling or teaching about forensics. This one is a life lesson that I'm continuously reminding myself /episode/index/show/82e21c25-dd18-4812-96bc-6fa6145c1afc/id/28824448

This week I talk to Jessica and share her story about her ex-husband and how she found out after he died that he wasn't exactly who she thought he was. We revisit the steps we went to confirm suspicions and talk about the challenges of reframing your memories when things aren't exactly as they seem. This episode also talks about the subject of suicide and difficulties so many face surrounding mental health and substance abuse.

This week I invited a special guest to the show to talk about our career together. Christina Van Tassel Knepper has been with me from day 1 in the forensic world and together we have SO many stories and experiences. Listen to this week's episode where we have a discussion about the morgue, exposures, our trip to New York and more. Consider this episode one of many with Christina because this is just tip of the iceberg. She and I were a team and for a long time it was just us - The A Team.

A big part of my job was working in the morgue and something I did often was cutting open the head during autopsy to access the brain. This episode visits my experience with working in the morgue, assisting in autopsies, and the evisceration process. We'll call this part 1 of the autopsy talk with part 2 being an interview with one of my favorite people.

We all make mistakes. In life, in our careers, in relationships. I happened to make one on a case and it has made me feel so much shame for years. Looking back on it now, I realize how the narrative was controlled. Listen to the newest episode of Death Calls Podcast and learn how a married couple died in their home but at different times and from what.

Starting a podcast on a career surrounding death and dying to share stories, education, and my experience has been so therapeutic.  It has also been triggering.  I've learned so much about myself in the last few years and I would be willing to bet that there are others just like me that aren't talking about it.  This field can be dark.  It can change you.  It can eat you alive if you don't create your own boundaries.  If you don't make your health a priority; body and mind. /episode/index/show/82e21c25-dd18-4812-96bc-6fa6145c1afc/id/28824478