Stay ConnectedJoin 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 a journey through the blood soaked death scenes of America and then into the autopsy room to fully understand the science behind each case. 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.
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On July 17, at 5:13 a.m., Molly Hubbard called 911 to report a man on fire in the street.
During the 911 call, a man can be heard in the background moaning while Hubbard shouts at him to "drop and roll."
Then, the line disconnected.
Police and EMS arrive on the scene and find Ryan Crawford suffering from severe burns to his face, arms, legs, and backside.
Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack examine the story told to 911. and the story told by the forensics to explain why Molly Hubbard was arrested and charged with murder.
Transcribe Highlights
00:05.21 Introduction - Wichita
04:02.49 Death in the middle of a theft
09:05.35 May have given Crawford something to calm him down
14:42.20 Molly Hubbard left scene
20:03.02 Death with fire is complex
25:16.54 Electrocution victim, one small point of entry
30:26.37 Story lacks credibility
35:34.81 Degree of burns
40:21.14 Burn victims body swell, requires splitting
45:14.94 Molly Hubbard sold scrap metal while cohort in hospital
47:02.26 Conclusion
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Leela Livis, 32, dies after having Thanksgiving dinner with her mom. Her sister, Mia Lacey, and Mia's boyfriend, Richard Pegg, hospitalized but survive. It wasn't bad turkey, it was Bad Mom. Gudrun Linda Jean Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, charged with first degree murder in the death of daughter Leela, and two counts of attempted murder of Mia and Richard. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss how the matriarch of the family conducted internet searches for "what happens if I accidentally ingest acetronile?" and "does wine turn into cyanide?" Joe Scott explains how the poison investigation also caused the 2007 death of Michael Schmidt to be re-examined, turns out Schmidt might not have died in a house fire, it looks like he was poisoned by "Bad Mom" as well.
Transcribe Highlights
00:00.28 Introduction Thanksgiving
04:51.38 Murder and attempted murder at Thanksgiving
09:58.33 Cyanide poisoning
14:52.42 Industrial solvent, turns to cyanide when ingested
20:09.64 Poisoning everyone in the house
25:16.95 Tox screen
30:00.16 Was one person the target?
35:17.36 Killing your own child
40:31.69 Conclusion
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Mary Theresa Simpson, 12, vanished when she was walking home from a relative's home in March 1964, in Elmira, New York.
Her beaten and abused body was found four days later, in a wooded area in Southport.
Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack go back in time to discover what happened to Mary Simpson and why police could not find a suspect to arrest, and charge with the rape and murder of a little girl.
They also discuss how, after 60 years, the case was broken wide open due to great police work in 1964. Coupled with exceptional science work by Othram, a suspect has been named after 60 years of questions.
Another cold case thawed by www.dnasolves.com.
Transcribe Highlights
00:03.38 Introduction
01:03.48 Cold Cases - Time Marches On
04:51.96 March 19, 1964 Mary Simpson, 12, vanishes
10:27.83 Suspect jammed twigs, grass, dirt into Mary;s mouth
15:06.68 Area has not changed much since 1964
20:18.94 Targeting of individuals
25:06.14 Subject would have known where they were going
30:06.65 Othram can begin a case with $7,500
36:17.78 Teaching students to triangulate a scene
41:28.48 Conclusion
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11-year-old Jordan Weems writes a note to his mom; "Dear mom, I love you because you are smart, kind and very loving. That's what I love about you." Five years after writing that note to his adoptive mother, Spring Weems, Jordan Weems allegedly beats her to death with a hammer, puts her body in a trash dumpster and rolls it to the curb. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack go behind the headlines to take a look at the crime scene, the kitchen of a home in a suburb of Oklahoma City to try and understand how a 16-year-old boy, would be charged as an adult for the murder of his adoptive mother.
Transcribe Highlights
00:01.43 Introduction
00:24.64 Joe Scott, not a Handyman
04:28.06 Jordan Weems, 16, charged with killing
adoptive mother
08:05.40 Parenting and discipline
13:09.27 Ripping of skin
18:10.56 Weapon of opportunity
23:30.58 Body of Spring Weems in trashcan
29:06.62 Victim beaten while on ground
34:34.95 Blood would have been everywhere
39:02.52 Blood in hair, like a mop
43:29.34 Conclusion
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On April 3, 2025, two girls ate chocolate-covered raspberries.
Four days later, Ines de Bedout, 14, and Emilia Forero, 13, pass away. They were reportedly poisoned with thallium, injected into the raspberries.
Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack find the bottom of the truth barrel and share how an entrepreneur contestant on "Shark Tank" wins the grand prize, and loses her boyfriend.
She also allegedly kills his daughter, travels the world while on Interpol's Most Wanted list, only to jump in the Thames after arriving in Great Britain.
Transcribe Highlights
00:01.91 Introduction - The Thames
02:33.39 Poison deaths
06:28.24 Woman flees to Great Britain, jumps in Thames
12:14.90 Suspect accused of Poison child of former boyfriend
17:46.65 Substances that are now illegal
23:32.66 What would symptoms look like?
28:36.25 2 girls dead, one girl with "life changing injuries"
34:05.06 Lithium batteries and thallium
39:13.40 Conclusion
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In the last few weeks, shocking photos "leaked" by the state police showing the inside of the Moscow, Idaho, Crime Scene. On top of the photos come claims from an "expert" hired by Kohberger team who claims there were two killers and multiple weapons. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the facts of the case and Joseph Scott Morgan gives a class on forensic evidence and what it means to try and put the case to rest.
Transcribe Highlights
00:00.34 Introduction - Kohberger Theories
02:24.11 Victim Photo dump
07:49.05 Case handled poorly
11:52.18 Video dumps
15:42.47 Still don't have victim tox screens
20:47.06 There was a plan
25:30.83 More than one weapon theory
30:30.22 Other Theories don't fit know facts
35:12.79 Pictures from inside house showed blood
40:01.65 Tearing down the house
44:51.50 Kohberger didn't have to answer questions
45:40.61 Conclusion
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In Washington state, Fire Department Battalion Chief Kevin West calls 911 at 4:27 a.m. and reports that his wife, Marcy West, is unconscious.
West says his wife is having a seizure and that he is performing CPR. The Camas-Washougal Fire Department responds to the call, but 48-year-old Marcy dies.
An autopsy is inconclusive, and her body is turned over to the funeral home. In the days that follow, police receive calls claiming the West marriage was broken and that the chief was having an affair.
Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack dig the truth out of the story, and Joseph Scott Morgan explains what was found in the second autopsy that would have been nearly impossible to miss the first time.
Transcribe Highlights
00:00.03 Introduction - Taking a second look
04:05.15 Heroes - Firemen, policemen
06:29.10 Kevin West, fire chief, calls 911
10:24.38 Tammy Daybell death
14:12.47 Brain texture
19:05.56 Divorce and murder
24:44.89 West Marriage discussed in community
29:07.23 Helping first responders experience a real body
34:50.17 Finding marks on the neck
39:40.44 Kevin West guilty of murder
40:19.06 Conclusion
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On Feb. 24, 2023, police were called to the Banfield family home for a stabbing and a shooting around 8 a.m. Brendan Banfield, an IRS special agent, told police he shot a man who had stabbed his wife, Christine Banfield. Police find Christine Banfield, nude and stabbed multiple times, in an upstairs bedroom. Nearby, they find a man named Joseph Ryan shot multiple times. Inside the house at the time of the shooting: Brendan Banfield, along with the family's au pair, then-22-year-old Juliana Peres Magalhaes, and the Banfields' then-4-year-old daughter. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack go behind the headlines to find out what really happened in a home that left a 37-year-old mother dead, a 39-year-old male stranger dead, an IRS Special agent Brendan Banfield charged with murder, a four-year-old little girl who will be raised by someone other than her mother, and the Au Pair who moved into the master bedroom, then copped a plea deal to testify for the state.
Transcribe Highlights
00:00.55 Introduction
01:10.44 Never known anyone who had an "au pair"
04:20.15 Multiple 911 calls
10:24.02 Fingerprints on the knife, digital forensics
14:47.86 Joe shares story from his time in Atlanta
20:20.60 Body not cleaned on scene
25:16.54 911 call, hangup. Another 911 is made 15 minutes later
30:05.72 Federal Agencies have law enforcement wings
35:09.29 Husband and Au Pair involved in sexual relationship
40:02.52 Not just the rifling
45:48.22 Conclusion
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On November 15, 1983, deputies respond to calls of a "suspicious" van parked at a Highway 1 turnout about three miles north of world famous Hearst Castle in San Luis Obispo County, California. Inside the van deputies find the body of Toby Tate, 41. She had been shot in the head in what appeared to be a possible robbery. Her purse was missing as was a nikon camera. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the evidence left behind, how the case went cold, and how after decades, the hard work of the officers in San Luis Obispo and the miracle workers at Othram helped provide answers to the family, and suspects, for the murder.
To find out how you can help solve unsolved murders, go to www.dnasolves.com
Transcribe Highlights
00:02.29 Introduction - Child of the 70s
02:28.38 A case involving a van
04:56.41 Van is in a "turn out" lane, San Luis Obispo County
10:30.95 Evidence Toby took her dogs to the beach
15:14.53 Dead Bodies in a van for weeks
20:25.98 Rolling crime scene
25:07.00 Person resisting could put hands on suspect
30:26.78 Pawn Shop detective
35:06.86 From camera in pawn shop until recently, case was cold
40:03.75 Othram gets the info, cracks the case
45:05.99 Suspects dead
47:10.07 Conclusion
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When Stacey Powell doesn't log onto her work computer for two days in the middle of the week, and family can't get her on the phone, police are asked to do a "well-being" check.
When police arrive, they immediately suspect Powell's boyfriend, Andrew Ridgeway, of lying. She's later found brutally murdered inside her Auburndale, Florida, home.
Join Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack in this episode, as they discuss the case.
Also in this episode, we mention a show that dropped December 23, 2025:
"1983 Car Fire Death: Charred Remains Buried. Victim Found ALIVE! Who is in GRAVE?"
Transcribe Highlights
00:01.62 Introduction - Well-being check
01:02.14 "savage"
05:02.26 Police show up - looking for Stacey
06:05.69 Andrew Ridgeway lies to police
10:01.21 Police need a warrant
15:02.62 What do "raccoon eyes" mean?
20:01.27 Past show - charred remains, 1983 car fire death
25:22.65 Lacerations are not sharp force injuries
30:05.43 Fresh blood, slippery
35:12.74 Stacey was shot and beaten
40:00.73 Beat cops deal with everything
45:20.16 M.E. said face unrecognizable
49:38.18 Conclusion
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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