In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines one of the rarest and most violent natural causes of death: lightning. Using a case involving two teenagers killed in a park, along with the only lightning-related autopsy he has personally performed, Dr. Crowns explains how lightning forms, the different ways it damages the body, and the statistics that show who is most at risk and when lightning strikes are most likely to occur.
Highlights:
(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:45) Two teenagers are killed by lightning in a park, and Dr. Crowns reflects on growing up weather-aware in Kansas
(2:45) A substitute teacher replaces the fired teacher, and a lightning strike on his family’s house deepens Dr. Crowns’ fascination with lightning
(4:00) The aftermath of the fatal strike in the park and the severe injuries it caused
(5:45) How lightning forms and why lightning deaths are so rare
(8:45) Lightning strike statistics, who is most at risk, and when strikes are most likely to occur
(10:45) Activities most commonly linked to lightning fatalities
(12:00) Dr. Crowns’ only lightning-related autopsy
(14:00) The different ways lightning can injure or kill
(16:15) How lightning affects the nervous system, heart, lungs, eyes, and skin
(17:45) The autopsy findings that can help confirm a lightning death, including Lichtenberg figures
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 sharp medical insight and dark humor 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.
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