Mayhem in the Morgue | Death and Dismemberment: Part 1

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns analyzes the autopsy of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered and decomposing remains were discovered inside the “frunk” of a Tesla belonging to the artist D4VD. Dr. Crowns explains how medical examiners read decomposition, insect activity, saw marks, and trace evidence to determine what happened before and after death. He also introduces the four major types of dismemberment, using a gang-related homicide and the Traci Todd case to show how these crimes are categorized and what postmortem injuries can reveal.

Highlights

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

(0:30) Dr. Crowns opens Death and Dismemberment, Part One with the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case

(3:00) Alleged purchases, disposal materials, and the timeline leading up to the discovery of Hernandez’s remains

(5:00) How decomposition changes the body and what insect activity can reveal during autopsy

(7:15) What the autopsy report says about Hernandez’s dismembered remains

(8:00) How chainsaws mark bone and leave behind significant DNA evidence

(10:00) Interpreting injuries from the report: blue plastic fragments, penetrating wounds, and signs of postmortem damage

(13:00) Toxicology findings and the official cause and manner of death

(14:00) The four categories of dismemberment and why defensive mutilation is the most common

(18:15) A gang-related homicide shows how postmortem dismemberment was used for transport

(22:00) The Traci Todd case, Kevin Williams, and the missing-person investigation that led to Beaubien Woods

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 NancyGrace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often-misunderstood 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.

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