Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan CrimeOnline and iHeartPodcasts

Dr. Werner Spitz is a man who spent his lifetime looking straight into the soul of man and looking death in the eye. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan gives a heartfelt tribute to a mentor he never met, a teacher that never gave him a test but one whose approval was sought in every written word and study as a death investigator. Dr. Werner Spitz passed away at the age of 97 on April 14, 2024, and this show is a special tribute to a man that actually did write the book of his profession, "Spitz and Fisher's Medicolegal Investigation of Death; Guidelines for the Application of Pathology to Crime Investigation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Transcribe Highlights00:33.95 Introduction to the life of Werner Spitz

05:59.93 Discussion of Spitz impact on forensic pathologists

09:53.32 Discussion of fleeing Nazi Germany

13:51.43 Talk about being the lone voice of truth that you see

17:35.73 Discussion of Mary Jo Kopechne

24:16.10 Discussion of Spitz being called into high profile situations

28:15.52 Talk about examination using photographs

31:38.41 Discussion of not being afraid to take on cases others wouldn't

36:52.60 Talk about paying for an opinion

37:01.94 Conclusion Those who fail to remember history, are doomed to repeat it
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The double homicide of Russell and Shirley Dermond rocked their gated community along Lake Oconee in Georgia.. The decapitated body of 88-year-old Russell Dermond was found in the garage and his wife of 68 years,  87-year Shirley Dermond was found in Lake Oconee weighted down with cinder blocks, 10 days after Russell's body was found.  On this episode of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan, you will learn about the evidence investigators found at the crime scene as well as what can be learned from a body that may have been in a lake for 10 days. The double homicide has gone unsolved for 10 years and the head of Russell Dermond has never been found.  How was this elderly couple, married 68 years, murdered and why?

 

 

 

Transcript Highlights 

00:00:08 Introduction about murders 

00:05:00 Discussion about neighbor checking on Dermond’s 

00:09:34 Talk about unsolved murders, 10 years 

00:14:04 Discussion about Shirley Dermond body found in lake 

00:19:05 Discussion of Russell Dermond head, it’s missing 

00:23:51 Discussion about Shirley was weighted down 

00:28:08 Talk after 10 years, case still unsolved 

00:31:39 Discussion of lack of blood at scene 

00:34:52 Talk about how head was removed 

00:37:57 Talk about DNA evidence 

00:40:28 Conclusion: After a decade, new evidence might solve the case 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Was 7-year-old JJ Vallow alive when he was buried? Was 16-year-old Tylee Ryan dismembered before her remains were burned? What does the autopsy say about the death of Tammy Daybell? On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain the forensics of all 3 victims and Dave Mack will fill in the background on the story of what really happened to JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan, and Tammy Daybell 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transcript Highlights 

00:00:08 Introduction, loving arms that didn’t hold JJ and Tylee 

00:04:21 Discussion of the deaths, JJ, Tylee, and Tammy Daybell 

00:07:54 Discussion of bodies buried near one another 

00:11:19 Discussion of death of Tammy Daybell  

00:14:57 Explaining asphyxia 

00:18:45 Talk about access and opportunity 

00:22:58 Discussion of Dr Warren on witness stand 

00:26:02 Discussion of Bones being scattered, broken up while burning 

00:29:07 Talk about JJ Vallow trying to pull bag off his head 

00:30:47 Conclusion: Justice, whatever that means, is coming. 

Justice, whatever that means, is coming and there is a reckoning coming. 

 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least 12 bodies have been pulled from "Lady Bird Lake" in Austin, Texas in the last 22 months. Some can be explained as deaths that happen on or near a lake, but not all. On this episode of Body Bags Joseph Scott Morgan will break down the difference between a regular death in a lake and a possible serial killer, while Dave Mack breaks down the stories behind the victims. 

 

 

 

Transcript Highlights

00:16.18 Introduction about water and murder03:37.66 Discussion does Austin have a serial killer?08:13.12 Discussion what does "serial killer" do to an area13:22.11 Talk about other serial killers, were they really caught17:54.47 Talk about witnessing a death on the water22:03.17 Discussion of toxicology27:53.13 Discussion of victims32:38.32 Talk about water as a dumping ground36:26.16 Discussion of decomposition in water40:04.57 Talk about water flow47:42.83 Discussion about rumors over factConclusion
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mother of five,  Crystal Rogers is last seen July 3 by her live-in boyfriend, Brooks Houck. Crystal Rogers mother, Sherry Ballard, reports her missing on July 5. Later that day, Crystal Rogers red Chevy Malibu is found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway. The car has a flat tire, but Rogers' keys, phone and purse are still inside. 16-months later, Crystal Rogers is still missing and her father, Sherry Ballard's husband, Tommy Ballard, is murdered in the early morning hours as he prepares to go hunting on his own property with his 12-year-old grandson.

Ballard is shot from an undetermined distance, but his property backs up against the Bluegrass Parkway. It's a fast getaway in either direction for a gunman. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack explore the disappearance of Crystal Rogers and the murder of her dad, Tommy Ballard.  Plus, Joseph Scott Morgan  explains how prosecutors can prove Crystal Rogers was murdered,  even though they haven't found her body.

 

 

 

Transcribe Highlights

00:12.12 Introduction of growing up with PaPaw Morgan03:34.36 Discuss Crystal Rogers missing, her father Tommy Ballard murdered06:15.27 Discussion of Bardstown Kentucky 07:46.82 Discussion of why Brooks Houck didn't report Rogers missing08:13.81 Talk about Crystal Rogers car found on Bluegrass parkway15:45.34 Talk Rogers car found with flat tire, she is still missing18:16.83 Discussion of Brooks Houck, suspect, brother is police officer21:13.58 Discussion of police letting Houck talk to his brother on phone26:27.16 Talk about tracking dogs pick up Crystal Rogers scent at farm, but not at her car31:09.10. Discussion 16 months after Crystal Rogers vanishes, her dad, Tommy Ballard killed34:36.43 Discussion of how bullet twists the skin39:02.99 Discussion of Tommy Ballard hunting, murdered on his own property40:52.53 Discussion of murder charges without a body43:45.73 Conclusion - waiting for trial 

 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corey Micciolo did not meet his father until he was 5-years-old. Soon thereafter Corey landed in the middle of a custody battle. From the first time he was left alone with his father, Corey came home with bruises, busted lips, and more. His mother complained but nobody listened. Only now are people paying attention because of an awful video showing 6-year-old Corey Micciolo being forced to run on a treadmill and falling off, over and over. Each time he falls off the treadmill, his father puts him back on and turns the speed up, allegedly.  Christiopher Gregor is on trial facing murder charges for allegedly killing his own son in what the media calls the Treadmill Abuse Trial. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain what really happened to Corey Micciolo and why 6-year-olds don't drop over dead, and Dave Mack will fill in the rest of the story of how Corey was given to a father that never bonded with him while his mother begged for anyone to listen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

00:38.98 Introduction, talk about weapons

05:17.90 Discussion of exorcise as punishment

10:01.23 Talk about making 6-year-old run on treadmill

16:01.12 Discussion of bruises and injuries

21:06.32 Talk about Corey's health is fine, except for bruises

26:20.26 Talk about Corey tells doctor about football and treadmill

32:41.40 Discussion of children don't die of natural causes at 6

37:27.82 Discussion of injury to abdomen

39:12:19 Conclusion Final Diagnosis, Blunt Force impact, laceration of heart
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.