Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan

On August 4, 2020, 12-year-old Jaylen Griffin went to the corner store in his neighborhood to try and make a little money helping people carry their groceries home. On this day, he brings his new puppy with him and many people remember seeing the boy and his puppy. But Jaylen Griffin and his puppy never makes it home that evening. It seems as though Jaylen has vanished into thin air. Neighborhood searches, flyers, reward money, nothing helps bring the boy home. Three months after Jaylen goes missing his older brother is murdered, shot dead almost in front of their Buffalo, New York home. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. In September 2023, Jaylen's mother dies, never knowing what happened to her 12-year-old son. Months after her passing, the decomposed remains of Jaylen Griffin are found in the attic of a house about 5-miles from where Jaylen lived in south Buffalo. The house was no stranger to law enforcement and many people wonder how it was possible the remains of a child could decompose in the attic of a house with many residents and nobody smelled or saw anything. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will breakdown the forensics that will help determine the cause and manner of death and try to answer questions that could lead to justice for Jaylin Griffin Transcript Highlights 00:03.10 Introduction of life, memories 01:06.13 Talk about 12-year-old boy missing 4 years 05:20.86 Talk about getting help from dentist to ID victim 07:45.26 Discussion of how to identify remains of a child 11:36.93 Discussion of "Bite" marks as evidence 17:00.65 Jaylen and the "12-year molar" 20:05.82 Discussion of weather on remains 24:45.81 Talk about the home where Jaylen's remains were found 29:22.81 Discussion of remains and smell, compare to Harmony Montgomery 33:00.68 Discussion of law enforcement, fire, rescue calls to address 37:24.74 Talk about remains having "soft tissue" 41:20.56 Conclusion will the remains lead to a murderer? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Mother's Day 2020 until September 2023, only one person really knew that Suzanne Morphew wasn't just missing, she was dead. In September 2023 the remains of Suzanne Morphew were found while investigators were working a different crime, An autopsy was done on the remains and on this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how doctors were able to create a toxicology report using only bones, and why Susanne Morphew's death has been ruled a homicide. Transcribed Highlights 00:42.91 Introduction of Suzanne Morphew 03:21.30 Talk about autopsy of bones 06:54.40 Discussion of remains 10:43.53 Discussion of Mountain Lions 14:37.94 Talk about the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew 18:16.37 Discussion of darts and animals 20:55.11 Talk about the depth of a hole for remains 26:25.13 Discussion of co-mingling of bones 30:06.14 Discussion of decomposed body 35:20.28.Talking about the bones in the arms 41:21.60 Discussion of darts and toxicology 47:03.48 Conclusion of the Suzanne Morphew See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan is a look at the death and autopsy of John Wilkes Booth. Booth shot Abraham Lincoln from behind around 10:15 pm April 14, 1865. He died the next morning, April 15, at 7:22 am. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will uncover the track that Booth took as he tried to escape, and finally being shot himself. Joseph Scott Morgan will make you feel like you witnessed the autopsy yourself as he explains, in great detail, the autopsy of John Wilkes Booth. Transcribe Highlights 00:13.63 Introduction - autopsy of John Wilkes Booth 01:45.79 Discuss Forensic expert is a history fan 05:09.53 Talk about the Booth acting family 08:22.93 Discussion of how Booth wrecked everything 12:47.62.Talk about Booth jumping to stage 18:45.53 Discussion of expectation 22:49.66 Talk about the conspiracy 27:50.24.Discussion of Booth broken leg 32:01.96 Talk about comparing Lincoln to Kennedy 38:40.42 Discussion of Booth not getting help 41:08.80 Talk about getting Booth on boat 48:59.90.Discussion of putting a door on saw horses as a table 50:03.11 Talk about Autopsy in 1800s 52:18.34 Discussion of Booth being wrapped in military blanket 56:27.97 Conclusion, Lincoln wanted the country to heal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sade Robinson is having fun on her first date with a new guy. They pose together and post the picture to social media. Sade had no idea she was taking a picture with the devil and she only had hours to live. In this episode of "Body Bags," Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how the killer sealed his fate by trying to destroy evidence with fire. Transcribe Highlights 00:22.97 Introduction Milwaukee 05:01.65. Talk about Jeffrey Dahmer 07:29.72 Discussion of dismemberment 09:53.60 Talk about getting rid of smell with tires 14:06.81 Discussion of finding leg 20:10.93 Talk about remains being compromised 25:18.19. Breaking down the timeline 30:30.67. Discussion of other women missing 34:38.48 Talk about fire inside a car 36:38.64 Discussion of witness who saw person use lighter to start car fire 39:33.42 Conclusion – how remains will tell what really happened to Sade See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boston Cop John O'Keefe and his girlfriend Karen Read go on a pub crawl before ending their the night at the home of a Boston cop friend of O'Keefe's at 12:45 am. 6 hours later, the body of John O'Keefe is found in the front yard of the house, covered in snow in blizzard conditions. He is wearing two shirts, jeans, socks and one shoe. Near his body on the snow are shards of glass and splotches of blood. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will take an up close look at the injuries and find out what really happened to John O'Keefe. Dave Mack will breakdown the story that has divided Boston and together they will try to answer the question: Who Killed John O'Keefe? . Transcribed Highlights 00:01.10 Introduction, talk about weather conditions and murder 02:05.22 Discussion of Karen Read case 05:05.56 Talk about Media coverage 09:09.25 Discussion of forensics role in investigation 14:06.82 Talk about background of relationship 16:16.35 Breaking down timeline of events 19:50.94 Discussion of physical injuries 21:07.56 Talk about Blood Alcohol 25:20.82 Talk about leaving bar, going to house party 30:09.48 Talk about Text Messages, getting directions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley vanish on their way to pick up Veronica’s children to go to a birthday party. They were supposed to meet up with Veronica Butler’s ex-mother-in-law at a closed gas station in rural Texas County, Oklahoma. But they never make it. On this episode of Body Bags Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how evidence from blood to tire treads will help solve the mystery of the Missing Moms. Transcript Highlights 00:00:00 Introduction of shared custody 00:03:10 Discussion or relationships and death 00:06:50 Talk about terrain 00:11:03 Discussion of moms reported missing 00:14:08 Talk about how vehicle ended up where it is found 00:18:46 Discussion of evidence found at scene 00:23:21Talk about tire tread identification 00:27:47 Discussion of term “puddle of blood” 00:31:16 Discussion of meeting place 00:34:16 Talk about SWAT Teams showing up in Rural County 00:38:44 Talk about death penalty states 00:40:56 Discussion identifying body 00:42:29 Conclusion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years she was labeled “Bones 20” the unidentified victim of the Green River Killer. But now, thanks to police work and Othram Labs, the victim has been named as Tammy Liles. She was from Everett, Washington, and vanished in the summer of 1983. She was only 16 years old when she became a victim of serial killer Gary Ridgeway. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will take you behind the headlines and into the lab that helped give a name to a young lady who spent decades being called “bones 20”. Transcript Highlights 00:0:16 Introduction – The Green River Killer last victim identified 00:02:28 Talk about age reference 00:06:32 Discussion of high-profile murders 00:10:48 Talk about the Green River Killer 16-year-old victim 00:15:56 Discussion of identifying remains 00:20:54 Discussion of the Green River Killer evidence 00:25:58 Talk about starting with incomplete skeleton 00:29:41 Discussion of Genetic Genealogy 00:34:51 Talking about Othram labs 00:37:39 Conclusion; might be the most noble of pursuits See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Destiny Duckett’s cousin couldn’t reach her by phone, so she stopped by her apartment to check on her. The cousin knocks on the door, but Destiny doesn’t answer. The cousin can hear the baby crying and she is worried. She calls police to do a welfare check and when they enter Destiny Duckett’s apartment, her 8-week old son is on the bed, crying, and his 22-year-old mother is on the floor, dead. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will look into the mysterious death of 22-year-old new mother, Destiny Duckett and Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how fingernails play a keep part in solving the murder. Transcript Highlights 00:00:00 Introduction of case 00:02:20 Discussion of fingernails 00:05:37 Talk about cousin called police, heard baby crying 00:10:56 Discussion of protective order leading to arrest of suspect 00:15:26 Talk about leaving crying baby on the bed, alone, mother dead on floor 00:19:43 Discussion of body being the biggest evidence 00:24:16 Discussion of proving knees were on chest of victim 00:28:26 Talk about fingernail marks on the neck 00:33:55 Discussion of why suspect was already in jail 00:36:33 Conclusion – Convicted, sentencing to come See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bag with a burned, dismembered torso is found by a boy out for a horseback ride about a mile from town. The police chief says he was mowing his lawn when he got the call about the headless, armless, legless, burned torso, and from that moment on it was "chaos". On this episode of Body Bags Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will tell the story of the dismembered and burned torso and how, after 44-years, he was finally identified with DNA and Othram labs. Transcript Highlights 00:00:00 Introduction of episode 00:02:13 Talk about identifying Joseph Caliva 00:06:15 Discussion of years beginning in 1979 00:10:40 Talk about dismemberment 00:15:48 Discussion of what was found 00:17:39 Talk about burned remains 00:22:25 Discussion about trying to ID person 00:27:25 Talk about finding portions of the torso 00:31:54 Talk about creating a person out of evidence 00:36:34 Discussion after 44 years, victim identified See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AUTOPSY REPORT WILL NOT BE RELEASED. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain what happened to Madeline Soto and Dave Mack will dig into the back story of the entire family. You will find out by the time she reached 13-years-old, Madeline Soto had already been sexually abused for years. When she was a “missing 13-year-old" from Florida, the news covered every tidbit of information about the search for the teen. One piece of evidence that made it to the press was how Madeline Soto told a friend when she turned 13, she was going to live in the woods. That is why police searched the woods for Madeline. Transcript Highlights 00:00:28 Introduction, talk about parents protecting children 00:04:28 Talk about Madeline Soto saying she wanted to live in the woods 00:05:31 Discussion of ages 12 and 13 00:09:04 Discussion of Madeline not taking cell phone 00:12:29 Talk about family being told about evidence 00:16:42 Discussion of time children go to school 00:20:07 Discussion of Madeline Soto seen in vehicle 00:21:49 Talk about being haunted by evidence 00:26:26 Discussion of Madeline Soto 00:30:26 Talk about video surveillance of suspect 00:33:22 Discussion of 60 charges against suspect 00:37:32 Discussion of evidence of previous abuse See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fire department shows up at the home of one of their own and find Melissa Lamesch unconscious on the kitchen floor as her home goes up in flames around her. She is on maternity leave from her job as an EMT and is expecting her baby to be born any day. Melissa Lamesch and her unborn baby die in what authorities believe is asphyxiation from the fire. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will breakdown how trying to burn evidence of a crime, oftentimes creates the evidence needed for conviction. Transcript Highlights 00:00:08 Introduction of fire set to cover-up a murder 00:01:18 Talk about fire and smoke 00:03:10 Discussion of smoke as evidence 00:05:05 Discussion of woman, 9 months pregnant, dying in a fire 00:08:35 Talk about how healing takes place after being burned 00:11:26 Discussion of hair catching fire in bathroom 00:14:43 Victim is on maternity leave from job as EMT 00:18:53 Discussion of the mother and her baby 00:22:53 Discussion of monoxide 00:28:01 Talk about suffocation 00:33:33 Discussion of fire splash patterns 00:36:55 Talk about the family talking to officials after the fire 00:40:46 Discussion of dealing with the death of pregnant mother 00:43:10 Conclusion, Matthew Plote convicted for Murder See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deborah Frazier calls 911 and tells them two burglars have shot her boyfriend, and as she is on the phone, a gunshot is heard and Frazier tells the dispatcher she has been shot in the leg by one of the burglars. Police arrive and discover the first person shot, Mr. Thomas Waddell, is in the back room of his apartment, wrapped in a blanket and a garbage bag and secured with duct tape. On this episode of Body Bags Joseph Scott Morgan will explain all of the things police will have to believe for Deborah Frazier's story to be true and Dave Mack will explain how Frazier was using a second boyfriend to con Mr Waddell out of his life savings! Transcript Highlights 00:00:42 Talk about everything that has to be believed for the story to be true 00:02:48 Discussion of not believing a story 00:04:20 Discussion of “victim” shooting her boyfriend in the head 00:05:53 Talk about cases too difficult to believe 00:10:54 Talk about self-inflicted gunshot wound 00:14:19 Discussion of the victim who just retired 00:18:54 Talk about determining how long person has been dead 00:23:19 Discuss investigation of digital background 00:28:34 Talk about GSR test 00:33:02 Discussion of police on scene, gunshot recorded 00:37:57 Discussion of what has to be believed by investigators 00:40:12 Talk about Pictures of a life shared, scattered on the floor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Burned remains of a man found inside a foot locker and left in a blueberry field in Michigan were not identified for 13 years. In 2015 the case was called "The Jack-in-the-Box Murder because it was a catchy title. The remains were not identified until the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office received a tip in 2015 that gave them the information they needed to use dental records to identify the deceased as Robert Caraballo. Investigating Caraballo's life at the time of his death took investigators to the home he shared with his wife and stepdaughter. Joseph Scott Morgan will break down the forensics that brought this case to a conclusion and Dave Mack will help tell the story of how the Jack-in-the-Box Murder became The Fugitive Wife Murder Trial. Transcript Highlights 00:00:44 Introduction of story a burned body in a trunk found in blueberry field 00:02:40 Talk about conspiracy and escaping to other side of the planet 00:05:28 Discussion of victim being alive with hammer stuck in skull 00:08:02 Discussion of injury caused by falling downstairs 00:12:34 Talk about how remains could not be identified 00:15:11 Discussion of evidence in hammer attack 00:19:49 Discussion of hitting head with a hammer 00:23:51Talk about how the skull breaks 00:28:19 Discussion of destroying a body 00:32:37 Discussion of “old school” identifying remains 00:35:15 Talk about the plan to push victim down the stairs, hit him with a bat 00:35:53 Talk about the conspiracy 00:38:01 Discussion of law in Italy for hotel guests 00:39:15 Discussion of cover-up 00:40:06 Beverly McCallum guilty on all charges 00:40:42 Talk about keeping a secret See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suicide or Murder? Kendy Howard is found in a bathtub full of water with a gunshot wound to the head. His body is cold, but the water in the tub is warm! Red Flag number one. On this episode of Body Bags Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will take a look at all of the "Red Flags" present in the reported suicide of Kendy Howard. Why is there so little blood in the water? Why is her ex-trooper husband arrested at the airport? The biggest question of all, is the death of Kendy Howard a Suicide or Murder? Transcript Highlights 00:00:27 Joe talks about admiration for Troopers 00:03:03 Discussion of law enforcement 00:05:59 Discussion of “Red Flags” 00:08:14 Talk about the water is warm, body is cold 00:12:23 Investigation of suicide/murder 00:16:33 Discussion of damage caused by gunshot in mouth 00:17:49 Talk about direction of bullet 00:21:26 Comparing murder of Travis Alexander 00:25:53 Defining different types of asphyxiation 00:30:08 Talk about injuries “frozen in time” 00:35:33 Discussion of how much blood would be expected See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The victim was alive when her head was cut from her body. As disturbing as that sounds, today's episode of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan will attempt to breakdown the just released autopsy report of Mei Li Haskell. Her husband, Samuel Haskell IV is accused of killing her, removing her head from her torso, placing the torso in a bag and dropping it in a trash bin where a homeless guy would find it 14 hours later! Joseph Scott Morgan will breakdown the forensics that will come into the trial and Dave Mack will dig deep in the Hollywood that can give us a true horror story that is scarier than anyone would ever dare put on film. Transcript Highlights 00:00:49 The son of a hotshot 00:03:04 “Don’t you know who I am?” 00:05:03 Discussion of “the finder” 00:08:58 Talk about the bags felt like meat 00:09:26 Discussion of workers bring back bags 00:12:20 Discussion of cross contamination 00:16:58 Talk about hiring workers 00:20:56 Discussion of what police can do 00:26:22 Talk about the person who found the body 00:30:54 Mentions victim’s parents still missing 00:33:01 Discuss autopsy report, victim alive when head cut off 00:38:20 Discussion of using power tools in dismemberment 00:42:54 Mentions trial will be all forensics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iris, 1, comes home from a weekend with her father and his girlfriend and mom finds a water bead in her diaper. Taking her to the hospital, the toddler passes more water beads, button-shaped batteries, and a screw. Thinking she was finding things and putting them in her mouth, nobody realized a monster was watching the baby. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack break down the case that is more than the murder of a toddler, it's how evil came into the child’s life and plotted and planned her death for more than half of her life. Transcript Highlights 00:00:20 Introduction 00:02:39 Discussion of toddlers 00:04:22 Talk about items in diaper 00:07:34 Discussion of beads, batteries, screw 00:10:12 Talk about toddlers putting things in their mouth 00:14:34 Discussion of solvent 00:16:18 Discussion of evil 00:18:27 Talk about taking child to hospital by plane 00:22:08 Explaining a subdural hematoma 00:24:01 Discussion of optic nerves 00:27:16 Talk about how healthy baby dies in 4 days 00:30:15 Discussion of notes made by doctors and nurses 00:32:54 Talk about children swallow everyday items 00:35:31Discussion suspect researched how to beat a polygraph See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two severed heads, an arm here, a leg there, on this episode of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan, the Reel Amityville Horror will meet the Real Amityville Horror. A group of Long Island High School students find a severed left arm on the side of a road in Babylon on their way to school. While Police investigate the scene, a K-9 officer locates a leg sticking out of a pile of leaves in a wooded area, not far from the original scene. Over time more body parts were found in multiple areas. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will detail what was found and where and what the suspects were up against when they began writing their own Amityville Horror. Transcript Highlights 00:00:07 Introduction – to horror 00:01:39 Discussion about charges for dismembering a person 00:04:48 Talk about how the bodies were treated in death 00:08:03 Discussion of arm with tattoo found in tree limb 00:11:51 Body part found by high school students on the way to school 00:15:16 Parts of 2 bodies found, 4 people charged 00:15:17 None of the 4 people is charged with murder 00:16:14 Discuss what the ME will have to do with parts 00:18:04 Talking about Black Dhalia 00:19:49 Discussion of none of the drains work in the rental 00:21:30 Discussion of body parts from more than one person 00:25:11 Talk about unique case 00:28:51 Joe describes investigation taking place 00:31:30 Discussion of dismemberment 00:34:01 Discussion of blood, muscle, skin, hair, Drano won’t work 00:37:13 Talk about revisiting the case in the future See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School Principal Cornelius Green arrives at the Amtrak train station in St. Louis after spending a few days in Chicago. Leaving the train station Green goes to straight to the apartment of his girlfriend, 3rd grade school teacher, Jocelyn Peters. Arriving at her apartment Green finds Peters, who is 7-months pregnant, in bed. He immediately calls 911 and tells them his girlfriend has been shot in the head, send help now! Jocelyn Peters is pronounced dead on the scene and the investigation begins with the person who found her, Cornelius Green. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack will break down the story that leads to stolen school funds, a hitman, and a potato gun silencer, on this episode of Body Bags. Transcript Highlights 00:00:57 Joe talks about the impact of 3rd grade teacher 00:03:12 Discussion of victim 00:08:54 Discussion of Green sending money to Cutler 00:11:23 Talk about alibi set up by Green taking train to Chicago 00:14:20 Discussion about finding pregnant woman shot in the head 00:16:02 Talk about investigation, alibi 00:19:50 Talk about no sign of forced entry 00:23:18 Discussion of “potato silencer” 00:28:12 Talking about objects changing trajectory 00:32:30 Discussion of Federal and State charges 00:36:29 Discuss Phillip Cutler in court See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Phillip Chism, 14, doesn't come home from school, his mother calls the police to report him missing. As the town begins to look for the 9th grader, word spreads around town that a 24-year-old teacher, Colleen Ritzer, is also missing. Chism is found walking along a road just after midnight. After a quick search of his backpack, he is arrested. Later in the morning, Colleen Ritzer's body is found on school grounds, sexually positioned with a folded note next to her body that says, "I hate you all." Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack break down the story of the student from Tennessee and the horrifying final moments in the life of Colleen Ritzer. Transcription Highlights 00:01:00 Introduction of location, suspect, and victim 00:02:53 Suspect is student, 14, victim is a teacher 00:04:04 Discussion of suspect family 00:08:22 Talk about motive and possible “trigger” 00:11:49 Discussion of why victim went to public bathroom 00:15:28 Discussion of witness and surveillance video 00:19:07 Talk about investigation, pinging cell phones 00:21:47 Discussion of suspect on surveillance video 00:27:25 Talk about body being covered 00:30:36 Breaking down the evidence 00:34:35 Discussion of sentence See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christa Pike was 18-years-old when she thought her 19-year-old job corps classmate, Colleen Slemmer, was trying to steal her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp. Pike spent over 30-minutes beating Colleen Slemmer with her hands and feet, as well as a box cutter and a meat cleaver. Slemmer tried to escape. Shipp,17, caught her so Pike could continue the beating. Pike carved a pentagram into Slemmer's chest, used the box cutter to slice her throat. When she didn't die, Pike picked up a chunk of asphalt and slammed it onto Slemmer's head. The next day Pike brought a piece of Slemmer's skull to breakfast and told classmates what she had done. Convicted of murder and sentenced to death, Christa Pike now wants a judge to vacate her death sentence. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack detail the story that Joe Scott says is the worst case he has ever seen. Transcript Highlights 00:00:31 Joseph Scott Morgan says he has never seen a crime so vile 00:02:10 Woman on death row in Tennessee 00:05:16 Talk about dynamic between suspects and victim 00:10:09 Description of box cutter and meat cleaver 00:15:03 Discussion of pentagram carved into chest 00:20:56 Description of wounds to victim 00:25:15 Talk about how to occult and satanism factor into case 00:30:40 Description of taking piece of skull as a trophy 00:35:50 Discussion about letting murderer out of prison 00:39:15 Talk about sadistic murder See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.