Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines the rare phenomenon known as the Lazarus effect, or autoresuscitation, where signs of life return after a person has been declared dead. He starts with the case that’s been making headlines: 18-month-old Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, pronounced dead after a drowning, then found alive hours later in a hospital morgue. Dr. Crowns explains how death is actually determined, what might cause circulation to kick back in after resuscitation has already stopped, and the safeguards hospitals use to prevent a person from being declared dead prematurely. He also shares other reported cases of people showing signs of life at funeral homes and explains how he knows the person on his autopsy table is, in fact, actually dead.

Highlights
(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(00:30) The case of 18-month-old Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, who was found alive in a hospital morgue
(1:15) Childhood drowning risks and why crowded gatherings around swimming pools can become dangerous
(2:45) What happens to the body during drowning and the five stages that can lead to death
(6:15) Vincent’s resuscitation, declaration of death, and the signs of life reportedly noticed by his family and first responders
(7:15) What agonal breathing looks like and why it can be mistaken for signs of recovery
(8:30) A medical examiner transporter discovers Vincent alive more than five hours after he was pronounced dead
(9:45) The Lazarus effect, or autoresuscitation, and where the term comes from
(10:45) Other reported cases of people showing signs of life after being declared dead
(12:45) How medical professionals determine death and the additional criteria used to establish brain death
(15:15) What the Lazarus effect looks like when it occurs
(16:00) The theories behind why circulation can sometimes return after CPR has stopped
(17:15) Why patients should be monitored after CPR ends before death is declared
(18:00) How Dr. Crowns knows someone is dead before beginning an autopsy
(19:15) Dr. Crowns’ grandmother, a family fear of being buried alive, and a needle that may have been involved in confirming a death

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 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 and follow Mayhem in the Morgue on TikTok at @mayheminthemorgue. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and be sure to follow Mayhem in the Morgue wherever you get your podcasts.
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When Katherine “Kat” Torbick's co-workers can’t reach the registered nurse, they call police. Schaumburg police force entry into Katherine’s home, and find her lying on the couch, dead,
with clear signs of trauma. In the garage, investigators find Katherine’s ex-boyfriend, Kevin
Motykie tying a noose. Motykie, 56, is unsteady and slurs his words while admitting he took
lorazepam and hydrocodone. As Motykie is placed in handcuffs, officers discover a recording
device in his pocket with a 7-hour tape between the hours of 2:00 and 9:00 a.m. that morning.

The seven-hour audio recording captures Motykie interrogating Katherine about infidelity, hitting her, and sex assaulting her while she begs him to stop. In the final four minutes of audio Motykie is heard strangling Katherine, repeatedly telling her to "think of somewhere happy."
Motykie has a history of domestic violence allegations in three prior orders of protection. In
fact, Motykie attacks Katherine just weeks prior to her murder. Motykie allegedly chokes
Katherine, tries to gauge her eyes out, and threatens her at knifepoint. Katherine manages to
escape to a neighbor’s home and call 911. Investigators document her injuries, and in a
videotaped statement, Katherine says she’s afraid Motykie will eventually kill her. Police issue
a warrant for Motykie’s arrest, but are unable to locate him.
Kevin Motykie is now behind bars, charged with first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated sex assault. He's scheduled to appear in court again May 29th.

Joining Nancy Grace today:
Maria Acopiado - friend and co-worker
Franz Borghardt - Criminal Defense Attorney, Founder of Borghardt Law Firm, Former Prosecutor, Adjust Professor at Louisiana State University teaching Criminal Litigation, website: www.borghardtlawfirm.com, Insta/FB: BorghardtLawFirm
Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy), www.panthermitigation.com, X: @TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology"
Marie Pereira - Domestic Violence Expert (Domestic violence expert certified advocate, batterers prevention), criminal defense attorney, former prosecutor, registered nurse
Sabrina Franza - Reporter, CBS News Chicago
website: www.cbsnews.com/chicagoInsta @sabrinafranza / Tiktok @sabfranza
Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories'
Joseph Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan", Instagram @JoScottForensic

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Questions of how Nolan Wells dies multiple as the results of an independent autopsy are revealed. The pathologist who conducted the second autopsy rules Nolan Wells’ cause and manner of death are “undetermined,” pending investigation.
The FBI has joined the investigation as family lawyer, Ben Crump, says foul play could not be ruled out. What do Nolan's friends, with him on the island say?
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Josh Kolsrud - Criminal Defense Attorney and Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Founder of Kolsrud Law Offices, Co-Host of the Podcast: "No Contest", website: kolsrudlawoffices.com, Facebook and YouTube @KolsrudLawOffices
Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker: When to work on a relationship and when to walk away". featured on the hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock and "The Valley, Persian Style" on Bravo, Netflix and Hulu,. Host "On The Couch with Dr. Bethany Marshall," Website: drbethanymarshall.com, Instagram FB & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter:@DrBethanyLive
Brian Trascher - Vice President of the United Cajun Navy, https://unitedcajunnavy.org/
Joseph Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", YouTube Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan", @JoScottForensic,
Caitlyn Becker - Senior National Correspondent at the New York Post, Host of podcast: ‘NYPostCast’
Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories
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Olivia Mae Marie Smith, 12, died not far from her home, in an incident that has left her family and investigators with unanswered questions.
According to initial reports, Olivia was at a friend’s house when a 911 call came in around 9:21 p.m. At first, the claim was she had run face‑first into a tree and was unconscious. Then ring camera footage from the friend’s porch showed her sitting outside. She walked toward some trees before the call was made. Fourteen minutes later, an ambulance arrived to rush Olivia to the hospital. She did not survive.
Olivia's family says they do not believe the girl “ran into a tree.” Olivia reportedly had a heart condition, but it is unclear whether that played a role in her death. Some accounts have said the girl was being chase by others in the neighborhood.
Officials have not announced a final cause or manner of death.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Rebecca and Deereng Smith - Mother and Father of Olivia
Dr. John Delatorre - Licensed psychologist and mediator, specializing in forensic psychology, psychological consultant to Project Absentis: a non-profit organization that searches for missing persons, resolutionfcs.com, Twitter, IG, and TikTok: @drjohndelatorre
Marie Pereira - Criminal Defense Attorney, Domestic Violence Expert (Domestic violence expert certified advocate, batterers prevention), Registered Nurse
Dr. Priya Banerjee, M.D. - Board Certified Forensic Pathologist and Anatomic Pathologist, Anchor Forensic Pathology Consulting
Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories'
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Prosecutors present horrifying crime scene photos during the preliminary hearing for singer D4vd in the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Tennessee father arrested for first-degree murder after leading Memphis police to toddler son's body in suitcase. Silicon Valley driver faces murder charges seven months after an extreme high-speed crash killed a mother and her toddler daughter. Sydney Silvagni reports.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.