Episode 11: Insulin Murders

Listen to "Insulin Murders"

(opens in a new window)

This week we discuss a Dr. Douche and how he thought he could get away with "the perfect murder" but little did he know that the astute skills of post-mortem examiners could uncover more than he wanted people to know…

This week's images can only be viewed via our social media pages:

https://www.instagram.com/murdermedpod/

or by following the link below and subscribing to the Australian Police Journal:

https://apjl.com.au/issues/september-2019/

Episode Sources:

• Australian Police Journal (2019). Vol73, No.3, pp136-145
• The Sydney Morning Herald Dec 8, 2016.
• Marks & Richmond, (2007). Insulin Murders: True Life Cases. Royal Society of Medicine Press.
• Diabetes.co.uk
• Diabetes Australia
• Laban et al., (2016). The determination of insulin overdose in postmortem investigations. Academic Forensic Pathology.
• Megarbane, et al., (2007). Intentional overdose with insulin: prognostic factors and toxicokinetic/ toxicodynamic profiles. Critical Care.
• Wikipedia (various pages)
• Logo images courtesy of Canva - Collaborate and Create Amazing Graphic Design for FREE! Canva.com

Episode 10: Forensic Serology

Listen to “Forensic Serology”

(opens in a new window)

Today, DNA has helped solve thousands of crimes around the world. But before this technology was available, what did investigators do? Amelia discusses the evolution of Forensic Serology, from ABO typing to DNA profiling! We end with a case that sat cold and unsolved for 14 years until DNA technology finally cracked it!

ABO Blood Typing Test results. A good example of what agglutination looks like.

Image: Google - JaypeeDigital eBook Reader

Rosalind Franklin and her X-ray Crystalography. Shows double helix of DNA 

Image: socratic.org

What’s in blood? Image: labs.selfdecode.com

Episode Sources:

• Cold Case Files: Past Crimes Solved by New Forensic Evidence. Liz Porter 2011. Macmillan.

• dnafit.com
• Wikipedia
• abc.net.au
• genome.gov
• webmd.com
• siarchives.si.edu
• nature.com
• Rachel's brain
• Logo images courtesy of Canva - Collaborate and Create Amazing Graphic Design for FREE! Canva.com

Episode 9: Diatoms and Drowning

Listen to “Diatoms and Drowning”

(Opens in a new window)

You find a body in a river. Decomposition is advanced. How can forensic investigators determine whether the victim drowned right there or was murdered and dumped there? Is the diatom test a reliable way to convict or acquit someone in a court of law? Enter the beautiful kaleidoscope world of these tiny algae and how they might be able to assist in murder investigations.

Diatoms truly are a marvel.

Image: labroots.com

The collection of diatoms from an aquatic murder scene can assist in catching the killer.

Image: McCrone Group

Episode Sources:

 

• Ago, K., et al. (2011). The number of diatoms from the lungs and other organs in drowning deaths in bathwater. (Legal Medicine).
• Anand, T.P., et al. (2016). Diatom test: a reliable tool to assess death by drowning? (International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences).
• Horton, B.P. (2006). The development and application of a diatom-based quantitative reconstruction technique in forensic science. (Journal of Forensic Science).
• Hurlimann, J., et al. (2000). Diatom detection in the diagnosis of death by drowning (International Journal of Legal Medicine).
• Magni, P.A., et al., (2015). Alibi verification using diatoms (American Academy for Forensic Sciences - Florida).
• Rana, A, et al. (2018) Significance of diatoms in diagnosis of drowning deaths: A review (Lupine Publishers)
• Diatoms.org
• Forensicreader.com
• Indianexpress.com
• Tandfonline.com
• Deepseanews.com
• Livescience.com
• Popsci.com
• Mccrone.com
• Labroots.com
• Condor.depaul.edu
• Wikipedia
• Logo images courtesy of Canva - Collaborate and Create Amazing Graphic Design for FREE! Canva.com

 

Inspired by National Geographic’s article:

This man drowned 5000 years ago - How do we know?

Episode 8: The Swansea Murderer

                                                    

Listen to "The Swansea Murderer"

(opens in a new window)

Today, Rachel goes solo with a 100 year old triple murder from Tasmania, Australia. Find out what kind of douche would murder a disabled man, two fathers of young children and a poor little doggo. The reason why he said he did it will anger you. 

George Carpenter (The Swansea Murderer)

Second-last person to hang in Tasmania

Image from: tasmanianwarcasualties.com

George Carpenter’s House

Image from: Illustrated Tasmanian Mail

George Carpenter needed an amputation of his arm

Image from: Tasmania Police Museum

Episode Sources:

• Tasmanian Crime Stories by Reg Watson
• Trove.nla.gov.au
• The Mercury (Hobart, TAS)
• The Examiner (Launceston, TAS)
• Daily Telegraph (Launceston, TAS)
• Illustrated Tasmanian Mail (TAS)
• The Albany Advertiser (WA)
• Kalgoorlie Miner (WA)
• Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW)
• Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
• Northern Advocate (Whangarei, NZ)
• Australian Police Journal (2018), 72/1. The Garden of Horror by Noel Johnson.
• Tasmanianwarcasualties.com - Gravesites of Tasmania: Executions
• Great Oyster Bay Community News - Issue 34/2018.
• Monumentaustralia.org.au
• Aussietowns.com.au
• Tasmania Police Museum - Facebook page (2014).
• Logo images designed with Canva - Collaborate and Create Amazing Graphic Design for FREE! Canva.com