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In a recent episode of his true-crime podcast Kohroner Chronicles, veteran forensic pathologist Dr. Roland Kohr took listeners inside a puzzling case from rural Illinois— a case that underscores the critical role of thorough investigation and a healthy dose of skepticism when dealing with suspicious deaths.

Working Across Indiana and Illinois

Throughout his career, Dr. Kohr served as a forensic pathologist for up to 20 counties across Indiana and Illinois. While some of these areas had only part-time marshals or small-town deputies, Dr. Kohr stressed that appearances could be deceiving — and sometimes the most unassuming officers were the most tenacious and sharp.

In the case he recalled, it was a nearing-retirement sheriff’s deputy — whom Dr. Kohr referred to as "T.R." — who proved instrumental.

A Death That Didn't Quite Add Up

The case began with what appeared to be a tragic accident. A woman called 9-1-1 on a Sunday afternoon to report that her husband had accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun in their family room. The scene was set: gun-cleaning supplies neatly placed on a TV tray, the man found dead in his recliner with a gunshot wound to the forehead.

First responders, including attentive paramedics and sheriff’s deputies, noted details that would later raise doubts about the initial story. Dr. Kohr emphasized that early observations at a death scene are crucial and that even small details can become pivotal.

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"Sometimes fiction is stranger than truth. And sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction—and occasionally, one overtakes the other."

Welcome back to another gripping episode of the Kohroner Chronicles, where we peel back the layers of darkness hiding in autopsy rooms and crime scenes. I’m Dr. Roland Kohr, forensic pathologist, and today we’re revisiting a case that eerily foreshadowed a scene made infamous in Breaking Bad, years before Vince Gilligan ever dreamed it up.

Breaking Bad—Before Breaking Bad

Most fans of Breaking Bad will recall the first-season scene where bodies are dissolved in acid. But right here in Vigo County, Indiana, we faced a real-life version of that gruesome tableau long before Hollywood got wind of it.

It started, as so many tragedies do, with a drug deal gone south. One co-conspirator shot the other and was left with a harrowing dilemma: how do you dispose of a body? His answer: acid.

Hydrochloric acid isn’t exactly a household item. Yet in this rural part of Indiana, small oil wells pepper the landscape, and acid drums aren’t unheard of at those sites. Though we never traced the exact origin of the acid used, that theory remains our leading contender.

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Not every case that comes across the autopsy table is a sensational act of violence or a calculated crime. Sometimes, it’s not neglect in the traditional sense. Sometimes, it’s ignorance, and the price is tragically high.

In this episode, we look at the death of a 14-year-old girl whose life ended not with malice, but with a misjudgment so severe, it left a trail of questions that needed answers only an autopsy could reveal.

A Special Needs Patient, A Complex Procedure

The young girl in this case lived with profound developmental disabilities. While she was 14 in age, her mental function was closer to that of a 3- or 4-year-old. Her care was a challenge, especially when it came to basic medical procedures, like dental care.

Each year, she was taken to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, where dental work could be safely completed under general anesthesia. For such procedures, doctors opted for nasal tracheal intubation, a breathing tube inserted through the nose instead of the mouth, to allow full access to the oral cavity.

A Bleeding Complication

On her most recent visit, the procedure was routine, until the end. Upon removing the breathing tube, she suffered a significant nasal hemorrhage. Not severe enough to panic the physicians, but serious enough to warrant extended monitoring. There was concern she may have aspirated blood into her lungs.

After several hours of observation, she was deemed stable and discharged. Along with instructions, the family was sent home with Tylenol with codeine, a once-common narcotic pain reliever.

A Shocking Morning Discovery

Two days later, on a Wednesday morning, the child’s grandmother found her non-responsive and covered in blood. Emergency services were summoned, but it was too late. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. That’s when I received the call.

What looked like a post-surgical complication now demanded a full forensic autopsy. Had she drowned in her own blood? Had the pain medication played a role?

The Autopsy: Blood in the Lungs

The autopsy confirmed the grim suspicion: her airways were filled with blood. She had aspirated a significant amount, effectively drowning in her sleep. But that wasn’t the end of the mystery.

Toxicology results were ordered, standard in any pediatric death, and especially vital in a case involving prescribed narcotics.

A Toxic Twist

While waiting on lab results, I received repeated calls from the girl’s mother, pressing for the report. She even mentioned needing it for an attorney. Something in the tone raised red flags.

Two weeks later, the toxicology report came in. It revealed toxic levels of codeine in the child’s system. Not a full-blown overdose, but well beyond what would be considered safe or therapeutic.

I immediately contacted the family. When I mentioned the codeine levels, chaos erupted on the other end of the phone. Screaming. An argument in the background. Then silence.