Episode 15: Sticking to her Gun

Podcast Host Dr. Roland Kohr Highlights the Importance of Skepticism in Death Investigations

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.

Thinking Dirty: The 11th Commandment of Forensics

Dr. Kohr explained his guiding principle in death investigations — something he learned early in his training from mentor Dr. James Benz: "Think dirty." Not in a perverse sense, but in the sense of assuming a crime could have occurred until proven otherwise.

"You have to go in cynical," Kohr said. "If you assume everything is just an accident, you will miss important clues."

The Forensic Clues: A Problematic Gunshot Wound

Upon conducting the autopsy, Dr. Kohr immediately noticed a red flag: the wound was consistent with an intermediate-range gunshot, not a contact wound. In suicides, particularly gunshot suicides to the head, contact wounds — where the barrel is pressed directly against the skin — are vastly more common.

An intermediate wound, with gunpowder stippling but no charring, suggested the gun had been fired from several inches to possibly over a foot away. Furthermore, suicides involving a shot to the forehead are likewise rare, accounting for about 1% of gun suicides — making an intermediate forehead gunshot even more statistically improbable.

Gun Cleaning Scenario Raises More Doubts

Adding to the mystery was the wife's claim that the man had been cleaning his gun. Dr. Kohr explained that conscientious gun owners unload their firearms before cleaning them. "Cleaning a loaded gun is just stupid," he said.

He further noted that in cases staged to look like accidents, gun-cleaning supplies are often deliberately set out to support a false narrative — whether to protect family reputations or ensure insurance payouts.

The Type of Weapon: A Final Complication

The weapon involved was a revolver, which itself presented further questions. Dr. Kohr explained the differences between single-action and double-action revolvers — details that could critically affect theories about how the gun discharged.

While the podcast episode leaves listeners with a cliffhanger regarding the final conclusions, Dr. Kohr's retelling offers a compelling reminder: every death has a story, but it's the investigator’s job to make sure the right story is told.