Episode 19: Death in Darkness
Hello, World!
Dr. Roland Kohr, forensic pathologist and host of The Kohroner Chronicles podcast, is no stranger to the murky waters of death investigations. But in episode 19, he pulled back the curtain on a disturbing case where a combination of questionable police conduct and a deeply flawed investigation allowed a woman who likely murdered her husband to walk free.
“This podcast isn’t just for entertainment—it’s about education,” Dr. Kohr told his listeners. “It’s about showing how things actually work, especially when they go wrong.”
The episode focused on a death scene involving a man Dr. Kohr refers to as “John,” who was shot in the abdomen by his wife, “Sue,” under what she claimed were tragic, accidental circumstances. According to Sue, she believed an intruder was in the home, and when she went searching in the dark with the family’s only gun, she accidentally shot her husband.
But from the outset, red flags appeared.
A Delayed Notification, A Missed Opportunity
Deputy Coroner Linda, a seasoned investigator and former ER nurse, wasn’t called to the scene until 90 minutes after law enforcement first responded. When she arrived, officers made her wait on the porch for another 30 minutes—despite Indiana law granting coroners primary jurisdiction at scenes involving a death.
“This was not only illegal, it was completely inappropriate,” said Dr. Kohr. “They were playing games, trying to show who was in charge—and in the process, they compromised the investigation.”
That delay meant lost opportunities to determine time of death, observe original scene conditions, and ask timely questions.
The Anatomy of a Lie
Sue’s story was that she and John went to bed after sending their children to spend the night with grandparents. After hearing a noise in the house, John went to investigate. For reasons unclear, he didn’t take the family gun with him. Sue said she followed soon after with the gun—without turning on any lights. Then, startled by a dark figure, she fired.
“But none of this made sense,” Dr. Kohr said. “Why wouldn’t they turn on lights? Why did he go unarmed while she brought the gun? Why send the kids away that night after years of documented domestic arguments?”
The autopsy revealed a single gunshot wound to the abdomen—a wound not immediately fatal. In fact, John likely lived for 15 to 30 minutes after being shot. More troubling was the discovery of a fragment of black yarn lodged in the wound channel, stuck to the bullet itself. John had been wearing only a T-shirt and underwear—nothing that could explain the presence of the yarn.
The clue led investigators back to Sue. She had been wearing a black robe when officers first arrived. When retrieved and examined, the robe revealed a bullet hole in the forearm area—exactly where one would be if the shooter had concealed a gun up their sleeve.
“She didn’t just shoot him,” Dr. Kohr explained. “She concealed the weapon, staged the scene, and delayed calling 911 until he died. The yarn in the wound, the robe, the inconsistencies in her story—this was no accident.”
A Case Undone by Ego
Despite what Dr. Kohr called a “dead to rights” case, charges were never filed.
“The arrogance of the police department undermined everything,” he said, recalling how their refusal to allow the deputy coroner timely access to the scene destroyed the timeline and cost them crucial forensic evidence.
When officers later asked if the time of death could be determined more precisely, Dr. Kohr reminded them: “That’s what the deputy coroner could have done—if you’d let her inside promptly.”
The room fell silent. “No one argued. They just stared at their shoes,” he recalled. “But by then, the damage was done.”
A Call to Accountability
Dr. Kohr’s frustration remains palpable. “This woman should have faced trial. But because some officers decided to assert dominance rather than collaborate, justice slipped away.”
In sharing the case on The Kohroner Chronicles, he hopes to prevent such breakdowns in future investigations. “We can’t let ego interfere with truth. We owe that much to the victims.”
As his podcast gains traction, Dr. Kohr invites listeners to suggest future topics through the show’s website, KohronerChronicles.com, reinforcing the mission of public education through real forensic stories—especially the ones that don’t get tied up with a courtroom bow.
“Because,” he said plainly, “death leaves clues. And it’s our job not to miss them.”