Steve Fishman, Narrator

Cutting open dead bodies is fun?

Cutting open dead bodies is fun?

This is Dr. Donald Jason. He's been a medical examiner for 40 years, a professor for 20, and my guess is impatient forever. I asked him to review the autopsy report and evaluate the cause of death. Jack told me Noreen died after hitting her head on a footstool. He said he tried to resuscitate her to no avail. In his telling, the plastic bag was just a cosmetic thing.

This is Dr. Donald Jason. He's been a medical examiner for 40 years, a professor for 20, and my guess is impatient forever. I asked him to review the autopsy report and evaluate the cause of death. Jack told me Noreen died after hitting her head on a footstool. He said he tried to resuscitate her to no avail. In his telling, the plastic bag was just a cosmetic thing.

He couldn't bear to look at her face. According to the original autopsy, Noreen did suffer blunt force trauma, which Dr. Jason concurs could have come from the fall.

He couldn't bear to look at her face. According to the original autopsy, Noreen did suffer blunt force trauma, which Dr. Jason concurs could have come from the fall.

But here's the surprise.

But here's the surprise.

So the cause of death?

So the cause of death?

So wait, it's not the blow to the head that kills her. That only knocked her unconscious. It's the bag that Jack slips over her head. Could Jack Boyle, an experienced physician, have accidentally missed that Noreen was still alive when he came down the stairs? He saw her motionless on the carpet. He says he checked her pulse and her breathing.

So wait, it's not the blow to the head that kills her. That only knocked her unconscious. It's the bag that Jack slips over her head. Could Jack Boyle, an experienced physician, have accidentally missed that Noreen was still alive when he came down the stairs? He saw her motionless on the carpet. He says he checked her pulse and her breathing.

I mean, is there any chance you were premature with the bag over the head?

I mean, is there any chance you were premature with the bag over the head?

So accidentally or otherwise, it appears that Jack did in fact kill Noreen by suffocating her. Why didn't he just admit all this from the start? Say it was an accident. He might have been charged with a lesser crime, spent a lot less time in prison. Why look at the jury and swear you had nothing to do with her death? Jack says he was basically trying to get away with it. He didn't have a plan.

So accidentally or otherwise, it appears that Jack did in fact kill Noreen by suffocating her. Why didn't he just admit all this from the start? Say it was an accident. He might have been charged with a lesser crime, spent a lot less time in prison. Why look at the jury and swear you had nothing to do with her death? Jack says he was basically trying to get away with it. He didn't have a plan.

He had panic. So he went to the witness stand and he lied. Whatever came into his head... Though, Jack, you did stick with the lie for years, well past the point of whatever initial panic gripped you.

He had panic. So he went to the witness stand and he lied. Whatever came into his head... Though, Jack, you did stick with the lie for years, well past the point of whatever initial panic gripped you.

But now it's as if a switch flips. It's weird. Jack now says he takes responsibility for Noreen's death and for lying his ass off. but still somehow believes he was railroaded. Seriously, that's the word he uses.

But now it's as if a switch flips. It's weird. Jack now says he takes responsibility for Noreen's death and for lying his ass off. but still somehow believes he was railroaded. Seriously, that's the word he uses.