Outliers Writing University Podcast Series

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 31: Body Disposal

From HOWDUNNIT:FORENSICS:
GETTING RID OF THE BODY 
Some criminals attempt to destroy corpses, the primary pieces of evidence in homicides. They think that if the police never find the body, they can’t be convicted. This isn’t true, since convictions have in many cases been obtained when no body is found. And destroying a body is no easy task. 
Fire seems to be the favorite tool for this effort. Fortunately, this is essentially never successful. Short of a crematorium, it is nearly impossible to create a fire that burns hot enough or long enough to destroy a human corpse. Cremation uses temperatures of around 1,500oF for two hours or more and still bone fragments and teeth survive. A torched building would rarely reach these temperatures and would not burn for this long. The body inside may be severely charred on the surface, but the inner tissues and internal organs are often very well preserved. 
Another favorite is quicklime. Murderers use this because they have seen it in the movies and because they don’t typically have degrees in chemistry. If they did, they might think twice about this one. Not that quicklime won’t destroy a corpse; it just takes a long time and a lot of the chemical. Most killers who use this method simply dump some on the corpse and bury it, thinking the lime will do its work and nothing will remain. Quicklime is calcium oxide. When it contacts water, as it often does in burial sites, it reacts with the water to make calcium hydroxide, also known as slaked lime. This corrosive material may damage the corpse, but the heat produced from this activity will kill many of the putrefying bacteria and dehydrate the body. This conspires to prevent decay and promote mummification. Thus, the use of quicklime may actually help preserve the body. 
Acids are also used in this regard, and once again the criminal hopes the acid will completely dissolve the body. Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer tried this with little success. Indeed, powerful acids such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), andchlorosulfuric acid (HClSO3) can destroy a corpse, bones and all. If enough acid is used over a sufficient period of time, that is. But this is not only difficult but also extremely hazardous. The acids will indeed destroy the corpse, but they will also “eat” the tub the body is in and chew up the plumbing. Acid fumes will peel the wallpaper and burn the perpetrator’s skin, eyes, and lungs. 
 
Body Encased in Concrete: https://www.breitbart.com/crime/2019/10/17/police-find-missing-womans-body-encased-concrete-arrest-two-suspects/
 
Body in Concrete in Plastic Storage Container: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/13/14409189-murder-victim-found-entombed-in-concrete-was-former-fla-journalist
 
Acid in Tub: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/french-students-dissolve-body-in-acid-after-killing-girl-in-breaking-bad-murder-plot-10447943.html
 
Body Beneath Another Corpse: https://www.newser.com/story/240700/husband-hid-wifes-body-under-grave-of-wwii-veteran.html
 
Body Parts in Trash Bags: https://6abc.com/archive/6880388/
 
Cooked Spouse: https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/la-chef-told-police-he-slow-cooked-his-wife-for-days.html
 
Laci Petersen in the San Francisco Bay: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Peterson
 
Corpse in Freezer in Truck: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-18-mn-17076-story.html
 
And
 
https://murderpedia.org/male.F/f/famalaro-john.htm
 
The Science of Finding Buried Bodies: http://theconversation.com/the-science-of-finding-buried-bodies-77803
 
The Science of Finding Dead Bodies: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4515430/Researchers-reveal-track-corpse.html

GET TO KNOW Best-selling Author and Writing Instructor James Scott Bell

JAMES SCOTT BELL is a winner of the International Thriller Writers Award, and the author of the #1 bestseller for writers, Plot & Structure (Writer’s Digest Books). His thrillers include the Mike Romeo thriller series; Try Dying, Try Darkness and Try Fear (the Ty Buchanan legal thriller series); and stand-alones including Your Son Is Alive and Final Witness (which won the first Christy Award for Suspense). He served as the fiction columnist for Writer's Digest magazine and has written several popular writing books, including Just Write, Conflict & Suspense, and The Art of War for Writers (all from Writer’s Digest Books). He’s also published How to Write Dazzling Dialogue, Write Your Novel From the Middle, Super Structure, and How to Make a Living as a Writer. Links to all his writing books may be found HERE. 
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and at numerous writers conferences in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver, and graduated with honors from the University of Southern California Law Center. 
A former trial lawyer, Jim now writes and speaks full time. He appeared as an expert commentator on Good Morning America, CBS radio, and in Newsweek magazine during the O. J. Simpson murder trial. His book on search and seizure law is the leading authority in its field, used extensively by lawyers and judges throughout California every day. He lives in Los Angeles.

GET TO KNOW Best-selling Author and Podcaster John Gaspard

John is author of the Eli Marks mystery series and the Como Lake Players mystery series. He also has several other stand-alone novels, including “The Greyhound of the Baskervilles,” “A Christmas Carl,” “The Sword & Mr. Stone” and “The Ripperologists.” 
He hosts two podcasts: "Behind the Page: The Eli Marks Podcast," and "The Occasional Film Podcast."
In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, those books made more than the films. 
John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several greyhounds, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.
 
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Unleash your inner detective with teenage magician Eli Marks!
Join thirteen-year-old Eli as he moves in with his magician uncle and uncovers the secrets of the magic world in “The Curious Mysteries of Eli Marks.”
With brain-teasing puzzles in each chapter, Eli uses his smarts to solve mysteries while learning about the fascinating world of magic.
Readers can join in the fun and try to solve the puzzles alongside Eli … PLUS learn ten amazing magic tricks with step-by-step instructions and illustrations in the second half of the book.
https://www.elimarksmysteries.com/

GET TO KNOW Best-selling Author Leslie Klinger

Leslie S. Klinger is considered to be one of the world’s foremost authorities on Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, H. P. Lovecraft, Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde, and the history of crime and horror fiction. Klinger is a long-time member of the Baker Street Irregulars, currently serving as “Buttons” (Vice President), and served as the Series Editor for the Manuscript Series of The Baker Street Irregulars; he is currently the Series Editor for the BSI’s Biography Series. He is serving (again) as Chapter President of the SoCal Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and on its National Board. He also served for ten years as the Treasurer of the Horror Writers Association. He co-edited The Haunted Library, a series of eight horror classics published by the HWA, and is currently the editor of the 18-volume Library of Congress Crime Classics series, a partnership of the Library of Congress and Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks. To date, he has edited more than 80 books, including Annotated Sandman and Watchmen Annotated for DC Entertainment as well as Annotated American Gods (with Neil Gaiman). He lectures frequently on Holmes, Dracula, Lovecraft, Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde, and the history of crime and horror fiction, including frequent panels at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Bouchercon, NecronomiCon, StokerCon, World Horror Convention, World Fantasy Convention, VampireCon, Comicpalooza, WonderCon, and San Diego Comic-Con, and he has taught several courses on Holmes and Dracula at UCLA Extension.
Klinger’s work has received numerous awards and nominations, including the Edgar® for Best Critical-Biographical Book in 2005 for The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Short Stories, the Edgar® for Best Critical-Biographical Book in 2019 for Classic American Crime Fiction of the 1920s and the Anthony and Silver Falchion awards for Best Anthology in 2015 for In the Company of Sherlock Holmes (co-edited with Laurie R. King). His introductions and essays have appeared in numerous books, graphic novels, academic journals, newspapers, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and Playboy Magazine; he also reviews books for the Los Angeles Times. He was the technical advisor for Warner Bros. on the film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) and served (without credit) in that role for Warner Bros.’ earlier hit Sherlock Holmes (2009), technical advisor for Legendary Films for the two Enola Holmes films, and most recently, technical consultant for CBS-TV for the new series Watson. He has also consulted on a number of novels, comic books, and graphic novels featuring Holmes and Dracula.
Les attended the University of California where he received an A.B. in English; he also attended the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall, now BerkeleyLaw), where he obtained a J.D. degree. He and his wife Sharon have five adult children, six grandchildren, and live in Malibu with their cats. By day, Klinger practices law in Westwood, specializing in tax, estate planning, and business law.
https://lesliesklinger.com/

GET TO KNOW Best-selling Author Jared Cade

Jared Cade is the Amazon number one bestselling author of Agatha Christie and the Eleven Missing Days. He is a former tour guide for a bespoke luxury travel company, escorting parties around Agatha Christie’s former home Greenway, in Devon, which is open to the public courtesy of the National Trust. During an appearance on the British television quiz The 64,000 Dollar Question, he won the top prize on his specialist subject of Agatha Christie’s novels.
Jared Cade’s writing is heavily influenced by the Golden Age of crime fiction. He has a fondness for amateur sleuths, traditional mysteries, locked-room murders, and impossible crimes. He is the creator of the crime-solving duo of actor Lyle Revel and cellist Hermione Bradbury who take centre stage in a series of British cosy murder mysteries. He shares his tips for writing on the Crime Writers’ Association website.
https://thecwa.co.uk/find-an-author/cade-jared/

GET TO KNOW Best-selling Author Elizabeth Spann Craig

Bestselling cozy mystery author Elizabeth Spann Craig is a library-loving, avid mystery reader. A pet-owning Southerner, her four series are full of cats, corgis, and cheese grits. The mother of two, she lives with her husband, a fun-loving corgi, and a couple of sweet, fluffy cats.
She's been published traditionally by Penguin-Random House and Midnight Ink, and has published many books independently, herself.
https://elizabethspanncraig.com/

GET TO KNOW Best-selling Author Peter James

Peter novels are now published in 38 languages. Four of his stories have been adapted into highly successful stage plays: the novella The Perfect Murder, Dead Simple, Not Dead Enough and The House On Cold Hill, which had its worldwide stage debut in January 2019. 
In addition to his work in the creative industries, Peter has been involved in a number of other enterprises. These include Cornelia James, his mother’s glove making company which has been by Royal Appointment to The Queen since 1978, and Pavilion Internet plc, one of the 7rst internet service providers in the UK, which Peter co-founded in 1993 and sold to Easynet in 1998. 
Peter pursues many interests in his relaxation time, including his extensive charity work. A self-confessed “petrol head”, Peter races classic cars at circuits around the country and has been a regular at the Goodwood Revival for several years. His enthusiasm remains undimmed after a surviving a horrendous high speed crash at Brands Hatch in 2013, although his publishers and his fans might prefer he took up a somewhat safer past-time – bowls, perhaps? 
https://www.peterjames.com/

GET TO KNOW Author John David Bethel

John David Bethel was a speechwriter to Cabinet Secretaries at the Departments of Commerce and Education during the Bush 41 and 43 administrations. He also served as a press secretary and speechwriter to members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Additionally, Bethel worked as a communications strategist for a number of national and international public relations firms, including Burson Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe. He is an award-winning author whose novels include Evil Town, Hotel Hell, Unheard Of, Holding Back the Dark and A Washington Trilogy. He has also been published in popular consumer magazines and respected political journals.
http://www.johndavidbethel.com/

GET TO KNOW Writer, Producer, Psychotherapist Sagit Schwartz

Sagit Schwartz is a writer, producer, and licensed psychotherapist. Her work has been featured in Medium, Slate, The Atlantic, Reddit NoSleep, and Lifetime Television. She resides with her husband, daughter, and rescue dog in a Southern California beach town.

GET TO KNOW Human Potential Coach Anne Trager

I’m a straight-talking optimist committed to building a positive future, one person at a time. I do this by opening doors to the possibilities that come from having more time, energy and focus. I believe we all have what it takes to show up fully and thrive among chaos of today’s time-crunched, information-overloaded, ever-changing world.
Certified Human Potential Coach (Human Potential Institute)
Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coaching Federation
Certified Heroic Coach
Certified Neurosensorial Coach
Certified Neurosystemic Management Consultant
Trained in success coaching, emotional intelligence, positive psychology, Theory U, mindfulness, tai chi/qi gong, and biohacking
Black belt and French national champion in Vietnamese martial arts
30+ years in international corporate communications, publishing and intercultural facilitation, supporting high-level executives in multinationals, non-profits and institutions.
Founded 3 businesses, including a publishing house, and translated 30+ books
 
https://www.annetrager.com/