Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: MAYHEM IN THE MORGUE | PET FOOD
Release Date: November 30, 2025
Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns (Guest Host)

Episode Overview

In this episode, guest host Dr. Kendall Crowns explores one of true crime’s eeriest and most unsettling topics: postmortem pet scavenging. Framed around the pop culture myth of silent film star Marie Prevost being eaten by her dog, Dr. Crowns delves into the darker realities of what pets do when left alone with the corpse of their deceased owners. He shares forensic facts, case histories from his own experience, and dispels myths with a blend of clinical detail and dark wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story Behind "Mary Provost"

[02:33 - 06:00]

• Dr. Crowns is inspired by a Nick Lowe song lyric: “She was a winner who became a doggie’s dinner,” supposedly about a movie star eaten by her pet.
• Fact Check: The song and Kenneth Anger’s book “Hollywood Babylon” dramatized (and misrepresented) the reality of Marie Prevost’s death.
  • Prevost, a major silent film star, was found dead with abrasions on her body, but no evidence suggested her dachshund, Maxie, ate her remains.
  • Quote: “Maxi was loyal and stood by his owner… waiting for her to get up and never tried to eat her. All he did was scratch at her and tugged trying to wake her up.” (Dr. Crowns, 05:55)

2. Pet Scavenging: Forensic Realities

[06:00 - 08:00]

• Most pets, especially dogs and cats, will eventually scavenge the remains of their deceased owners if left alone without food or water.
• Style: Blunt, darkly humorous, with reminders of practical, if morbid, realities.
  • Quote: “You would like to think your pet would never eat you… but unfortunately your pet has different ideas.” (Dr. Crowns, 07:13)
• The phenomenon is difficult to study systematically but evident through case investigations.

3. Species Differences: Who Eats Whom, and How Fast?

[08:00 - 09:45]

• Cats:
  • Higher metabolism—may begin scavenging sooner (within a day).
  • Require animal-based nutrients (e.g., taurine), making them “obligate carnivores.”
  • “With cats, you have to wonder if it is personal.” (Dr. Crowns, 08:25)
• Dogs:
  • Usually wait 3–7 days, longer than cats.
  • Dogs are, ironically, more likely in total numbers to scavenge human remains.
• Rodents (hamsters):
  • Quickest to act; “They will not only eat you, but they will make a nest in your body cavity… and sharpen their teeth on your bones.” (Dr. Crowns, 08:55)
• Multiple Pets:
  • The presence of groups increases the likelihood and speed of scavenging, due to pack or mob behavior.

4. Case Examples from the Morgue

Chihuahua Pack Incident

[10:00 - 11:20]

• Police discover five chihuahuas consuming the face and neck of a deceased man after a wellness check.
  • Memorable Detail:
    • “The one standing on his chest reportedly looked into the light, blood covering his face and muzzle, and started snarling and barking. Then all the other Chihuahuas looked up, their tiny little heads soaked in blood, and they scattered like cockroaches.” (Dr. Crowns, 10:49)
  • Remained undetermined what happened to the dogs.

Cat Hoarding Case

[11:20 - 12:45]

• Elderly woman’s corpse is nearly skeletonized by ~20 cats, including significant bone consumption.
  • Some cats cannibalized dead/mummified cats, "survival of the fittest."
  • Cause of death undetermined due to advanced decomposition.

5. Why Do Pets Scavenge?

[12:45 - 15:50]

• Main triggers:
  • Hunger is obvious, but not the entire explanation—some pets have access to food and still scavenge.
  • Decomposition Odor: Pets may not recognize their owner after death, identifying the body as food.
  • Displacement Behavior: Pets, especially dogs, display stress behaviors (licking, biting, nipping) which escalate.
    • Quote: “When the blood comes out, that’s when the dog’s instincts take over…they start eating and they can’t stop themselves.” (Dr. Crowns, 15:08)
• Most targeted body areas: head and neck (linked to attempts at revival, licking the face), unlike feral animals (who go for organs first).

6. Outdoor Complications: Raccoon Acquittal

[17:00 - 19:30]

• Case of a 70-year-old man found outside, skeletonized from the neck up.
• Family worried dog would be euthanized; forensic anthropology identified raccoon marks on the skull.
  • “The dog was acquitted of all charges... What happened to the dog? The son took him in and the dog lived out the rest of his life with that family. Case closed.” (Dr. Crowns, 19:20)
• Warning: Never trust a raccoon.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Pet Loyalty vs. Survival Instinct:
  “I know you would like to think your pet would never eat you and would stand loyally at your side like Maxi did… but unfortunately your pet has different ideas.” (07:13)
• On Hamster Speed:
  “Pet hamsters or rodents… will eat the dead owner in less than a day. They will not only eat you, but they will make a nest in your body cavity, formed out of bits and pieces of your skin, soft tissue and bones.” (08:55)
• Cynical Humor About Chihuahuas:
  “They probably went back through a portal to hell, which is probably where they came from originally.” (11:18)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:33] Introduction to Episode & Marie Prevost Myth
• [05:55] Mythbusting: Did her dog really eat her?
• [07:13] The reality of pet scavenging
• [08:00] How different species differ in scavenging timelines
• [10:00] Chihuahua group attack case
• [11:20] Cat hoarding survival-of-the-fittest case
• [12:45] The psychological and physiological reasons pets scavenge
• [17:00] Raccoon or dog? Forensic case and family decision
• [19:20] Peaceful dog ending—acquittal and new home

Tone & Style

Dr. Crowns combines forensic expertise with grim humor, a matter-of-fact delivery, and a willingness to puncture comforting myths. His stories are graphic, darkly funny at times, and delivered with a forensic clarity that’s both informative and unsettling.

Takeaways

• Pets, including beloved household companions, are biologically hardwired to survive, which can lead to postmortem scavenging if left hungry and alone long enough.
• The myth of the loyal dog or cat refusing to touch a dead owner is enticing, but statistically, most pets will scavenge when pushed by circumstances.
• Forensic pathology can sometimes clear “unjustly accused” pets, as in the raccoon case.
• The realities of death and decomposition are stranger (and sometimes sadder or darker) than pop culture myths.

[19:30]

“Hope you learned something—like never trust a raccoon—and I hope you were entertained. Until the next stop.”
— Dr. Kendall Crowns

This summary provides a comprehensive look at the episode’s macabre yet enlightening journey through animal behavior, forensic science, and the human tendency to mythologize even the most uncomfortable truths.