Episode 8: Missing Arm
Uncovering Secrets: A Tale of Homicide, Dogs, and the Unexpected
Episode Spotlight from Kohroner Chronicles with Dr. Roland Kohr
Welcome to Kohroner Chronicles, the podcast where Dr. Roland Kohr, forensic pathologist, delves into the intriguing and often perplexing world of forensic science. In today’s episode, Dr. Kohr recounts a case from his time in Terre Haute that took an unusual turn, blending the tragic, the bizarre, and the unexpectedly humorous.
The story begins on a Sunday afternoon in a residential area near railroad tracks. A dog, seemingly on a mission, had been digging and unearthed something grim: human remains. A passerby stumbled upon the scene and quickly alerted the police. Upon their arrival, authorities contacted Dr. Kohr to oversee the excavation.
The victim, a young woman who had been reported missing weeks earlier, was found buried near a fallen tree, just 50 feet from a well-traveled street. Despite the proximity to a public area, the grave was haphazardly concealed. As the body was uncovered, one detail stood out: part of her upper extremity was missing.
Identification was possible thanks to a unique, unfinished tattoo. A friend of the victim provided a photo of the tattoo’s progress, which matched perfectly. Investigators confirmed that the victim’s significant other, known for a tumultuous relationship with her and threats to her life, was responsible for her murder.
What followed, however, was a twist no one expected.
A Radiology Worker’s Eerie Observation
On Monday, during a break from his forensic duties, Dr. Kohr was approached by a hospital radiology worker who mentioned a peculiar sighting. On approaching Dr. Kohr she said that he’d probably think she was crazy. Nevertheless, she described driving through the area the previous Friday and spotting a dog carrying what appeared to be a human leg. Based on his autopsy, Dr. Kohr took her account seriously. He relayed the information to the police, who canvassed the neighborhood in search of the dog or the missing limb. Unfortunately, neither was ever found.
Dr. Kohr speculates that, years from now, someone might accidentally unearth the missing arm. “It’s not uncommon for construction crews or homeowners to stumble upon bones while digging foundations or planting shrubs,” he noted. Such discoveries often spark momentary panic, though they usually turn out to be non-human remains.
When Bones Tell Unexpected Stories
Dr. Kohr shared another example of a misidentified bone that turned out to be part of a spiral-sliced ham—a case that initially baffled detectives with its unusual tool marks. "Those aha moments," he chuckled, "are a welcome relief in a profession that often deals with the grim."
In the world of forensic pathology, not every bone tells a story of violence. Some speak of forgotten meals or buried animal remains. But as Dr. Kohr reminds us, every discovery holds the potential to unravel a mystery—or, in some cases, lead to nothing more than a good laugh.
Tune in to more episodes of Kohroner Chronicles for gripping tales of forensic science, human nature, and the unexpected twists that make life stranger than fiction.