The Coroner’s Silence: Death Records and the Hidden Victims of Police Violence

·58 min·5 clips

How could an autopsy claim someone simultaneously died by suicide and from being assaulted?

This episode of Academic Life features host Dr. Christina Gessler interviewing Dr. Terrence Keel about his book 'The Coroner's Silence: Death Records and the Hidden Victims of Police Violence.' Keel begins by describing his interdisciplinary background in religion, history of science, and medicine. He explains that the book was inspired by the waning George Floyd protests and his work with families of police violence victims. A key case is John Horton III, who died in Los Angeles jail in 2009; his mother Helen Jones found extensive injuries on his body, contradicting the official suicide ruling. Keel discusses how he accessed nearly a thousand autopsy reports, facing barriers due to varying state laws on public records. He details how autopsy reports use passive language and ambiguity to obscure police actions, citing George Floyd's autopsy as an example. The episode covers the historical evolution of coroners from English 'crowners' to modern medical examiners, noting the loss of community oversight. Keel connects police violence to broader societal issues, such as the lack of universal healthcare and social safety nets, referencing President Truman's failed efforts. He presents data showing police killed 32,104 people during arrests from 2000-2020, more than double all executions in U.S. history, with causes including gunshots and vehicle incidents. Keel emphasizes that white Americans comprise 32% of these deaths, challenging perceptions of police violence. He concludes by urging listeners to reconsider beliefs about law and order, arguing that police and jails do not ensure safety when basic needs are unmet.

As heard by us

Official death records carry real weight when no one reviews the silence.

Dr. Terrence Keel and Christina Gessler frame death records as a test of power: who gets the final say when a death in custody is ruled a suicide, and who can answer when family testimony points another way.

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Why you'd press play

You get a close look at how an official death record can become the final word, even when family testimony says otherwise.

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