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It practically gallops!

Wish Fulfillment

A few days after each “Dinner with the Bone Doctor,” Susan Seals mails me a few snapshots from the event. The pictures are signed by Dr. Bill Bass. This past week I was fortunate to receive a few pictures of myself with Dr. Bass as well as some pictures that I need to give to others.

Dinner with the Bone Doctor 4 - Melissa Treece meets Dr. Bill Bass Melissa Treece is a fan of Patricia Cornwell’s books and sometimes corresponds with the famous author via Twitter. Melissa plans to start reading the novels and the non-fiction books by Dr. Bass and Jon Jefferson. She bought a ticket to the dinner last Monday night and had a fabulous time. I have three autographed pictures for her.

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Dinner with the Bone Doctor 4 - Amy Sams meets Dr. Bill Bass and Frank Murphy Amy Sams entered the Star 102.1 Fall Fantasy contest last year. Her entry was picked on Halloween morning and she quickly called in to claim her prize. Her wish was to meet Dr. Bass. The radio station paid for Amy and her mother to attend the dinner. I have two autographed pictures for her.

January 28, 2012 | Filed Under Body Farm | Leave a Comment 

One Who Presides

Dennis Reedy, president of the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association, asked for a motion to approve the slate of new officers on Thursday night. The motion was made, seconded and then approved by voice vote. With that, I was elected to be the new president of the group.

The rest of the evening consisted of making plans for the year ahead. Our next meeting will be held in the William M. Bass Forensic Anthropology Building, which should insure a good turnout. Special Agent in Charge Richard Lambert said he would give us a briefing on cyber-terrorism threats at an upcoming meeting.

A few events are already on our calendar. The Alumni Association will help promote the Law Enforcement Memorial Run on May 12. Our annual field trip to FBI Headquarters and Quantico is locked in for August. I found out that one of my responsibilities as chapter president will be to attend the National Citizens Academy Alumni Association annual conference in Denver this September.

On a sad note, we learned of the death of FBI Chief Division Council Martin J. King. We all knew Mr. King from his annual presentation to the Citizens Academy on the legal powers and limitations of the FBI. The Alumni Association voted to make a donation to the memorial fund being set up to benefit his family.

January 27, 2012 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

Hip to Be Square

Dinner with the Bone Doctor 4 - Dr. Bill Bass brings a different set of bones to each “Dinner with the Bone Doctor.” The fourth such event at Echo Bistro & Wine Bar was held last night. Guests enjoyed sea bass and veal while staring at various bones from the Body Farm. I have had the good fortune to serve as emcee for each of the dinners.

Dinner with the Bone Doctor 4 - Dinner with the Bone Doctor 4 - The first bone of the evening was a native American skull that was about 400 years old. Dr. Bass could tell that the person’s skull was flattened by a cradleboard during infancy. As he placed the skull on each table in the restaurant, guests grabbed their cameras and cell phones to take a picture. Melissa Treece posted her photo to Twitter right away.

Dinner with the Bone Doctor 4 - One of the bones came from the neck of a bison. It had a huge hump spine. Dr. Bass compared it to the same bone from the neck of a human. Before the dinner, Susan Seals of the Bone Zones team said to me, “when Dr. Bass holds up the buffalo bone, be sure to mention that they serve bison steaks here at Echo.” When the time came, I grabbed a menu and read aloud: “Bison Strip Steak ‘Denmark,’ broiled to perfection then topped with sautéed shiitake mushrooms, country ham and blue cheese crumbles.”

Dinner with the Bone Doctor 4 - In the past, Dr. Bass has  shown what remains of an artificial hip from a person who was cremated. Last night he showed an artificial hip from someone who decomposed at the Body Farm. The number 31-05D is visible on the pelvis. According to the Body Farm numbering system, the bones came from the 31st body donated in 2005.

Dr. Bass gave a few hints about the next Jefferson Bass novel, “The Inquisitor’s Key,” which will be released on May 8. It involves the Avignon Papacy, the Shroud of Turin and a mysterious set of bones.

January 24, 2012 | Filed Under Body Farm | 1 Comment 

Happy Disposition

The opening scene of last Wednesday’s episode of “The Middle” should be enough to earn award nominations for each of the five main cast members. The actors playing the Heck family displayed great comedic timing while driving home from Aunt Ginny’s funeral. Frances Bay, the actress who played Aunt Ginny, died in September. The characters talked about how Aunt Ginny looked less wrinkled laying down. Embalming will often make an elderly person appear younger.

Like the Hecks, my family’s tradition is to choose embalming and burial. In the old days, the question of whether to be buried or cremated rarely came up. With the rise in popularity of cremation, the question is a valid one, as pointed out in a blog on NPR’s website last Thursday. The writer, Barbara J. King, adds a third choice of donating one’s body to science, specifically the Body Farm. Because I sometimes volunteer as an emcee for Bone Zones events, I am often asked if I want my remains to decay at the Body Farm. I respect those who choose differently but I have repeatedly said that I want my remains to be exhumable. I haven’t purchased a cemetery plot but my inclination is to choose one a Catholic cemetery.

A “NIMBY” controversy has erupted over plans for a new crematory in Fountain City. Eric Botts, the manager of the Gentry-Griffey Funeral Chapel was my guest on the public affairs program that aired this morning. You can listen via the podcast link below. We spoke about the controversy, about changes in the funeral industry and about the increased demand for cremations. The people who have complained about the crematory are uninformed. Newer technology means there will be no smoke or odor. In fact, the neighbors won’t notice anything. After the interview, Eric and I exchanged Facebook messages. He invited me to tour the facility once it’s up and running.

Frank Murphy Interviews Eric Botts of Gentry-Griffey Funeral Chapel [ 30:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

January 15, 2012 | Filed Under Body Farm | Leave a Comment 

Mist-ery Spot

Patricia Cornwell traveled to Oak Ridge to promote her new Kay Scarpetta novel, “Red Mist.” It wasn’t for a book signing but for a television appearance. Cornwell’s interview with Terry Moran aired Tuesday on “Good Morning America” and “Nightline.”

Most of the interview took place at the National Forensic Academy, which now houses the bulk of Cornwell’s collection of crime memorabilia. She splattered some real human blood with a baseball bat and a hammer. My son and I got to study blood drops in the same room last year. Cornwell also took Moran on a helicopter flight over the Body Farm, as she revealed on Twitter last week.

December 7, 2011 | Filed Under Body Farm | Comments Off 

Valley of Bones

The forensic memorial service that I attended Monday was on the news last night. Dr. Bill Bass said it was only the third time the ceremony had been recorded on video and the first time by an American television station. The footage was on WTNZ at 10:00 p.m. and on WBIR at 11:00 p.m.

During the memorial, UT Medical Center Chaplain George Doebler read a Bible passage from the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 37. The scripture is about a vision of dry bones covering the landscape. The song “Dem Bones” is based on the same chapter.

The 11:00 broadcast also included a live interview with Dr. Bass. My favorite part was the video from 1981 that they showed while he spoke.

November 23, 2011 | Filed Under Body Farm | Comments Off 

Stamp of Approval

Earlier this month, WBIR and WTNZ aired a report about the Body Farm and its connection to the movie “The Blind Side.” After the broadcast, producer Amanda Dill contacted me with an idea for a follow-up. She still had more Body Farm footage to use before the end of November sweeps.

Susan Seals of BoneZones.com wants the U.S. Postal Service to honor Dr. Bill Bass on a stamp. After the dedication ceremony for the William M. Bass Forensic Anthropology Building, Susan asked me to help spread the word via Facebook and Twitter. Susan told Amanda about the campaign and Amanda asked me to give them a sound bite for Monday’s newscasts. It would publicize the Facebook page for the stamp campaign and serve as a tease for a longer story on Tuesday night about a memorial service for those who donate their bodies.

Dr. William M. Bass Forensic Anthropology Building - autopsy table They shot an interview with me on Friday at Star 102.1 but a technical glitch made the audio unusable. Amanda asked if I could redo the sound bite after the memorial service on Monday. The service was held in the classroom space at the new Bass building. Dr. Bass introduced two chaplains from the UT Medical Center, who each led a prayer. Several students attended, as did Dr. Lee Meadows Jantz and Dr. Dawnie Steadman. They recorded me in the lab, in front of an as-yet-unused autopsy table.

November 22, 2011 | Filed Under Body Farm | 1 Comment 

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