Plot Twist Podcast: A Grave Affair

by Jenelle Vincent & Morgan Leper

A podcast about everything that happens the funeral home and beyond- death, decomposition, and the macabre. We’re digging deep into stories you’ve never heard before, visiting unique burial sites, and shining light onto funerary scandals. And there may or may not be a little bit of wine involved...

Podcast episodes

  • Season 3

  • S3 E2: Just Another Funeral Home Scandal

    S3 E2: Just Another Funeral Home Scandal

    A new funeral home scandal brings us back to Colorado yet again- a putrid smell leads investigators to find 190 improperly stored bodies littering Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, CO. This state's unique and liberated death culture seems to have a dark side, and we're finding out why. References: "Colorado hasn't licensed funeral practitioners since 1983. Now some want change." by Michael Abeyta, CBS News "Grisly discoveries at Colorado funeral homes fuel push for tougher state regulation" by Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post cofda.org (Colorado Funeral Directors Association) "189 decomposing bodies found at funeral home offering green burials" by Timothy Bella, Washington Post Order of Summary Suspension for Return to Nature Funeral Home "Will the funeral home industry in Colorado see regulation change after grisly discovery?" by Mary Shinn, The Gazette Colorado Bureau of Investigation Press Release: "Fremont County: Return to Nature Funeral Home Update" "Police found 115 bodies at Colorado ‘green’ funeral home while investigating putrid smells" by Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press "EPA to demolish funeral home in Colorado where 190 'improperly stored' bodies were discovered" by Jennifer McRae, CBS News "What licensing are funeral homes in Colorado required to have?" by Eleanor Sheahan, KOAA News 5 Colorado "These families trusted a funeral home. Their loved ones were left to rot, authorities say." by Trevor Hughes, USA Today "Owners of Return to Nature Funeral Home appear in El Paso County Court" by Aidan Hulting, KOAA News 5 Colorado

  • S3 E1: When Death Does NOT Us Part

    S3 E1: When Death Does NOT Us Part

    We're starting out season 3 with a (very belated) Valentine's Day tribute to two couples whose deaths did not separate them. We visited the grave of the tallest couple on record, and we're also diving into an ancient love story with a terrifying ending. You'll also get to hear about the bizarre adventure we're starting out on for 2024...

  • Season 2

  • S2 E14: Cadaver Dogs

    S2 E14: Cadaver Dogs

    If you listen to enough true crime podcasts, you've probably heard multiple cases where cadaver dogs played a role. But we wanted to know what happens before a dog even gets to its first case... we're looking into how they're trained and some examples of how cadaver dogs fit into the justice system. Resources: Cid Torrez vs. State of Florida, casetext.com "Cadaver detection dogs: A review of their capabilities and the volatile organic compound profile of their associated training aids" by Rushali Dargon and Shari L Forbes, WIREs Forensic Science "What the dog smelled: The science and mystery of cadaver dogs" by Chris Oke, CBC News "What to Know About Cadaver Dogs" by Laura Mueller, The Spruce Pets "Experts: Cadaver dogs 95 percent accurate, can smell remains 15 feet underground" by John O'Brien, Syracuse.com "What goes into training a cadaver dog" by Mason Brighton, Spectrum News 1 "Here’s How Cadaver Dogs Are Trained To Find Dead Bodies" by Drusilla Moorhouse "Sully the 'rock star' cadaver dog at centre of Douglas Garland triple murder trial on Monday" by Meghan Grant, CBC News

  • S2 E13: Eternal Tenure- University Cemeteries

    S2 E13: Eternal Tenure- University Cemeteries

    American universities are giving a new meaning to dark academia with the rise of on-campus burials. We’re discussing our feelings about spending eternity at our alma maters, and revealing a conspiracy behind a historical college cemetery. Don’t miss our stories about the people who never left their college campus! References: “College Campuses with Cemeteries”, collegetimes.co “Fordham University History”, Fordham.edu “Jesuit Cemetery, Fordham University” by Mary French, New York City Cemetery Project “Who’s Buried at Fordham?” by Bob Fetterhoff, The Ram Newspaper “A Grave Place, ISU’s Cemetery Stands Alone” by Carrie Sutton, Iowa State Daily “Cemetery History”, iastate.edu “ISU’s Cemetery is a Rare Landmark” by Sara Tennessen, Iowa State Daily

  • S2 E12: Green Cemeteries- A Forest of Graves

    S2 E12: Green Cemeteries- A Forest of Graves

    How can we make the funeral industry more environmentally friendly? We took a trip to one of only ten conservation cemeteries in the United States to find out! Morgan will go over some of the most glaring problems when it comes to human burials, and Jenelle will explain some greener options (and debunk some myths too).