Blood, Shovels, and Antlers: Decoding a Disturbing Crime Scene

Levi Axtell, a Minnesota man, murdered elderly Lawrence V. Scully, whom he accused of stalking his young daughter. Scully was convicted in 1979 of sexually assaulting a 6 year old girl and went to prison for 2 years. When carrying out the crime, Axtell used unconventional weapons in his attack – a shovel and a large moose antler – leaving a gruesome crime scene behind. 

In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the perplexing case of a brutal attack involving a shovel and moose antlers. They explore the difficulties faced by forensic investigators in differentiating between injuries caused by these unconventional weapons, while also examining the chaotic nature and rapid timeline of the assault, as well as the psychological aspects driving the attacker to use such odd weapons, and how the investigation unfolded in this bizarre and gruesome case.

Show Notes:

0:00 - Intro

1:05 - Background and overview of case

2:22 - Moose antlers being used as weapons.

3:55 - Levi Axtell and Lawrence Scully had been in conflict for years and Axtell eventually got an order of protection from him. What does that mean and what does it take to get an order of protection?

6:45 - Finding registered sex offenders in your area.

8:00 - Axtell got an order of protection from Scully which was then dismissed leading to heightened frustration and alertness.

10:10 - Scully’s criminal history.

13:05 - Axtell’s previous offenses.

13:50 - How did the whole situation escalate?

14:25 - Imagine a scenario where a blood-covered man confesses to murder at a police station.

15:30 - The role of 911 in reporting crimes.

16:40 - The police must ensure the safety of the suspect and others in the vicinity.

19:40 - Start asking questions.

21:10 - The suspect is agitated, how does that affect his interaction with the police?

22:30 - The use of a shovel in this case and how that may be used as evidence by Axtell's defense.

24:25 - Has JoScott Seen people use garden tools as weapons?

27:00 - How do forensic experts analyze and decipher complex crime scenes with widespread blood, defensive injuries, and splatter?

31:35 - How do forensic experts distinguish wounds from unusual weapons?

36:00 - How does the unique shape and weight of a moose antler influence its use as a weapon and the resulting injuries compared to other blunt force weapons?

39:10 - How the short time frame and frenzied nature of the attack may impact how police or forensic experts approach and investigate the crime scene. 

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