Joshua Drennen's Murderous Rampage in Charleston, West Virginia

First responders arrive at a “battle scene” in 77-year-old Barbara Steele's West Virginia home. Her body is beaten, eviscerated, and positioned on a makeshift altar by 28-year-old Joshua Drennen, who after leaving her residence, continues his string of assaults on unsuspecting civilians, until immobilized by a Charleston police officer. 

In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the antique item used in the physical attacks and injuries sustained by Barbara Steele and two other individuals in the community.

Show Notes:

0:00 - Intro

2:46 - Description of an antique iron owned and utilized by 77-year-old Barbara Steele

6:47 - Police are alerted to a criminal act committed by Joshua Drennen inside Barbara Steele’s home

8:03 - Joe describes the crime scene, the assault on Barbara Steele’s vehicle, and her participation within the community.

10:45 - Jackie and Joe discuss the continued acts of violence by Joshua Drennen against a woman inside her parked vehicle

9:23 - An explanation of cubing injuries to a body from an explosion of safety glass and how investigators use that information to determine a body’s position within a vehicle

13:31 - Joshua Drennen’s continued acts of violence throughout the community 

17:29 - Charleston Police Patrolman Terrence Casto stops the threat by Joshua Drennen

18:24 - Joe describes the violent crime scene and the horrendous blunt force trauma Barbara Steele’s body experienced

26:21 - Beyond the trauma to her face and head, the police noticed Barbara's body had been eviscerated, as well as sexually assaulted post-mortem

31:33 - Joe and Jackie discuss the way Barbara Steele’s body was positioned and items located near her after the attack

35:49 - Why Barbara Steele and the woman in the parking lot?

37:24 - Overview of Joshua Drennen’s trial and conviction

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.