Forensic teams sign-on to solve mystery celebrity deaths

Forensic anthropologist Dr. William M. Bass recently helped put to rest a decades-old rumor surrounding the death of one celebrity, and is poised to help solve the mystery surrounding the death of a second.

Bass, renowned for his research on human osteology and human decomposition, taught at the University of Tennessee and still plays an active research role at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, more popularly known as the “Body Farm”, which he founded. Bass is part of two teams tasked with taking a second look at the deaths of J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and master magician Harry Houdini.

Both men, well-known celebrities in their time, died prematurely. Their remains were collected, the cause of death investigated, and both men were buried. However, the stories of both men have come under question in the past few months, as family members work to exhume their remains in an attempt to shed new light on the two well-known and otherwise unconnected cases.

The Big Bopper

J.P. Richardson achieved his fame in the late 1950s, when his recording of “Chantilly Lace,” hit number six on the national pop charts. It was on a tour with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens that he was involved in a fatal plane crash in an Iowa cornfield. To many, the story was a simple, tragic event that ended the life and career of The Big Bopper.

But rumors persisted that there may have been a gun on-board the plane – contributing to the crash – and that Richardson may have survived the initial impact and died while trying to go for help.

Dogged by the rumors for years, his son, Jay Richardson, worked to have his father exhumed to determine whether there was any truth to the rumors. Richardson hired Bass to help determine whether or not the elder Richardson survived the initial impact after the plane crashed into Albert Juhl’s Iowa cornfield.

Early last month, The Big Bopper was exhumed. Bass conducted the autopsy and found that sometimes the truth is sometimes less exciting than rock and roll legend. Bass’ autopsy found no signs of foul play. He suffered massive fractures “from head to toe.” According to Bass, “(He) died immediately. He didn’t crawl away. He didn’t walk away from the plane.”

Jay Richardson attended the autopsy and was on hand as the casket was opened. Both men were surprised to find the remains preserved enough to be recognizable as those of the late rock star.

“Dad still amazes me 48 years after his death, that he was in remarkable shape,” Richardson told the Associated Press. “I surprised myself. I handled it better than I thought I would.”

The Houdini case, however, is proving to remain somewhat mysterious.

Harry Houdini

Harry Houdini was 52-years-old and appeared to be in excellent physical condition when he died under somewhat cryptic circumstances.

On Oct. 24, 1926, Houdini challenged a young man to punch him in the stomach. The man struck him, reportedly before he was ready. Suffering from the after affects of the stunt, he was taken to the hospital in Detroit the next day. He died several days later on Halloween.

There was no autopsy, but the cause of death was said to be fatal peritonitis after a ruptured appendix. Inexplicably, however, the death certificate placed the appendix on the wrong side. He was buried in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens, N.Y.

Now, more than 80 years later, Houdini’s grandnephew, George Hardeen, has begun efforts to exhume the master magician’s body to learn if Houdini was poisoned. William Kalush and Larry Sloman, who wrote the 2006 biography, “The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero,” said there was real evidence that Houdini was poisoned by a group the magician had consistently worked to debunk.

The book also asserts that Houdini suffered from ptomaine poisoning a few weeks before he died. It also says a doctor had injected Houdini with an "experimental serum," shortly before his death.

A team of forensic experts has agreed to take a second look at the Houdini case, should he be exhumed. According to published reports, the team will be headed up by James E. Starrs, professor of law and forensic science at George Washington University, who has worked on dozens of exhumations, including those of Jesse James and Albert DeSalvo – the Boston Strangler. The group will be rounded out by forensic pathologist Michael Baden, toxicologist Bruce Goldberger (president of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences) and Dr. Bass.

The experts will reportedly analyze the fingernails, bones, hair, and any remaining soft tissue for signs of lethal poisoning. Detectable metal-based poisons should still be evident, experts say.

Despite the presence of respected experts, Houdini’s death may yet remain a mystery. Jeff Blood, Houdini’s maternal grandnephew, has opposed the exhumation efforts, saying the move is merely a publicity stunt to publicize Kalush and Sloman’s book.

Katherine Ramsland, author of “The CSI Effect,” however, said, “it seems unlikely that a team comprising busy and prominent professionals would engage in this venture just to sell someone's book.”

Ramsland also recently reported that Anna Thurlow, the great-granddaughter of the medium "Margery," whose husband, Le Roi Crandon, was one of spiritualism's most ardent proponents, supports the exhumation effort – even if it proves Houdini was murdered by the group.