Tower 4 - Presenting: How I Died

Episode Date: October 27, 2025

Check out the award-winning fiction podcast How i Died!Listen to How i Died: https://pod.link/1450764373Bodies are piling up in the strange town of Springfield, and forensic pathologist Jonathan Spacer intends to find out why. But, Jon isn’t without his own secrets… He can talk to the dead, for starters. An award-winning full-cast serial fiction podcast. Available now on all podcast apps. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi everyone. My name is Vince Dejani and I'm the creator of the award-winning fiction podcast How I Died, which you're about to listen to thanks to the team at Seven Land Productions. How I Died follows a coroner with the secret ability to speak to the dead, and the story is set in the remote town of Springfield, which boasts an unusually high mortality rate. As bodies start piling up in the morgue, forensic pathologist John Spacer uses his ability to speak to the dead to help the local police solve the case of the week while also tracking down clues to a mysterious serial killer, which builds into an overarching mystery around the secret of Springfield, including the investigation into the dark curse over the town.

You're about to listen to the first episode of the series, and if you like what you hear, you can find the show on any of your favorite podcast platforms by clicking the link in the episode notes below or by searching How I Died, wherever you listen to podcasts. The good news is that there's over 50 episodes already released and available to listen to with more episodes in production and underway. Thanks again for listening, and thanks again to the team at Seven Lamb for sharing our work.

Audio Media presents How I Died. Stop talking. Stop talking. Leave me alone. Hello. Huh? It's too early for the shit. Oh, hi.

Sorry, what did you say? I asked if you were the new doctor here. Yeah. I am. I'm John Spacer. Are you Sheriff, Rowley? No. It's just, I've been waiting here for almost an hour.

On the phone, they said, get here ASAP, so I figured... Next time, we'll tell the victim to die faster, so you don't have to wait as long. I didn't mean it like that. I meant that... Sorry. I'm just here to let you into the pathology lab. Go ahead in. Sheriff will be bringing in the body soon. The hospital cafeteria is open 24-7. You need a cup of coffee or anything.

Oh, do you know if they have tea? I don't drink coffee. I don't know. I drink coffee. Off to a great start on your first day. Shue. This is a pretty big lab for a small town. That's two whole walls of cold drawers.

I'm just out of sink over there. Two nicely cleaned exam tables right in the center here. shit you might be out of your element here john you can do this you can do this fresh start doctor spacer oh yeah

I'm here hey there doc I've got a present for you who's the victim nice to meet you too I'm Fran Crowley oh you're the sheriff oh aren't you

Lily Young to be a coroner? I was not trying to... I'm a forensic pathologist, actually. It's lower on the totem pole. Look, it's late. I'm sure you're tired. I know I am. So let's say we just

disregard the sexism for a minute and move on. I'd rather enjoy the short time we have together. Um, excuse me? What's that supposed to mean? Don't worry. I didn't mean you'll end up like her here. I just mean you'll cycle out eventually. Nobody sticks around long in this job. You said her? The victim is a woman. Do you have a case file?

Bare minimum. We just found her. Um, this is essentially blank. Female age 31, there isn't even a name written down. Do we have a wallet or personal effects? Got her purse, but we don't need it. That is Maggie Lane. know her? Because we're both women? Oh, what? No, because it's such a small town, I... Relax, Doc. I'm just messing with you. Ah, you got me.

Not used to people joking about murder. Yeah, well, after how tense tonight's been, I needed a laugh. What happened to her exactly? Don't know. We've got a missing husband and child. Someone called this in from their house phone But by the time we arrived

All we found was Maggie How strange My deputies are looking for the husband now My bet is he poisoned her Took the kid and fled But that's what you're here to confirm Mr. Coroner Oh, forensic pathologists, remember? Yeah, yeah, yeah

Just confirm for me what I already know Um, do you hear that? Hear what? Hello? Nothing. Just something in the pipes, I guess. Hello? I must be anxious just to get to work.

Whatever, Doc. Don't go loopy on us already. Took us long enough to replace the last one. I've really got to scrub up. I'm leaving. I'm leaving. Let's see what you can do. Yeah. Let's see what I can do.

Hello? All right. Let me get my mic. set up for dictation. Here we go. What's happening? Don't this story. Where am I?

It's Wednesday morning, 4.24 a.m. Dr. Jonathan Spacer conducting post-mortem analysis. Case number 1328-year-old female, 117 pounds, 5 foot 3 inches tall. Hey, you, I have a name, you know. Pronounced dead at the scene approximately 3.8. after a 911 call. Cause of death, currently unknown. First responders noted no signs of pulse or breathing, but they did note some marks on the neck. Is this? Is this heaven? I'll be examining the body for other notable external markings before beginning surgery. Am I? Am I dead?

Yes, you're a ghost. Welcome to the afterlife. Wow. If I would have known, I never. Wait, you're alive, but you can hear me. How? Is that important right now? I, I guess not. So, this is what it's like to die? This is not the escape I was promised. Technically, this is what happens after you die. Well, who are you? Where is everyone else? I'm a doctor. My name's John. It's just us in the lab

And it's my job to determine how and why you were killed So that we can put whoever did this behind bars It's a little late for that It doesn't really matter who killed us now, does it? Have you done this before? You don't seem freaked out to see me I'm this is a pretty standard post-mortem exam I've done dozens of these on cadavers

But um But what? You've never done it on a rounder You've never done it on a real case? Holy shit. Calm down. You're not the first ghost I've seen, if that's what you're wondering. And I've done autopsies with ghosts around before, just there's always been someone else with me,

so I've never been able to talk to them about the case. I'm kind of figuring out what I need to say to you as we go. You don't need to say anything to me. Just write down that my husband, Mark Lane, poisoned me and damn. Danny. That's unfortunate, but I need some hard evidence. We're dead. There's your evidence. We? Is Danny your daughter? Damn it, you don't know anything. Sheriff Fran should have just done this without you.

No, victim does not appear to have any physical markings on her body other than her neck. I'm going to check for signs of sexual assault. You're going to what? Just get someone else in here. to do this, kid. Look! You're dead. I'm sorry about that, and I'm sure it is a lot to take in right now.

But you need to either get over it quickly or figure out how to deal with it yourself so that I can focus on this case. You're an insensitive ass, you know that? I'm trying to help you, but I can't answer your questions while trying to examine your body. So I suggest you let me do my job

before your husband gets away with murder. Gets away with murder. For the record, there are no signs of sexual assault. You said Mark was going to get away with murder. What does that mean? Hmm. Looking at the victim's wrist, I've noted a slight shadow or some sort of indentation. Did you wear a bracelet here?

I used to. It was a gift from me, Mama. An old family heirloom? That must have been some large bracelet to make that kind of outline. Hmm. Note. We return to this later. If the wrist still has an indent from the bracelet, it could be a sign of a skin or bruising problem.

You think the fact that I've got an indent on my wrist is important? I think every detail can be important. And now what are you doing? I'm drawing blood for a toxicology report. Why are you wasting time? My husband killed us all. That's the important detail? Well, as soon as this report is done, we'll figure out what type of poison it was.

That's not what I meant. Another note. There are small tracings. They look like red marks on the upper torso, leading to the victim's neck. No signs of a struggle, though. Maggie. My name is Maggie. There seems to be no damage to the epidermis around the neck.

These red bumps are more consistent with an allergic reaction rash. I'll need to check the victim's throat. You're treating me like I don't even exist? What I have to say could help you. You're right. I'm... I apologize. apologize. Did you know Sheriff Crowley well? What? You called her Fran, and then you got mad at me when I didn't know who Danny was.

I'm assuming that you saw the sheriff in here a minute ago. I'm deducing that means you two were on a first-name basis. Yeah, Danny went to kindergarten with Fran's son, Josh, you know, years ago, before... Before what? It's not my place. I'm going to have to cut open your throat to examine the instance. inside. You may want to look away. Fine. Talk to me then. Um, I don't know what to say.

Uh, what is Danny like? Oh, she was a wonderful little kid. Always so happy about everything. She loved pigs and cows. I'd always catch her at the neighbor's pens after school. She said she wanted to be a farmer when she grew up and, and now. You'll miss her, I'm sure.

Of course, I'll miss her. Your kids are the light of your life. You'd do anything to keep them safe. You think you weren't able to keep Danny safe? No one could have this world. It's no place to raise kids. She was being bullied in school and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. Mark lost his job, and we were going to lose our home, too.

We had no options. So you don't blame Mark? Of course I do. Mark was a bastard. We had Danny right out of high school, and he was cruel from the moment I got pregnant. He took out all his frustrations on me. he beat me and drank all day and night I tried to keep Danny away from it but I couldn't

I couldn't let her go on in this terrible world to grow up and be abused by her husband have the world shit on her it's a fucking unavoidable cycle that's not worth living through. Death is the only thing that breaks the cycle. I didn't notice any bruising or indications of past beatings during my initial exam. Are you saying I'm lying?

No, no, no. Not at all. But I wasn't looking for the signs. I might have missed something that only an x-ray could see. Can you tell me what happened tonight before you ended up here? Don't you care what I have to say now? You asked me to talk to you. I'm perfectly fine just taking notes as I operate. Fine.

I, um... Let's see, uh, I came home, and, um, Mark had made dinner for us, which was surprising. You don't seem so sure. Oh, I don't know. Maybe the details are just fuzzy because I'm dead. Did you ever think of that? Maybe. Continue.

you if you want to i came home and mark had dinner on the table i didn't know at the time what it was but we ate and we talked like a real family for once and he seemed happy and i was happy and then and then i started to have trouble breathing an allergic reaction that's what it felt like It was just like itchy at first Then it felt like someone was Putting their hands around my neck Slowly choking me of air And I panicked

And I hit the ground hard I'm seeing red rashes, tightened muscles And a closed airway on the inside of your throat It's definitely consistent with anaphylaxis I Will never forget that feeling Of just Sitting at the table across from him

I was so happy to look at him and watch him eat and I squeezed Danny's hand as she ate dinner too and then I saw it the look of fear in her face my little baby saw me hit the floor and I tried to just hold on to her as it happened and it had to happen that way And then I was at peace

Finally Damn I'm sure they'll catch Mark and find any safe I wouldn't worry What? The police haven't been able to locate them yet What do you mean They were in the room with me

Wait, when you died? Yes We're all deathly allergic to shellfish And they ate the food just like I did Maybe more Are you telling me you could taste shellfish in the dish. What? No, I'm just assuming that's what it was, but you're telling me that Danny and Mark

are still alive? Actually, now that you mention it, I don't know that for sure. Sheriff Crowley said there was a 911 call placed from your home. Your husband's car was missing from the driveway, and I guess the police were assuming that they were on the run. Hold on just a moment. they're alive that is impossible

I'm actually done with the surgery I think I've found all the information that I can glean from your body other than a stomach pump but you just told me what I'll find shellfish or at least something that's cooked with it that won't be detectable in that sound was the toxicology report finishing up This was supposed to be our escape. According to this, you've got a ton of codeine painkiller in your system.

And trace amounts of clausopine, haloperidol, loracidone? Those medications are antidepressants and an antipsychotic? Interesting. But the amounts show inconsistent or not recent usage. Why would you have that much pain? killer in your system, and Lys? That's not possible. They shouldn't be alive.

I saw their faces. Danny was so afraid. She couldn't breathe either. And Mark, I know, is allergic to shellfish. They shouldn't be alive. And I shouldn't be the only one dead. Hi, I'm trying to reach Sheriff Fran Crowley. This is John Spacer.

I'm the new forensic pathologist. Yeah, the new coroner. If you could ask her to... Oh, she's still at the hospital. Could you radio for her to come down to the pathology lab? Yes, as soon as possible, please. Thank you. Sheriff Crowley's on her way down.

Please tell her that... Mark poisoned us, and if they do find him, he did it. I will, if that's really what happened. Of course it's what happened. Why wouldn't it be? What did you have for dinner? What? Why? The devil is in the details, and right now, there are a few that aren't adding up.

Screw you! You don't know anything. You thought they were both dead. Screw you. Screw you! You also immediately went to shellfish as the ingredient. How did you know that? They shouldn't be.

I shouldn't be dead. Tell me something. The indent on your wrist? That was from wearing a medical alert bracelet, wasn't it? Why did you take it off? What did you find, Doc? I need answers now. Now, there's a shit storm upstairs.

Sheriff, uh, here, uh, come, come see. Fran, Fran, Fran, Mark killed me. He, he, he tried to kill all of us, but... What? Why are you making me look at this? She, she can't hear me, can she? Fran, Fran! Fran! I assumed you'd want to know what I found.

Not like that. Fuck. Just tell me. The cause of death was anaphylaxis. her ingesting something she was allergic to. Shellfish. What? That was my guess.

How did you... That's all you have for me? I found that out already. No. No! Wait. How? We found Maggie's husband and her daughter.

They're upstairs in the ER right now. You found them? You found, Danny? Yeah. I was hoping you had more answers for me. It's not looking good. They are going to die. What happened?

Danny pulled up to the ER entrance with her dad in the passenger seat before we even arrived. She drove here? Yeah, 11 years old. Can you believe it? Apparently, she knew her parents were having a reaction and tried to find their EpiPens. When she couldn't, Mark hobbled out to his car with her, and Maggie, well, Nagy was already unresponsive. Danny told the intake nurse, her dad was having an attack. They gave him some steroids, and he's doing fine.

Holy crap. This was our chance. Yeah, problem is. A couple of minutes later, Danny collapsed. She was having a reaction, too. I don't know. Neither do the doctor's up there. I was just with her.

She's not responding to steroids. It's too late. If she's not responding to steroids, that means... Wait a second. What? If I'm remembering biology correctly, which I am, allergies aren't always passed down genetically. So? So Maggie has a massive amount of codeine in her system.

Danny never ate fish before. If she was the one who tried to kill the family, maybe she gave Danny codeine as well as a way to mercifully numb the pain. You're thinking Maggie did it? Oh, what was the extension to the ER again? Ah. Hey, this is Dr. Spacer in the pathology lab. You have a patient, a young girl named Danny Lane,

who isn't responding to steroids, right? I'm pretty certain she's suffering from some overdose of codeine and other medications. run a urine or a blood test to confirm, but she's going to need her stomach pumped immediately. Yeah. Actually, send the test down and I can run it for you. Thanks. She wasn't supposed to suffer. Neither of us were.

But, Mark... How the hell can you prove any of this? I... I can't, really. Then how do you know? And how did you know their daughter's name was Danny earlier? Oh, um... It's just something I heard around town.

I put two and two together, and, you know, I guess word travels fast around here. Rumors aren't going to cut it here. I'm going back upstairs to see you if we can question Mark. He's conscious, but at this point, it's his word against a dead woman. I hope he does get blamed for it. He took this away from all of us. That's it. Sheriff, wait.

What now? The purse. What did you say you found in it? I didn't. But we found it in Maggie's car. Still parked at the house. Why? It wasn't in the home.

No. We were all supposed to be at peace. Look. Holy shit. Are those... Epi pens. Three of them. And I bet they're labeled for prescription, too.

Yep. Mark Lane, Danny Lane, and Maggie. And a bottle of codeine also prescribed to Maggie. Circumstantial evidence. How do we know she didn't just leave them in there normally? You... Forgive me, but it sounds like you don't want her to be guilty. Guilty? Calm it down, new kid. Guilty or innocent isn't for either of us to decide. All I want is enough evidence for a judge. It doesn't matter anymore.

Damn. Don't worry, Doc. You might have just said little girl tonight. And all before sunup, that's a pretty good first day. Hey, Sheriff Crowley, is... Are they all going to be like this? Like what? This ambiguous. I mean, it's my job to find the evidence so that we can put it together, but what if we can't ever know for certain?

Kid, I'm not your shrink. I'm not your mentor either. Figure that shit out on your own. But you shouldn't be surprised around here. Why not? They really didn't tell you when you accepted the job, huh? Tell me what? We've got the nation's highest rate of unsolved deaths.

Not for a lack of trying, either. Seems everyone here dies in a weird way. And that, well, starts to get to people. And that's why no one wanted this job. Welcome to Springfield, Doc. Joyer's stay while it lasts. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Why did you do it?

We were promised salvation. I was lied to. You kept saying I should trust you and listen to you, but you lied to me too. You tricked me. The worst part of all of this, this whole exam, this whole back and forth, just to solve an attempted murder by a woman who can't ever be proven guilty? How is that fair? Even if you and I know the truth, the outcome is the only thing that matters here.

What are you doing? And what is that box for? When I was looking through your purse, I saw your license. You had a heart on the back, which meant you're an organ donor. Stay away from my body. If all that codeine damaged Danny's heart or her liver, she'll need a new one. Don't touch me.

And even if she's not a match, your death will save someone else. That might be the only positive thing to come out of all of this. I'll haunt you, I swear. Note. Victim, Maggie Lane, shows undeniable evidence

to the cause of death being suffocation and anaphylactic shock due to allergic reaction. Thankfully, we'll be able to harvest some usable organs for potential transplant. She may save her own daughter's life.

Don't touch me. You can do this, John. No. I can do this. No. I can do this. No. No.

No. No. No. This is Vince Dejani, creator of how I died and the voice of Dr. John Spacer. I just wanted to pop in real quick and say a personal thank you for listening to our show. It's been a huge undertaking. going through about five separate rewrites,

multiple recastings, and a ton of time to perfect it. And we couldn't be more proud of the cast crew and everyone involved in working with the show. It means the absolute world to us that you personally took the time to listen and hopefully enjoy it. Now, before I spend an hour saying thank you, let me get into the credits.

How I Died is an audio media original production, co-starring Vince Dejani as John Spacer and Shana Waring as Sheriff Fran Crowley. This episode featured amazing guest performances by Melissa Sheldon as Maggie Lane and Mike Lynch as the grumpy deputy. Audio editing and sound design by Vince Dejani and Eric Howl at Audio Media. Sound effects and fully provided by free sound.org or created in-house at audio media.

The How I Died theme song was created by Mike Lynch at Silent Mike Music.com with additional music by Maiden. If you enjoyed the show and want to help support it, head to patreon.com slash how I died for bonus episodes, crime scene photos, handwritten case files, and more. Thank you again for listening, and until next episode, try not to die. Thank you.