Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"If you have information regarding the mysterious death of Spencer Irwin, you can contact the Fresno Police Department directly at 559-621-7000. Or if you want to remain anonymous, you can contact the Valley Crime Stoppers by texting valley to 738-477." — Britt
"The problem is enough wasn't done to prove anything, which feels like a crime in and of itself to me that for almost two years Kelly has had to fight to wonder to investigate lots of times on her own because the proper actions weren't taken early on enough in the beginning to actually give her like an answer or peace." — Ashley Flowers
"There is a world where she could see this being considered an unsuspicious death. There is no external trauma, you know, like the Sheriff's Corner is saying, so maybe no foul play. But she said the only way to know that would be to do an autopsy." — Britt (quoting Dr. Priya Banerjee)
The episode details the case of Spencer Irwin, a 30-year-old man found deceased under circumstances that initially led authorities to believe he died from a drug overdose. His mother, Kelly Irwin, however, contested this conclusion due to her son's known history and the lack of a thorough investigation. The initial assessment by the coroner's office, which proceeded without an autopsy, ruled the death as natural causes, citing probable sudden cardiac death from chronic alcohol and tobacco use, despite Spencer being found naked at a loading dock with no clear explanation for his presence or attire.
Kelly's persistent efforts uncovered discrepancies, including toxicology results that did not indicate lethal drug levels and the absence of collected evidence from the scene. The narrative highlights the challenges faced by Kelly in obtaining answers, including uncooperative law enforcement responses and the loss of potential evidence over time. The episode also introduces potential persons of interest, such as Angel Gonzales and Tyler, and explores suspicious circumstances surrounding Spencer's disappearance, including a white Kia vehicle observed near the location where Spencer was found.
Ultimately, the episode underscores the investigative shortcomings, including the lack of a comprehensive autopsy and the dismissal of critical witness accounts. The involvement of a forensic pathologist, Dr. Priya Banerjee, provides expert commentary on crime scene photos, suggesting that an autopsy was warranted and that certain marks on Spencer's body, while potentially explainable, could also warrant further investigation, emphasizing the need for proper investigative protocols to be followed from the outset.