Forensics II: The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous and Infamous People

by Harry A. Milman

George Washington, the former first president of the United States, lay in his bed suffering from a high fever, a raw throat, and labored breathing. His three physicians milled around his bed, treating Washington with blisters of cantharides, tartar emetic, and bloodletting, removing nearly 40 percent of his total blood volume and causing excruciating pain. When Washington finally was relieved of his misery and died, the three doctors could not agree what caused his death.Forensics The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous and Infamous People reads like a mystery novel, presenting biographical and scientific information that helps readers understand how medical examiners-coroners utilized forensic analysis to determine the causes and manners of death of thirty-six famous and infamous people, including Napoleon Bonaparte, a French military leader and politician; Charles Whitman, the University of Texas tower shooter; Bruce Lee, an actor and martial artist; Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana; Jim Jones, a key figure in the Jonestown massacre; Aretha Franklin, a singer-songwriter; Alexander Litvinenko, a former officer of the Russian Federal Security Service; Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender; and many more. The book is based on a review of publicly available autopsy and toxicology reports, published lay articles, and the scientific literature. Of the deaths reviewed, 39 percent were due to natural causes, 19 percent were accidental, and 6 (17 percent) were suicides. The remaining deaths comprise three cases each of homicide and justifiable homicide by police, one case of court-mandated execution, and three cases in which the manner of death was undetermined.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Medical

776 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2022

About the author

Harry A. Milman, PhD is the author of three bestselling forensics books -- (1) "FORENSICS: The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous People," a 2021 Readers' Favorite Finalist in the Non-Fiction, Health - Medical genre; (2) "FORENSICS II: The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous and Infamous People;" and (3) "FORENSICS III: They Got Fifteen Minutes of Fame from the Way They Died," as well as two award-winning mystery novels—"A Death at Camp David," winner of the Best Mystery Novel in the 2018 Book Talk Radio Club Awards, and the space exploration thriller "SOYUZ: The Final Flight," a finalist for Best Second Novel in the 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and a finalist for Best Science Fiction Novel in the 2018 Book Talk Radio Club Awards. As a pharmacologist, toxicologist, and cancer expert with over fifty years of experience at ToxNetwork.com, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and the US Public Health Service. Dr. Milman has testified at trials and depositions and has assisted law firms for nearly twenty-five years as an Expert Witness in over three hundred and fifty civil, criminal, and high-profile legal cases. In addition, Dr. Milman has authored over seventy scientific articles and has edited five science books. Often quoted in newspapers and magazines, Dr. Milman appeared as a toxicology expert on the History Channel, the Oxygen Channel, TV and radio news programs, true-crime television shows, and in numerous podcasts.

Reviews

[Mike Makin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very mediocre summary of deaths of famous people ,which could be looked up in Wiki. The author concurs with the autopsy report in every case making for a predictable narrative .
We don’t really learn anything new from the expert that anyone with a background in the medical field doesn’t already know.
A good target audience maybe people who read People magazine as their main news source.

[Harry Milman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For readers fascinated by the intersection of history, science, and the macabre, "Forensics II" is a must read. Harry A. Milman expertly delves into the deaths of thirty-six notable individuals, providing a forensic analysis tat not only reads like a compelling mystery novel, but also serves as a historical autopsy of sorts. The book's structure allows exploration into a wide range of cases, from the mysterious death of George Washington to the more modern and controversial demise of Jeffrey Epstein. I couldn't wait to dive into the book and I wasn't disappointed. Each chapter is meticulously researched, with Milman drawing from autopsy reports, toxicology results, and the scientific literature.

Harry A. Milman gives a front-row seat to the methods and challenges forensic scientists face in determining the cause of death, even when the evidence is centuries old. The Washington study is impressive, and Milman doesn't shy away from disagreements among medical professionals about the cause of Washington's death. This kind of detail adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative, highlighting the often murky waters forensic experts must navigate... Whether you're interested in Bruce Lee's enigmatic death or Kurt Cobain's tragic end, Milman provides a thorough and thought-provoking examination that will leave you questioning what you thought you knew about these famous figures.

This is a well-researched, engaging, and accessible exploration of the science behind some of history's most intriguing deaths. "Forensics II" will keep you completely engrossed until the end." (Readers Favorite)

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read book 1 I was happy to see that Dr. Milman had published a second book. Dr. Milman once again gives the layperson a peek into the scientific details surrounding the deaths of many historical, famous or infamous people. Starting the book with George Washington and ending with a Formulary guide, Glossary and research notes, this book is filled with minute details.

Dr. Milman takes us from the streets of Hollywood to my current home of Austin and as far away as Russia just to name a few places. After describing the circumstances for each death, he then states what information is available from each autopsy if one was carried out. The author then reviews the Cause and Manner of Death. Not stopping there, Dr. Milman briefly fills you in on the entire life of the subject with a Life and Career potion. Each individual presentation ends with the author’s his own conclusions based on his extensive background. This is a very inclusive and, at the same time expansive look into each subject.

The organization of the book allows you to easily stop and start reading, or to skip around to people you are interested in. This book will make a great gift for the person who has everything and likes to read.

[Shirley Conley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took 5 months to read off and on. I finally buckled down and read one case a day to finish it. In the beginning I was interested in one case and read it right away -Vince Foster. Then I needed to get used to the format. It was not what I expected. I expected a conspiracy theory book and this was not. This was a factual study of available evidence. The most compelling reads were George Harrison, George Washington, Jim Jones, Marshall Applewhite, Chris Farley, Evel Knievel and Aretha Franklin.
The end articles on Formulary and Glossary will be a useful reference.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you start you just can't stop.

[Richard M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stuff