Ep 3. The Woman in the Iron Coffin
- October 3, 2018
In this episode of Secrets of the Dead season 17, the team investigates a discovery made in Queen's, New York. Construction workers found a mysterious iron coffin buried in a mass grave from the mid-19th century. Inside the coffin was the remarkably well-preserved corpse of a woman.
The team begins by trying to uncover the identity of the woman. From her clothing, they determine that she was likely buried in the mid-19th century. They also discover that the iron coffin was produced by the Jones, White & McCurdy company, which was in operation from 1832 to 1857.
The team also sends samples of the woman's hair and clothing off for testing, hoping to identify any DNA or environmental evidence that could help them determine who she was and how she died. They learn that the coffin likely protected her body from decomposition, making it easier to study.
As the investigation continues, the team uncovers clues that suggest the woman may have been a murder victim. Her body shows signs of violence, including bruises and scrapes on her face, arms, and legs. The team also discovers that she was buried in a mass grave with numerous other victims of a cholera outbreak in the area, which makes it difficult to determine if foul play was involved.
To explore this theory further, the team consults with experts in the history of medicine and law enforcement. They examine medical charts and reports from the time period to try to determine if the woman's injuries could have been caused by something other than the disease.
The team also explores the possibility that the woman may have been a slave based on historical records from the time period, which suggest that there were slave burial grounds in the area. This leads them to investigate the possibility that the woman may have been killed by her owner or overseer.
As the investigation unfolds, the team uncovers more and more details about the woman's life and death. They also face numerous challenges, including the fact that the woman's remains are fragile and difficult to study. Despite these obstacles, they continue to press forward, determined to uncover the truth.
In the end, the team unveils a shocking discovery about the woman's identity and the circumstances surrounding her death. The investigation sheds light on a little-known chapter in the history of Queens, New York, and provides new insights into the lives of those who lived and died there in the mid-19th century.
