PODCAST:Things Fell Apart
TITLE:S2. Ep 1: The Most Mysterious Deaths
DATE:2024-01-09 00:00:00
URL:
MODEL:gpt-4-gizmo
Season 2, Episode 1 of "Things Fell Apart," titled "The Most Mysterious Deaths," explores the origins of the term "excited delirium" and its profound impact on societal perceptions and law enforcement practices, particularly in the context of the murder of George Floyd.
The episode starts in Miami during the 1980s, with the mysterious deaths of 32 women, mostly black sex workers, found in alleyways and junkyards without apparent causes of death. Despite no signs of physical harm, these women were all found in a similar position and had traces of cocaine in their systems. Dr. Charles Wetley, Miami-Dade County's deputy chief medical examiner, concluded that these deaths were a result of "excited delirium," a term he coined, linking the fatalities to a combination of cocaine use and sex.
However, the case of 14-year-old Antoinette Burns, who was found dead under similar circumstances but without drugs in her system, challenged Wetley's theory. Later, a survivor of an attempted murder provided a description of her assailant, leading to the realization that these women were victims of a serial killer, Charles Williams, and not "excited delirium."
Despite this debunking, Wetley continued to promote "excited delirium" at forensic pathology conferences, obscuring its discredited origins. The term gained traction, particularly in law enforcement circles, influenced in part by Taser International (now Axon). The company distributed copies of a book on "excited delirium" and frequently hired Wetley as a court expert to suggest that deaths following Taser use were due to "excited delirium" rather than the Taser.
"Excited delirium" is not recognized by major medical organizations like the American Medical Association or the American Psychiatric Association. Yet, it continued to be used to explain deaths in police custody, often involving Black individuals, suggesting a racial bias in its application.
This background sets the stage for the episode's focus on the death of George Floyd. During Floyd's arrest, an officer mentioned the possibility of "excited delirium." The Minneapolis police were trained to recognize supposed symptoms of "excited delirium," such as superhuman strength and imperviousness to pain, which could lead to excessive use of force. The killing of George Floyd, witnessed by millions, ignited widespread protests and further intensified debates over police brutality and racial justice.
Selwyn Jones, George Floyd's uncle, provides a personal perspective on Floyd's life and death, expressing his grief and frustration over the use of "excited delirium" to rationalize police violence. The episode concludes by reflecting on how an unscientific term, originating from a misdiagnosis, evolved into a justification for lethal force, especially against Black individuals, deeply impacting America's oldest and newest culture wars.
