Things Fell Apart S2. Ep 1: The Most Mysterious Deaths
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Jan 9, 2024 The podcast explores the mysterious deaths of 32 black sex workers in Miami in the 1980s and the controversial diagnosis of excited delirium. It discusses the impact of the lockdown on the investigation and raises concerns about racial disparities. The episode also connects the concept of excited delirium to the death of George Floyd and highlights cultural conflicts and personal stories.
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Misdiagnosed Miami Deaths Sparked A Theory
- Dr. Charles Wettley declared the women had not been murdered and coined "excited delirium" as the cause of death.
- That diagnosis linked low-level cocaine and sex to spontaneous death despite weak supporting evidence.
Teen Victim Contradicted The Pattern
- Fourteen-year-old Antoinette Burns had no drugs and wasn't a sex worker yet was found in the same position as other victims.
- Her case undermined the excited delirium theory and forced investigators to re-evaluate the deaths.
Survivor Described Choking Attack
- A survivor reported a man tried to choke her with intent to kill during a sexual encounter and described his face turning 'maniac'.
- Her testimony shifted police thinking from medical causes to homicide and produced suspect descriptions.