Snap Judgment

The Bone Reader - Snap Classic

Jan 1, 2026
Chief Michael O'Brien, a small-town police chief from Economy Borough, shares the chilling story of discovering a severed, embalmed head in the woods. He delves into the forensic investigation, facing dead-end leads despite public sketches. Forensic artist Michelle Vitale introduces a shocking theory of anatomical disassembly for body trade, prompting renewed investigation efforts. After numerous twists, including clay reconstructions and grave inspections, a nameless burial brings closure, but the mystery deepens around the grim industry behind body trading.
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ANECDOTE

Courtroom Moment That Changed A Career

  • Michelle Vitale drew Marjorie Deal Armstrong during the high-profile 'pizza bomber' trial despite being a first-time courtroom sketch artist.
  • The defendant's intense looks unnerved Michelle but also revealed her aptitude for forensic observation and sparked a career shift.
INSIGHT

Bones Tell The Most Reliable Features

  • Forensic reconstruction focuses on stable facial landmarks rather than changeable features like hair or makeup.
  • Michelle emphasizes nose, eye shape, mouth position and their relations as primary ID data points.
ANECDOTE

Chief Finds A Severed Head In The Woods

  • Chief Michael O'Brien discovered a severed, embalmed woman's head in woods near Economy, Pennsylvania and carried it out in a brown paper bag.
  • He immediately recognized the scene as a crime and treated it with urgency despite limited local homicide experience.
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