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In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m covering the mysterious death of Spencer Irwin, a 30-year-old Fresno City College...

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m covering the tragic and deeply disturbing case of Sonia Exelby, a 32-year-old...

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I continue Inside the Crime That Shook a Community with Part Three, focusing...

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I continue the heartbreaking case of 7-year-old Athena Strand. This is Part Two...

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m covering a case that is incredibly difficult to talk about, the kidnapping...

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m coming to you live from Beyond the Crime 2026 at the Isleta...

Hey y’all, it’s Julie Mattson, and in this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m taking you into one of the...

Hey y’all, it’s Julie Mattson! In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m diving into one of the most unusual...

Hey y’all, it’s Julie Mattson… and today we’re revisiting a case that still sits heavy on my heart. In this...

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we take a look at two very recent cases that highlight the severe...

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we take a look at two very recent cases that highlight the severe...

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we take a look at two very recent cases that highlight the severe...

On this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we’re delving into the twisted tale of David Tronnes, a Florida man whose...

On this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we’re delving into the twisted tale of David Tronnes, a Florida man whose...

On this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we’re delving into the twisted tale of David Tronnes, a Florida man whose...

On this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we’re delving into the twisted tale of David Tronnes, a Florida man whose...

On this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we’re delving into the twisted tale of David Tronnes, a Florida man whose...
Pushing Up Lilies

Dissect the science behind some of the most spine-tingling, unusual and terrifyingly true crime stories with Julie Mattson, a seasoned Forensic Nurse Death Investigator in this gripping weekly podcast.
Julie’s unique approach to investigations is informed by her background in nursing, which allows her to provide an in-depth analysis of the medical intricacies and physiological aspects of each case.
With her compassionate storytelling and unwavering dedication to uncovering the truth, Julie takes you on a thrilling journey into the world of forensic science, shining a light on the intersection of medicine, justice and criminal investigation.
In “Pushing Up Lilies,” Julie’s expert medical analysis will captivate your imagination and challenge your understanding of the human body’s role in solving the most complex and enigmatic criminal case.
In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m covering the mysterious death of Spencer Irwin, a 30-year-old Fresno City College student whose body was discovered behind a business loading dock in Fresno, California, in August of 2024.
What initially appeared to authorities to be a tragic but straightforward case quickly became something far more complicated.
Spencer was found naked, with no obvious signs of trauma, and early assumptions pointed toward a drug overdose or transient-related death. But toxicology reports later came back clean. No overdose. No clear explanation. And despite the unanswered questions surrounding his death, the coroner ultimately ruled it “natural causes.”
What makes this case especially unsettling is what didn’t happen.
No autopsy was performed.
And Spencer’s body was cremated.
As a forensic death investigator, I discuss the difficult reality of cases that fall into gray areas, where evidence is limited, assumptions are made early, and families are left searching for answers long after a case is considered closed.
Because sometimes the hardest part of an investigation…
is not what we know.
It’s what we don’t.
This episode contains discussion of death, investigative uncertainty, and unresolved circumstances surrounding the case. Listener discretion is advised.

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