About This Episode
Danske Drabssager released season 12, episode 20 on March 17, 2026 — a listener Q&A episode examining the forensic and scientific processes that Danish police and pathologists face when a body has been frozen or subjected to extreme cold.
What the episode covers
Hosts Thea Pedersen and Stine Bolther use questions submitted by listeners as a starting point for exploring how freezing affects the estimation of time of death. When biological processes are halted by frost, the standard forensic tools for establishing a timeline become far more complicated. The episode focuses specifically on cases where victims are found in chest freezers or discovered outdoors during the cold winter months — situations that require a specialised approach before an autopsy can even begin.
The challenge of thawing a body
Although the episode takes the form of a Q&A session, it draws on historical Danish criminal cases in which freezing was used to conceal evidence or dispose of a body. A central topic is the thawing process itself. According to forensic experts featured in the episode, thawing a body too quickly can destroy critical DNA evidence and tissue samples. A body must typically be thawed slowly in a controlled environment — a process that can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours depending on body mass and the original temperature. This waiting period is crucial, as investigators cannot obtain definitive answers about the cause of death until pathologists are able to make the necessary incisions and examine the internal organs.
About the podcast
Danske Drabssager is a Danish true crime podcast known for giving experts a platform to speak at length. By including voices such as former heads of homicide investigations and forensic pathologists, the series offers a rare look behind the scenes of Denmark's most significant criminal cases. Both hosts have backgrounds in journalism and writing, and are noted for making complex material accessible to general audiences without sacrificing professional depth. The series is available on RadioPlay and Spotify, and over 12 seasons has established itself as one of Denmark's most respected sources on criminal investigations.
Where to listen
Episode S12E20 is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, alongside earlier episodes covering topics such as DNA profiling and ballistic examinations. For listeners interested in the technical details behind homicide investigations, the episode offers an unusually direct opportunity to get answers to the more forensically complex — but necessary — questions that arise in the wake of serious crimes.
Related content
Listeners interested in forensic science may also want to explore earlier episodes of Danske Drabssager focusing on autopsy reports and the significance of crime scenes. Related topics are also covered by Danish true crime series such as Mørkeland and Danske Mord, though with less emphasis on the purely technical aspects of forensic pathology.
