Terms of Use — The Medical Examiner's Report

Effective Date: August 16, 2026
Last Updated: August 16, 2026

Welcome to The Medical Examiner's Report.

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of The Medical Examiner's Report website, podcast-related content, membership services, Case Vault, digital materials, and other services offered through this website (collectively, the "Services").

"The Medical Examiner's Report," "MER," "we," "our," and "us" refer to the operator of The Medical Examiner's Report.

By accessing or using the Services, creating an account, purchasing a membership, or accessing the Case Vault, you agree to these Terms.

If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use the Services.

1. Educational and Informational Purpose

The Medical Examiner's Report is an independent educational and informational media platform focused on forensic science, death investigations, criminal cases, autopsy findings, investigative records, and related subjects.

MER is not a law enforcement agency, medical examiner's office, coroner's office, forensic laboratory, law firm, private investigative agency, or healthcare provider.

The host and creators of MER do not represent themselves as medical examiners, forensic pathologists, law enforcement officers, attorneys, or other licensed forensic professionals unless specifically stated otherwise.

Nothing provided through MER should be interpreted as:

  • Medical advice

  • Legal advice

  • Investigative advice

  • A professional forensic opinion

  • An official determination of cause or manner of death

  • A determination of criminal responsibility

  • A determination of guilt or innocence

MER examines information available from various sources for educational, journalistic, commentary, and research purposes.

2. No Determination of Guilt

MER may discuss criminal investigations, suspicious deaths, allegations, witness statements, disputed facts, forensic findings, lawsuits, arrests, charges, and other matters involving real individuals.

An allegation is not proof of wrongdoing.

Unless a matter has been legally established, MER's discussion of a person, allegation, theory, or investigative question should not be interpreted as a statement that an individual committed a crime or other wrongful act.

MER strives to distinguish among:

  • Confirmed information

  • Official records

  • Witness statements

  • Family statements

  • Media reporting

  • Independent expert opinions

  • Allegations

  • Unverified claims

  • Questions or theories

  • MER commentary and analysis

Listeners and users should not draw conclusions about guilt, innocence, liability, cause of death, or manner of death solely from MER content.

3. Developing and Ongoing Cases

Some cases discussed by MER may be active, unresolved, under investigation, subject to litigation, or otherwise continuing to develop.

Information available at the time an episode, article, timeline, or Case Vault file is published may later be corrected, contradicted, supplemented, or superseded.

MER may update previously published content when new information becomes available but does not guarantee that every previous episode, document, timeline, or statement will be continuously updated.

The publication date and, where appropriate, update date should be considered when reviewing MER materials.

4. Sources and Third-Party Information

MER may rely upon or reference information obtained from sources including:

  • Government records

  • Court filings

  • Medical examiner or coroner records

  • Public records

  • Law enforcement statements

  • Forensic reports

  • News organizations

  • Interviews

  • Attorneys

  • Families

  • Witnesses

  • Publicly available photographs or videos

  • Academic or scientific publications

  • Other lawful sources

MER makes reasonable efforts to accurately represent source material but cannot independently guarantee the accuracy, completeness, authenticity, or continued availability of every third-party source.

The inclusion of third-party information does not necessarily constitute MER's endorsement of that information or the conclusions contained within it.

5. Sensitive Content

MER addresses real deaths and criminal investigations.

Content may include discussions or materials involving:

  • Death

  • Homicide

  • Suicide

  • Sexual assault

  • Child abuse

  • Domestic violence

  • Physical injuries

  • Decomposition

  • Autopsy findings

  • Medical procedures

  • Toxicology

  • Substance use

  • Crime scenes

  • Missing persons

  • Other disturbing or sensitive subjects

Content advisories may be provided when appropriate.

However, MER cannot guarantee that every potentially upsetting subject will be specifically identified in advance.

Users are responsible for determining whether particular content is appropriate for them.

CASE VAULT MEMBERSHIP TERMS

6. The Case Vault

MER may offer a paid digital research archive known as the Case Vault.

The Case Vault may provide access to expanded research materials associated with cases discussed by MER.

Depending upon availability, legality, editorial judgment, and the particular case, materials may include:

  • Expanded timelines

  • Public records

  • Autopsy reports

  • Medical examiner or coroner documents

  • Independent forensic reports

  • Toxicology reports

  • Court records

  • Search warrants

  • Maps

  • Diagrams

  • Photographs

  • Publicly available evidentiary materials

  • Statements

  • Interviews

  • News archives

  • Research notes

  • Source lists

  • Forensic explanations

  • Case updates

Not every Case Vault file will contain every type of material.

MER does not guarantee that any particular document or record will become available.

7. Sensitive Case Vault Materials

Some Case Vault materials may contain sensitive, disturbing, or graphic information.

Where appropriate, MER may use additional warnings, restricted galleries, blurred previews, click-through acknowledgments, or other safeguards before displaying particularly sensitive materials.

Accessing such materials is voluntary.

Membership does not guarantee access to graphic photographs, autopsy photographs, crime-scene photographs, or any other particular category of content.

MER reserves the right to decline to publish material even when MER may legally possess or have access to it.

Editorial decisions may consider privacy, dignity, public interest, educational value, legal restrictions, and the interests of victims and surviving families.

8. Membership Eligibility

You must be legally capable of entering into a binding agreement to purchase a Case Vault membership.

Certain sensitive portions of the Case Vault may be restricted to users who confirm that they are at least 18 years old.

MER may implement additional age restrictions for particular content.

9. Membership Accounts

Case Vault access is provided to the individual account holder.

You are responsible for:

  • Maintaining the confidentiality of your password

  • Providing accurate account information

  • Protecting your account from unauthorized use

  • Promptly notifying MER of suspected unauthorized access

Membership credentials may not be publicly posted, sold, transferred, or shared with individuals outside the account holder's permitted use.

MER reserves the right to restrict or terminate access when there is reasonable evidence of unauthorized account sharing or misuse.

10. Subscription Billing

Case Vault memberships may be offered on a recurring subscription basis.

The applicable membership price and billing frequency will be disclosed before purchase.

By purchasing a recurring subscription, you authorize the applicable payment processor to charge the payment method provided according to the selected billing schedule until the subscription is canceled.

Prices may change in the future.

If pricing for an existing recurring membership changes, notice will be provided when required by applicable law.

11. Cancellation

Members may cancel recurring subscriptions using the cancellation method made available through the website or membership platform.

Cancellation prevents future recurring charges but does not necessarily result in a refund for a billing period that has already begun.

Unless otherwise stated or required by law, access will generally continue through the end of the paid subscription period.

12. Refunds

Because Case Vault membership provides immediate access to digital content, membership payments are generally non-refundable once access has been provided, except where required by applicable law or expressly stated otherwise.

MER may consider refund requests involving duplicate charges, technical billing errors, or other exceptional circumstances at its discretion.

13. Personal Use of Case Vault Materials

Unless otherwise indicated, Case Vault access is provided for your personal, non-commercial research and educational use.

Purchasing a membership does not transfer ownership of MER's intellectual property or grant unrestricted redistribution rights.

You may not, without permission:

  • Republish substantial portions of the Case Vault

  • Redistribute MER-created research files

  • Sell MER materials

  • Create or distribute copies of MER's proprietary compilations

  • Scrape or systematically download the Case Vault

  • Circumvent access restrictions

  • Share membership credentials

  • Reproduce MER-created graphics or analysis for commercial purposes

  • Create a competing database using MER's proprietary organization, commentary, or research compilation

14. Source Documents and Third-Party Materials

The Case Vault may contain or link to government records, court documents, public records, photographs, reports, news materials, or other third-party content.

MER does not claim ownership of third-party materials merely because they appear in or are linked from the Case Vault.

Rights associated with individual source documents remain with their respective owners or are governed by applicable law.

However, MER's original:

  • Commentary

  • Annotations

  • Research

  • Graphics

  • Timelines

  • Organization

  • Layout

  • Case summaries

  • Educational explanations

  • Audio

  • Video

  • Branding

  • Compilations

remain protected to the extent permitted by law.

WEBSITE AND CONTENT USE

15. MER Intellectual Property

The Medical Examiner's Report name, branding, original podcast episodes, website copy, graphics, logos, research compilations, original timelines, commentary, videos, photographs created by MER, and other original content are owned by or licensed to MER unless otherwise indicated.

You may share links to MER content and brief excerpts for commentary, discussion, or other uses permitted by law.

Nothing in these Terms limits rights you may independently have under applicable copyright law, including fair use.

16. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use MER's Services to:

  • Violate applicable law

  • Harass victims, families, witnesses, investigators, or other individuals

  • Threaten or intimidate another person

  • Publish private personal information obtained through MER for harassment or targeting

  • Impersonate MER or its representatives

  • Gain unauthorized access to another member's account

  • Circumvent membership restrictions

  • Introduce malware or malicious code

  • Scrape or systematically harvest protected Case Vault content

  • Misrepresent MER content

  • Use MER materials to interfere with an active investigation

  • Encourage harassment or vigilante activity

  • Commercially exploit MER-created materials without authorization

MER may suspend or terminate access for violations of these Terms.

17. No Harassment or Vigilante Investigations

MER encourages thoughtful discussion and responsible examination of evidence.

MER does not encourage listeners or members to:

  • Contact individuals involved in a case

  • Confront suspected individuals

  • Contact minors

  • Visit private residences

  • Interfere with law enforcement

  • Conduct unauthorized surveillance

  • Harass witnesses

  • Publish private identifying information

  • Attempt to conduct vigilante investigations

Case Vault access does not authorize users to investigate, confront, or contact individuals associated with a case.

If you believe you possess information relevant to an active criminal investigation, you should provide that information to the appropriate authorities.

CASE SUBMISSIONS

18. Submitting a Case

MER may allow users to suggest cases for potential coverage.

Submission does not create an attorney-client, investigator-client, confidential, fiduciary, or other professional relationship with MER.

MER does not guarantee that:

  • A submission will receive a response

  • A case will be investigated

  • A case will become an episode

  • Materials will be published

  • MER will contact law enforcement

  • MER will reach any particular conclusion

Editorial decisions remain solely with MER.

19. Materials You Submit

You represent that you have the right to submit materials you provide to MER.

Do not knowingly submit:

  • Stolen records

  • Illegally obtained materials

  • Sealed documents you are prohibited from disclosing

  • Private medical information you lack authorization to share

  • Sexual images involving minors

  • Unlawfully obtained recordings

  • Material submitted for harassment, retaliation, or intimidation

Submitting information does not guarantee confidentiality.

If confidentiality is important, contact MER before transmitting sensitive material.

20. Permission Regarding Submitted Materials

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, when you voluntarily submit materials for potential editorial consideration, you grant MER permission to review, store, analyze, and internally use those materials for the purpose of evaluating the submission.

MER will seek additional permission when reasonably necessary before publicly reproducing privately supplied materials.

This provision does not transfer ownership of your original materials to MER.

ADDITIONAL TERMS

21. Third-Party Links and Services

MER may link to or integrate third-party websites and services.

MER does not control those services and is not responsible for their availability, security, content, privacy practices, or terms.

Your interaction with a third-party service is governed by that provider's applicable policies.

22. Privacy

Use of the Services is also governed by MER's Privacy Policy.

By using the Services, you acknowledge that you have had an opportunity to review the Privacy Policy.

23. Service Availability

MER does not guarantee uninterrupted access to the website, Case Vault, podcast, or other Services.

Access may occasionally be interrupted due to:

  • Maintenance

  • Technical failures

  • Security concerns

  • Third-party outages

  • Legal requirements

  • Content review

  • Circumstances beyond MER's control

MER may modify, discontinue, remove, or reorganize content or features at any time.

24. Removal or Restriction of Case Materials

MER reserves the right to remove, restrict, redact, blur, or otherwise modify access to Case Vault materials when reasonably appropriate.

Reasons may include:

  • Legal concerns

  • Privacy considerations

  • Copyright claims

  • Newly discovered inaccuracies

  • Requests from appropriate authorities

  • Ethical considerations

  • Protection of minors

  • Victim dignity

  • Family concerns

  • Ongoing investigations

  • Source verification issues

Membership does not create a permanent right to access any particular document.

25. Corrections

Accuracy matters to MER.

If you believe MER has published a material factual error, you may submit a correction request to:

MEREPORTPOD@gmail.com

Please identify the specific content, disputed statement, and any supporting documentation available.

MER reserves editorial discretion regarding corrections but will review credible requests in good faith.

26. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the extent permitted by law, the Services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis.

MER does not guarantee that:

  • All information is complete or error-free

  • Every source is accurate

  • Every case file is complete

  • Every record is authentic

  • Services will always remain available

  • Particular investigative questions will be resolved

Nothing contained within MER should be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal, medical, forensic, investigative, or other professional advice.

27. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, MER and its operators will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from or relating to use of the Services.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

28. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless MER and its operators from claims, damages, liabilities, and reasonable expenses resulting from your unlawful use of the Services, violation of these Terms, infringement of another person's rights, or materials you submit without authorization.

29. Governing Law

These Terms will be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

30. Changes to These Terms

MER may revise these Terms as the podcast, Case Vault, membership program, or website evolves.

The current version will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.

Where required, members will receive notice of material changes.

31. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

32. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional terms presented during a transaction or membership purchase, constitute the agreement between you and MER regarding use of the Services.

33. Contact

Questions regarding these Terms may be directed to:

The Medical Examiner's Report
Attn: Abigail Frank
Email: MEREPORTPOD@gmail.com

The Medical Examiner's Report
Where Science Speaks.

© 2026 The Medical Examiner's Report. All Rights Reserved.