Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum
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- 11. Nov. 2026
Über den Podcast
Work a cold case alongside investigator Sheryl “Mac” McCollum, Director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute. Every week, Sheryl dives into her cold case files alongside accomplished guests to look for clues into unsolved murders, missing people, and more. This ain’t just a podcast but a war room. Sheryl opens her cold case files, her heart and her little black book! You will quickly realize Zone 7 is not a place but a lifestyle!
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A Perfect Husband? Michael Peterson, the Owl Theory, and the Evidence That Still Raises Questions
On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina, home. Her husband, Michael Peterson, was convicted of her murder in 2003, but his conviction was …
Shownotes
On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina, home. Her husband, Michael Peterson, was convicted of her murder in 2003, but his conviction was later overturned. The case gained widespread attention through Netflix's The Staircase, but some of the evidence presented at the trial never made it into the docuseries.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes back true crime author and investigative journalist Aphrodite Jones, who covered Michael Peterson’s trial and wrote A Perfect Husband, a book about the Peterson marriage, Kathleen’s death, and the murder trial. Having spent months in the courtroom, Aphrodite shares details about the blood evidence she says was left out of the docuseries and talks about meeting the attorney who came up with the owl theory. She also discusses the relationship between Michael Peterson and one of the docuserie
Highlights:
●
(0:00) Sheryl welcomes Aphrodite Jones back to Zone 7 to discuss the Kathleen
Peterson case and what The Staircase may have left out●
(2:15) Questions about the docuseries’ portrayal of blood evidence, including traces found beneath a rug and on Michael Peterson’s shorts
(6:00) “Sometimes cases are won and lost because a prosecutor or a defense attorney can tell a better story.”
(10:45) The Peterson family’s financial struggles and why Kathleen reportedly wanted to sell their home
(14:00) The owl theory and Aphrodite’s interview with Larry Pollard, the neighbor and attorney who proposed it
(17:00) How microscopic feather fragments became part of the owl theory
(23:00) “The evidence leads me. I don’t tell the evidence what happened.”
(24:30) Blood evidence allegedly missing from the docuseries
(27:45) How problems with the prosecution’s bloodstain expert helped Michael Peterson win a new trial
(32:15) Sophie Brunet’s romantic relationship with Michael Peterson and whether it influenced the editing of The Staircase
(35:45) How HBO’s dramatization of The Staircase presented different theories surrounding Kathleen Peterson’s death
Book Giveaway: Aphrodite Jones is giving away three digital copies of A Perfect Husband. To enter, visit aphroditejones.com and reach out through the contact form on her website.
Related Zone 7 Episode: When Hollywood Rewrites True Crime: The Impact on Public Opinion with Aphrodite Jones
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Aphrodite Jones is a bestselling true crime author, investigative journalist, and television personality known for her coverage of high-profile criminal cases. She is the author of A Perfect Husband, which examines the Kathleen Peterson case and Michael Peterson’s trial. She also hosted Investigation Discovery's True Crime with Aphrodite Jones.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Sheryl’s work has included high-profile investigations involving the Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur, and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching. She is an Emmy Award-winning crime scene investigator and was inducted into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Criminals Who Target Subcultures: Atlanta’s Handcuff Man
From the 1960s through the early 1990s, a violent predator known as the “Handcuff Man” targeted gay men and male sex workers in Atlanta. He lured them into his car with promises of money and alcohol before …
Shownotes
From the 1960s through the early 1990s, a violent predator known as the “Handcuff Man” targeted gay men and male sex workers in Atlanta. He lured them into his car with promises of money and alcohol before drugging, beating, and burning them. People in the community knew he was dangerous, but fear of being publicly identified and distrust of police kept many from coming forward. The attacks continued for decades before attorney Robert Lee Bennett Jr. was finally arrested in 1991.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum looks back at the Handcuff Man case and how Bennett managed to target vulnerable men for so many years. Through the stories of survivors, she highlights what investigators missed and why building relationships within a community, earning people’s trust, and listening to those closest to a case can be critical to stopping a violent predator.
Highlights:
(0:00) Why criminals target vulnerable populations and the challenges investigators face
(3:30) The Handcuff Man’s attacks on gay men and male sex workers in Atlanta
(6:00) Why victims and witnesses were reluctant to report the attacks to police
(7:00) Survivors recount their encounters with the Handcuff Man and the severe injuries they suffered
(9:45) How Atlanta police officer J.D. Kirkland identified Robert Lee Bennett Jr. years before his arrest
(11:45) Bennett’s arrest, guilty plea, and the importance of building relationships and trust within a community to help solve crimes
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts. Your feedback
helps others find the show and supports our mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
---
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work has included high-profile investigations involving the Boston Strangler, Natalee Holloway, Tupac Shakur, and the Moore's Ford Bridge lynching. She is an Emmy Award-winning crime scene investigator and was inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer's Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Christa Pike’s Failed Execution: What Went Wrong with the Lethal Injection? | Dr. Priya Banerjee
On September 30, 2026, Tennessee attempted to execute death row inmate Christa Pike by lethal injection for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Despite receiving two doses of pentobarbital, Pike …
Shownotes
On September 30, 2026, Tennessee attempted to execute death row inmate Christa Pike by lethal injection for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Despite receiving two doses of pentobarbital, Pike survived. She lost consciousness but continued breathing, and her heart was still beating more than an hour after the procedure began. She was eventually transported to a hospital, where she regained consciousness and recovered enough to return to prison.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes back board-certified forensic pathologist Dr. Priya Banerjee to discuss what may have gone wrong during Pike’s failed execution. She explains how pentobarbital affects the brain and breathing, why improper IV placement may have prevented the full dose from entering Pike’s bloodstream, and why her recovery was so unexpected. Sheryl and Dr. Priya also discuss previous execution failures, the ethical questions surrounding physician involvement, and the emotional toll these failures can have on victims’ families and everyone involved.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl introduces Christa Pike’s failed execution and welcomes back Dr. Priya Banerjee
(1:30) Dr. Priya explains Tennessee’s single-drug lethal injection protocol and how pentobarbital works
(3:15) How improper IV placement may have contributed to the failed execution
(5:15) The medical response after Pike survived the lethal injection attempt
(7:00) Why Pike’s recovery was so unexpected
(9:15) Previous execution failures involving John Wayne Gacy and problems with lethal injection
(11:15) Questions about who administers lethal injections and the ethical restrictions on physician involvement
(15:15) How lethal injection protocols vary from state to state
(16:30) Pike’s attorneys requested an alternative execution method before the procedure
(17:30) Statistics on failed executions and the need to prevent medical errors
(19:15) The emotional impact of failed executions on victims' families and everyone involved
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist and former Rhode Island state medical examiner. She previously co-hosted Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series, and uses her forensic expertise to help audiences better understand complex medical evidence and death investigations.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Sheryl’s work has included high-profile investigations involving the Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur, and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching. She is an Emmy Award-winning crime scene investigator and was inducted into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7pod
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Presley Gerber’s Suspected Overdose: What Families Should Know About Addiction Treatment | Shelley Halligan
Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died at a sober living facility in September 2026. His death is being investigated as a suspected overdose. Despite …
Shownotes
Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died at a sober living facility in September 2026. His death is being investigated as a suspected overdose. Despite his family’s resources and access to treatment, Presley had publicly expressed frustration with his psychiatric care and the number of medications he had been prescribed. His death raises questions about addiction, overprescribing, and how families can find effective help for someone they love.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes her sister, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Shelley Halligan, to discuss the challenges of treating addiction and the risks associated with certain prescription medications. They talk about counterfeit pills, the dangers of mixing substances, and the questions patients should ask before taking new medications. For families trying to help a loved one, Shelley offers advice on researching treatment centers, explains why facilities that claim to treat everything deserve a closer look, and stresses the importance of researching treatment options.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl reflects on Cindy Crawford and the suspected overdose death of her son, Presley Gerber
(5:00) Shelley explains addiction and the emotional pain that can contribute to substance use
(7:30) Presley’s public frustration with psychiatric care and the number of medications he was prescribed
(9:15) Fentanyl, kratom, and the risks associated with high-potency THC
(12:45) Sheryl recalls a childhood prescription medication dosing error involving Shelley
(15:45) Questions patients should ask about prescribed medications and how to dispose of unused pills safely
(18:00) What families should look for when choosing an addiction treatment facility
(20:45) Shelley’s approach to evaluating multiple prescriptions and reducing unnecessary medications
(23:15) Counterfeit pills, fentanyl, and the dangers of taking medication from someone else
(26:45) Shelley shares stories of addiction-related loss and why she remains hopeful about recovery
(30:45) The importance of asking questions, advocating for loved ones, and removing the shame surrounding addiction
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Dr. Shelley Halligan is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with certifications in mental health first aid and advanced practice addiction nursing. She specializes in addiction treatment and recovery with a focus on individualized, patient-centered care.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint
River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lindsay Clancy Retrial: The Prosecution Decisions Claudia King Says Deserve Another Look
The Lindsay Clancy trial ended in a mistrial in September 2026 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case involving the deaths of her three young children. The case has sparked strong …
Shownotes
The Lindsay Clancy trial ended in a mistrial in September 2026 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case involving the deaths of her three young children. The case has sparked strong opinions and heated debate, and with another trial potentially ahead, attention is turning to what prosecutors might do differently the second time around.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes former law enforcement officer, domestic violence expert, and on-air crime analyst Claudia King to discuss the prosecution’s strategy during the first trial and what may need to change if the case returns to court. They talk about how witness sequencing impacts the jury, mental health arguments, accountability, and the evidence surrounding the children’s deaths. Sheryl and Claudia also address the public identification of the lone holdout juror, concerns about jury intimidation, and whether sequestering the jury during a second trial could help protect the integrity of the proceedings.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl introduces Claudia King, former police officer, domestic violence expert, and crime analyst
(4:00) Claudia discusses the possibility of a retrial, pending defense motions, and jury selection challenges
(8:45) Where prosecutors succeeded in closing arguments and why their focus on Lindsay’s suicide attempt may have hurt the case
(11:00) How witness order and testimony can influence a jury●
(14:00) Claudia questions the defense’s claims about Lindsay’s efforts to seek mental health treatment
(17:00) Mental illness, criminal responsibility, and questions about accountability
(20:45) The children’s positions and locations and what they may suggest about the killings
(22:00) The holdout juror faces public backlash after his identity becomes known
(27:15) Jury selection, outside influence, and the case for sequestration
(29:00) Concerns about a defense psychiatric expert’s relationship with Lindsay’s family and potential bias
(31:00) Remembering Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy, the victims at the heart of the case
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps
others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
---
Claudia King is a former police officer, domestic violence expert, survivor advocate, and crime
analyst. A domestic violence survivor herself, she uses both her personal and professional
experiences to advocate for victims and offer insight into high-profile criminal cases. She also
hosts the Strong Enough podcast.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When True Crime Gets Too Close to the Case | With Joshua Schiffer
High-profile cases don’t stay behind the scenes anymore. Lawyers are hired before investigations are complete, advocates and private experts release their own findings, witnesses speak on podcasts, and online …
Shownotes
High-profile cases don’t stay behind the scenes anymore. Lawyers are hired before investigations are complete, advocates and private experts release their own findings, witnesses speak on podcasts, and online accusations spread long before anyone is charged with a crime.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes back criminal defense attorney Joshua Schiffer to discuss how that shift is changing the criminal justice system and putting new pressure on prosecutors, investigations, witnesses, families, and potential jurors. Using the Nolan Wells investigation as an example, Sheryl and Joshua talk about outside experts, secondary autopsies, media coverage, death threats, doxing, and what can happen when people outside an investigation become involved before law enforcement has finished its work. They also explain how public statements, podcasts, and social media posts can complicate a case and potentially create reasonable doubt if it eventually reaches court.
Highlights:
(0:00) “Crazy town”: the troubling trend in high-profile cases that brings Joshua Schiffer back to Zone7
(1:00) How lawyers, GoFundMe campaigns, protests, and public pressure can begin before an investigation is complete
(6:00) The personal toll of high-profile cases on prosecutors, public defenders, investigators, and their families
(8:30) From theories accusing Lindsay Clancy’s husband to lawsuits against influencers: where true crime interest crosses into harassment and civil liability
(12:15) The Nolan Wells investigation and the outside force already influencing the case before any criminal charges are filed
(14:30) Private reports, outside experts, nonprofits, and public advocacy: when well-meaning help complicates an active investigation
(18:15) Why following police procedures matters when a defense attorney begins challenging an investigation
(20:00) Hiring a lawyer or remaining silent is a constitutional right, not an admission of guilt
(22:15) No blunt force trauma or signs of a fight: what the secondary autopsy does and does not show
(27:30) Death threats, doxing, disputed audio, and why Sheryl and Joshua question the theory of a violent death
(34:30) How podcasts, books, interviews, and social media posts can introduce reasonable doubt before a case ever reaches trial
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Joshua Schiffer is an Atlanta-based criminal defense attorney and longtime Zone 7 contributor. He represents clients in criminal matters and frequently provides legal analysis on high-profile cases, courtroom strategy, constitutional rights, and the realities of the criminal justice system.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Happens Next for Lindsay Clancy? | Dr. Priya Banerjee
Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother who had been struggling with serious mental health symptoms after the birth of her third child, admitted to strangling her three young children with exercise bands while …
Shownotes
Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother who had been struggling with serious mental health symptoms after the birth of her third child, admitted to strangling her three young children with exercise bands while her husband was out picking up dinner and medication. She then jumped from a second-story window, survived, and was left paralyzed. Her first trial ended in a mistrial, leaving major questions about what happens next.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes back board-certified forensic pathologist Dr. Priya Banerjee to talk through the Lindsay Clancy case and what the medical evidence can help explain. Dr. Priya describes what the children’s injuries can tell us about how they died and why Lindsay’s mental state that night remains one of the central questions in the case. They also discuss the difficult months leading up to it, from Lindsay’s sleepless nights to changing prescriptions and the challenges of coordinating care across multiple providers, and consider what could change if the case goes to trial again.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl and Dr. Priya address misinformation surrounding the Lindsay Clancy case and the questions following the mistrial
(4:45) Why the repeated ligature strangulation of three children raises difficult medical and psychiatric questions
(7:00) The Clancy children and the significance of different exercise bands being used to strangle each child●
(8:15) Dr. Priya explains how ligature strangulation causes asphyxia, loss of consciousness, and irreversible brain injury
(11:15) Lindsay Clancy’s injuries after jumping from a second-story window and Dr. Priya’s assessment of the suicide attempt
(13:30) Postpartum anxiety, hormonal changes, severe sleep deprivation, and why recovery does not follow a simple timeline
(17:15) Why psychiatric medications can take weeks to work and the complications of starting, stopping, or changing prescriptions
(21:30) How mental illness, multiple providers, telehealth, and incomplete communication can complicate psychiatric care
(23:45) Speculation about Patrick Clancy and what the defense stipulated at trial
(25:45) What prescription drug monitoring programs can and cannot tell doctors about a patient's medication
(29:30) Why another Lindsay Clancy trial could become a battle between psychiatric experts
(33:00) The emotional toll that graphic child-death evidence can place on jurors asked to decide a difficult case
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
---
Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist and former Rhode Island state medical examiner. She previously co-hosted Pathology with Dr. Priya on Zone 7 and uses her forensic experience to help explain complex medical evidence and death investigations.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When the Planes Came to Gander: A Flight Attendant’s 9/11 Story | Sharlene Bowen
On September 11, 2001, with U.S. airspace closed after the terrorist attacks, dozens of transatlantic flights were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. Thousands of passengers and crew from around the world landed …
Shownotes
On September 11, 2001, with U.S. airspace closed after the terrorist attacks, dozens of transatlantic flights were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. Thousands of passengers and crew from around the world landed in the small town, nearly doubling its population within minutes. Their story later inspired the Broadway musical Come From Away.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes her sister, Sharlene Bowen, who was working as a flight attendant aboard Delta Flight 15 from Frankfurt, Germany, to Atlanta when the plane was ordered to land in Gander. Sharlene recalls spending 30 hours grounded on the tarmac with little information, the moment she finally saw the attacks on television, and the note that led her to Constable Oswald “Oz” Fudge and a hug Sheryl sent from Atlanta. Over the next five days, she watched the people of Gander open their schools, homes, and churches to the “plane people," as the locals called them.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl introduces the story of Gander, Newfoundland, and her sister Sharlene Bowen’s experience on September 11, 2001
(3:00) Sharlene remembers when an ordinary flight from Frankfurt to Atlanta suddenly changed and the crew learned something had happened in New York
(7:00) “All US airspace has been closed.” The announcement that silenced an entire cabin
(11:45) How passengers and crew worked together during 30 hours aboard the grounded plane●
(16:00) Why every passenger had to be cleared before leaving the aircraft and how Gander prepared for thousands of unexpected guests
(20:45) Sharlene finally sees the attacks on a TV at Walmart more than a day after they happened
(23:00) A note and a police hat lead Sharlene to Oz Fudge and a message from her sister
(28:00) Teenagers give free rides, Walmart hands over its keys, and the hockey rink becomes the town’s refrigerator
(36:45) Local teenagers create a special experience for stranded Make-A-Wish kids who missed their trip to Disney World
(41:45) Returning to Gander, hearing the original air traffic control recording, and seeing Come From Away with the people who lived the story
(46:30) How the hug from Oz Fudge delivered on Sheryl’s behalf became part of the production of Come From Away
(51:45) A scholarship fund started on the flight home has now sent more than 300 Gander students to college
(56:45) Delta employees wave American flags along the Atlanta taxiway, and Sharlene share a message about remembering the way people cared for one another after 9/11
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Sharlene Bowen spent 34 years as a Delta Air Lines flight attendant and was a crew member aboard Delta Flight 15 when it was diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001. She later became a level one trauma nurse and charge nurse at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where she recently celebrated 20 years of service.
Related Episode
From Crisis to Compassion: A 9/11 Retrospective with Constable Oswald Fudge
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jabez Spann: Nine Years Later, His Parents are Still Fighting for the Families of Missing People
Jabez Spann was 14 years old when he disappeared from Sarasota, Florida, over Labor Day weekend in 2017. It would be two years before his remains were recovered and his death was ruled a homicide. In this …
Shownotes
Jabez Spann was 14 years old when he disappeared from Sarasota, Florida, over Labor Day weekend in 2017. It would be two years before his remains were recovered and his death was ruled a homicide.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes back Jabez’s mother, Tawana Spann, and her husband, Joe Spann, to mark nine years since Jabez went missing and renew their call for anyone with information about his murder to come forward. Tawana and Joe discuss the advocacy work they have built out of their grief, including the Jabez Spann Foundation, the Missing Our Voices podcast, and a new initiative called If We Could Speak.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl opens the episode with a call to action for anyone who knows what happened to Jabez Spann
(2:00) Tawana explains the one question she still needs answered about her son’s murder
(5:00) How living without answers can become its own kind of prison for families of missing and murdered children
(9:00) Why Jabez’s disappearance led Tawana to create resources for other families searching for loved ones
(11:45) How Missing Our Voices gives families a place to talk about the people they lost
(14:00) Joe Spann introduces the rapid response readiness kit, and the common misconceptions families can face when someone goes missing●
(17:00) Why organization during the first 72 hours can help families become more proactive in a missing-person investigation
(19:00) How If We Could Speak uses digital avatars to make people stop, listen, and remember the victim
(22:30) Jabez’s digital avatar focuses on the life he should have had and the future that was taken from him
(24:45) Joe appeals to anyone who has information about Jabez’s murder to do the right thing
(27:00) Joe reflects on Tawana’s strength and how she has channeled her grief into helping other families
(33:15) Tawana credits her mother, Lucille Tillery, with helping her turn her anger into advocacy for other families
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Tawana Spann is the mother of Jabez Spann and an advocate for families of missing and murdered loved ones. Through the Jabez Spann Foundation, Missing Our Voices podcast, and other initiatives created in her son’s memory, she works to provide families with practical resources, keep their loved one’s stories visible, and give them a place to be heard. Her husband, Joe Spann, works alongside her as a co-advocate through the foundation.
Related EpisodeWho Killed Jabez Spann? | Seeking to Expose a Killer's Secret
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:●
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Woman Who Rode With the Wild Bunch | Chris Enss on Laura Bullion
By 1901, Laura Bullion had traded the ranches of her childhood for life with the Wild Bunch, the outlaw gang associated with Butch Cassisy and the Sundance Kid, and took part in the Great Northern train robbery …
Shownotes
By 1901, Laura Bullion had traded the ranches of her childhood for life with the Wild Bunch, the outlaw gang associated with Butch Cassisy and the Sundance Kid, and took part in the Great Northern train robbery that would eventually send her to prison. After years spent waiting for Ben Kilpatrick, she reinvented herself as a seamstress in Memphis, leaving the people around her with no idea about the life she had once lived.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes back New York Times bestselling author Chris Enss to talk about Laura Bullion and her newest book, The Last Ride. Chris shares the circumstances that connected Laura to the Wild Bunch, what her prison letters tell us about her relationship with Ben Kilpatrick, and why women like Laura have been largely overlooked in the history of the American West.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl welcomes Chris Enss and introduces Laura Bullion, the little-known female outlaw of the Wild Bunch
(1:15) Laura’s childhood in Texas and the circumstances that put her among cowboys who would later turn to crime
(4:45) The complicated relationship between Laura and Will Carver, and how he connected her to the Wild Bunch
(7:15) Laura’s role in the 1901 Great Northern train robbery and the gang’s refuge at Hole-in-the-Wall
(8:45) How the famous Fort Worth Five photograph helped the Pinkerton detectives identify members of the Wild Bunch
(11:45) What Laura’s prison letters tell us about her dysfunctional relationship with Ben Kilpatrick
(14:30) Laura Bullion’s mugshot, her aliases, and the years surrounding the train robbery
(17:15) Remembering Laura as a criminal in her own right
(20:00) How brothels like Fannie Porter’s became a home base for members of the Wild Bunch
(22:45) Why the women of the American West, including female criminals, remain largely absent from popular history
(27:45) Laura leaves the outlaw life behind, becomes “Freda Lincoln,” and spends her later years as a seamstress in Memphis
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps
others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Chris Enss is a New York Times bestselling author who has spent more than three decades researching and writing about women of the American West. She has written more than two dozen books highlighting women whose contributions, adventures, and crimes have often been overlooked in traditional accounts of Western History.
Chris Enss’s The Last Ride tells the story of Laura Bullion and her life with the Wild Bunch.
Related Episode
The Outlaw Queen: Kathryn Throne and the Making of Machine Gun Kelly
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]●
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“The Mob’s Accountant”: One of Americas most Notorious Mobsters Meyer Lansky Through His Grandson’s Eyes
During the Prohibition era and the rise of organized crime in the early 20th century, Meyer Lansky emerged as one of the figures who helped shape the modern American mob. Through his partnerships with Charles …
Shownotes
During the Prohibition era and the rise of organized crime in the early 20th century, Meyer Lansky emerged as one of the figures who helped shape the modern American mob. Through his partnerships with Charles “Lucky” Luciano and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, he became closely tied to the development of legalized gambling in Las Vegas and casino operations in Cuba, earning the nickname the “Mob’s Accountant.” He was also remembered by his family for his insistence on education, philanthropy, and what his grandson describes as being a “mobster with morals” who believed in helping the communities where he did business.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes Meyer Lansky II to discuss his new book, The Lansky Legend: The Life and Letters of Meyer Lansky. Meyer shares his memories of his grandfather, how he gradually came to understand the life his grandfather lived, and his grandfather’s role in Prohibition, gambling, Cuba, and the early development of Las Vegas.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl introduces Meyer Lansky II and the legacy of his grandfather, Meyer Lansky
(2:00) What motivated Meyer to tell his grandfather’s story through The Lansky Legend
(5:00) The grandfather Meyer knew and the importance he placed on education, discipline, and doing things well
(7:00) What Meyer says about the reported $300 million fortune and what happened to his grandfather’s money
(10:00) The childhood gambling loss that taught Meyer Lansky never to bet again●
(11:15) How Meyer Lansky met Bugsy Siegel and why their opposite personalities worked so well together
(12:30) A confrontation with Lucky Luciano that became the beginning of another lifelong alliance
(14:45) Meyer Lansky II begins to realize his grandfather is not the ordinary businessman his family described
(16:30) The attempted kidnapping that led to FBI protection and his family secretly leaving town
(21:15) Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel’s early vision for Las Vegas and the Flamingo
(23:45) The FBI surveillance that followed Meyer Lansky into retirement and continued through the end of his life
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Meyer Lansky II is the grandson and namesake of one of the most recognizable figures in American organized crime history. He grew up knowing his grandfather personally and now shares those memories and family stories to help preserve a more complete picture of Meyer Lansky and the era he helped shape.
Meyer Lansky II’s The Lansky Legacy: The Life and Letters of Meyer Lansky is available now. Learn more about the book and order your copy here.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum●
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What the Jury Never Heard in the Karmelo Anthony Trial | Reagan Charleston Thomas
Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during an altercation at a high school track meet and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Anthony’s defense team sought a new trial, and …
Shownotes
Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during an altercation at a high school track meet and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Anthony’s defense team sought a new trial, and hearings this week revealed that prosecutors and the defense had agreed to keep certain evidence from the original jury.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by civil litigator Reagan Charleston Thomas to discuss what that newly disclosed information could mean for the case. They look at the agreement between prosecutors and the defense that kept information about both teenagers out of the original trial and the strategy behind that decision. Sheryl and Reagan also discuss the Nolan Wells case and the dispute over access to his phone before reacting to Judge Michael Chitty’s ruling denying Karmelo Anthony’s motion for a new trial.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl recaps the Karmelo Anthony case and introduces civil litigator Reagan Charleston Thomas
(3:00) Reagan discusses her work in digital harm litigation and why teenagers’ phones can become critical sources of evidence
(4:15) How lawyers build a case by telling a story within the framework of the law
(5:30) The agreement that kept damaging information about both Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf out of the original trial
(6:45) When a school could potentially face civil liability for known threats, bullying, or violent behavior
(8:00) Karmelo’s alleged text about shooting up the school and questions about why prosecutors chose not to introduce it
(12:00) A reported statement about stabbing someone and the evidence involving Austin’s prior graffiti arrest
(16:00) The role racial tension and concerns for both families' safety played in shaping trial strategy
(18:45) Reagan explains why the alleged knife-related text messages changed the way she viewed the evidence and self-defense claim
(21:45) Whether jurors should hear the good, the bad, and the ugly when attorneys decide what evidence reaches the courtroom
(25:45) What information cellphones may contain, the Nolan Wells case, and the dispute over access to his phone
(33:30) Judge Chitty denies Anthony’s motion for a new trial, and Reagan explains why the case is far from over
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Reagan Charleston Thomas is a civil litigator whose work includes social media addiction and digital harm litigation. A magna cum laude graduate of Loyola University law school, she also provides legal commentary for Fox News, Fox News Radio, and OutKick.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Search Warrant That Led Investigators to 16 Children | Angenette Levy
While executing an unrelated search warrant, law enforcement discovered 16 children in an isolated Ohio home, ranging in age from 18-month-old twins to an 18-year-old. Parents Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth …
Shownotes
While executing an unrelated search warrant, law enforcement discovered 16 children in an isolated Ohio home, ranging in age from 18-month-old twins to an 18-year-old. Parents Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders face neglect allegations, while Gary Jr. has also been charged with misdemeanor counts of public indecency. All 16 children were taken to the hospital for evaluation after being removed from the home, with several requiring additional treatment.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks with Law&Crime correspondent Angenette Levy about the case. Angenette describes the deplorable living conditions inside the home, what school and truancy records reveal about the children’s years away from the classroom, and the medical treatment some required after being removed from the home. She and Sheryl also look at how an entire family could seemingly disappear from public view and what is known about how the household was being supported financially. Angenette closes the episode with a remarkable story of the day she was assigned to cover an active Amber Alert and ended up finding the missing toddler at the center of it.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl introduces Angenette Levy and explains why she turned to her for the latest on the Ohio case
(3:00) Authorities execute a sealed search warrant and unexpectedly find 16 children inside the Ohio home
(5:30) What is known about the public indecency charges against Gary Siders Jr. and what remains unclear
(8:30) School and truancy records raise questions about the children’s years away from the classroom
(12:30) A neighbor recalls seeing children run toward the house and later came to believe the property was vacant
(15:00) Reports about the conditions inside the home
(17:15) Angenette looks at public benefits, a local diaper bank, and questions how the household was being supported
(20:00) The role schools and mandated reporters can play in identifying children at risk
(22:45) The children’s medical treatment after being removed from the home
(26:00) Angenette shares how she found a missing toddler while covering an Amber Alert
(33:00) Where the children are now and the additional support provided through therapeutic foster care
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Angenette Levy is a correspondent and host with Law&Crime Network. She has covered major trials, including Steven Avery, Kyle Rittenhouse, and Derek Chauvin, and was Emmy-nominated in 2015 for a story in which she helped find a missing toddler during an active Amber Alert.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint
River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trafficked at 14 by the Dixie Mafia: Tina Dixon’s Survival Story
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by human trafficking survivor and advocate Tina Dixon, who ran away as a young teenager before being trafficked through the Dixie Mafia’s network of brothels …
Shownotes
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by human trafficking survivor and advocate Tina Dixon, who ran away as a young teenager before being trafficked through the Dixie Mafia’s network of brothels and organized prostitution across the South. Together, they discuss the grooming, manipulation, violence, and addiction traffickers use to control their victims and how organized trafficking operations adapt to changing technology as recruitment expands through social media and other online platforms. Tina also explains what finally helped her break free after decades of exploitation and why she has made it her mission to help others escape trafficking and rebuild their lives.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl explains the Dixie Mafia’s ties to human trafficking and the importance of understanding victimology in investigations
(2:00) Why investigators distinguish between different forms of commercial sexual exploitation and how those differences shape an investigation
(3:45) Tina runs away at 14, arrives on Bourbon Street, and becomes involved with an outlaw motorcycle club
(8:30) The differences between a “Cassanova pimp” and a “gorilla pimp” and how traffickers use manipulation before violence
(10:15) Inside Louisiana's prostitution “circuit” of roadside bars, gambling rooms, and brothels hidden throughout the bayous
(11:45) How traffickers groom children online using social media, emotional manipulation, and false promises
(15:00) Childhood abuse, addiction, and the vulnerabilities traffickers intentionally exploit
(17:15) Inside a rural brothel: how victims are trained, controlled, and punished
(23:15) Why traffickers profit while victims are left with addiction, trauma, and nothing to show for years of exploitation
(24:15) How online predators continue using the same grooming tactics to recruit children today
(26:45) The confrontation that led to Tina being shot twice
(30:00) Why Destiny House, Hookers for Jesus, and EMDR finally succeeded after 17 rehab attempts
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Tina Dixon is the founder and executive director of Queens Arise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking build independent futures through education, career training, mentorship, and long-term recovery support. After surviving decades of trafficking herself, Tina now helps survivors create lasting stability while advocating for survivor-led solutions.
Learn more about Tina and sign up for updates on her upcoming memoir, Going to the Country: https://queensarise.org/tina-dixon/
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast●
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note: Real Evidence or a Cruel Hoax?
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum takes a closer look at the ransom note released in the Nancy Guthrie case. Based on her decades of crime scene investigation experience, Sheryl examines the message …
Shownotes
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum takes a closer look at the ransom note released in the Nancy Guthrie case. Based on her decades of crime scene investigation experience, Sheryl examines the message line by line, pointing out the inconsistencies in its wording, timeline, demands, and structure while explaining why she has never believed the case was motivated by money. She’s been saying since day one: it doesn’t add up.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl’s long-held belief that Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance was never about money
(2:30) Why “Hello, Savannah” reads more like a greeting than a demand
(4:30) Timeline problems and contradictory deadlines that raise red flags
(6:30) A “safe drop-off” promise that doesn’t fit real kidnapper behavior
(8:15) Contradictions surrounding negotiation, payment demands, and deadlines
(10:00) The shift from “we” to “me” and why it may matter more than the author intended
(11:45) The watch detail and the stronger proof Sheryl says should have been included
(13:00) Details someone who was actually inside the house should have been able to describe
(14:15) A timeline of the ransom emails, family responses, reward increases, and missed deadlines
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Medical Examiners Can’t Rush to Conclusions | Nolan Wells Case with Dr. Priya Banerjee
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by board-certified forensic pathologist Dr. Priya Banerjee for a conversation about the ongoing investigation into the death of Nolan Wells. Using publicly …
Shownotes
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by board-certified forensic pathologist Dr. Priya Banerjee for a conversation about the ongoing investigation into the death of Nolan Wells. Using publicly known facts of the case, Dr. Priya explains how forensic pathologists approach a suspected drowning and why an autopsy is only one part of a death investigation. Together, they discuss why following the evidence, not speculation, is what will bring Nolan’s family the answers they need.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum introduces Dr. Priya Banerjee to Zone 7 and explains why Nolan Wells’ family deserves facts, not speculation
(3:00) Why forensic pathologists rarely release preliminary autopsy findings before an investigation is complete
(6:00) Reconstructing Nolan Wells’ timeline and why seemingly trivial details can become important evidence
(7:45) What forensic pathologists look for when investigating a possible drowning
(10:15) Water in the lungs, stomach contents, decomposition, and why drowning is never diagnosed by one finding alone
(12:15) When families seek a second autopsy and how independent findings are evaluated
(15:00) The emotional impact conflicting forensic opinions have on grieving families
(18:15) Ruling out foul play: why investigators wait for a complete forensic examination
(20:45) How timelines, witness statements, GPS data, and autopsy findings must support one another
(22:15) The cost of speculation during an active death investigation
(24:00) Pattern recognition and the role of evidence in forensic investigations
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, she served for more than a decade as an assistant medical examiner for the Rhode Island Office of the State Medical Examiners and leads a private forensic pathology practice. She previously co-hosted Pathology with Dr. Priya, a forensic science series within Zone 7.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brad Beeler | The Art of Interrogation and Building Trust
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by retired Secret Service agent and polygraph examiner Brad Beeler to discuss what 25 years of talking with suspects, witnesses, victims, and some of the …
Shownotes
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by retired Secret Service agent and polygraph examiner Brad Beeler to discuss what 25 years of talking with suspects, witnesses, victims, and some of the worst offenders taught him about getting people to open up and tell the truth. Brad covers why trust has to come before truth, the damage one accusatory word can do to a conversation, and how respect gets people to open up faster than pressure ever will. He also shares practical signs that may indicate deception, why sometimes the best thing you can do is stop talking and listen, and how the same principles he relied on in high-stakes investigations can help anyone become a better communicator.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum introduces retired Secret Service agent Brad Beeler and the moment she saw his commitment to a cold case firsthand
(5:30) Why making people feel heard, respected, and genuinely listened to can change a conversation
(8:00) The worst thing you can call someone when you are trying to get the truth
(10:00) Why Brad aims to listen 80% of the time and what investigators can learn when they stop talking
(15:45) “Create a space where truth feels safe enough to emerge”
(17:45) Why even the worst offenders have to be treated with respect if investigators want answers
(21:30) How Brad evaluates possible deception without relying on a single supposed ‘tell’
(23:15) Turning a story into a yes-or-no question to test whether someone will stand behind what they said
(24:30) Delayed answers, vocal inflection, overly specific responses, and qualifying words that may signal deception
(27:15) Why respect matters more than rapport when you have little in common with someone
(28:30) What protecting foreign dignitaries taught Brad about professional respect across cultural and political divides
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Brad Beeler is a retired U.S. Secret Service agent and polygraph examiner with 25 years of experience conducting high-stakes interviews and investigations. Named Secret Service Special Agent of the Year, he is also a recipient of the Director’s Service Award and Forensic Hero Award and a former instructor at the National Center for Credibility Assessment. He is the author of Tell me Everything: A Secret Service Agent’s Proven Strategies for Earning Trust, Revealing Truth, and Communicating with Anyone.|
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Fake Social Worker Stole Their 17-Day-Old Baby. He’s Still Missing
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by investigative journalist Angeline Hartmann, along with Kevin Verville Sr. and Angelica Ramsey. Together, they revisit the unsolved 1980 kidnapping of …
Shownotes
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by investigative journalist Angeline Hartmann, along with Kevin Verville Sr. and Angelica Ramsey. Together, they revisit the unsolved 1980 kidnapping of newborn Kevin Verville Jr., taken at 17 days old from off-base military housing near Camp Pendleton by a woman posing as a social worker. For more than 45 years, the Verville family has never stopped searching for Kevin, who they believe has no idea he was ever taken. They believe someone listening today could recognize Kevin, help identify the woman responsible, and finally reconnect him with his family.
Watch Kevin’s Story from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20MNq579m3k
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum introduces Angeline Hartmann and the podcast investigation that helped identify six-year-old William DaShawn Hamilton
(5:30) The tip that identified a child John Doe more than 20 years after his remains were found
(9:30) How Angeline brought the kidnapping of Kevin Verville Jr. to Sheryl
(11:00) Kevin Verville Sr. and Angelica Ramsey join the podcast to discuss their missing son and brother, Kevin Verville Jr.
(12:00) A woman posing as a social worker gains the family’s trust through a fake assistance program●
(16:15) Kevin Sr. recalls the ruse that got his wife out of the car moments before the suspect drove away with their newborn
(19:00) The distinctive hand tattoo investigators hope someone will recognize
(22:15) Angelica explains why age progression, DNA databases, and public awareness remain critical to finding Kevin Jr.
(26:15) Why renewed public interest in infant abduction cases could help generate new leads
(27:45) Why investigators believe Kevin Jr. was deliberately targeted
(32:15) How the suspect entered the off-base military housing complex without passing the vehicle checkpoint
(34:15) Angeline and Sheryl confront the victim-blaming Kevin Jr. ’s parents faced after
the abduction
(36:15) Cultural background, small-town trust, and how the suspect exploited the family’s openness
(37:15) Why Kevin Jr. may have grown up under another identity without knowing he was abducted
(39:00) How listeners can share Kevin Jr. ’s age progression and help identify both Kevin Jr. and the woman who took him
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Angeline Hartmann is the Director of Communication for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and an award-winning investigative journalist. She previously worked with America’s Most Wanted and hosts the Inside Crime with Angeline Hartmann podcast.
Kevin Verville Sr. is the father of Kevin Verville Jr., abducted at 17 days old from off-base military housing near Camp Pendleton on July 1, 1980.
Angelica Ramsey is the sister of Kevin Verville Jr., born after his abduction. She advocates for his case, sharing his age progression image and searching for the brother she has never met.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vice, Vegas, and Deep Cover: Jenn Benjamins on What It Takes to Work Undercover
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by retired Las Vegas Police Sergeant Jenn Benjamins for a look inside undercover police work. Jenn explains what separates basic surveillance from true deep …
Shownotes
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by retired Las Vegas Police Sergeant Jenn Benjamins for a look inside undercover police work. Jenn explains what separates basic surveillance from true deep cover, where officers must build believable identities, speak the language of the street, and think fast enough to avoid being “made.” She discusses prostitution stings, pimp culture, human trafficking, and why undercover work requires a specific kind of officer. Jenn also shares how she now carries that experience into Covert Blue LLC, her law enforcement training company, where she helps prepare officers for undercover operations, investigations, leadership, and the realities of the job.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum introduces retired Las Vegas Metro Police Sergeant Jenn Benjamins and her 22 years on the force
(1:15) Jenn explains why undercover work can produce some of the strongest evidence in criminal investigations
(2:15) “Doing theater” for suspects and why successful undercover work requires acting, instinct, and total commitment to the role
(4:15) How officers avoid getting “made” while working prostitution and narcotics cases
(8:00) Why only a small percentage of officers may be suited for undercover assignments
(11:15) The importance of knowing street talk, pricing, roles, and expectations during vice investigations
(16:00) Sheryl and Jenn discuss the kind of money that moves through high-end escort work in Las Vegas and why leaving is often more complicated than people assume●
(19:00) Jenn explains the different types of pimps, including Casanova and gorilla pimps, and how violence and gang culture changed the prostitution landscape
(22:30) Major events like the Super Bowl and the World Cup, the “circuit,” and how large
gatherings can bring increased prostitution, trafficking, and related crime into host cities
(29:30) Jenn talks about dressing the part, avoiding entrapment concerns, and building a believable undercover appearance
(35:15) Sheryl honors Jenn’s law enforcement service and her work training future undercover officers through Covert Blue LLC
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Jenn Benjamins is a retired Las Vegas Metro Police Department sergeant with more than 22 years of experience in patrol, investigations, criminal intelligence, vice, organized crime, and undercover operations. She is the founder of Covert Blue LLC, where she trains law enforcement professionals in undercover work, investigations, leadership, and officer wellness.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint
River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Cape Cod Serial Rapist and the Survivor Who Helped Catch Him
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by retired Police Chief Frank Frederickson and Michelle Linn for a case that began with a violent 1988 Cape Cod assault and, years later, became something …
Shownotes
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by retired Police Chief Frank Frederickson and Michelle Linn for a case that began with a violent 1988 Cape Cod assault and, years later, became something neither of them could have imagined. Frederickson, then a newly assigned detective, recalls a summer of escalating attacks across Hyannis and Barnstable, Massachusetts, and the unconventional decision to bring Michelle along into the nightclubs to search for the man who attacked her. Michelle shares what finally convinced her to report the assault, how she knew her attacker the instant she saw him, and how one of the most traumatic experiences of her life led to justice, healing, and an unexpected love story.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum introduces retired Police Chief Frank Frederickson and details his decades of law enforcement service
(1:00) Frank describes the 1988 Cape Cod case and “sets the stage” before cell phones, DNA testing, cameras, and modern investigative tools
(2:00) A young woman is attacked while trying to retrieve a motel key; a passerby intervenes as the attacker tries to drag her across the road
(3:45) Similar assaults begin happening weekly in Barnstable and Hyannis, Massachusetts, growing more violent as the summer goes on
(4:45) Michelle tells Frank she believes she will know the assailant if she sees him again
(7:15) Michelle spots the man outside a Hyannis nightclub
(8:00) Frank describes following the suspect until a liquor store stop gives police a reason to approach him
(11:15) Michelle joins the conversation and shares how she recognized her attacker and what she remembered from the attack
(15:30) Michelle recalls not wanting to report the assault, and the moment her friend convinced her that staying silent could put someone else at risk
(21:30) Frank and Michelle share the unexpected turn their lives took years later
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Frank Frederickson is a retired chief of police with more than 45 years in law enforcement, beginning with the Yarmouth Police Department in 1977 and retiring in 2022. He has served as director of government affairs for the Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police and as executive director of the New England Association of Chiefs of Police.
Michelle Linn is a survivor whose courage helped investigators identify and arrest the man responsible for a series of sexual assaults on Cape Cod in 1988. Her decision to report, stay involved, and trust what she recognized helped bring justice for multiple victims.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast●
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stevie Bates Cold Case Review: Deleted Messages, Three Crime Scenes, and Who’s Still Not Talking
In this follow-up episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by retired NYPD detectives Tom Smith and Dan Murphy of Gold Shields to take an investigative look at the unresolved case of Stevie Bates. After …
Shownotes
In this follow-up episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by retired NYPD detectives Tom Smith and Dan Murphy of Gold Shields to take an investigative look at the unresolved case of Stevie Bates. After revisiting Stevie’s 2012 disappearance and the 2020 discovery of her remains in Glendale, Queens, Sheryl, Tom, and Dan discuss the key questions that remain. They examine why the deleted Facebook messages raise red flags, the legal issues surrounding a squatted property, and why the discovery of Stevie’s remains, wrapped in a blanket and disposed of five feet below ground, points to someone who knew her, knew the area, and likely had help. They also urge anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward and help bring resolution to the case and justice for Stevie.
Missed Part One?
For more background on Stevie Bates’ life, disappearance, and her family’s perspective, listen to the first episode with Stevie’s cousin, Isis Jannierre:
Stevie Bates Made It Back to New York. Then She Vanished
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum recaps Stevie Bates’ 2012 disappearance, her last known sighting, and the eight-year gap before her remains were found
(3:45) Why unresolved cases can be especially frustrating when key investigative opportunities may have been missed
(4:45) Why a warrant likely wasn’t even required for the squatted property, and what that missed window could have meant
(6:00) The importance of conducting face-to-face interviews, doing street work, and reading reactions
(7:15) Dan’s starting point: the boyfriend, the gap in Stevie’s timeline, and retracing her last known steps
(9:00) Stevie’s relationship history, financial patterns, and the question of motive
(12:45) Three crime scenes: Where Stevie was killed, how she was moved, and where her remains were found
(14:15) Why working around a person of interest beats confronting them directly
(16:15) Sources, leverage, and who in his circle may know more than they’ve shared
(17:30) Wrapped in a blanket, buried five feet down: what the recovery scene says about planning, knowledge of the area, and who may have helped
(23:00) A cold case where a long-term undercover placement finally drew out the statements investigators needed “to bring to conclusion”
(25:00) Tom and Dan speak directly to anyone with information and call for a fresh NYPD cold case review
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Dan Murphy is a retired NYPD detective sergeant with extensive experience in homicide, major case investigations, and counterterrorism. He co-hosts the Gold Shields podcast and previously served as Chief Security Officer for U.S. Bancorp.
Tom Smith is a retired NYPD detective, 2024 National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame inductee, and co-host of the Gold Shields podcast. Over 30 years with the NYPD, he worked in patrol, narcotics, robbery investigations, and the FBI/NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she hasworked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Barrel Racing Horse Stabbing Case: The Evidence, the Suspect, and the Fallout
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by Caroline McCollum and Huck McCollum to talk about the case involving three horses who were stabbed during a barrel racing event at South Point Casino in …
Shownotes
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by Caroline McCollum and Huck McCollum to talk about the case involving three horses who were stabbed during a barrel racing event at South Point Casino in Las Vegas. Caroline, a longtime horse rider and criminology student, shares her perspective on what it means to compete with and care for these animals, and how the open, trusting culture of barn life can become a vulnerability. Huck, a juvenile court intake officer and former public defender investigator, explains how a case like this may move through the justice system, including mental health evaluations, prior behavior, and the role social media could play. Together, they look at the trauma this leaves on both riders and horses, the security gaps it exposes, and why animal cruelty cases raise concerns about future violence.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Caroline and Huck McCollum to Zone 7 and introduces the Las Vegas horse stabbing case
(1:00) Three horses, Sully, Detail, and Rocket, are stabbed at South Point Casino and police quickly identify a suspect
(3:15) Caroline and Huck bring their own field experience, from horse riding and juvenile court to wildlife forensic training
(4:30) Inside the open, social world of competitive riding and why barn access can create security concerns
(6:15) Caroline weighs in on animal cruelty as a possible red flag for deeper behavioral concerns
(7:30) Huck explains why police withheld the suspect’s name and how being weeks away from turning 18 could affect the case
(8:15) Mental health history, school records, prior behavior, and what juvenile court may examine
(9:45) The “crush theory” and how months of messages may point to fixation before the attack
(13:45) Premeditation, the suspected weapon, and the suspect’s actions after leaving the barn
(16:45) Caroline explains why the placement of the wounds matters and how close the horses came to dying
(19:30) The permanence of social media, including how posts, messages, and saved chats could help investigators understand the suspect’s behavior
(24:45) What this case may change for barn access, event credentials, cameras, and future horse show security
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Caroline McCollum is a criminology student, longtime horse rider, and lifelong volunteer with the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute. She has also trained with the Wildlife Forensic Academy in South Africa and volunteers with the Wildlife CSI Academy.
Huck McCollum is a former public defender investigator and current juvenile court intake officer. He has trained with the Wildlife Forensic Academy in South Africa and volunteers with the Wildlife CSI Academy.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Law Enforcement in the Wilds | Ed Newcomer & Tony Latham
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Ed Newcomer and retired Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer Tony Latham for a look at the danger …
Shownotes
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Ed Newcomer and retired Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer Tony Latham for a look at the danger, isolation, and critical work of wildlife law enforcement. They discuss the murders of Idaho game warden Bill Pogue and Conley Elms by Claude Dallas, the cold case of Art Teed, an Idaho game warden who disappeared in 1934 while investigating illegal deer kills, and the family memory that helped bring answers to Idaho’s oldest cold murder case nearly 90 years later. Ed also explains how wildlife crimes can connect to broader criminal enterprises, how wildlife officers became part of the Christopher Dorner manhunt, and what listeners can expect from the new wolf-focused season of Nature’s Secret Service, where wolf recovery, poaching investigations, and the politics of conservation collide.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum opens Zone 7 with the danger and isolation of wildlife law enforcement before welcoming guests Ed Newcomer and Tony Latham
(2:45) Why wildlife crimes are often connected to broader criminal activity
(4:00) Tony recounts the murders of Idaho game wardens Bill Pogue and Conley Elms by Claude Dallas
(7:00) How the Christopher Dorner manhunt unexpectedly intersected with California wildlife officers
(11:45) The 1934 disappearance of Idaho game warden Art Teed
(13:30) Art Teed’s locked vehicle, uneaten lunch, and the massive search that followed his disappearance
(15:15) The false report that shifted the case and left Art Teed’s family without answers for generations
(17:15) Karen Downing reads a local newspaper and connects a family story to Art Teed’s murder
(19:00) George Pentland, two child witnesses, and the family accounts that finally helped close Idaho’s oldest cold murder case
(21:45) Ed previews the wolf-focused season of Nature’s Secret Service and the controversy around wolf recovery
(26:30) Sheryl closes with Theodore Roosevelt’s words on the courage and hardiness of game protectors
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Ed Newcomer is a former special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where he spent more than 20 years investigating wildlife trafficking and other wildlife crimes. He is the host of Nature’s Secret Service, a true crime podcast focused on wildlife law enforcement, poaching, trafficking, and the officers who protect wild animals and plants.
Tony Latham is a retired Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer and regional investigator who worked on overt and covert wildlife crime investigations, including cases involving the illegal killing of Idaho’s big game. He is the author of A Case So Cold: The Murder of an Idaho Game Warden, which examines the 1934 murder of Idaho game warden Art Teed.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stevie Bates Made It Back to New York. Then She Vanished
In 2012, 19-year-old Stevie Bates vanished after calling her mother from a Greyhound bus during a layover in Pittsburgh; she made it back to New York but never made it home. Eight years later, her skeletal …
Shownotes
In 2012, 19-year-old Stevie Bates vanished after calling her mother from a Greyhound bus during a layover in Pittsburgh; she made it back to New York but never made it home. Eight years later, her skeletal remains were discovered wrapped in a blanket at an abandoned house in Queens, the same property where her boyfriend had reportedly been squatting. In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes Stevie’s cousin, Isis Jannierre, to discuss who Stevie was, what her family believed from the beginning, and why the case still raises questions about the timeline, suspect behavior, lost investigative time, lost evidence, and the people who may still know what happened.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum opens Zone 7 with Stevie Bates’ 2012 disappearance, her final call home, and the Port Authority sighting that confirmed she made it back to New York
(1:15) Isis Jannierre joins Zone 7 to establish Stevie’s victimology through the eyes of her family
(2:30) Who Stevie was: a gifted student, creative thinker, devoted daughter, and young woman with aspirations
(5:15) Hunter College, Occupy Wall Street, and the independent life Stevie was building before she vanished
(6:45) Eight years later, Stevie’s skeletal remains are found wrapped in a blanket at an abandoned property in Glendale, Queens
(7:30) Why Stevie’s family never believed she intentionally disappeared
(11:45) Decomposition, lost evidence, and the unresolved questions of how Stevie died
(12:30) Isis pushes back on the drug-use theory and explains Stevie’s role in Brandon Klosterman’s life
(15:30) Stevie’s plan to collect her belongings, the end of the relationship, and the family’s working theory
(16:45) Deleted messages, squatting, and behavior that raised questions around Brandon Klosterman
(25:00) The location of Stevie’s remains raises new questions about missing crime scenes, lost witnesses, and who may still know the truth
(28:30) Sheryl presses for the answers Stevie’s family deserves: a clearer timeline, a confirmed alibi, and an explanation for the deleted messages
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Isis Jannierre is the cousin of Stevie Bates and joins Zone 7 to help bring renewed attention to Stevie’s unresolved case and encourage anyone with information to come forward.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]●
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Diane Whipple Case: The Fatal Dog Mauling That Changed California Law
Bestselling true crime author and investigative journalist Aphrodite Jones returns to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum to discuss her book Dog O’ War and the fatal 2001 dog mauling of Diane Whipple in San Francisco …
Shownotes
Bestselling true crime author and investigative journalist Aphrodite Jones returns to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum to discuss her book Dog O’ War and the fatal 2001 dog mauling of Diane Whipple in San Francisco. Drawing on her extensive reporting on the case, Aphrodite details the connections to the Aryan Brotherhood, the Presa Canario dogs Bane and Hera, and the attorneys whose relationship with an incarcerated gang member helped bring the dangerous animals into a Pacific Heights apartment building. Sheryl and Aphrodite also discuss the prior warning signs, the legal fight over owner responsibility, and the concept of implied malice murder that became central to Marjorie Knoller’s conviction.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Aphrodite Jones back to Zone 7
(1:45) Dog O’ War and the unusual connections behind the Diane Whipple case
(2:30) Aphrodite introduces Diane Whipple, a 33-year-old woman killed outside her San Francisco apartment
(4:15) Sharon Smith’s wrongful death fight and the legal impact of Diane’s death
(6:45) Presa Canario dogs, Paul Schneider, and the Aryan Brotherhood dog-breeding scheme
(10:00) Janet’s farm, escalating warning signs, and dogs that could not be controlled
(13:30) Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel bring Bane and Hera into their Pacific Heights apartment building
(15:45) Prior attacks, ignored warning signs, and the record of dangerous behavior before Diane’s death
(21:15) Marjorie Knoller’s response after the attack and the neighbor who called 911
(25:00) 40 reported incidents become key evidence in the dangerous dog hearing
(26:00) What prosecutors had to prove to argue implied malice murder
(32:45) Sheryl closes with a passage from Aphrodite Jones’ Dog O’ War
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Aphrodite Jones is a bestselling true crime author, television personality, and victims’ rights advocate whose work has inspired films and television projects. She created the Investigation Discovery series True Crime with Aphrodite Jones, which ran for six seasons, and has covered major trials, including O.J. Simpson, Casey Anthony, Scott Peterson, Michael Jackson, and El Chapo Guzman.
Aphrodite Jones’ book Dog O’ War, about the dog mauling of Diane Whipple, is available now wherever books are sold.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint
River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Heart Behind the Badge: Eric McCants on Leadership and Service
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sergeant Eric McCants joins Sheryl McCollum to talk about leadership, community policing, and the mindset required to serve well in high-pressure environments. He discusses the …
Shownotes
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sergeant Eric McCants joins Sheryl McCollum to talk about leadership, community policing, and the mindset required to serve well in high-pressure environments. He discusses the importance of communication, building community trust, getting out of the patrol car, and knowing the people you serve before a crisis ever happens. Eric also addresses first responder mental health, the trauma that can linger after difficult calls, and why asking for help is not weakness but part of staying healthy enough to keep showing up for others.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Eric McCants to Zone 7
(1:45) Leadership as impact, not title, and learning that not everyone leads the same way
(4:15) “You versus you,” Extreme Ownership, and focusing on what you can control
(7:15) Policing the Masters in Augusta and managing the large crowds, traffic, and public safety
(8:45) Crime suppression, crisis intervention, and the realities of proactive policing
(10:15) Why some people need accountability, while others need help, direction, or a second chance
(13:30) Communication, rapport, and why the best officers know how to talk to people
(14:45) Why getting out of the patrol car can build trust and help solve cases
(18:15) Eric’s 12 Day Mindset Program and the power of writing goals down
(22:45) First responder trauma, therapy, and knowing when to ask for help
(25:45) Final reflections on leadership, service, and Sheryl’s closing quote from John Quincy Adams
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Sergeant Eric McCants serves with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, where his leadership is rooted in accountability, communication, and community trust. His career has included work in campus safety, school resource policing, crime suppression, special operations, and federal task force operations with the U.S. Marshals Service. Eric is a certified instructor, speaker, mentor, and creator of the 12 Day Mindset Program, which focuses on resilience, personal ownership, and service with purpose.Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing. Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint
River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ashley Willcott on Child Advocacy, Courtroom Transparency, and Honoring Captain Dr. Duanne Thompson
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by former judge, legal analyst, and former Court TV anchor Ashley Willcott to discuss her decades-long career advocating for children in the legal …
Shownotes
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by former judge, legal analyst, and former Court TV anchor Ashley Willcott to discuss her decades-long career advocating for children in the legal system, her transition from the bench to television, and her new microformat focusing on fast, fact-based case analysis. Sheryl and Ashley also reflect on cases they have carried with them over the years including Abby and Libby in Delphi and Melissa Wolfenbarger in Atlanta. They emphasize the importance of showing up, returning to the facts, and continuing the work on behalf of victims and families. The episode closes with a tribute to the late Captain Dr. Duanne Thompson, honoring his legacy of quiet loyalty, humility, and lifelong commitment to service.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Ashley Willcott to Zone 7
(1:45) Court TV’s transition, Law & Crime, and the importance of cameras in the courtroom
(3:30) The emotional toll of child cases on professionals
(4:30) Ashley explains why child welfare became the focus of her legal career
(7:15) Sheryl reflects on Ashley’s hands-on work with the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute
(9:15) Why showing up, knowing your strengths, and doing the legwork can change case outcomes
(11:15) Facts vs. opinions: Ashley explains how judges must separate evidence from assumptions
(13:45) Ashley’s new 60-second legal updates and the need for fast, fact-based case analysis
(19:30) From the bench to television Ashley’s path through child advocacy, Law & Crime, and Court TV
(23:00) “Surround yourself with good”: Ashley and Sheryl discuss learning from people who make you better
(25:15) The Delphi case, Abby and Libby, and why going to the scene can change how a case is understood
(27:45) Melissa Wolfenbarger, returning to square one, and the importance of boots-on-the-ground cold case work
(29:15) Remembering Dr. Henry Lee and the unexpected lesson that took over a crime convention classroom
(31:00) Sheryl and Ashley honor Captain Dr. Duanne Thompson and his lifelong commitment to service
(35:30) Sheryl shares the story of Duanne sitting in her mother-in-law’s driveway night after night
(38:00) Final reflections and Sheryl’s closing quote from Captain Dr. Duanne Thompson: “You know where to find me.”
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Ashley Willcott is a former judge, trial attorney, mediator, and Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist with more than 20 years of experience advocating for children in the legal system. She previously served as the Governor-appointed Child Advocate for the state of Georgia before transitioning to television, becoming a trusted legal analyst and anchor known for her work with Court TV and Law & Crime. She also serves as an expert with the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint
River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nancy Guthrie Case: We Need to Start Fresh
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, more than three months after Nancy Guthrie vanished, Sheryl McCollum returns to the case with one central question: what does the evidence actually prove? From the masked …
Shownotes
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, more than three months after Nancy Guthrie vanished, Sheryl McCollum returns to the case with one central question: what does the evidence actually prove? From the masked suspect’s behavior on camera to the blood patterns at the front door and the complete absence of credible ransom activity, she argues that the scene shows signs of staging, not a financial motive, and makes the case that investigators may need to reset and start again from the ground up.
Highlights:
(0:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum
(0:15) The Hampton’s Whodunit event and early release of Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer
(2:00) Nancy Guthrie case: “You don’t tell the evidence what happened; you let the evidence tell you.”
(3:45) The critical overnight timeline: Nancy’s drop-off, camera activity, and pacemaker disconnect
(5:15) Immediate red flags that point to an abduction rather than a disappearance
(6:00) The masked suspect’s gear, behavior on camera, and evidence that points to one suspect, not a team
(9:00) What the blood patterns at the front door reveal about the attack
(11:30) Camera tampering, staging, and contradictions in the jammer theory
(13:30) Key takeaways that reshape the case and call for an investigative reset
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, releasing May 12, 2026.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Matt Johnson's Courtroom Coverage: A Look at America's Most Complex Criminal Trials
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks to Court TV correspondent Matt Johnson about what it takes to cover high-profile criminal cases and trials, from the Lori Vallow Daybell case and Rex …
Shownotes
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks to Court TV correspondent Matt Johnson about what it takes to cover high-profile criminal cases and trials, from the Lori Vallow Daybell case and Rex Heuermann to Karen Read and the Delphi murders. Matt explains how deadlines, jury reactions, and the pressure of live television shape the way he turns hours of courtroom testimony into clear, accessible coverage. They discuss the public’s fascination with true crime, investigative missteps, and the emotional weight of sitting near violent offenders, including a moment when Matt says it felt as if “the devil is real, and here he is.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Matt Johnson to Zone 7
(2:45) Matt’s process for turning complex cases into clear, headline-driven reporting
(5:45) The pressure of explaining a full case narrative in seconds on live television
(7:15) Matt describes seeing Bryan Kohberger in court and the feeling of being near what he describes as “pure creep and evil”
(10:00) The psychological impact of observing defendants like Lori Vallow Daybell during trial
(14:30) The Delphi murders, Richard Allen, and how courtroom access, investigative gaps, and missing details shape public trust
(18:15) Rex Heuermann, plea deals, and the answers families may never fully receive
(20:45) Matt describes Rex Heuermann’s courtroom presence and the unsettling behavior he observed
(26:00) The early cases that shaped Matt’s career, including the Turpin family case and Rebecca Zahau
(29:30) Matt shares his new YouTube venture: True Crime and Justice with Matt Johnson
(31:00) Sheryl closes with a Karen Read quote that captures Matt’s next chapter
Guest Bio:
Matt Johnson is an Emmy Award-winning crime and justice correspondent for Court TV Network covering major criminal cases and high-profile trials. He hosts the award-winning true crime podcast True Crime Deadline and recently launched True Crime and Justice with Matt Johnson on YouTube
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 4 decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, releasing May 12, 2026.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Two Investigators’ Paths Cross: Olympic Park Bombing, 9/11, and the Power of Public Tips
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks with retired FBI special agent Jodene Weber about the parallels in their careers and the many times their paths nearly crossed before they officially met …
Shownotes
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks with retired FBI special agent Jodene Weber about the parallels in their careers and the many times their paths nearly crossed before they officially met. Jodene reflects on the cases that shaped her years in the FBI, from piecing together the timeline of the Olympic Park bombing through crowd photographs to processing debris at the Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks. She shares what investigations of that scale demand from the people working them, and why citizen tips, careful documentation, and keen observation can make all the difference in solving a case.
References & Further Reading:
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
The Bald-Faced Deception by Jodene Weber
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Jodene Weber to Zone 7, and traces the overlaps in their careers
(2:45) How Nancy Drew, Patricia Cornwell, and a love of reading shaped Jodene’s investigative instincts
(4:45) Why strong writing and careful documentation can make or break a case
(8:30) Jodene’s journalism career and FBI recruitment story
(11:45) Jodene recalls joining the Olympic Park bombing investigation
(13:00) How investigators used crowd photos and the Olympic broadcast screen to build a timeline of events
(15:00) NASA image enhancement, suspect details, and the Birmingham bombing tip that helped investigators identify Eric Rudolph
(20:00) Citizen tips, false leads, and the kind of public memory that could help solve the Nancy Guthrie case
(24:00) Sheryl recalls her sister’s diverted flight to Gander, Newfoundland, and the kindness shown to stranded passengers after 9/11
(27:30) Inside the Pentagon response: fire, debris, remains, and aircraft evidence, and the emotional weight at the scene
(33:30) Jodene describes the long shifts and the exhausting rhythm of sorting through the 9/11 aftermath
(35:15) The generosity shown after 9/11 in Gander and by the volunteers who supported recovery teams
(39:30) Ongoing health issues tied to 9/11 exposure and Sheryl’s closing quote
Guest Bio:
Jodene Weber is a retired FBI agent, former journalist, author, and podcast host whose work brings together investigative experience and clear storytelling. She is the author of The Bald-Faced Deception and hosts the true crime podcast Caught In My Web.
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 4 decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: [email protected]
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum
Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, releasing May 12, 2026.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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