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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

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.

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

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.

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

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.

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

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.

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

Come From Away

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

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.

In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes Julie Grant for a special Legend Series conversation about her path from journalism to the courtroom and the commitment to justice that drives her today. As a former prosecutor and Court TV host, Julie discusses her advocacy for domestic violence survivors, explaining how systemic failures, including those seen in the Gabby Petito case, leave victims vulnerable. She also shares her philosophy on justice-centered prosecution, arguing that being a “minister of justice” requires the discernment to hold dangerous predators accountable while offering grace and second chances to those who have simply lost their way.

Highlights:

(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Julie Grant to Zone 7 and reflects on her impact in true crime media

(2:15) Julie’s background in prosecution, legal journalism, teaching, and victims’ rights advocacy

(9:45) The balance between journalism and law, and the path that took Julie from the newsroom to law school

(13:15) What public service taught Julie about prosecution, law enforcement, and the pursuit of justice

(15:30) The domestic violence cases that stayed with Julie most, her advocacy work, and the realities survivors face after they leave

(22:15) How safety planning can protect victims at the most dangerous point in an abusive relationship

(23:45) The Gabby Petito case, missed warning signs, and the failures that stand out

(25:45) Julie’s philosophy of prosecution, second chances, and why justice is not the same as winning

(29:45) A tragic Georgia case and what it reveals about intent, accountability, and prosecutorial discretion

(32:00) Why future prosecutors need empathy, perspective, and a case-by-case view of justice

Guest Bio:

Julie Grant is a former prosecutor, Court TV host, legal journalist, and law professor at Emory Law School. She has long been an advocate for victims’ rights, including domestic violence prevention, and also serves on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

Twitter: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life,Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist, releasing May 12, 2026.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks with forensic DNA expert Suzanna Ryan about how powerful DNA evidence can be and why it is so often misunderstood. They discuss how DNA is analyzed, how touch DNA and mixtures can complicate a case, and how newer tools like genetic genealogy and next-generation sequencing are changing the field. Using the Nancy Guthrie case as an example, Suzanna and Sheryl also explain how private forensic labs can support complex investigations, where their role differs from the FBI, and how CODIS limitations can shape the process.

Highlights:

(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Suzanna Ryan to Zone 7

(2:30) The four basic steps of DNA analysis and how evidence is processed in the lab

(3:45) The Nancy Guthrie case, private lab testing, and why sending evidence outside the FBI is not a red flag

(7:45) What cell-free DNA is, why the term “touch DNA” can be misleading, and how secondary transfer works

(9:45) DNA mixtures and how multiple contributors can be found on a single piece of evidence

(14:00) Why clothing evidence should always be collected and packaged separately

(15:45) How long seminal fluid can remain detectable and when Y-STR testing becomes useful

(21:00) Why private labs cannot directly access CODIS, how that creates bottlenecks, and legislative changes in the works

(27:30) Genetic genealogy, CODIS, and familial searching

(30:15) The future of DNA analysis, including next-generation sequencing and emerging forensic tools

Guest Bio:

Suzanna Ryan is a forensic serologist and DNA analyst with more than two decades of experience in DNA casework, technical review, and forensic consulting. She is the laboratory director of Pure Gold Forensics and has worked in both private and public forensic laboratories throughout her career. Suzanna has been qualified and testified as an expert in forensic serology and DNA analysis more than 140 times.

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

Twitter: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist, releasing May 12, 2026.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode of "Zone 7," retired NYPD detective Mike Alcazar joins Sheryl McCollum to talk about what hostage negotiation looks like when a scene is tense, the stakes are high, and one wrong move can change everything.

Drawing on decades in law enforcement, Mike discusses the Nancy Guthrie case, explains how negotiators read people in real time, and highlights the importance of patience, trust, and teamwork.

He also shares stories from the field and looks back on the path that took him from undercover work to hostage negotiation and, later, to the recovery efforts after 9/11.

Highlights:

(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes retired NYPD detective Mike Alcazar to Zone 7

(1:00) Mike’s first reaction to the Nancy Guthrie case and why it struck him as unusual from the beginning

(4:15) Information negotiators look for first: behavior, history, and possible mental-state concerns

(9:00) The challenge of deciding when family can help and when they may make a crisis worse

(13:30) Tension between negotiation and tactical response, and how one decision can undo hours of progress

(19:30) How Mike became a negotiator and what the training process was like

(23:00) A Brooklyn barricade, drone technology, and the friend who helped bring the situation to a peaceful end

(29:45) Why voice, personality, and appearance can shape who a subject chooses to trust

(31:15) How a sandwich from the bodega helped resolve a case

(32:45) Mike looks back on becoming a detective and how 9/11 changed the course of his career

(35:15) Ground Zero, recovery efforts, and the emotional toll officers carried after 9/11

Guest Bio

Mike Alcazar is a retired NYPD detective with more than 30 years of service in law enforcement. During his time with the department, he worked undercover in vice, served as a hostage negotiator, and handled organized crime investigations.

Mike took part in recovery efforts following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and now serves as an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

About the Host

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 include, in part, The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, and Tupac Shakur. Her work on 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: coldcase2004@gmail.com
• X: @zone7squad
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, "Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist," releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.