Just when you think it’s safe to step back into the courtroom, another week proves otherwise. On this episode of Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer dig into the newly released Karen Read transcripts that reveal what really happened behind the bench, the face-tattooed suspect raising eyebrows in the Celeste Rivas investigation, and a cruise ship death now under federal review. Together, they take on the week’s most unsettling cases the only way they know how: with sharp insight, hard facts, and a measured dose of humor.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer

• (1:15) Karen Read updates: prosecution releases sidebar transcripts and what they reveal

• (4:45) The reality of “bench conferences” and how they shape public perception of justice

• (6:00) When prosecutors overcharge: discretion, burden of proof, and why it matters

• (9:15) “Creep Factor” cases and the week’s most unsettling stories, featuring an update

in the Celeste Rivas investigation

• (17:15) Cultural assumptions and the hidden bias in courtroom decision-making

• (21:30) Death penalty leverage, coerced confessions, and systemic pressure

• (22:45) Cruise ship tragedy: an 18-year-old cheerleader found dead under a bed, and what investigators know so far

• (27:45) Ripple effects: trauma across families, classmates, and communities

• (28:15) Finding gratitude in chaos: Joshua’s ATV story and the beauty in everyday moments

About the Hosts

Joshua Schiffer is a veteran trial attorney and one of the Southeast’s most respected legal voices. He is a founding partner at ChancoSchiffer P.C., where he has litigated high-stakes criminal, civil rights, and personal injury cases for over two decades. Known for his bold courtroom presence and ability to clearly explain complex legal issues, Schiffer is a frequent media contributor and a fearless advocate for accountability.

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, earned her an Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.

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.

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

 

Want more from Sheryl?

Catch her every week on the Zone 7 podcast, where she hosts the main series on Wednesdays,Pathology with Dr. Priya on Mondays, and Crime Roundup each Friday alongside Joshua Schiffer.

Subscribe using your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to support the show. Have a case or topic you’d like Sheryl and Joshua to cover? Email [email protected]

 

Follow the Hosts:

• Sheryl on X: @ColdCaseTips

• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Joshua on X and Instagram: @lawyerschiff

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