August 15, 2025

Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer | Gerry Spence’s Legacy, A Prosecutor on the Stand, and the Melissa Wolfenbarger Case

19 minutes

This week on Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer celebrate the life of courtroom legend Gerry Spence, the man who never lost a civil case and built a law school on a Wyoming mountaintop.

They also examine the downfall of a prosecutor whose time in the spotlight proved swagger is not a winning strategy.

Finally, Sheryl shares an update on the Melissa Wolfenbarger case she has worked on for seven years, a mystery that began with human remains in a trash bag and one of the first cases featured on her Zone 7 podcast. Follow the full story in Melissa Wolfenbarger: Norma and Tina Patton | Part 1, the first in a multipart Zone 7 series.

Highlights:

(0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer
(1:00) Gerry Spence remembered as the lawyer who never lost a civil case with stories that made him a legend
(4:00) Behind the scenes of the Trial Lawyers College and why no classroom can match it
(12:15) “He’s so proud of his story that it’s clear, it’s false”: A prosecutor takes the defense table, his strategy collapses, and the jury wastes no time
(17:15) Melissa Wolfenbarger update and why Sheryl is staying quiet for now. Follow the full story in Melissa Wolfenbarger: Norma and Tina Patton | Part 1

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 fearless advocate for accountability.

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook, Cold Case: Pathways to Justice and the founder of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national nonprofit that unites universities, law enforcement, and students to work on unsolved homicides and missing persons cases.

🎧 Want more from Sheryl?

Catch her every Wednesday on Zone 7, where she doesn’t just talk cold cases, she works them. She’s joined by fellow forensic pros and criminal justice insiders for conversations straight from active investigations. Then on Mondays, tune in to Pathology with Dr. Priya, where the physical evidence takes center stage.

📢 If you enjoyed this episode, follow Crime Roundup on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others find the show. Have a case suggestion? Email [email protected] or connect with the hosts on social:

Sheryl on X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Joshua on X & Instagram: @lawyerschiff

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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By iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

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