In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, brings together a powerhouse panel including Susan Hendricks, Joshua Schiffer, Dani after Dark, and Kirk Nurmi to break down the second trial of Karen Read, and it’s more than just a courtroom drama. They unpack how the defense pivoted from conspiracy to collision, why the prosecution’s own reenactment may have backfired, and how key testimony created more questions than answers. The group doesn’t shy away from the messy truth, pointing to public mistrust, missing evidence, and a system that feels off balance. From social media outrage to jury psychology, they explore why this case has gripped the nation and how it might end. 

Guest Bio and Links:

Susan Hendricks is an investigative journalist and host of Headline Crime. Known for her thoughtful and fearless reporting, she brings national attention to overlooked cases and failures in the justice system. Connect with Susan on Instagram @susan_hendricks, on X @susanhendricks, and on Headline Crime.

Joshua Schiffer is a nationally recognized criminal defense attorney and regular Court TV contributor, known for his sharp legal analysis and strategic insight into high-profile cases. Connect with Joshua on Instagram @lawyerschiff and on X @lawyerschiff.

Dani  is a legal content creator and host of Dani After Dark, known for her insightful, accessible analysis of high-profile criminal trials and her growing presence in the true crime community. Connect with Dani on Instagram @dani_after_dark or follow her on YouTube at @DaniAfterDark.

Kirk Nurmi is a former criminal defense attorney, author, and speaker who now shares his expertise on justice, ethics, and personal transformation. Learn more about Kirk on Instagram @nurmiunchained_ and at kirknurmi.com.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with crime scene investigator, Sheryl McCollum
• (0:30) Sheryl introduces the panel: Susan Hendricks, Joshua Schiffer, Dani after Dark, and Kirk Nurmi
• (1:00) First impressions on closing arguments
• (4:30) How attorney demeanor influences the jury’s mindset
• (6:30) The hoodie, X-rays, and the Commonwealth’s missteps
• (9:30) “I can’t unsee what I saw”
• (11:30) What it’s like at ground zero: the buffer zone and beyond
• (13:00) The power of a clean, simple defense when the state fumbles the case
• (18:00) From guilty at first glance to not so sure
• (20:00) Can you convict without blood, tissue, or a chain of custody?
• (24:00) When justice feels unfinished and no one gets the truth
• (30:00) Finding grace in a divided conversation
• (33:00) Verdict watch: the panel’s predictions
• (34:30) How many times can you try the same person and still call it justice?

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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. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.  

Social Links:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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