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.

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