On Mother’s Day 2020, Susan Morphew vanished from her Colorado home, leaving behind a community full of questions and loved ones searching for answers. In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum sits down with retired NYPD Sergeant and cold case expert Joe Giacalone to revisit the investigation, the early red flags, and the clues that continue to raise quesions, from the discovery of Susan’s bicycle to the inconsistencies that complicated the case.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl opens with the timeline of Susan Morphew’s disappearance and introduces guest Joe Giacalone

• (1:30) The early facts of the case and first warning signs: missing bicycle, disabled surveillance cameras, and a Mother’s Day that went unnoticed

• (2:00) The 911 call from a neighbor and Barry Morphew's arrival at the scene

• (5:45) Inconsistencies in Barry's statements and the odor of chlorine in his hotel room

• (9:30) Digital breadcrumbs: truck data, phone records, and deleted text messages

• (10:30) The tranquilizer dart, the “chipmunk” story, and the forensic evidence found in the Morphew’s dryer

• (16:45) The recovery of Susan's remains and what investigators believe it reveals• (19:00) Barry's behavior raises more questions: his calm demeanor, the sale of Susan's truck, and the discovery of the spy pen that exposed her affair

• (26:00) How public pressure, social media, and speculation can influence a case

• (28:00) Joe closes with a Mark Twain quote that captures what Barry Morphew failed to grasp: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

 

Guest Bio:

Joe Giacalone is a retired NYPD Sergeant and former Commanding Officer of the Bronx Cold Case Squad. He serves as an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is the author of The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators and The Cold Case Handbook. Giacalone also hosts True Crime with the Sarge and is a frequent media commentator on criminal investigations. 

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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-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824

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.

 

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