Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

This week’s episode of Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series, is all about your questions on the science behind death investigation. Together, Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya Banerjee take on the topics that listeners are most curious about, from family rights and religious objections to what autopsies can and cannot reveal. They also dispel misconceptions about embalming, toxicology, and even what really happens at the funeral home. With clarity and respect, Dr. Priya and Sheryl break down the science, the law, and the realities behind the most-asked questions in forensic pathology.

Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Pathology with Dr. Priya: A Zone 7 series—Sheryl and Dr. Priya open with a discussion of the Celeste Rivas case
• (6:45) The "CSI-effect": how media shapes public perception of forensic science, the risks of misinformation, and why caution is critical in cold case investigations
• (8:45) Can a forensic pathologist always determine the cause and time of death?
• (11:15) Can family members refuse an autopsy, and how do religious objections work?
• (17:00) Can any family member request a private autopsy, or must it be the legal next of kin?
• (19:00) Does an autopsy prevent an open-casket funeral?
• (21:15) Do funeral homes use newspapers or sawdust to fill body cavities?
• (23:15) Can an autopsy be performed after embalming, and how does that affect toxicology?
• (25:30) The role of funeral directors and double-checks before cremation, catching missed injuries and ensuring nothing is overlooked

About the Hosts

Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island’s state medical examiner and now runs a private forensic pathology practice. Her work includes military deaths, NSA cases, and high-profile investigations. Dr. Priya has also been featured as a forensic expert on platforms such as CrimeOnline and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She is a dedicated educator, animal lover, and proud mom.

Website: anchorforensicpathology.com
Twitter/X: @Autopsy_MD

Sheryl McCollum is an Emmy Award–winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, and the Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She works as a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department and 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 (CCIRI), a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together universities, law enforcement, and experts to help solve unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and kidnappings.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

📣 If this episode answered one of your questions, share it. Follow the show, tell a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps others discover the science, the stories, and the heart behind Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer return to break down the week’s most talked-about legal and criminal cases. They begin with new developments in the Celeste Revis investigation, where digital footprints, fake ID's, and silence from those who should have spoken up paint a grim picture of what may have happened. Sheryl and Joshua examine the forensic limitations, explore possible motives, and discuss the mounting pressure surrounding a key figure in the case.

They then turned their attention to Sean “Diddy” Combs, as Joshua discusses Combs’ latest court appearance, the credibility of character letters, and the legal strategy behind his reported prison rehab efforts ahead of sentencing. Finally, Sheryl and Joshua revisit the Mann Act and its historical and modern application, including how it shaped the case of boxing legend Jack Johnson and the significance of the posthumous pardon Johnson received from President Trump.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer
• (0:15) Celeste Rivas case update: fake IDs and the weight of silence
• (5:15) Forensic challenges: decomposition, timeline gaps, and physical evidence
• (17:15) Digital trails: social media, delivery records, and phone data, and why a canceled tour raises eyebrows
• (19:45) What character letters really mean as Sean “Diddy” Combs appears in court
• (21:15) Rehab educational opportunities: legal strategy or authentic program?
• (22:45) The Mann Act: what it is, how it works, and how it has been applied
• (22:15 The case of Jack Johnson, the Mann Act, and the significance of Trump’s posthumous pardon

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 Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, a forensic and crime scene expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.

🎧 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.

📢 Stay Connected

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by attorney Joshua Schiffer to examine the case of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Celeste, a runaway, was found decomposing in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla registered to a rising star named David. They review what is currently known about the investigation and discuss the disturbing connections between Celeste and David, including their matching “shhh” tattoos and a song released on her birthday that now carries chilling significance. They also question how a 13-year-old could vanish for nearly two years, raising concerns about communal responsibility and the protection of vulnerable youth.

Joshua Schiffer is a veteran attorney and one of the Southeast’s most respected legal voices. He is a founder 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 contributor to Zone 7 and a fearless advocate for accountability.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl welcomes Joshua Schiffer and introduces the case of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
• (1:45) The discovery of the body in the abandoned Tesla and the first red flags
• (3:00) Tesla technology, surveillance footage, and how modern cars track everything
• (7:15) Celeste's background: How does a 13-year-old vanish without support or detection?
• (9:30) Fan culture and the personal connection between Celeste and the singer
• (11:30) The silence of family, neighbors, schools, and systems that failed her
• (19:30) "You’ve got a head and a torso of a 15-year-old in a Tesla.” Examining decomposition, concealment, and the physical evidence left behind
• (21:30) Third-party defense strategies and future courtroom challenges
• (28:15) A tribute to Celeste, a plea for societal change, and a closing quote from “Romantic Homicide”

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports our mission to educate and investigate.

---

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 co-author of the textbook, "Cold Case: Pathways to Justice."

She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.

Social Links:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Start your day with the news only the New York Post can deliver, with their brand-new daily podcast, NYPOSTcast. From the iconic newspaper that pulls no punches, you’ll get the headlines you need and the stories you want. Every episode includes a deep dive into a headline impacting your world plus, the Post’s signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime, and everything in between. In today's episode, host Caitlyn Becker looks at the Charlie Kirk memorial service, a shooting at a wedding in New Hampshire, and an Oregon Senator who's children are being blamed for the suicide of a family assistant.

Subscribe and find the NY POSTcast in your feeds every morning!

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ny-postcast/id1820479072

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tpSTdOoWDvDfnjX0YsQSF

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series, Dr. Priya Banerjee and Sheryl McCollum walk through a case that’s captured national attention—the discovery of a missing teenager’s body in the trunk of a car linked to a rising music star.

From decomposition and dismemberment, to teeth, tattoos, and tech, Dr. Priya breaks down how identification works when the body is severely compromised. Together, she and Sheryl discuss the forensic challenges, legal red flags, and the many unanswered questions that still surround the case.

Highlights

• (0:00) Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya focus the week’s episode on the discovery of a young girl's body in the trunk of a famous musician’s car
• (4:45) How decomposition and dismemberment alter a body, and the tools pathologists use to uncover the truth
• (11:00) Tattoos, teeth, and tech come into play as investigators work to identify the victim and interpret the meaning behind the song “Romantic Homicide”
• (15:30) Dating a minor: red flags, blurred boundaries, and the legal realities behind grooming and consent
• (16:45) “I got a beater car, and if it ain’t in my driveway, I’m going to call somebody.” Why the car wasn't reported stolen and what that might suggest about ownership and intent
• (17:45) How anthropology and toxicology provide answers when traditional autopsy results fall short
• (24:30) Looking at the bigger picture: survival, exploitation, and the forensic clues left behind in both bones and behaviors

About the Hosts

Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island’s state medical examiner and now runs a private forensic pathology practice. Her work includes military deaths, NSA cases, and high-profile investigations. Dr. Priya has also been featured as a forensic expert on platforms such as CrimeOnline and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She is a dedicated educator, animal lover, and proud mom.

Website: anchorforensicpathology.com
Twitter/X: @Autopsy_MD

Sheryl McCollum is an Emmy Award–winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, and the Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She works as a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department and 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 (CCIRI), a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together universities, law enforcement, and experts to help solve unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and kidnappings.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @149zone7
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

📣 If this episode opened your eyes to the reality behind the headlines, share it. Follow the show, tell a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps others discover the science, the stories, and the heart behind Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Crime Roundup, former Secret Service agent Jim Rathmann joins Sheryl McCollum to examine the assassination of Charlie Kirk and what it reveals about growing security threats in the United States. Using his protection and weapons expertise, Rathmann walks through the timeline of the attack, analyzes the shooter’s behavior, and highlights security failures that left both the speaker and crowd exposed. Sheryl and Jim also discuss the rise of copycat violence, the role of online misinformation, and the ethical consequences of political extremism.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl opens with a breakdown of the Charlie Kirk assassination timeline
• (2:15) Jim Rathmann joins the show and discusses early video footage, crowd reactions, and the shot trajectory
• (6:30) Was it a professional hit or an untrained attack? Breaking down shot placement and rooftop tactics
• (8:30) Copycats and connections: what this attack has in common with others
• (14:15) "That guy looks like my doppelganger”: the suspect’s online posts and chat group confession
• (15:45) A father's choice to turn in his son and the aftermath for two families
• (19:30) Security failures, skipped steps, and countermeasures needed for the safety of future public events
• (21:45) Political differences, free speech, and finding a moral compass
• (25:45) Debunking conspiracy theories, online speculation, and viral misinformation
• (32:15) Sheryl commends law enforcement’s 16-minute response and coordinated effort
• (34:45) Future threats: desperation for attention and the risk of copycats
• (37:00) Sheryl wraps the show with some good news: Jim’s son Ethan’s baseball success

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 Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, a forensic and crime scene expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.

🎧 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.

📢 Stay Connected

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part 4 of the Olympic Park bombing series, Sheryl McCollum talks with Fallon Stubbs about her mother, Alice Hawthorne. Fallon recalls Alice’s influence as a devoted mother and businessperson, and the way she uplifted those around her. She shares memories of leaders who visited her in the hospital after the bombing and reflects on carrying Alice’s words, spirit, and legacy into her own life.

At just 14 years old, Fallon Stubbs was standing beside her mother, Alice Hawthorne, in Centennial Olympic Park when a bomb exploded during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She was injured by shrapnel and required surgery, while Alice lost her life in the blast. Today, Fallon honors her mother’s memory with deep respect and love, sharing her story of resilience, family, and purpose.

Missed the previous episodes?

• Listen to Part 1 with Irv Brandt
• Listen to Part 2 with Kent Alexander
• Listen to Part 3 with Dana Jewell

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl welcomes Fallon Stubbs and remembers Alice Hawthorne
• (5:00) Memories of Alice as a devoted mother and businessperson
• (9:45) Alice's influence in Albany and the community she uplifted
• (12:30) Ambassador Andrew Young, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Reverend Joseph E. Lowery visit Fallon in the hospital
• (22:00) Fallon recounts the bombing and her last moments with her mother
• (28:30) "Take the damn picture” — how Sheryl reframed Fallon’s last words into a message of love
• (30:15) Fallon reflects on carrying Alice’s memory and living with purpose
• (34:30) Sheryl closes with words from Andrew Young and Fallon Stubbs

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports our mission to educate and investigate.

---

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 co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.

Social Links:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic discussion of sexual behavior, bodily insertions, foreign objects, and autoerotic asphyxiation. Listener discretion is advised.

Returning from CrimeCon 2025, Dr. Priya Banerjee and Sheryl McCollum open this episode with reflections on the people who moved them, the cold cases that stopped them in their tracks, and the power of connection in the world of true crime. Then, they pivot to a vastly different kind of casework: foreign objects found inside the human body. From surgical tools accidentally left behind to items inserted for sexual pleasure or criminal intent, Dr. Priya shares unforgettable autopsy findings and the often-overlooked forensic clues they offer. As always, it’s a blend of personal and professional, science and heart, in a conversation only these two could have.

Highlights

• (0:00) Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya open the week’s episode with reflections from CrimeCon 2025
• (9:30) The saying that starts it all: “If there’s an opening, you can put something in it”
• (11:15) A grocery store, a steak, and a choking death no one expected
• (15:00) What pathologists can infer from surgical tools left inside the body
• (17:00) Autoerotic asphyxiation, sex toys, and accidental death that look like something else
• (21:00) From lightbulbs to screwdrivers, bottles to vegetables: unexpected insertions and the injuries they cause
• (24:30) Forensic red flags: how Dr. Priya distinguishes between consent and crime
• (27:45) Final reflections on connection, continuing education, and the parents who turn tragedy into change

About the Hosts

Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island’s state medical examiner and now runs a private forensic pathology practice. Her work includes military deaths, NSA cases, and high-profile investigations. Dr. Priya has also been featured as a forensic expert on platforms such as CrimeOnline and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She is a dedicated educator, animal lover, and proud mom.

Website: anchorforensicpathology.com
Twitter/X: @Autopsy_MD

Sheryl McCollum is an Emmy Award–winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, and the Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She works as a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department and 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 (CCIRI), a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together universities, law enforcement, and experts to help solve unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and kidnappings.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

📣 If this episode surprised you, share it. Follow the show, tell a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps others discover the science, the stories, and the heart behind Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer use this week’s Crime Roundup to reflect on political violence, the First Amendment, and what it means to live in a divided country. The explore the power and limits of the First Amendment, the risks faced by judges and public figures, and how moments of unity like those following 9/11 have become harder to find. Sheryl also shares behind-the-scenes highlights from CrimeCon 2025, including a drink with Ice-T and a packed Zone 7 session where Joshua’s glasses stole the show.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer
• (0:45) Charlie Kirk's assassination and what it says about political violence
• (2:45) Common ground, debate, and how to talk across divides
• (5:00) What makes the First Amendment uniquely American
• (9:00 Political threats, judicial safety, and national trauma
• (17:45) Remembering 9/11 and a moment of unity
• (20:00) CrimeCon recap: Ice-T, Marcia Clark, and unforgettable moments
• (22:30) Joshua’s surprise gift for Zone 7 fans
• (26:30) Final thoughts on free speech, differences, and dignity

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 Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, a forensic and crime scene expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.

🎧 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.

📢 Stay Connected

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part 3 of the Olympic Park bombing series, Sheryl McCollum talks with Dana Jewell about her husband’s life before, during, and after the bombing. Dana shares what Richard endured during “88 days of hell,” the paranoia and betrayal that followed, and how lawsuits, illness, and media attacks shaped his final years. She remembers his love of law enforcement, the toll of nightmares, and the injustice that haunted him. Dana also reflects on Clint Eastwood’s film Richard Jewell and the lasting impact of her husband’s story.

Dana Jewell is the widow of Richard Jewell, the security guard who found the bomb at Centennial Olympic Park in 1996. Over 88 days, Richard lived under FBI suspicion and intense media scrutiny before being cleared. Dana continues to share Richard’s legacy, reminding the world of the cost of rushing to judgment.

Missed the first two episodes?

• Listen to Part 1 with Irv Brandt
• Listen to Part 2 with Kent Alexander

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl welcomes Dana Jewell and describes Richard spotting the suspicious backpack at Centennial Park
• (1:45) Dana shares Richard’s “88 days of hell” under FBI suspicion and media pressure, and how it damaged his health
• (5:15) “We met on a drug bust.” Dana remembers meeting Richard in Meriweather County
• (14:30) The lawsuit against the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the lasting damage of headlines
• (19:00) Kent Alexander approaches Dana about writing The Suspect
• (24:00) Richard Jewell's illness and final days
• (31:15) Dana reflects on Clint Eastwood’s film Richard Jewell
• (34:45) Sheryl closes by quoting Richard Jewell: “The media can destroy lives faster than the criminal justice system can save them.”

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports our mission to educate and investigate.

---

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 co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.

Social Links:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.