Sometimes the story is in the fabric, not the flesh—and in the right hands, clothing can speak volumes about a death investigation.

In this episode, Dr. Priya Banerjee joins Sheryl McCollum to explore how clothing can hold vital clues in a death investigation. From the first look at a scene to the autopsy table, they reveal how stains, textures, odors, and damage can tell a story the body alone might not. Dr. Priya shares real-world cases — from waterlogged jeans covered in barnacles to garments hiding trace evidence — and explains why context, culture, and condition matter.

Highlights:
(0:00) Welcome to Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series
(1:00) "The clothes tell me something before I even start the exam.”
(3:15) Stains, fibers, and fabric that preserve hidden evidence
(5:15) When clothing speaks louder than the wounds
(9:00) Smelling out the truth: detecting accelerants in fire cases
(10:45) Finding the unseen with alternate light sources
(12:30) What traditional dress can reveal in an investigation
(14:30) Paradoxical undressing and mismatched environments
(16:15) Rips, tears, and the unmistakable signs of struggle

 

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com
Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

 

📣If this episode gave you a new understanding of the human side of forensic science, follow the show, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and leave us a review.

Sometimes the story is in the fabric, not the flesh&mdash;and in the right hands, clothing can speak volumes about a death investigation.
In this episode, Dr. Priya Banerjee joins Sheryl McCollum to explore how clothing can hold vital clues in a death investigation. From the first look at a scene to the autopsy table, they reveal how stains, textures, odors, and damage can tell a story the body alone might not. Dr. Priya shares real-world cases &mdash; from waterlogged jeans covered in barnacles to garments hiding trace evidence &mdash; and explains why context, culture, and condition matter.
Highlights:
<ul>
<li>(0:00) Welcome to Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series</li>
<li>(1:00) "The clothes tell me something before I even start the exam.&rdquo;</li>
<li>(3:15) Stains, fibers, and fabric that preserve hidden evidence</li>
<li>(5:15) When clothing speaks louder than the wounds</li>
<li>(9:00) Smelling out the truth: detecting accelerants in fire cases</li>
<li>(10:45) Finding the unseen with alternate light sources</li>
<li>(12:30) What traditional dress can reveal in an investigation</li>
<li>(14:30) Paradoxical undressing and mismatched environments</li>
<li>(16:15) Rips, tears, and the unmistakable signs of struggle</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
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&rsquo;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&ndash;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: <a href="mailto:coldcase2004@gmail.com">coldcase2004@gmail.com </a>Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
&nbsp;
📣 If this episode gave you a new understanding of the human side of forensic science, follow the show, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and leave us a review.

Work a cold case alongside investigator Sheryl “Mac” McCollum, Director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute. Every week, Sheryl dives into her cold case files alongside accomplished guests to look for clues into unsolved murders, missing people, and more. This ain’t just a podcast but a war room. Sheryl opens her cold case files, her heart and her little black book! You will quickly realize Zone 7 is not a place but a lifestyle!

Work a cold case alongside investigator Sheryl “Mac” McCollum, Director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute. Every week, Sheryl dives into her cold case files alongside accomplished guests to look for clues into unsolved murders, missing people, and more. This ain’t just a podcast but a war room. Sheryl opens her cold case files, her heart and her little black book! You will quickly realize Zone 7 is not a place but a lifestyle!

Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series: What Clothes Reveal About the Crime

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/506cca8a-77c7-468f-bf9c-b335010442ad/transcript

Advertisement