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.

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

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 &ldquo;shhh&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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:
<ul>
<li>(0:00) Sheryl welcomes Joshua Schiffer and introduces the case of Celeste Rivas Hernandez</li>
<li>(1:45) The discovery of the body in the abandoned Tesla and the first red flags</li>
<li>(3:00) Tesla technology, surveillance footage, and how modern cars track everything</li>
<li>(7:15) Celeste's background: How does a 13-year-old vanish without support or detection?</li>
<li>(9:30) Fan culture and the personal connection between Celeste and the singer</li>
<li>(11:30) The silence of family, neighbors, schools, and systems that failed her</li>
<li>(19:30) "You&rsquo;ve got a head and a torso of a 15-year-old in a Tesla.&rdquo; Examining decomposition, concealment, and the physical evidence left behind</li>
<li>(21:30) Third-party defense strategies and future courtroom challenges</li>
<li>(28:15) A tribute to Celeste, a plea for societal change, and a closing quote from &ldquo;Romantic Homicide&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports our mission to educate and investigate.
---
Sheryl &ldquo;Mac&rdquo; 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.
&nbsp;
Social Links:
<ul>
<li>Email: <a href="mailto:coldcase2004@gmail.com">coldcase2004@gmail.com</a></li>
<li>Twitter:<a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/coldcasetips"> </a><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/coldcasetips">@ColdCaseTips</a></li>
<li>Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sheryl.mccollum/"> </a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sheryl.mccollum/">@sheryl.mccollum</a></li>
<li>Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/officialzone7podcast/?img_index=1"> </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/officialzone7podcast/?img_index=1">@officialzone7podcast</a></li>
</ul>

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

The Celeste Rivas Hernandez Case | Runaway Found Dead in Tesla Trunk

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/127c0990-7b33-4304-9bcd-b35f00ed8572/transcript

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