Sheryl briefs us on Zone 7 news for the New Year!

Sheryl briefs us on Zone 7 news for the New Year!

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

Coming 2026 on Zone 7...

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6cf45697-78c0-4687-8f2a-b3bb01082558/transcript

Just blocks from the White House, a quiet act of service ended in tragedy.

Two young National Guard members were ambushed; one was killed instantly, and another was left in critical condition.

This week on Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes Dr. Sunny Slaughter to reflect on what happened that day and what it reveals about leadership, language, and the power of restraint.

Together, they explore how hate takes root, why communication can be a matter of life and death, and what it truly means to serve with empathy when the world feels like it’s falling apart.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl McCollum reveals Zone 7’s 2026 return to weekly episodes and the kickoff. of the 10-8 Tour

• (1:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum and guest Dr. Sunny Slaughter

• (4:15) The ambush that killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically injured Andrew Wolfe, 24

• (7:00) How compassion, not politics, defines law enforcement and military duty

• (10:00) “Take the temperature down to zero”: Dr. Slaughter’s warning against political violence

• (12:30) Dr. Slaughter’s experience teaching “lens, language, and law” and why empathy is operational readiness

• (17:00) Service as calling, not career: advice for the next generation of guardsmen and officers

• (20:45) Sheryl and Dr. Slaughter on gratitude, resilience, and learning through hardship

• (27:00) Finding meaning after loss and the power of service on purpose• (30:00) Preparing for crisis: why every law enforcement professional must plan for the unexpected

• (35:00) The Florida eviction tragedy and how quickly crisis can turn fatal

• (36:15) Final reflections: honoring the National Guard members through unity, compassion, and continued service



Guest Bio

Dr. Sunny Slaughter is a law enforcement instructor, expert witness and crisis communication strategist who specializes in counterterrorism, extremism, and emerging threats.

As CEO of Sunny Slaughter Consulting and founder of the Sunny Slaughter Group, she helps agencies nationwide build crisis-ready leadership. A former military spouse and longtime advocate for justice and public safety, Dr. Slaughter has served as a U.S. Department of Homeland Security instructor and continues to guide federal, state, and local agencies in strengthening community resilience.

About the Host

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

• Twitter: @149zone7

• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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.

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.

Just blocks from the White House, a quiet act of service ended in tragedy.
Two young National&nbsp;Guard members were ambushed; one was killed instantly, and another was left in critical&nbsp;condition.
This week on Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes Dr. Sunny Slaughter to reflect on&nbsp;what happened that day and what it reveals about leadership, language, and the power of&nbsp;restraint.
Together, they explore how hate takes root, why communication can be a matter of life and death, and what it truly means to serve with empathy when the world feels like it&rsquo;s falling apart.
Highlights:
&bull; (0:00) Sheryl McCollum reveals Zone 7&rsquo;s 2026 return to weekly episodes and the kickoff.&nbsp;of the 10-8 Tour
&bull; (1:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum and guest Dr. Sunny Slaughter
&bull; (4:15) The ambush that killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically injured Andrew Wolfe,&nbsp;24
&bull; (7:00) How compassion, not politics, defines law enforcement and military duty
&bull; (10:00) &ldquo;Take the temperature down to zero&rdquo;: Dr. Slaughter&rsquo;s warning against political&nbsp;violence
&bull; (12:30) Dr. Slaughter&rsquo;s experience teaching &ldquo;lens, language, and law&rdquo; and why empathy&nbsp;is operational readiness
&bull; (17:00) Service as calling, not career: advice for the next generation of guardsmen and&nbsp;officers
&bull; (20:45) Sheryl and Dr. Slaughter on gratitude, resilience, and learning through hardship
&bull; (27:00) Finding meaning after loss and the power of service on purpose&bull; (30:00) Preparing for crisis: why every law enforcement professional must plan for the&nbsp;unexpected
&bull; (35:00) The Florida eviction tragedy and how quickly crisis can turn fatal
&bull; (36:15) Final reflections: honoring the National Guard members through unity,&nbsp;compassion, and continued service 
Guest Bio
Dr. Sunny Slaughter is a law enforcement instructor, expert witness and crisis communication&nbsp;strategist who specializes in counterterrorism, extremism, and emerging threats.
As CEO of&nbsp;Sunny Slaughter Consulting and founder of the Sunny Slaughter Group, she helps agencies&nbsp;nationwide build crisis-ready leadership. A former military spouse and longtime advocate for&nbsp;justice and public safety, Dr. Slaughter has served as a U.S. Department of Homeland Security&nbsp;instructor and continues to guide federal, state, and local agencies in strengthening community&nbsp;resilience.
About the Host
Sheryl &ldquo;Mac&rdquo; McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police&nbsp;Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners&nbsp;with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 4 decades of experience, she has&nbsp;worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which&nbsp;integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore&rsquo;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:
&bull; Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
&bull; Twitter: @149zone7
&bull; Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
&bull; Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps&nbsp;others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Preorder Sheryl&rsquo;s upcoming book, "<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824">Swans Don&rsquo;t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, </a>Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist," releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster.

Murder in the Shadow of the White House: Dr. Sunny Slaughter on the D.C. Ambush

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6a46c39e-773f-4062-8268-b3bb011a223a/transcript

At 4:22 p.m. on what should have been an ordinary December afternoon, gunfire erupted inside the engineering building at Providence College.

Students preparing for final exams found themselves barricaded in classrooms as text alerts warned, “Hide. Stay where you are. Silence your phone.”

This week on "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum and retired FBI Special Agent Scott Duffey revisit the Providence College shooting, where a day of finals spiraled into chaos and tragedy. Together, they discuss the confusion inside the building, the calm suspect caught on camera, and the observant witness whose attention to detail helped identify him.

Sheryl and Scott examine what went right, what went wrong, and how information, instinct, and timing shaped the investigation.

Guest Bio

Scott Duffey is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent with more than two decades of service in the Bureau’s Baltimore Division, including assignments with the Wilmington Resident Agency and the Delaware Violent Crimes Task Force.

He now directs the Criminal Justice Institute at Wilmington University, where he teaches interview and interrogation techniques to law enforcement professionals. Duffey also provides on-air crime analysis for FOX, CNN, NewsNation, and the Wildlife CSI Academy, continuing to educate, inform, and engage audiences worldwide.

About the Host

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

• Twitter: @149zone7

• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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

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.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum and returning guest Scott Duffey to discuss the Providence College shooting and the law-enforcement response that followed

• (5:45) The moment violence reached Providence College: students taking finals as shots rang out

• (12:30) “Nobody was prepared to take this person on”: why Providence College was a soft target

• (15:30) Behavioral clues and why the suspect didn’t fit the usual active-shooter profile

• (18:30) How video surveillance, community vigilance, and digital evidence guided the search

• (21:15) Law enforcement press conferences and why clear, real-time communication with the public is critical

• (25:00) The second engineer’s murder: coincidence or connection?

• (28:30) Theorizing motive and method• (31:00) The suspect’s calm demeanor and cultural clues that caught investigators’ attention

• (34:45) Terrorism concerns, global context, and seasonal timing during the holidays

• (39:00) Update: the shooter found deceased; press conference missteps and misinformation

• (43:15) The breakthrough witness whose attention to detail broke open the case

• (48:30) Closing thoughts on the investigation, the likelihood of a manifesto, and why violent offenders rarely act in silence



 

At 4:22 p.m. on what should have been an ordinary December afternoon, gunfire erupted inside&nbsp;the engineering building at Providence College.
Students preparing for final exams found&nbsp;themselves barricaded in classrooms as text alerts warned, &ldquo;Hide. Stay where you are. Silence&nbsp;your phone.&rdquo;
This week on "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum and retired FBI Special Agent Scott Duffey revisit the Providence College shooting, where a day of finals spiraled into chaos and tragedy. Together, they discuss the confusion inside the building, the calm suspect caught on camera, and the observant witness whose attention to detail helped identify him.
Sheryl and Scott examine what went right, what went wrong, and how information, instinct, and timing shaped the investigation.
Guest Bio
Scott Duffey is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent with more than two decades of service&nbsp;in the Bureau&rsquo;s Baltimore Division, including assignments with the Wilmington Resident Agency&nbsp;and the Delaware Violent Crimes Task Force.
He now directs the Criminal Justice Institute at&nbsp;Wilmington University, where he teaches interview and interrogation techniques to law&nbsp;enforcement professionals. Duffey also provides on-air crime analysis for FOX, CNN,&nbsp;NewsNation, and the Wildlife CSI Academy, continuing to educate, inform, and engage&nbsp;audiences worldwide.
About the Host
Sheryl &ldquo;Mac&rdquo; McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police&nbsp;Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners&nbsp;with colleges and universities nationwide.
With more than 4 decades of experience, she has&nbsp;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&rsquo;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:
&bull; Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
&bull; Twitter: @149zone7
&bull; Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
&bull; Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
Preorder Sheryl&rsquo;s upcoming book, Swans Don&rsquo;t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life,Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist, releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster.
<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824">https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-</a><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824">McCollum/9798895652824</a>
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.
Highlights:
&bull; (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum and returning guest Scott Duffey to&nbsp;discuss the Providence College shooting and the law-enforcement response that&nbsp;followed
&bull; (5:45) The moment violence reached Providence College: students taking finals as shots&nbsp;rang out
&bull; (12:30) &ldquo;Nobody was prepared to take this person on&rdquo;: why Providence College was a&nbsp;soft target
&bull; (15:30) Behavioral clues and why the suspect didn&rsquo;t fit the usual active-shooter profile
&bull; (18:30) How video surveillance, community vigilance, and digital evidence guided the&nbsp;search
&bull; (21:15) Law enforcement press conferences and why clear, real-time communication&nbsp;with the public is critical
&bull; (25:00) The second engineer&rsquo;s murder: coincidence or connection?
&bull; (28:30) Theorizing motive and method&bull; (31:00) The suspect&rsquo;s calm demeanor and cultural clues that caught investigators&rsquo;&nbsp;attention
&bull; (34:45) Terrorism concerns, global context, and seasonal timing during the holidays
&bull; (39:00) Update: the shooter found deceased; press conference missteps and&nbsp;misinformation
&bull; (43:15) The breakthrough witness whose attention to detail broke open the case
&bull; (48:30) Closing thoughts on the investigation, the likelihood of a manifesto, and why&nbsp;violent offenders rarely act in silence 
&nbsp;

Winter Break Turned Tragic: The Day Violence Struck Brown University

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3bdd01c5-97b6-4943-a594-b3bb0004feeb/transcript

The verdict is in: Brian Walshe has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Anna Walshe.

This week on "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum is joined by Dani, creator and host of "Dani After Dark." The two revisit the Brian Walshe trial, where months of evidence, emotion, and courtroom drama culminated in a single word: guilty.

From the disturbing Google searches to the cash-only shopping trips for bleach, buckets, and a hacksaw, the jury weighed the evidence alongside the confession that Walshe dismembered his wife and disposed of her remains. Dani shares what she witnessed inside the courtroom, from the jurors’ reactions to the moment that sealed the case.

Then, she and Sheryl break down the digital evidence, behavioral patterns, and courtroom strategy that secured a first-degree murder conviction.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl opens with a summary of the Ana Walshe case, outlining the timeline and the accusations against her husband, Brian Walshe before welcoming Dani from Dani After Dark back to Zone 7

• (1:45) What Brian Walshe admitted before trial and what the jury did not hear

• (3:15) Brian’s Google searches that dismantled the “sudden death” defense

• (6:15) Cash-only shopping trips and the evidence captured on camera

• (7:45) The moment the jury watched Walshe’s six-year-old son help him check out at Lowe’s

• (13:30) Affair allegations and the life-insurance policy

• (16:30) Body language inside the courtroom: Brian Walshe and his mother

• (19:00) Why the defense never called on a psychologist, how that decision cost them, and the collapse during closing arguments

• (22:45) Verdict day: Guilty of murder and justice for Ana Walshe

• (23:45) Final reflections on the events that led to the first-degree murder conviction



Guest Bio:

Dani is the creator and host of "Dani After Dark," a true-crime and legal analysis channel on YouTube, where she covers high-profile criminal trials in real time.

Connect with Dani on Instagram @dani_after_dark or follow her on YouTube at @DaniAfterDark.

About the Host

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com

• Twitter: @149zone7

• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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.

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

 

The verdict is in: Brian Walshe has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his&nbsp;wife, Anna Walshe.
This week on "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum is joined by Dani, creator and host of "Dani After Dark." The two revisit the Brian Walshe trial, where months of evidence, emotion, and courtroom drama culminated in a single word: guilty.
From the disturbing Google searches to the cash-only shopping trips for bleach, buckets, and a hacksaw, the jury weighed the evidence alongside the confession that Walshe dismembered his wife and disposed of her remains. Dani shares what she witnessed inside the courtroom, from the jurors&rsquo; reactions to the moment that sealed the case.
Then, she and Sheryl break down the digital evidence, behavioral patterns, and courtroom strategy that secured a first-degree murder conviction.
Highlights:
&bull; (0:00) Sheryl opens with a summary of the Ana Walshe case, outlining the timeline and&nbsp;the accusations against her husband, Brian Walshe before welcoming Dani from Dani After Dark back to Zone 7
&bull; (1:45) What Brian Walshe admitted before trial and what the jury did not hear
&bull; (3:15) Brian&rsquo;s Google searches that dismantled the &ldquo;sudden death&rdquo; defense
&bull; (6:15) Cash-only shopping trips and the evidence captured on camera
&bull; (7:45) The moment the jury watched Walshe&rsquo;s six-year-old son help him check out at&nbsp;Lowe&rsquo;s
&bull; (13:30) Affair allegations and the life-insurance policy
&bull; (16:30) Body language inside the courtroom: Brian Walshe and his mother
&bull; (19:00) Why the defense never called on a psychologist, how that decision cost them,&nbsp;and the collapse during closing arguments
&bull; (22:45) Verdict day: Guilty of murder and justice for Ana Walshe
&bull; (23:45) Final reflections on the events that led to the first-degree murder conviction 
Guest Bio:
Dani is the creator and host of "Dani After Dark," a true-crime and legal analysis channel on YouTube, where she covers high-profile criminal trials in real time.
Connect with Dani on Instagram @dani_after_dark or follow her on YouTube at @DaniAfterDark.
About the Host
Sheryl &ldquo;Mac&rdquo; McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police&nbsp;Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners&nbsp;with colleges and universities nationwide.
With more than 4 decades of experience, she has&nbsp;worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which&nbsp;integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore&rsquo;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:
&bull; Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
&bull; Twitter: @149zone7
&bull; Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
&bull; Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps&nbsp;others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
Preorder Sheryl&rsquo;s upcoming book, Swans Don&rsquo;t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist, releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster. <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824">https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-</a><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824">McCollum/9798895652824</a>
&nbsp;

The Search, the Lies, and the Verdict: Justice for Ana Walshe

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/544d52c9-11f1-4f1f-9f3a-b3b50116ed8f/transcript

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