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

An active investigation into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez has left the public with a timeline, a Tesla, and an extensive list of unanswered questions.

In this episode of "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum is joined by journalist Lauren Conlin to review what has been said publicly about Celeste’s initial classification as a runaway, her connections to older individuals, and why the continued absence of a named person of interest raises concern.

They also turn to the arrest of actor/director Timothy Busfield and discuss what can and cannot be concluded from selective “evidence” releases, how credibility gets weaponized in public, and why child abuse allegations demand careful, methodical evaluation rather than internet verdicts.

Guest Bio

Lauren Conlin is a New York-based journalist covering true crime and high-profile investigations. She contributes reporting to Los Angeles Magazine, hosts investigative podcasts, and appears as a legal and crime commentator on platforms including Court TV, Fox News, and "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace."

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 includes, in part, the Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur. Her work on 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.

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) Sheryl McCollum opens the episode on the death of Celeste Hernandez and why the case is “driving her crazy”

• (1:30) Lauren Conlin’s case status framing: no official person of interest, grand jury activity, and what “imminent indictment” does and does not mean

• (3:00) Celeste’s runaway classification, age, and how early labels can shape urgency, resources, and risk

• (7:15) Behavior after the discovery: canceled tour, transferred home ownership, legal strategy, and public silence


• (10:00) Publicity economics: spikes in streams/downloads and the reality of scandal- driven attention

• (15:15) Homicide indicator vs. Evidentiary barriers when decomposition complicates cause-of-death determinations

• (17:45) Tesla cameras, event data, and why Sheryl expects a digital trail around movement and access

• (21:45) Why runaway youth are at elevated risk and how dependency becomes leverage for exploitation

• (27:00) Timothy Busfield: prior allegations and the optics of how he presented himself

• (29:15) The alleged history patterns, witness context, and credibility disputes around the parents

• (33:00) “Tickling to me does not absolve you from being a pervert.”

• (36:00) Predatory access: why being near adults does not guarantee safety and how abuse can occur quickly and covertly

• (39:15) Sheryl and Lauren address recantation, selective interview clips, and why child abuse cases require restraint, context, and patience before judgment

An active investigation into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez has left the public with a timeline, a Tesla, and an extensive list of unanswered questions.
In this episode of "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum is joined by journalist Lauren Conlin to review what has been said publicly about Celeste&rsquo;s initial classification as a runaway, her connections to older individuals, and why the continued absence of a named person of interest raises concern.
They also turn to the arrest of actor/director Timothy Busfield and discuss what can and cannot be concluded from selective &ldquo;evidence&rdquo; releases, how credibility gets weaponized in public, and why child abuse allegations demand careful, methodical evaluation rather than internet verdicts.
Guest Bio
Lauren Conlin is a New York-based journalist covering true crime and high-profile&nbsp;investigations. She contributes reporting to Los Angeles Magazine, hosts investigative podcasts, and appears as a legal and crime commentator on platforms including Court TV, Fox News, and "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace."
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 includes, in part, the Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur. Her work on 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, "<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&nbsp;May 2026 from Simon and Schuster.
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) Sheryl McCollum opens the episode on the death of Celeste Hernandez and why&nbsp;the case is &ldquo;driving her crazy&rdquo;
&bull; (1:30) Lauren Conlin&rsquo;s case status framing: no official person of interest, grand jury&nbsp;activity, and what &ldquo;imminent indictment&rdquo; does and does not mean
&bull; (3:00) Celeste&rsquo;s runaway classification, age, and how early labels can shape urgency,&nbsp;resources, and risk
&bull; (7:15) Behavior after the discovery: canceled tour, transferred home ownership, legal&nbsp;strategy, and public silence
 &bull; (10:00) Publicity economics: spikes in streams/downloads and the reality of scandal-&nbsp;driven attention
&bull; (15:15) Homicide indicator vs. Evidentiary barriers when decomposition complicates&nbsp;cause-of-death determinations
&bull; (17:45) Tesla cameras, event data, and why Sheryl expects a digital trail around&nbsp;movement and access
&bull; (21:45) Why runaway youth are at elevated risk and how dependency becomes leverage&nbsp;for exploitation
&bull; (27:00) Timothy Busfield: prior allegations and the optics of how he presented himself
&bull; (29:15) The alleged history patterns, witness context, and credibility disputes around the&nbsp;parents
&bull; (33:00) &ldquo;Tickling to me does not absolve you from being a pervert.&rdquo;
&bull; (36:00) Predatory access: why being near adults does not guarantee safety and how&nbsp;abuse can occur quickly and covertly
&bull; (39:15) Sheryl and Lauren address recantation, selective interview clips, and why child&nbsp;abuse cases require restraint, context, and patience before judgment

A Missing Teen and a High-Profile Arrest: The Evidence, Silence, and Selective Claims with Guest Lauren Conlin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4c059635-2cd4-4863-938c-b3e5011d723c/transcript

In broad daylight on October 19, 2025, thieves dressed as construction workers targeted the Louvre and vanished with $100 million in royal jewels in about eight minutes.

In this episode of "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum is joined by former jewel thief Bryan Sobolewski to lay out exactly how a heist like this gets pulled off, what mistakes crews make when the clock is ticking, and why modern forensics can turn a “perfect” job into an evidence trail.

Sobolewski then shares his own history, the losses, and long-term consequences, and why he now speaks publicly to warn others away from choosing a life of crime.

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.

Guest Bio:

Bryan Sobolewski is a former jewel thief who speaks publicly about robbery methods, prevention, and the real-world consequences of criminal conviction. He has appeared on Fox's reality series "The Snake," and on "America's Most Wanted."

Sobolewski is also a comedian and personal trainer, and previously hosted the "Family Jewels" podcast and authored the book "Family Jewels."

About the Host

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for the Metro Atlanta Police Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide.

With more than four 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.

Her work on 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

• X: @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.

 

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl McCollum recounts the Louvre entry point, the freight truck with extended ladder, missing jewels, and why “construction work” is the perfect disguise in a crowded tourist environment

• (2:45) Sheryl brings in former jewel thief Bryan Sobolewski to talk about the heist

• (4:45) The ladder truck problem: sourcing it, driving it, and the traceability thieves cannot erase

• (7:15) The moped getaway and why Paris geography favors two wheels

• (8:15) Uninsured jewels and what security should have anticipated

• (10:00) How fast cases move when the thieves leave obvious evidence behind

• (12:15) Flight attempts, the hired-crew theory, and how the organizer can remain invisible

• (16:15) DNA, fingerprints, and trace evidence

• (19:15) The gear left behind and why serial numbers and rentals make a heist crew traceable

• (24:00) Bryan’s New England backdrop, mob proximity, and “street rules”

• (27:45) Bryan recounts his father and brother dying on the same night and the questions he is left to live with

• (30:15) Why display cases are harder to break than people think, and how reinforced glass slows thieves down

• (40:30) Bryan reflects on the long-term cost of crime, what accountability looks like after prison, 



 

 

In broad daylight on October 19, 2025, thieves dressed as construction workers targeted the Louvre and vanished with $100 million in royal jewels in about eight minutes.
In this episode of "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum is joined by former jewel thief Bryan Sobolewski to lay out exactly how a heist like this gets pulled off, what mistakes crews make when the clock is ticking, and why modern forensics can turn a &ldquo;perfect&rdquo; job into an evidence trail.
Sobolewski then shares his own&nbsp;history, the losses, and long-term consequences, and why he now speaks publicly to warn&nbsp;others away from choosing a life of crime.
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.
Guest Bio:
Bryan Sobolewski is a former jewel thief who speaks publicly about robbery methods, prevention, and the real-world consequences of criminal conviction. He has appeared on Fox's reality series "The Snake," and on "America's Most Wanted."
Sobolewski is also a comedian and personal trainer, and previously hosted the "Family Jewels" podcast and authored the book "Family Jewels."
About the Host
Sheryl &ldquo;Mac&rdquo; McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for the Metro Atlanta Police Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide.
With more than four 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.
Her work on 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; X: @149zone7
&bull; Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
&bull; Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
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, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist</a>," releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster.
&nbsp;
Highlights:
&bull; (0:00) Sheryl McCollum recounts the Louvre entry point, the freight truck with extended&nbsp;ladder, missing jewels, and why &ldquo;construction work&rdquo; is the perfect disguise in a crowded&nbsp;tourist environment
&bull; (2:45) Sheryl brings in former jewel thief Bryan Sobolewski to talk about the heist
&bull; (4:45) The ladder truck problem: sourcing it, driving it, and the traceability thieves cannot&nbsp;erase
&bull; (7:15) The moped getaway and why Paris geography favors two wheels
&bull; (8:15) Uninsured jewels and what security should have anticipated
&bull; (10:00) How fast cases move when the thieves leave obvious evidence behind
&bull; (12:15) Flight attempts, the hired-crew theory, and how the organizer can remain&nbsp;invisible
&bull; (16:15) DNA, fingerprints, and trace evidence
&bull; (19:15) The gear left behind and why serial numbers and rentals make a heist crew&nbsp;traceable
&bull; (24:00) Bryan&rsquo;s New England backdrop, mob proximity, and &ldquo;street rules&rdquo;
&bull; (27:45) Bryan recounts his father and brother dying on the same night and the questions&nbsp;he is left to live with
&bull; (30:15) Why display cases are harder to break than people think, and how reinforced&nbsp;glass slows thieves down
&bull; (40:30) Bryan reflects on the long-term cost of crime, what accountability looks like after prison, 
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Louvre Royal Jewels Heist: How Thieves Pulled Off an Eight-Minute Museum Hit

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9f437c1f-af97-45cd-87f5-b3d70115459f/transcript

The LAPD’s most famous cold case, the Black Dahlia, has haunted headlines for generations, and a renewed wave of speculation now argues she was killed by the same person who later called himself the Zodiac.

In this episode of "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum is joined by forensic pathologist Dr. Priya Banerjee and forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston to put that theory to the test.

They argue Elizabeth Short’s murder reads as intimate and rage-driven, marked by postmortem mutilation and staging, while the Zodiac attacks appear cold and more mission-oriented, closer to an execution than a personal assault.

They also clarify the difference between modus operandi and psychological signature, explain why signatures do not just “cool off” over decades, and urge civilians and investigators alike to test assumptions, scrutinize claims, and bring in smarter minds when the facts demand it.



Guest Bios:

Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A John’s Hopkins graduate, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island’s state medical examiner and now leads a private forensic pathology practice.

Dr. Joni Johnston is a forensic psychologist, private investigator, and crime writer. Her work includes prison and parole settings, court-related forensic services, workplace misconduct investigations, parole evaluations for mentally disordered offenders, and expert testimony in criminal and civil cases.

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:
X: @149Zone7
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

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.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl McCollum frames the Black Dahlia and Zodiac question, and why “same killer” theories require disciplined testing

• (1:15) The Zodiac’s moniker, symbols, and ciphers as behavioral evidence through public messaging

• (2:45) Dr. Joni Johnston on why the Black Dahlia reads as personal, targeted violence rather than opportunistic killing

• (4:15) Modus operandi versus signature behavior, and where true crime narratives often blur the line

• (5:45) Antemortem versus postmortem behavior, and how that distinction changes scene interpretation

• (7:00) Why signature tends to remain stable over time, even when method or opportunity shifts

• (8:00) What autopsy findings and scene details can suggest about intent

• (15:00) Facial carving as humiliation, defacement, and control, and what that suggests about motive

• (18:15) Tattoo removal and insertion framed as symbolic degradation

• (20:15) Escalation narratives and control needs, testing patterns against a “same offender” theory

• (27:00) BTK comparison, and why taunting and offender messaging are not unique identifiers

• (31:45) Timeline gaps and intent differences as evidence against a single-offender theory

• (33:00) Closing quote and final takeaway on evidence, teamwork, and disciplined disagreement



 

The LAPD&rsquo;s most famous cold case, the Black Dahlia, has haunted headlines for generations, and a&nbsp;renewed wave of speculation now argues she was killed by the same person who later called&nbsp;himself the Zodiac.
In this episode of "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum is joined by forensic pathologist Dr. Priya Banerjee and forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston to put that theory to the test.
They argue Elizabeth Short&rsquo;s murder reads as intimate and rage-driven, marked by postmortem&nbsp;mutilation and staging, while the Zodiac attacks appear cold and more mission-oriented, closer&nbsp;to an execution than a personal assault.
They also clarify the difference between modus operandi and psychological signature, explain why signatures do not just &ldquo;cool off&rdquo; over decades, and urge civilians and investigators alike to test assumptions, scrutinize claims, and bring in smarter minds when the facts demand it. 
Guest Bios:
Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death&nbsp;investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A John&rsquo;s Hopkins graduate, she&nbsp;served for over a decade as Rhode Island&rsquo;s state medical examiner and now leads a private&nbsp;forensic pathology practice.
Dr. Joni Johnston is a forensic psychologist, private investigator, and crime writer. Her work&nbsp;includes prison and parole settings, court-related forensic services, workplace misconduct&nbsp;investigations, parole evaluations for mentally disordered offenders, and expert testimony in&nbsp;criminal and civil cases.
About the Host&nbsp;
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:
<ul>
<li>X: @149Zone7</li>
<li>Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum</li>
<li>Instagram: @officialzone7podcast</li>
<li>Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com</li>
</ul>
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, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist</a>," releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster.
Highlights:
&bull; (0:00) Sheryl McCollum frames the Black Dahlia and Zodiac question, and why &ldquo;same&nbsp;killer&rdquo; theories require disciplined testing
&bull; (1:15) The Zodiac&rsquo;s moniker, symbols, and ciphers as behavioral evidence through&nbsp;public messaging
&bull; (2:45) Dr. Joni Johnston on why the Black Dahlia reads as personal, targeted violence&nbsp;rather than opportunistic killing
&bull; (4:15) Modus operandi versus signature behavior, and where true crime narratives often&nbsp;blur the line
&bull; (5:45) Antemortem versus postmortem behavior, and how that distinction changes scene&nbsp;interpretation
&bull; (7:00) Why signature tends to remain stable over time, even when method or opportunity&nbsp;shifts
&bull; (8:00) What autopsy findings and scene details can suggest about intent
&bull; (15:00) Facial carving as humiliation, defacement, and control, and what that suggests&nbsp;about motive
&bull; (18:15) Tattoo removal and insertion framed as symbolic degradation
&bull; (20:15) Escalation narratives and control needs, testing patterns against a &ldquo;same&nbsp;offender&rdquo; theory
&bull; (27:00) BTK comparison, and why taunting and offender messaging are not unique&nbsp;identifiers
&bull; (31:45) Timeline gaps and intent differences as evidence against a single-offender&nbsp;theory
&bull; (33:00) Closing quote and final takeaway on evidence, teamwork, and disciplined&nbsp;disagreement 
&nbsp;

New Claims Suggest the Black Dahlia and Zodiac Murders Are Connected

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/774a322c-47c0-4695-b04a-b3d1016c7aa8/transcript

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