Terra Newell is a survivor, podcaster, life coach, and victim advocate. Best known for her survival story involving John Meehan, as portrayed in the series Dirty John, Terra has turned her traumatic experience into a mission to help others. She focuses on empowering survivors, ethical storytelling in true crime, and mental health advocacy.

Listeners can learn more about Terra Newell on IG @terranewell

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, sits down with Terra Newell to recount the day she was forced to defend her life against her stepfather, John Meehan, in a story that shocked the world and inspired a popular television series, Dirty John. Terra recounts the day of the ambush, the years of manipulation leading up to it, and the aftermath of her self-defense actions that ultimately saved her life.

Show Notes:
(0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum  
(0:10) Background of guest, Terra Newell
(2:30) Terra’s childhood in Orange County
(7:00) The moment Terra's sister voiced concerns about John Meehan
(7:45) Early red flags in John
(11:30) Terra's first major confrontation with John
(16:45) Hiring a private investigator to uncover Meehan’s past
(27:00) The terrifying ambush in the parking lot  
(29:00) Terra’s detailed recollection of the fight for her life
(35:30) Current projects and advocacy work
(41:30) “The principle of self-defense, even involving weapons and bloodshed has never been condemned. Even by Gandhi.” -MLK
Thanks for listening to another episode! If you love the show and want to help grow the show, please head over to iTunes and leave a rating and review! 

---

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 a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She 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, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.  

Social Links:
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

Terra Newell is a survivor, podcaster, life coach, and victim advocate. Best known for her survival story involving John Meehan, as portrayed in the series Dirty John, Terra has turned her traumatic experience into a mission to help others. She focuses on empowering survivors, ethical storytelling in true crime, and mental health advocacy.
Listeners can learn more about Terra Newell on IG <a href="https://www.instagram.com/terranewell/">@terranewell</a>
In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, sits down with Terra Newell to recount the day she was forced to defend her life against her stepfather, John Meehan, in a story that shocked the world and inspired a popular television series, Dirty John. Terra recounts the day of the ambush, the years of manipulation leading up to it, and the aftermath of her self-defense actions that ultimately saved her life.
Show Notes:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">(0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum  </li>
<li aria-level="1">(0:10) Background of guest, Terra Newell</li>
<li aria-level="1">(2:30) Terra’s childhood in Orange County</li>
<li aria-level="1">(7:00) The moment Terra's sister voiced concerns about John Meehan</li>
<li aria-level="1">(7:45) Early red flags in John</li>
<li aria-level="1">(11:30) Terra's first major confrontation with John</li>
<li aria-level="1">(16:45) Hiring a private investigator to uncover Meehan’s past</li>
<li aria-level="1">(27:00) The terrifying ambush in the parking lot  </li>
<li aria-level="1">(29:00) Terra’s detailed recollection of the fight for her life</li>
<li aria-level="1">(35:30) Current projects and advocacy work</li>
<li aria-level="1">(41:30) “The principle of self-defense, even involving weapons and bloodshed has never been condemned. Even by Gandhi.” -MLK</li>
<li aria-level="1">Thanks for listening to another episode! If you love the show and want to help grow the show, please head over to iTunes and leave a rating and review! </li>
</ul>
---
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 a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She 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, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.  
Social Links:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Email: <a href="mailto:coldcase2004@gmail.com">coldcase2004@gmail.com</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Twitter: <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/coldcasetips">@ColdCaseTips</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sheryl.mccollum/">@sheryl.mccollum</a></li>
</ul>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/officialzone7podcast/?img_index=1">@officialzone7podcast</a>

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

Killing Dirty John | Terra Newell's Story

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9e413728-f20b-474e-9f86-b1ca011adcf1/transcript

In 2012, 19-year-old Stevie Bates vanished after calling her mother from a Greyhound bus during a layover in Pittsburgh; she made it back to New York but never made it home. Eight years later, her skeletal remains were discovered wrapped in a blanket at an abandoned house in Queens, the same property where her boyfriend had reportedly been squatting. In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes Stevie’s cousin, Isis Jannierre, to discuss who Stevie was, what her family believed from the beginning, and why the case still raises questions about the timeline, suspect behavior, lost investigative time, lost evidence, and the people who may still know what happened.



Highlights:

(0:00) Sheryl McCollum opens Zone 7 with Stevie Bates’ 2012 disappearance, her final call home, and the Port Authority sighting that confirmed she made it back to New York

(1:15) Isis Jannierre joins Zone 7 to establish Stevie’s victimology through the eyes of her family

(2:30) Who Stevie was: a gifted student, creative thinker, devoted daughter, and young woman with aspirations

(5:15) Hunter College, Occupy Wall Street, and the independent life Stevie was building before she vanished

(6:45) Eight years later, Stevie’s skeletal remains are found wrapped in a blanket at an abandoned property in Glendale, Queens

(7:30) Why Stevie’s family never believed she intentionally disappeared

(11:45) Decomposition, lost evidence, and the unresolved questions of how Stevie died

(12:30) Isis pushes back on the drug-use theory and explains Stevie’s role in Brandon Klosterman’s life

(15:30) Stevie’s plan to collect her belongings, the end of the relationship, and the family’s working theory

(16:45) Deleted messages, squatting, and behavior that raised questions around Brandon Klosterman

(25:00) The location of Stevie’s remains raises new questions about missing crime scenes, lost witnesses, and who may still know the truth

(28:30) Sheryl presses for the answers Stevie’s family deserves: a clearer timeline, a confirmed alibi, and an explanation for the deleted messages



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.



Isis Jannierre is the cousin of Stevie Bates and joins Zone 7 to help bring renewed attention to Stevie’s unresolved case and encourage anyone with information to come forward.



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 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 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●

X: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram:@officialzone7podcast

TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum



Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.

In 2012, 19-year-old Stevie Bates vanished after calling her mother from a Greyhound bus&nbsp;during a layover in Pittsburgh; she made it back to New York but never made it home. Eight&nbsp;years later, her skeletal remains were discovered wrapped in a blanket at an abandoned house&nbsp;in Queens, the same property where her boyfriend had reportedly been squatting. In this&nbsp;episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes Stevie&rsquo;s cousin, Isis Jannierre, to discuss who&nbsp;Stevie was, what her family believed from the beginning, and why the case still raises questions&nbsp;about the timeline, suspect behavior, lost investigative time, lost evidence, and the people who&nbsp;may still know what happened. 
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum opens Zone 7 with Stevie Bates&rsquo; 2012 disappearance, her&nbsp;final call home, and the Port Authority sighting that confirmed she made it back to&nbsp;New York
(1:15) Isis Jannierre joins Zone 7 to establish Stevie&rsquo;s victimology through the eyes&nbsp;of her family
(2:30) Who Stevie was: a gifted student, creative thinker, devoted daughter, and&nbsp;young woman with aspirations
(5:15) Hunter College, Occupy Wall Street, and the independent life Stevie was&nbsp;building before she vanished
(6:45) Eight years later, Stevie&rsquo;s skeletal remains are found wrapped in a blanket at&nbsp;an abandoned property in Glendale, Queens
(7:30) Why Stevie&rsquo;s family never believed she intentionally disappeared
(11:45) Decomposition, lost evidence, and the unresolved questions of how Stevie&nbsp;died
(12:30) Isis pushes back on the drug-use theory and explains Stevie&rsquo;s role in&nbsp;Brandon Klosterman&rsquo;s life
(15:30) Stevie&rsquo;s plan to collect her belongings, the end of the relationship, and the&nbsp;family&rsquo;s working theory
(16:45) Deleted messages, squatting, and behavior that raised questions around&nbsp;Brandon Klosterman
(25:00) The location of Stevie&rsquo;s remains raises new questions about missing crime&nbsp;scenes, lost witnesses, and who may still know the truth
(28:30) Sheryl presses for the answers Stevie&rsquo;s family deserves: a clearer timeline, a&nbsp;confirmed alibi, and an explanation for the deleted messages 
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. 
Isis Jannierre is the cousin of Stevie Bates and joins Zone 7 to help bring renewed attention to&nbsp;Stevie&rsquo;s unresolved case and encourage anyone with information to come forward. 
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 four 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&nbsp;and the Moore&rsquo;s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction&nbsp;into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. 
Social Links:
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com●
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum 
Sheryl&rsquo;s new book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Swans-Dont-Swim-Sewer-Daughter/dp/B0FWZY5YFP">Swans Don&rsquo;t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint </a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Swans-Dont-Swim-Sewer-Daughter/dp/B0FWZY5YFP">River Killer&rsquo;s Daughter</a>, is available now wherever books are sold.

Stevie Bates Made It Back to New York. Then She Vanished

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/aec0e378-3725-4804-a646-b45c00ebf902/transcript

Bestselling true crime author and investigative journalist Aphrodite Jones returns to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum to discuss her book Dog O’ War and the fatal 2001 dog mauling of Diane Whipple in San Francisco. Drawing on her extensive reporting on the case, Aphrodite details the connections to the Aryan Brotherhood, the Presa Canario dogs Bane and Hera, and the attorneys whose relationship with an incarcerated gang member helped bring the dangerous animals into a Pacific Heights apartment building. Sheryl and Aphrodite also discuss the prior warning signs, the legal fight over owner responsibility, and the concept of implied malice murder that became central to Marjorie Knoller’s conviction.



Highlights:

(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Aphrodite Jones back to Zone 7

(1:45) Dog O’ War and the unusual connections behind the Diane Whipple case

(2:30) Aphrodite introduces Diane Whipple, a 33-year-old woman killed outside her San Francisco apartment

(4:15) Sharon Smith’s wrongful death fight and the legal impact of Diane’s death

(6:45) Presa Canario dogs, Paul Schneider, and the Aryan Brotherhood dog-breeding scheme

(10:00) Janet’s farm, escalating warning signs, and dogs that could not be controlled

(13:30) Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel bring Bane and Hera into their Pacific Heights apartment building

(15:45) Prior attacks, ignored warning signs, and the record of dangerous behavior before Diane’s death

(21:15) Marjorie Knoller’s response after the attack and the neighbor who called 911

(25:00) 40 reported incidents become key evidence in the dangerous dog hearing

(26:00) What prosecutors had to prove to argue implied malice murder

(32:45) Sheryl closes with a passage from Aphrodite Jones’ Dog O’ War



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.



Aphrodite Jones is a bestselling true crime author, television personality, and victims’ rights advocate whose work has inspired films and television projects. She created the Investigation Discovery series True Crime with Aphrodite Jones, which ran for six seasons, and has covered major trials, including O.J. Simpson, Casey Anthony, Scott Peterson, Michael Jackson, and El Chapo Guzman.

Aphrodite Jones’ book Dog O’ War, about the dog mauling of Diane Whipple, is available now wherever books are sold.



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 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 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

X: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram:@officialzone7podcast

TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum



Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint

River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.

 

Bestselling true crime author and investigative journalist Aphrodite Jones returns to Zone 7 with&nbsp;Sheryl McCollum to discuss her book Dog O&rsquo; War and the fatal 2001 dog mauling of Diane&nbsp;Whipple in San Francisco. Drawing on her extensive reporting on the case, Aphrodite details the&nbsp;connections to the Aryan Brotherhood, the Presa Canario dogs Bane and Hera, and the&nbsp;attorneys whose relationship with an incarcerated gang member helped bring the dangerous&nbsp;animals into a Pacific Heights apartment building. Sheryl and Aphrodite also discuss the prior&nbsp;warning signs, the legal fight over owner responsibility, and the concept of implied malice&nbsp;murder that became central to Marjorie Knoller&rsquo;s conviction. 
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Aphrodite Jones back to Zone 7
(1:45) Dog O&rsquo; War and the unusual connections behind the Diane Whipple case
(2:30) Aphrodite introduces Diane Whipple, a 33-year-old woman killed outside her&nbsp;San Francisco apartment
(4:15) Sharon Smith&rsquo;s wrongful death fight and the legal impact of Diane&rsquo;s death
(6:45) Presa Canario dogs, Paul Schneider, and the Aryan Brotherhood&nbsp;dog-breeding scheme
(10:00) Janet&rsquo;s farm, escalating warning signs, and dogs that could not be controlled
(13:30) Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel bring Bane and Hera into their Pacific&nbsp;Heights apartment building
(15:45) Prior attacks, ignored warning signs, and the record of dangerous behavior&nbsp;before Diane&rsquo;s death
(21:15) Marjorie Knoller&rsquo;s response after the attack and the neighbor who called 911
(25:00) 40 reported incidents become key evidence in the dangerous dog hearing
(26:00) What prosecutors had to prove to argue implied malice murder
(32:45) Sheryl closes with a passage from Aphrodite Jones&rsquo; Dog O&rsquo; War 
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. 
Aphrodite Jones is a bestselling true crime author, television personality, and victims&rsquo; rights&nbsp;advocate whose work has inspired films and television projects. She created the Investigation&nbsp;Discovery series True Crime with Aphrodite Jones, which ran for six seasons, and has covered&nbsp;major trials, including O.J. Simpson, Casey Anthony, Scott Peterson, Michael Jackson, and El&nbsp;Chapo Guzman.
Aphrodite Jones&rsquo; book Dog O&rsquo; War, about the dog mauling of Diane Whipple, is available now&nbsp;wherever books are sold. 
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 four 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&nbsp;and the Moore&rsquo;s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction&nbsp;into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. 
Social Links:
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum 
Sheryl&rsquo;s new book, <a href="Sheryl&rsquo;s%20new%20book,%20Swans%20Don&rsquo;t%20Swim%20in%20a%20Sewer:%20Solving%20the%20Cold%20Case%20of%20the%20Flint%20River%20Killer&rsquo;s%20Daughter,%20is%20available%20now%20wherever%20books%20are%20sold.">Swans Don&rsquo;t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint</a>
<a href="Sheryl&rsquo;s%20new%20book,%20Swans%20Don&rsquo;t%20Swim%20in%20a%20Sewer:%20Solving%20the%20Cold%20Case%20of%20the%20Flint%20River%20Killer&rsquo;s%20Daughter,%20is%20available%20now%20wherever%20books%20are%20sold.">River Killer&rsquo;s Daughter</a>, is available now wherever books are sold.
&nbsp;

Diane Whipple Case: The Fatal Dog Mauling That Changed California Law

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1eb60d00-a3da-42ef-86ad-b45500fc8c27/transcript

In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sergeant Eric McCants joins Sheryl McCollum to talk about leadership, community policing, and the mindset required to serve well in high-pressure environments. He discusses the importance of communication, building community trust, getting out of the patrol car, and knowing the people you serve before a crisis ever happens. Eric also addresses first responder mental health, the trauma that can linger after difficult calls, and why asking for help is not weakness but part of staying healthy enough to keep showing up for others.



Highlights:

(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Eric McCants to Zone 7

(1:45) Leadership as impact, not title, and learning that not everyone leads the same way

(4:15) “You versus you,” Extreme Ownership, and focusing on what you can control

(7:15) Policing the Masters in Augusta and managing the large crowds, traffic, and public safety

(8:45) Crime suppression, crisis intervention, and the realities of proactive policing

(10:15) Why some people need accountability, while others need help, direction, or a second chance

(13:30) Communication, rapport, and why the best officers know how to talk to people

(14:45) Why getting out of the patrol car can build trust and help solve cases

(18:15) Eric’s 12 Day Mindset Program and the power of writing goals down

(22:45) First responder trauma, therapy, and knowing when to ask for help

(25:45) Final reflections on leadership, service, and Sheryl’s closing quote from John Quincy Adams



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.


Sergeant Eric McCants serves with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, where his leadership is rooted in accountability, communication, and community trust. His career has included work in campus safety, school resource policing, crime suppression, special operations, and federal task force operations with the U.S. Marshals Service. Eric is a certified instructor, speaker, mentor, and creator of the 12 Day Mindset Program, which focuses on resilience, personal ownership, and service with purpose.



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 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 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

X: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram:@officialzone7podcast

TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum



Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint

River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.

In this week&rsquo;s episode of Zone 7, Sergeant Eric McCants joins Sheryl McCollum to talk about&nbsp;leadership, community policing, and the mindset required to serve well in high-pressure&nbsp;environments. He discusses the importance of communication, building community trust, getting&nbsp;out of the patrol car, and knowing the people you serve before a crisis ever happens. Eric also&nbsp;addresses first responder mental health, the trauma that can linger after difficult calls, and why&nbsp;asking for help is not weakness but part of staying healthy enough to keep showing up for&nbsp;others. 
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Eric McCants to Zone 7
(1:45) Leadership as impact, not title, and learning that not everyone leads the same&nbsp;way
(4:15) &ldquo;You versus you,&rdquo; Extreme Ownership, and focusing on what you can control
(7:15) Policing the Masters in Augusta and managing the large crowds, traffic, and&nbsp;public safety
(8:45) Crime suppression, crisis intervention, and the realities of proactive policing
(10:15) Why some people need accountability, while others need help, direction, or a&nbsp;second chance
(13:30) Communication, rapport, and why the best officers know how to talk to&nbsp;people
(14:45) Why getting out of the patrol car can build trust and help solve cases
(18:15) Eric&rsquo;s 12 Day Mindset Program and the power of writing goals down
(22:45) First responder trauma, therapy, and knowing when to ask for help
(25:45) Final reflections on leadership, service, and Sheryl&rsquo;s closing quote from John&nbsp;Quincy Adams 
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.
 Sergeant Eric McCants serves with the Richmond County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office, where his leadership&nbsp;is rooted in accountability, communication, and community trust. His career has included work in&nbsp;campus safety, school resource policing, crime suppression, special operations, and federal&nbsp;task force operations with the U.S. Marshals Service. Eric is a certified instructor, speaker,&nbsp;mentor, and creator of the 12 Day Mindset Program, which focuses on resilience, personal&nbsp;ownership, and service with purpose. 
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 four 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.&nbsp;Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur&nbsp;and the Moore&rsquo;s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction&nbsp;into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. 
Social Links:
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum 
Sheryl&rsquo;s new book, <a href="Sheryl&rsquo;s%20new%20book,%20Swans%20Don&rsquo;t%20Swim%20in%20a%20Sewer:%20Solving%20the%20Cold%20Case%20of%20the%20Flint%20River%20Killer&rsquo;s%20Daughter,%20is%20available%20now%20wherever%20books%20are%20sold.">Swans Don&rsquo;t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint</a>
<a href="Sheryl&rsquo;s%20new%20book,%20Swans%20Don&rsquo;t%20Swim%20in%20a%20Sewer:%20Solving%20the%20Cold%20Case%20of%20the%20Flint%20River%20Killer&rsquo;s%20Daughter,%20is%20available%20now%20wherever%20books%20are%20sold.">River Killer&rsquo;s Daughter</a>, is available now wherever books are sold.

The Heart Behind the Badge: Eric McCants on Leadership and Service

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8c2fbf19-63a1-4f1c-9444-b44e01062a8b/transcript

Killing Dirty John | Terra Newell's Story

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