In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks with retired FBI special agent Jodene Weber about the parallels in their careers and the many times their paths nearly crossed before they officially met. Jodene reflects on the cases that shaped her years in the FBI, from piecing together the timeline of the Olympic Park bombing through crowd photographs to processing debris at the Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks. She shares what investigations of that scale demand from the people working them, and why citizen tips, careful documentation, and keen observation can make all the difference in solving a case.



References & Further Reading:

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede

The Bald-Faced Deception by Jodene Weber

Come From Away



Highlights:

(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Jodene Weber to Zone 7, and traces the overlaps in their careers

(2:45) How Nancy Drew, Patricia Cornwell, and a love of reading shaped Jodene’s investigative instincts

(4:45) Why strong writing and careful documentation can make or break a case

(8:30) Jodene’s journalism career and FBI recruitment story

(11:45) Jodene recalls joining the Olympic Park bombing investigation

(13:00) How investigators used crowd photos and the Olympic broadcast screen to build a timeline of events

(15:00) NASA image enhancement, suspect details, and the Birmingham bombing tip that helped investigators identify Eric Rudolph

(20:00) Citizen tips, false leads, and the kind of public memory that could help solve the Nancy Guthrie case

(24:00) Sheryl recalls her sister’s diverted flight to Gander, Newfoundland, and the kindness shown to stranded passengers after 9/11

(27:30) Inside the Pentagon response: fire, debris, remains, and aircraft evidence, and the emotional weight at the scene

(33:30) Jodene describes the long shifts and the exhausting rhythm of sorting through the 9/11 aftermath

(35:15) The generosity shown after 9/11 in Gander and by the volunteers who supported recovery teams

(39:30) Ongoing health issues tied to 9/11 exposure and Sheryl’s closing quote



Guest Bio:

Jodene Weber is a retired FBI agent, former journalist, author, and podcast host whose work brings together investigative experience and clear storytelling. She is the author of The Bald-Faced Deception and hosts the true crime podcast Caught In My Web.



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.



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

X: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram:@officialzone7podcast

TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum



Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, releasing May 12, 2026.

 

In this week&rsquo;s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks with retired FBI special agent Jodene&nbsp;Weber about the parallels in their careers and the many times their paths nearly crossed before&nbsp;they officially met. Jodene reflects on the cases that shaped her years in the FBI, from piecing&nbsp;together the timeline of the Olympic Park bombing through crowd photographs to processing&nbsp;debris at the Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks. She shares what investigations of that scale&nbsp;demand from the people working them, and why citizen tips, careful documentation, and keen&nbsp;observation can make all the difference in solving a case. 
References &amp; Further Reading:
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Only-Plane-Sky-Oral-History/dp/150118220X">The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11</a> by Garrett M. Graff
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Day-World-Came-Town-Newfoundland/dp/0060559713">The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland</a> by Jim DeFede
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bald-Faced-Deception-Jodene-Weber-ebook/dp/B0F1TW3GW5">The Bald-Faced Deception</a> by Jodene Weber
<a href="https://comefromaway.com/">Come From Away</a> 
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Jodene Weber to Zone 7, and traces the overlaps in&nbsp;their careers
(2:45) How Nancy Drew, Patricia Cornwell, and a love of reading shaped Jodene&rsquo;s&nbsp;investigative instincts
(4:45) Why strong writing and careful documentation can make or break a case
(8:30) Jodene&rsquo;s journalism career and FBI recruitment story
(11:45) Jodene recalls joining the Olympic Park bombing investigation
(13:00) How investigators used crowd photos and the Olympic broadcast screen to build&nbsp;a timeline of events
(15:00) NASA image enhancement, suspect details, and the Birmingham bombing tip&nbsp;that helped investigators identify Eric Rudolph
(20:00) Citizen tips, false leads, and the kind of public memory that could help solve the&nbsp;Nancy Guthrie case
(24:00) Sheryl recalls her sister&rsquo;s diverted flight to Gander, Newfoundland, and the&nbsp;kindness shown to stranded passengers after 9/11
(27:30) Inside the Pentagon response: fire, debris, remains, and aircraft evidence, and&nbsp;the emotional weight at the scene
(33:30) Jodene describes the long shifts and the exhausting rhythm of sorting through&nbsp;the 9/11 aftermath
(35:15) The generosity shown after 9/11 in Gander and by the volunteers who supported&nbsp;recovery teams
(39:30) Ongoing health issues tied to 9/11 exposure and Sheryl&rsquo;s closing quote 
Guest Bio:
Jodene Weber is a retired FBI agent, former journalist, author, and podcast host whose work&nbsp;brings together investigative experience and clear storytelling. She is the author of The Bald-Faced Deception and hosts the true crime podcast Caught In My Web. 
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. 
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&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 
Preorder Sheryl&rsquo;s upcoming book, Swans Don&rsquo;t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer&rsquo;s Daughter, releasing May 12, 2026.
&nbsp;

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

When Two Investigators’ Paths Cross: Olympic Park Bombing, 9/11, and the Power of Public Tips

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cb5f139d-d7d4-4819-ac1e-b43200e5f397/transcript