Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

When an 84-year-old woman vanishes from her home in the middle of the night, leaving behind signs of blood and a struggle, every early decision investigators make is critical.
Retired NYPD sergeant Joe Giacalone returns to Zone 7 to talk with Sheryl McCollum about the Nancy Guthrie investigation and the mistakes they believe set the case back from the start.
Together, they walk through the investigative failures, why the ransom note narrative never rang true, and the steps investigators can still take to regain traction.
Guest Bio
Joe Giacalone is a retired NYPD sergeant and former commanding officer of the Bronx Cold Case Squad. He serves as an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is the author of, "The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators and The Cold Case Handbook."
Giacalone also hosts True Crime with the Sarge and is a frequent media commentator on criminal investigations.
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 case include, in part, The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, and Tupac Shakur. McCollum's 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: [email protected]
X: @zone7squad
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 introduces Joe Giacalone and frames the Nancy Guthrie investigation as a real-time lesson in investigative breakdowns
(3:30) Why Nancy Guthrie’s case should have been treated as a homicide or kidnapping from day one
(4:15) Why full scene lock down, a command post, and a strict crime scene log should have been prioritized immediately
(5:30) Why uncontrolled foot traffic, outside workers, and a scattered “egg hunt” search approach can create long-term problems for investigators and future prosecution
(7:15) Nancy’s age, health, and the blood evidence on scene make a voluntary disappearance difficult to believe
(9:45) Joe and Sheryl discuss the decision to release the house and why they believe that hurt the case
(12:15) Media management failures, public optics, and the confusion created by inconsistent messaging
(17:00) Proactive steps that could still generate leads and how holding Annie Guthrie’s car fueled unnecessary suspicion
(20:15) The dangers of publicly naming persons of interest too early in an active investigation
(24:00) Morale, leadership, and why command staff should be supplying resources and backing investigators
(38:00) Final message to officials in charge: put aside conflict, align with the FBI, and get the investigation back on track


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A late-night stop at a Dairy Queen led to one of the biggest stories of Dale Cardwell’s career.
In this episode of "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum talks with Dale about the investigation that uncovered corruption inside the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, exposed deputies working on the clock for Sidney Dorsey, and helped fuel a political shakeup that ended in the murder of Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown.
Dale shares how the story unfolded, the danger it brought to his own family, and the break that finally helped tie the killing back to Sidney Dorsey.
Guest Bio:
Dale Cardwell is a six-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, consumer investigator, and founder of TrustDALE. He is known for helping expose scams, political corruption, and government waste.
He teamed up with Clark Howard and now hosts Inside Investigations, which airs on more than 100 television markets nationwide.
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 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 include The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, and 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: [email protected]
X: @zone7squad
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 introduces Dale Cardwell and the Dairy Queen stop that led to one of DeKalb County’s biggest corruption cases
(1:15) Dale explains the system he built after years of consumer reporting, focused on helping consumers avoid scams
(3:30) Deputies are accused of clocking in at the jail while working private security for Sheriff Sidney Dorsey
(6:15) Surveillance, inside sources, and an open-records request lead to the first major break in the story
(9:30) The reporting lands just before the election and helps shift attention toward challenger Derwin Brown
(12:30) The corruption picture widens with allegations involving sexual harassment and sex-for-favors allegations, fake badges, and inmate labor
(15:00) Dale recalls the night police came to his door after Derwin Brown was murdered
(19:00) Dale learns he is also believed to be on the hit list, and he and his family are placed under protective custody
(23:30) An interview moment raises new questions about Sidney Dorsey’s knowledge of the conspiracy
(27:15) A witness’s note on a napkin helps lead investigators back to the murder plot
(28:30) Patrick Cuffy describes Dorsey giving the kill order on paper, then tearing it up and swallowing it
(33:30) Dale reflects on the cost of the case and his bond with the Brown family


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This episode of Zone 7’s Crime Roundup captures the energy of the first stop on Sheryl McCollum’s 10-8 Tour: a packed house, a hot mic, and the kind of stories you only get when prosecutors, defense attorneys, detectives, and crime-scene folks are all sitting at the same table.
With Joshua Schiffer and Franz Borghardt alongside her, Sheryl recaps an unforgettable night featuring surprise moments, Trial Lawyers College stories, and Nancy Grace taking a rapid-fire stack of audience questions like only she can. Want to be in the room for the next event?
North Carolina is up next on February 28 at Kefi Vineyards & Winery. Grab your tickets here.
Highlights:
• (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7’s Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum, Joshua Schiffer, and Franz Borghardt
• (1:30) Dinner and stories at Manuel’s Tavern: packed full room full of energy
• (5:30) A Baton Rouge serial-killer case that kick-started Franz’s career
• (7:30) The “lean into what you’ve got” defense strategy when a club-shooting video is the evidence
• (9:15) Josh frames trial storytelling as emotional truth, clarity, and human stakes over technical brilliance
• (11:30) Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming and Gerry Spence as the foundation for storytelling that translates to true crime
• (19:30) The difference between networking and real respect, and why outcomes are better when lawyers and investigators talk
• (26:00) Sheryl on the CrimeCon glasses moment and the kind of crowd that looks out for you
• (28:30) Sheryl introduces Detective Jarion Shepherd and the Melissa Wolfenbarger connection
• (32:15) Nancy Grace walks in, takes the mic, and flips the room into live-show mode with nonstop Q&A
• (35:15) The 10-8 Tour roadmap, North Carolina on February 28, and the meaning of 10- 8
• (39:45) Sheryl lays down her friendship standard and closes with a true-friends quote

Guest Bio:
Joshua Schiffer is a Veteran trial attorney and one of Southeast's most respected legal voices. He is the founding partner at ChancoSchiffer P .C., where he has litigated high-stakes criminal, civil rights, and personal injury cases for over 2 decades. Schiffer is a frequent media contributor and an outspoken advocate for accountability.

Franz Borghardt is an attorney with more than a decade of experience. Franz has served as both a felony public defender and prosecutor in east Baton Rouge. He maintains a private practice spanning criminal defense, personal injury, family law, and small business matters.
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: [email protected]
• X: @ColdCaseTips
• 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-MacMcCollum/9798895652824

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In this "Zone 7" special on the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, Sheryl McCollum and retired NYPD detective Tom Smith break down what a disciplined first 24 hours should have looked like, and why the public-facing story has created confusion.
They walk through the biggest unanswered questions, including “unknown male DNA, ” the surveillance video, and why a classic ransom scenario is not tracking.
For those looking to catch up further as the situation develops, additional coverage and updates can be found on "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace."
Guest Bio:
Tom Smith is a retired NYPD detective and 2024 National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame inductee. With over 30 years of service, he worked in patrol, narcotics and robbery investigations and spent 17 years working with the FBI/NYPD on the Joint terrorism task Force, including an overseas deployment to Afghanistan.
Tom co-hosts the podcast, "Gold Shields," and provides investigative commentary for national media outlets.
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 include The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, and 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: [email protected]
• Twitter: @zone7squad
• 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 welcomes listeners, introduces the Nancy Guthrie case, and brings in Tom Smith for a Day One and Day Two reality check
• (1:45) First priority: secure the scene, set the perimeter, and control who comes and goes
• (3:15) Two-tape strategy, command center placement, and why media management is part of scene control
• (6:45) Why this case should trigger FBI resources quickly, including scale, reach, and operational support
• (11:15) Family liaison basics: keeping Savannah Guthrie informed without compromising the investigation
• (14:15) Could Savannah be the real target? Why some threats move through family
• (15:00) The man's on-camera behavior stands out: clothing, pacing, props, and missing urgency
• (16:15) “Ransom” is not tracking. The delays, the non-performance, and why this reads as personal
• (21:15) Blood pattern questions that should be treated as a major investigative signal
• (23:30) Unknown male DNA. What “unknown” means, why the recovery location matters, and what should have been clarified early
• (25:00) Geography, logistics, and why certain theories do not fit the known facts
• (27:15) The wagon wheel model. How video, leads, warrants, and tech teams feed one command structure
• (28:00) Crime scene control and the importance of limiting access
• (34:45) “There are things people need to know. If they don’t need to know it, don’t open your mouth.”
• (40:00) Optics blowback. The basketball game controversy and why public trust is an investigative asset.
• (46:30) Threat assessment red flags and what should have been screened
• (54:00) Two fixes that can sharpen the case now: a clean team review and stronger video enhancement


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When a judge declared that Rex Heuermann’s trial would begin after Labor Day “come hell or high water,” the Long Island Serial Killer case entered a decisive new phase.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum is joined by journalist Laura Ingle for a boots-on-the-ground update of the Long Island Serial Killer investigation. They examine the sweeping defense omnibus motion, the ongoing fight over DNA evidence, and what prosecutors are expected to file ahead of the March 3 and March 17 court dates.
They also analyze the arrest of Andrew Dykes in the 1997 murder of Tanya Jackson, known as “Peaches,” and discuss whether that development introduces meaningful, reasonable doubt for Heuermann’s defense.
From a recovered planning document to burner phones and questions of who knew what, their conversation centers on evidence, legal strategy, and whether this case is headed for trial or moving toward a plea deal.
Guest Bio:
Laura Ingle is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and the host of "The Ingle Edit," a YouTube series and podcast dedicated to re-examining unsolved cases through on-scene reporting and firsthand interviews.
As a longtime network correspondent, she has covered many of America’s most notorious crime stories and continues to champion cold-case investigations.
Learn more about the case and view Laura’s on-scene reporting on The Ingle Edit.
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 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 include The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, and 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: [email protected]
• 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.

Highlights:
• (0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Laura Ingle and introduces the latest developments in the Long Island Serial Killer case
• (1:00) The Gilgo Beach timeline: from Shannan Gilbert’s 911 call to the initial body discoveries
• (3:15) Memorial benches along Ocean Parkway and what the geographic landscape reveals about the case
• (5:00) Rex Heuermann’s January 13 court appearance and the 175+ page defense omnibus motion
• (8:00) The DNA battle: mitochondrial testing, genetic genealogy, and the hair evidence tied to Sandra Costilla
• (10:30) Judge’s declaration: trial will begin after Labor Day “come hell or high water”
• (11:15) Andrew Dykes arrested in the 1997 murder of Tanya Denise Jackson
(“Peaches”) and what it could mean for the baby
• (15:45) Why there are still no charges in Tatiana Marie Dykes’ death and why her remains’ proximity to Valerie Mack matters
• (20:30) Why separate mother and child: DNA, dumping-ground logic, and what investigators still cannot place in the timeline
• (22:15) Devices, weapons, and the locked vault: what investigators found and what’s still unknown
• (24:15) The house and the basement: searches, “workshop” claims, and the importance of the location
• (25:00) Planning document and surveillance awareness: traffic cameras, tactics, and intent
• (28:15) The “window” theory: family travel timeline and why prosecutors say they line up
• (29:15) Asa and the divorce question: blindsided or strategic?
• (31:30) How the defense uses the “Peaches” arrest to argue reasonable doubt
• (34:00) Outro: The Ingle Edit and Sheryl’s closing quote


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