Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

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. 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] • Twitter: @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-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From college dorms to quiet suburbs, fentanyl's reach no longer fits a stereotype. This week on Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series, Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya Banerjee confront the reality of a Providence College house party that nearly claimed seven young lives. Together they discussed the chemistry, economics, and criminal psychology behind modern synthetic drugs, showing how a single white powder can conceal a fatal mix, and how dealers prioritize profit over safety. These drugs do not discriminate; they affect every community, every family, and every socioeconomic group. For parents, this episode serves as a reminder that prevention begins long before a crisis. Awareness, honest conversation, and early education remain the most powerful safeguards against tragedy. Highlights • (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7’s Pathology with Dr. Priya: “’Tis the season”: why overdoses spike between Thanksgiving and New Year’s • (0:45) Seven Providence College students found unresponsive at a house party • (3:00) Fentanyl's evolution from heroin corridors to every college town in America • (5:00) Cutting agents and chemical roulette: what's really in the “white powder” • (7:00) Xylazine, ketamine, and the rise of “zombie drugs” and clandestine labs • (11:15) Dealers, profit, and the deadly absence of quality control • (12:30) "Drugs don't discriminate": how overdose affects every class and community • (16:30) As holiday parties ramp up, Sheryl and Dr. Priya address alcohol, impaired driving, and false confidence behind the wheel• (18:15) “There ain’t a drug dealer out there that cares about anybody they’ve ever sold to”: how profit drives addiction across every demographic • (22:15) Final reflections: stay aware, stay connected, and keep the season focused on life, not loss About the Hosts Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island’s state medical examiner and now runs a private forensic pathology practice. Her work includes military deaths, and high-profile investigations. Dr. Priya has also been featured as a forensic expert on platforms such as CrimeOnline and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She is a dedicated educator, animal lover, and proud mom. Website: anchorforensicpathology.com Twitter/X: @Autopsy_MD 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. Email: [email protected] Twitter/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-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The empire is gone, but the influence remains. This week on "Zone 7," Sheryl McCollum and journalist Lauren Conlin discuss Sean “Diddy” Combs’ life inside federal prison, from coveted assignments and rule violations to the month of good time he lost. Drawing on her extensive coverage from jury selection to sentencing, Lauren explains how Diddy's actions inside prison expose the difference between reputation and reality. Their conversation then turns to the NBA's gambling scandal, where federal investigators are piecing together evidence from rigged poker games, high-stakes payouts, and the athletes now under scrutiny. 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 guest Lauren Conlin • (0:30) Lauren on her new Los Angeles Magazine role and coverage of the Diddy trial • (3:15) Revisiting earlier predictions: Diddy’s special treatment and coveted prison job • (5:00) Sentencing day details: defense missteps, emotional pleas, and the judge’s “severe sentence” remark • (10:15) Prison conduct issues: alleged alcohol incident, phone call violations, and loss of release time • (13:00) Diddy’s Thanksgiving initiative with inmate group “Bankroll Bosses” • (14:45) Sheryl reflects on Diddy’s physical transformation, rehab reports, and adapting to life in prison • (21:30) NBA gambling scandal: Chauncey Billups, mob-linked poker games, and the $50,000 payoff • (26:15) Mountain of evidence: texts, surveillance, and why the case could drag well into 2026 • (31:30) Who flips First? Cooperation deal and the government’s strategy to secure testimony • (32:45) Sheryl closes the episode with a Diddy quote on prison life Guest Bio: Lauren Conlin is a New York based journalist and contributor for Los Angeles Magazine, recognized for her coverage of high-profile federal trials and celebrity cases. A former HLN and CNN correspondent, she is regarded as one of the most trusted voices in pop-culture crime and justice. 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: [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. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer Break down the federal hearing surrounding Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. What started as a five-day manhunt has transformed into an instructive case, complete with missed warrants, coached testimony, and evidence on the verge of being thrown out. Sheryl and Joshua examine how procedural missteps could weaken a potential death penalty case, and why “get a warrant” isn't just good advice; it's the foundation of justice. They then turned their attention to Massachusetts, where the trial of Brian Walshe, who is accused of killing and dismembering his wife, reveals how arrogance, lies, and a trail of Google searches can expose a killer's truth. Highlights: • (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer • (0:15) "99 percent of the time, you need a warrant... it won’t hurt your case if you get one and don’t need it.” • (4:00) Coached testimony and the danger of tailoring officer statements for admissibility • (7:30) What happens when training, procedure, and pressure collide in the courtroom • (9:00) How early media leaks and “pre-trial publicity” can poison a case before it begins • (10:30) The potential collapse of key evidence and its impact on death penalty eligibility • (12:15) The rules of criminal procedure and what it means when they don’t apply equally • (17:15) The defense’s dream scenario: getting the weapon suppressed because of a“bad stop” • (17:45) The Brian Walshe trail and the anatomy of a cover-up • (19:30) Walshe’s “woke up and she was dead” defense and why it’s collapsing in court • (21:45) The digital trail: how Google searches reveal motive, method, and mindset • (23:00) Closing thoughts: why “get a warrant” isn’t optional, it’s the rule of law About the Hosts Joshua Schiffer is a veteran trial attorney and one of the Southeast’s most respected legal voices. He is a founding partner at ChancoSchiffer P.C., where he has litigated high-stakes criminal, civil rights, and personal injury cases for over two decades. Known for his bold courtroom presence and ability to clearly explain complex legal issues, Schiffer is a frequent media contributor and a fearless advocate for accountability. 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, earned her an Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. 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 Stay Connected Subscribe using your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to support the show. Have acase or topic you’d like Sheryl and Joshua to cover? Email [email protected] the Hosts: • Sheryl on X: @ColdCaseTips • Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum • Joshua on X and Instagram: @lawyerschiffSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During Halloween weekend of 1993, a 34-year-old teacher and mother of three, Cherilyn Hawkley, vanished from Granite Bay, California. Two days later, her body was discovered inside her minivan, less than a mile from the school where she taught fifth grade. In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum and Laura Ingle revisit the case that shocked the community, retracing the timeline, the missing hours, and the single piece of rope believed to have been used in Cherilyn’s murder. With the newly established cold-case team reopening the files, they explore how advances in forensic science and a new round of DNA testing may hold the key to solving this 32-year-old cold case. If you have information about this case, contact the Placer County Sheriff’s Tip Line at (530) 889-7830. Highlights: • (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum and guest Laura Ingle • (1:00) Laura Ingle recounts growing up near Granite Bay and Cherilyn’s final hours after the school’s Halloween party • (3:30) The van’s location and why it suggests a local offender • (9:30) The rope used in the killing and new DNA testing by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office • (11:45) Cleared suspects: ex-husband, boyfriend, and school custodian • (16:00) Sheryl breaks down potential motives and why the crime does not fit the typical pattern (17:30) The detailed witness sketch of a man driving a white VW Bug • (21:00) Laura describes visiting the school and the plaque that bears Cherilyn’s name • (24:15) Why it’s important to re-examine every witness and every clue, and how uniting the original detectives with the new cold-case team could uncover what was never written in the files • (26:30) Tip line information and closing message 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 notoroious 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: www.youtube.com/@TheIngleEdit 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] • Twitter: @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-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.