Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

• Who Gets to Profit From Murder? Kohberger, 'Murderabilia,' and a Headless Case

  We are living in a time when crime does not stop at the courtroom. It continues in the headline, on social media, and in the public’s imagination. This week on Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer discuss the laws that prevent offenders from profiting off their crimes and why cases like Bryan Kohberger’s continue to test those boundaries. They talk about the world of murderabilia and the broader culture that turns high-profile cases into collectibles and conversation. They also examine an ongoing beheading case involving a former adult film actress that has drawn national attention, plus several other stories of interest this week. Highlights: • (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer • (2:45) The Slayer Statute and whether Bryan Kohberger could profit from notoriety • (7:45) Murderabilia and prison fan culture • (10:30) The beheading case involving a former adult film actress and her withdrawn plea • (13:45) Diddy’s prison hooch and how inmates make alcohol behind bars • (18:00) Sports betting and game-fixing concerns across leagues • (19:30) Kim Kardashian’s justice reform work and bar exam attempts • (23:30) Sheryl’s 2023 National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame recognition and final reflections 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 Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, a forensic and crime scene expert for "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace," and co-author of the textbook, "ColdCase: Pathways to Justice." She is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings. Want more from Sheryl? Catch her every week on the "Zone 7" podcast, where she hosts the main series on Wednesdays, "Pathology with Dr. Priya" on Mondays, and "Crime Roundup" each Friday alongside Joshua Schiffer. Stay Connected Subscribe using your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to support the show. Have a case or topic you’d like Sheryl and Joshua to cover? Email [email protected] Follow the Hosts: • Sheryl on X: @149zone7 • Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum • Joshua on X and Instagram: @lawyerschiffSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Danger, Duty, and the Badge: Detective Tom Smith’s Story

  Day after day, case after case, Tom Smith returned to the job with a clear sense of purpose: protect, respond, and stand with the people beside him. On this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks with the retired NYPD detective about the path that led him from patrol work to the Joint Terrorism Task Force and ultimately, to a lifetime of service recognized at the national level. Tom shares how his father shaped his calling, how partnership becomes its own lifeline, and how a series of events during one 12-hour shift in the Bronx has stayed with him ever since. Highlights: (0:00) Sheryl welcomes listeners to Zone 7 and introduces guest Tom Smith (1:15) Tom shares how his father's NYPD career inspired his own path (5:00) Reconnecting with Detective Ralph, the most decorated detective in NYPD history (7:00) A single shift: rooftop rescue, shooting scene, infant CPR, and a fallen officer (12:15) Deployment to Afghanistan on a kidnapping case (14:45) The emotional burden carried by spouses and families (18:30) Choosing the right partner and building trust that saves lives (30:15) Tom reflects on being inducted to the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame (33:45) Table 15: friendship, laughter, and shared history (40:00) Continuing tradition and community beyond the job (41:15) Closing reflections on service, loyalty, and legacy Guest Bio: Tom Smith is a retired NYPD detective and 2024 National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame inductee. 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, lectures on criminal justice and terrorism and provides investigative commentary for national media outlets. --- 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 co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings. Social Links: Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ColdCaseTips Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Shocking Forensic Twist: Inside the Reopened Pauline Pusser Murder Case (Part 2)

  For more than fifty years, the official story stood unchallenged. Modern forensic science is now putting it to the test. In 1967, Sheriff Buford Pusser and his wife, Pauline, were ambushed on a rural Tennessee road, an attack that inspired the basis for the "Walking Tall" films. In part two, Sheryl McCollum continues her conversation with Mike Elam, Jason White, Dennis Hathcock, and Danny Cupples, as they revisit the physical evidence and confront the inconsistencies that have haunted this case for decades. For more background on the Pusser case, listen to Sheryl’s previous "Zone 7" episodes: Sheriff Buford Pusser: The Other Story Featuring Guest Mike Elam Tennessee Ambush: The Death of Pauline Pusser New Eyewitness Testimony Laid Bare: The Ambush That Killed Pauline Pusser (Part 1 of 2) Highlights: (0:00) Sheryl welcomes listeners to Zone 7 and recaps recent developments in the Pauline Pusser case (1:15) Jason notes that Pauline was never formally examined despite an established coroner system being in place at the time (2:45) Jason explains that the lack of urgency following Pauline’s death defied every norm for an officer-involved homicide (5:15) Mike describes contradictions between Buford Pusser’s official statements and the public storytelling that fueled the “ambush legend” (10:00) The panel discusses unanswered question about ballistic evidence and TBI’s new transparency in the reopened case (13:30) Danny reviews limited medical records describing Pauline’s injuries and challenges the accuracy of the recorded wound descriptions (16:45) Blood-pattern evidence on the car hood contradicts claims that all shots were fired inside the vehicle (19:00) The team examines blood spatter on the car’s hood and notes the lack of motion, raising questions about whether Buford’s wound could have been self-inflicted (24:45) Domestic context: Pauline was preparing to leave; daughter Diane hears a “pop”; Pauline’s shows appear oddly placed inside the car (33:30) The discussion turns to whether TBI will review the Louise Hathcock homicide to better understand the broader case context (44:30) Sheryl and guests conclude part 2 with gratitude and perspective, reflecting on how modern forensic analysis and friendship have carried this case forward Guest Bios: Mike Elam is a former Benton County Sheriff’s Deputy and author. His book, "Buford Pusser: The Other Story," traces his own cold case investigation into the 1967 ambush that killed Pauline Pusser. Jason White is a veteran homicide detective with the Tulsa Police Department, a featured investigator on A&E’s "The First 48," and the podcast host of KGRA’s "Into the Fire." Danny Cupples is Tennessee’s first Chief Death Investigator and a certified forensic death investigator who has trained elite forensic teams in New York. Danny teaches infant death investigations at MTSU and continues to serve on a cold case unit. Dennis Hathcock was a teenager when he saw Sheriff Buford Pusser on the night of the ambush and later discovered critical evidence along New Hope Road. Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports our mission to educate, engage, and inspire. About the Host 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 co-author of the textbook, "Cold Case: Pathways to Justice." She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings. Social Links: Email: [email protected] Twitter: @149zone7 Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Poisoned by Love: The Eye-Drop Murder of a Retired Police Chief

  No one suspected that the woman he had trusted for decades was quietly planning his death. This week on Pathology with Dr. Priya, a "Zone 7" series, Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya Banerjee discuss the case of Marcy Oglesby, who, over several months, secretly mixed over-the-counter eye drops into Young's food and drinks. When his body was later discovered inside a storage unit, toxicology revealed lethal levels of tetrahydrozoline, the active ingredient in common eye drops. Dr. Priya explains how this drug attacks the cardiovascular system, why it is almost undetectable without targeted testing, and what makes poisonings like this so difficult to identify until it's far too late. Highlights (0:00) Welcome to Pathology with Dr. Priya: A Zone 7 series—Sheryl McCollum introduces the Marcy Oglesby case and the death of retired Police Chief Richard “Rick” Young (0:45) How Oglesby slowly poisoned her partner with tetrahydrozoline-laced food and drinks (2:15) Dr. Priya explains why eye-drop poisonings are rare and absent from most toxicology panels (6:00) Early symptoms: numbness, confusion, fluctuating blood pressure, and blue lips (8:00) Why doctors might miss the signs of tetrahydrozoline poisoning and attribute symptoms to age or heart disease (10:00) The estimated lethal dose and how even a small mouthful can cause heart-block death (13:45) Trust, dependency, and opportunity: the dynamics that let the poisoning continue undetected (20:30) What Rick Young likely endured in his final days: chest pain, dizziness, and slow suffocation (25:45) Closing reflections and Dr. Priya’s reminder that every case is a lesson 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, NSA cases, 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.comTwitter/X: @Autopsy_MD Sheryl McCollum is an Emmy Award–winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, and the Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace." She works as a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department and 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 (CCIRI), a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together universities, law enforcement, and experts to help solve unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and kidnappings. Email: [email protected]/X: @149zone7Facebook: @sheryl.mccollumInstagram: @officialzone7podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• New Eyewitness Testimony Laid Bare: The Ambush That Killed Pauline Pusser (Part 1 of 2))

  In 1967, an ambush on a quiet Tennessee road left Sheriff Buford Pusser wounded and his wife, Pauline, killed. Decades later, new investigative forces have taken a fresh look at the case. In part one of a three-part investigative series, Sheryl McCollum brings back author and researcher Mike Elam, veteran homicide detective Jason White, eyewitness Dennis Hathcock, and former death investigator Danny Cupples to revisit what actually happened that August evening. They recount evidence that challenges the official narrative: guns being transferred between vehicles, a frantic officer making threats at a woman’s home, and a teenage witness discovering part of Pauline’s remains near the roadway. For more background on the Pusser case, listen to Sheryl’s previous Zone 7 episodes: Sheriff Buford Pusser: The Other Story Featuring Guest Mike Elam Tennessee Ambush: The Death of Pauline Pusser Highlights: (0:00) Sheryl welcomes listeners to Zone 7 and introduces a special panel of experts returning to the Pusser investigation (3:00) Jason explains what a homicide detective hopes to find when a 1967 murder case is reopened (4:45) Witness introduction: Dennis Hatcock and his firsthand account of Buford Pusser’s actions that evening (6:45) Secret meetings and guns transferred between vehicles (12:00) A late-night dispute out a woman’s home and Buford Pusser’s ominous warning: “Tomorrow you’ll be putting flowers on my grave.” (15:00) A stop at the local Phillips 66 station and a mysterious phone call (18:30) The call that changed everything: Pauline is dead and Buford may not survive (22:00) Location dispute: Dennis describes finding evidence miles away from where responders were searching (26:00) First responders focus on the wring site while vegetation is disturbed and potential evidence goes overlooked (31:45) Danny Cupples share forensic insight into Pauline’s head wound and the bullet path (34:30) The story behind the carbine rifle traced back to the Pusser case, which is now in the custody of the Tennessee Bureau of Instigation (40:30) A preview of where this reopened investigation may lead next Guest Bios: Mike Elam is a former Benton County Sheriff’s Deputy and author. His book Buford Pusser: The Other Story traces his own cold case investigation into the 1967 ambush that killed Pauline Pusser. Jason White is a veteran homicide detective with the Tulsa Police Department, a featured investigator on A&E’s The First 48, and the podcast host of KGRA’s Into the Fire. Danny Cupples is Tennessee’s first Chief Death Investigator and a certified forensic death investigator who has trained elite forensic teams in New York. Danny teaches infant death investigations at MTSU and continues to serve on a cold case unit. Dennis Hathcock was a teenager when he saw Sheriff Buford Pusser on the night of the ambush, later discovering critical evidence along New Hope Road. Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports our mission to educate, engage, and inspire. --- 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 co-author of the textbook, "Cold Case: Pathways to Justice." She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings. Social Links: Email: [email protected] Twitter: @149zone7 Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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