*The names in this case discussion have been changed to protect the investigation's integrity.

Guest Bio and Links:

Clay Bryant is a retired chief of police, author, and cold case expert with decades of experience in law enforcement. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Clay has solved numerous high-profile cases, bringing closure to families and communities.

Clay is the author of three books:

The Cold Case Murder of Fred Wilkerson: Untangling the Black Widow's Web in West Georgia

Solving the West Georgia Murder of Gwendolyn Moore: A Cry From the Well

Solving the Murder of Vieng Phovixay: Evil Dwells in West Georgia (True Crime)

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum and returning guest, Clay Bryant dive into the gruesome case of a victim, whose dismembered body was found in a burning black bag in December 2007. Clay uncovers the investigation's unique challenges, including the victim's posthumous identity theft perpetrated by the suspect, who assumed her benefits and life. The victim’s identity remained a mystery until 2023 when advances in DNA technology and ancestry databases provided a breakthrough.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum
• (0:15) A brief background of the case discussed
• (0:35) Sheryl introduces guest, Clay Bryant back to Zone 7
• (3:30) Identifying the victim
• (5:00) The adoption connection
• (7:00) Identity theft and fraud
• (8:00) Tracking the imposter/suspect
• (16:30) Evidence of dismemberment in the apartment
• (19:00) Arrest made on the suspect
• (21:00) Ongoing investigations and collaborations
• (29:30) “Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore, it's upon the logic rather than the crime that you should dwell.” -A.C.D
• Thanks for listening to another episode! If you’re loving the show and want to help grow the show, please head over to iTunes and leave a rating and review!

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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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Nancy Grace and Sheryl McCollum critique the developments of the Laken Riley murder trial in Athens, Georgia. Nancy and Sheryl focus on the defense's controversial decision to opt for a bench trial rather than a jury trial. They cover the prosecution's compelling evidence, including DNA and video footage, emotional testimonies, and a 911 call capturing the victim's final moments. They also dive into the implications of pre-existing knowledge that a judge would have versus a jury, the emotional toll on the victim's family, and the broader political and social issues at play.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome! Nancy and Sheryl introduce this week’s crime roundup
• (0:10) Sheryl introduces The Laken Riley trial
• (0:25) The decision for a bench trial
• (3:00) Prosecution's emotional opening statements
• (4:30) Evidence breakdown: DNA, fingerprints, and surveillance footage
• (11:30) Prosecution's strong case
• (12:45) Defense lawyer’s strategy in questioning the evidence
• (14:00) The defense’s claim of “circumstantial” evidence
• (18:00) Final thoughts

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Nancy Grace is an outspoken, tireless advocate for victims’ rights and one of television's most respected legal analysts. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor. She is the founder and publisher of CrimeOnline.com, a crime- fighting digital platform that investigates breaking crime news, spreads awareness of missing people and shines a light on cold cases.

In addition, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, a daily show hosted by Grace, airs on SIRIUS XM’s Triumph Channel 111 and is downloadable as a podcast on all audio platforms - https://www.crimeonline.com/

Connect with Nancy:

X: @nancygrace

Instagram: @thenancygrace

Facebook: @nancygrace

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.

Connect with Sheryl:

Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

X: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lawsuit was filed accusing country music singer Garth Brooks of alleged sexual assault and battery. Brooks denied it and said he filed his lawsuit against the plaintiff for "extortion and defamation of character."

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, is joined by Jack Fox to analyze the statement by Garth Brooks regarding recent sexual assault allegations. Jack, dissects the language used in Brooks' statements, focusing on symbolic references, indirect denials, and emotionally charged language. Sheryl and Jack touch on themes of fame, the perception of truth, and how celebrities handle public scrutiny. Jack also discusses the victim's allegations, highlighting language that suggests familiarity and potential consent. Lastly, Sheryl breaks down why sexual assault cases are often challenging to investigate and stresses the need for objective analysis without assuming guilt or innocence.

Jack Fox is a seasoned statement analysis expert with a background in media. Having transitioned from shaping narratives to unraveling them, Jack has worked with law enforcement, private investigators, and professionals across various industries. He has developed a comprehensive system for analyzing language and identifying deception, which he shares on his channel, Never a Truer Word.

Listeners can learn more about Jack Fox at his website, and on X @truer_word

Previous Episodes with Jack Fox:

Detecting Deception | Analyzing the Colt Gray Case with Jack Fox

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum
• (0:30) Sheryl introduces Jack Fox back to Zone 7 to dissect Garth Brooks’ statement analysis
• (2:10) Key observations and inconsistencies in Garth Brooks’ statements
• (4:00) Jack Fox on the absence of direct denial in Brooks' statements
• (8:30) The order of priorities within the statement
• (11:30) ‘Jane Doe's’ allegations
• (13:00) The role of emotions in statements
• (15:30) Dissecting the allegations
• (20:30) The hurdles for law enforcement
• (23:45) Fox discusses the power dynamics in employer-employee relationships at play
• (24:00) The Trisha Yearwood threesome allegation and its implications
• (27:00) The concept of the liar's number
• (32:00) The role of money, power, and the accessibility to “break the rules”
• (37:00) The complexity of sexual assault cases
• (40:00) Potential fallout and future implications
• (42:30) “When we got married almost 10 years ago now, we made a commitment to really be together, which means we hardly ever spent a night apart and being madly in love is important. But I think it's equally important to be in deep like, I like this guy. We talk about everything, and we laugh a lot. Life is good.” -Trisha Yearwood
• Thanks for listening to another episode! If you’re loving the show and want to help grow the show, please head over to Itunes and leave a rating and review!

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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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.