Episodios

  • Danger, Duty, and the Badge: Detective Tom Smith’s Story
    Nov 12 2025

    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: coldcase2004@gmail.com
    • Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
    • Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
    • Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    43 m
  • Shocking Forensic Twist: Inside the Reopened Pauline Pusser Murder Case (Part 2)
    Nov 5 2025
    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 2, Sheryl McCollum continues her conversation with Mike Elam, Jason White, Dennis Hathcock, and Danny Cupples as they revisit the physical evidence and confront the inconsistensies 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 ElamTennessee Ambush: The Death of Pauline PusserNew 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 places 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. --- 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: coldcase2004@gmail.comTwitter: @ColdCaseTipsFacebook: @sheryl.mccollumInstagram: @officialzone7podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    49 m
  • Poisoned by Love: The Eye-Drop Murder of a Retire Police Chief
    Nov 3 2025

    At first, it looked like age catching up with former police chief Rick Young: confusion, fatigue, a flutter in the chest. 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.com
    Twitter/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: coldcase2004@gmail.com
    Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips
    Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
    Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

    📣 If this episode gave you new insight into forensic toxicology and the hidden dangers of common substances, share it with a friend and leave a review. Your support helps others discover the science, the stories, and the heart behind Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    27 m
  • New Eyewitness Testimony Laid Bare: The Ambush That Killed Pauline Pusser (Part 1 of 2))
    Oct 29 2025
    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 ElamTennessee 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: coldcase2004@gmail.comTwitter: @149zone7Facebook: @sheryl.mccollumInstagram: @officialzone7podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    41 m
  • The Ellen Greenberg Case : Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series , Part 2
    Oct 27 2025

    This week on Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series, Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya Banerjee continue their forensic review of the 2011 death of Ellen Greenberg, a young woman found with more than twenty stab wounds in her Philadelphia apartment. Picking up where part one left off, Dr. Priya discusses the two critical stab wounds that penetrated Ellen's brain stem and spinal cord; injuries she believes would have rendered her incapable of any further self-harm. From the anatomy of the cervical spine to the forensic interpretation of bruising, Dr. Priya explains why the medical evidence in this case still challenges the official ruling of suicide, and why the Greenberg family continues to fight for justice.

    Highlights

    • (0:00) Welcome to Pathology with Dr. Priya: A Zone 7 series—Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya introduce part two of the Ellen Greenberg case
    • (1:45) Dr. Priya describes how she documents injuries and explains why numbering stab wounds can mislead investigators
    • (2:45) The base-of-skull wounds, and how it penetrated the dura, disrupting vital brainstem functions
    • (4:45) The cervical-spine injury between C2 and C3 and how Ellen’s neurological injuries could explain the absence of defensive wounds
    • (10:45) Distinguishing the possible order of injuries, and why positioning and directionality are critical in understanding the sequence of events
    • (13:15) "History of mental illness does not make you suicidal.” Dr. Priya explains why psychiatric history must be interpreted cautiously in death investigations
    • (14:15) Brusing: what it can and cannot tell investigators about struggle, timing and prior assaults
    • (20:00) Dr. Priya reflects on the Greenberg family’s courage, and the power of their love to keep fighting for the truth

    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.com
    Twitter/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: coldcase2004@gmail.com
    Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips
    Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
    Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

    📣 If this episode gave you new insight into the forensic complexities of Ellen Greenberg’s case, share it with a friend and leave a review. Your support helps others discover the science, the stories, and the heart behind Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    23 m
  • Hoax Kidnapping Sparks Chaos: What Really Happened in Florida
    Oct 24 2025

    It starts with a single message: “I’ve been taken.” Within minutes, panic spreads, officers mobilize, and fear grips an entire community. But what if the whole thing is a lie? In this week's episode of Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer explore the rise of modern hoaxes, from a Florida teen’s fake abduction to the mysterious disappearance of a Cobb County dentist. They expose how a single false story can spiral into chaos and change the lives of everyone it touches.

    Highlights:

    • (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer
    • (2:00) A 17-year-old's fake kidnapping text, Susan Smith’s lies, and other infamous hoaxes
    • (6:00) False reports and how they create first responder fatigue
    • (7:30) Scene vs. Story: vague details, missing specifics, and suspicious Walmart purchases
    • (11:15) The cost of hoaxes: mobilizing resources and fueling fear
    • (14:15) Philadelphia's missing person case and signs of authentic urgency
    • (15:15) Cobb County's missing dentist: social media’s role, cascading lies, and loved one’s involvement
    • (23:00) Sheryl McCollum: “A lie is as good as a confession.”
    • (23:45) Parental instincts vs. Truth: the Landry family’s heartbreak
    • (25:30) Joshua Schiffer: “All lies are burdens. They are rocks in your pockets.”
    • (29:00) Instincts during real emergencies: how victims respond under threat
    • (32:15) Closing reflections

    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 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 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.

    🎧 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 coldcase2004@gmail.com

    Follow the Hosts:

    • Sheryl on X: @ColdCaseTips
    • Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
    • Joshua on X and Instagram: @lawyerschiff

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    33 m
  • Undercover with the Real Donnie Brasco: Joe Pistone
    Oct 22 2025

    Behind every major shift in American law enforcement is someone willing to risk it all. In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum speaks with retired FBI Special Agent Joe Pistone, better known as Donnie Brasco. His six-year infiltration of the Mafia redefined undercover work and exposed key figures within the Bonanno and Colombo families. Pistone reflects on the danger, isolation, and moral weight of living inside the mob, as well as the lasting personal cost of pursuing justice from within.

    Guest Bio and Links:

    Joe Pistone is a retired FBI Special Agent best known for his six-year undercover assignment infiltrating the Bonanno and Colombo Mafia families under the alias of Donnie Brasco. His work led to more than 200 convictions and remains one of the FBI’s most significant undercover operations. Pistone is the author of Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia and continues to lecture worldwide on organized crime, covert operations, and law-enforcement ethics.

    Highlights:

    • (0:00) Sheryl welcomes retired FBI Special Agent Joe Pistone to Zone 7
    • (2:15) The reality of deep undercover work: seven days a week and six months before any real mob conversations
    • (7:15) Building a believable cover as a jewel thief through gem school, lock-picking, and street “swag” pricing
    • (13:15) The line between survival and protecting citizen inside a violent criminal world
    • (15:15) Sonny Black knowingly walks into his own execution after leaving his money, keys, and ring at the Motion Lounge
    • (22:15) Mapping the mob, the Commission, family hierarchy, and how crews coordinated territory
    • (31:45) Undercover is 24/7, with trust built over coffee, hard rolls with butter, and cartoons in a Brooklyn apartment
    • (35:15) On the verge of becoming a made man before the FBI shut down the operation
    • (37:30) The aftermath: more than 200 convictions, 17 trials, and a $500,000 contract placed on Pistone’s life
    • (45:15) The sit-downs with Tony Mirra: Pistone describes how Sonny Black defended his life three times and reflects on the reality of undercover work
    • (50:45) Hollywood vs. reality: the true story behind the movie Donnie Brasco

    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: coldcase2004@gmail.com
    • Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
    • Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
    • Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    54 m
  • The Ellen Greenberg Case : Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series , Part 1
    Oct 21 2025

    This week on Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series, Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya Banerjee begin a two-part forensic review of the 2011 death of Ellen Greenberg, a young woman found with more than twenty stab wounds in her Philadelphia apartment. Despite the severity and location of her injuries, Ellen’s death was ruled a suicide not once but twice. In part one, Dr. Priya walks listeners through the science of sharp-force injuries, defines key forensic terminology, and explains why certain wound patterns, especially those to the back of the head and neck, raise significant questions about how this case was ever closed.

    Highlights

    • (0:00) Welcome to Pathology with Dr. Priya: A Zone 7 series—Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya introduce the Ellen Greenberg case and outline the official findings
    • (2:00) Dr. Priya defines sharp-force injuries and explains the difference between stab and cutting wounds
    • (6:45) Identifying single-edged versus double-edged blades and how wound shape reveals the type of weapon
    • (8:00) Understanding defensive wounds and what their presence means
    • (10:30) The classification of cause and manner of death and why Ellen Greenberg’s case remains controversial
    • (13:45) How and why medical examiners revisit cases when new information or legal action arises
    • (16:30) Reviewing Ellen’s autopsy and toxicology results
    • (18:45) Why stab wounds to the back of the head and neck are nearly impossible to self-inflict and what that reveals about this case

    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.com
    Twitter/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: coldcase2004@gmail.com
    Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips
    Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
    Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

    📣 If this episode gave you new insight into the forensic complexities of Ellen Greenberg’s case, share it with a friend and leave a review. Your support helps others discover the science, the stories, and the heart behind Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    24 m