In Part 3 of the Olympic Park bombing series, Sheryl McCollum talks with Dana Jewell about her husband’s life before, during, and after the bombing. Dana shares what Richard endured during “88 days of hell,” the paranoia and betrayal that followed, and how lawsuits, illness, and media attacks shaped his final years. She remembers his love of law enforcement, the toll of nightmares, and the injustice that haunted him. Dana also reflects on Clint Eastwood’s film Richard Jewell and the lasting impact of her husband’s story.

Dana Jewell is the widow of Richard Jewell, the security guard who found the bomb at Centennial Olympic Park in 1996. Over 88 days, Richard lived under FBI suspicion and intense media scrutiny before being cleared. Dana continues to share Richard’s legacy, reminding the world of the cost of rushing to judgment.

Missed the first two episodes?

• Listen to Part 1 with Irv Brandt
• Listen to Part 2 with Kent Alexander

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl welcomes Dana Jewell and describes Richard spotting the suspicious backpack at Centennial Park
• (1:45) Dana shares Richard’s “88 days of hell” under FBI suspicion and media pressure, and how it damaged his health
• (5:15) “We met on a drug bust.” Dana remembers meeting Richard in Meriweather County
• (14:30) The lawsuit against the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the lasting damage of headlines
• (19:00) Kent Alexander approaches Dana about writing The Suspect
• (24:00) Richard Jewell's illness and final days
• (31:15) Dana reflects on Clint Eastwood’s film Richard Jewell
• (34:45) Sheryl closes by quoting Richard Jewell: “The media can destroy lives faster than the criminal justice system can save them.”

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports our mission to educate and investigate.

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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 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.

Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer dig into three high-profile legal cases making headlines this week on Crime Roundup. They break down the Donna Adelson murder-for-hire trial, where Sheryl calls out the “mob movie nonsense” as the defense scrambles to explain taped jail calls and handwritten notes.

They revisit Cardi B’s courtroom appearance, where her unfiltered language and direct delivery spark a sharp take on how juries respond when a witness owns exactly who they are. They also examine a case in Kentucky involving the death of a newborn and the legal questions still surrounding the investigation. Plus, Sheryl previews what she’s looking forward to at CrimeCon, including a live panel she’ll lead with Ed Newcomer, a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a recent Zone 7 guest.

Highlights:

• (00:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer
• (00:30) Cardi B returns to court, and Sheryl breaks down why her delivery works
• (03:00) How attorney’s fees shape strategy in civil lawsuits
• (08:00) Donna Adelson’s trial gets messy: recorded jail calls, handwritten notes, and family fallout
• (16:45) Trial strategy: witness issues and what’s next for the Adelson case
• (21:45) CrimeCon preview: Sheryl shares what she’s looking forward to most
• (25:15) In Kentucky, the death of a newborn prompts legal questions and cautious speculation about what comes next
• (27:15) Wrapping up with CrimeCon: live panels and forensic favorites

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 Wednesday on Zone 7, where she doesn’t just talk cold cases, she works them. She is joined by fellow forensic pros and criminal justice insiders for conversations straight from active investigations. Then on Mondays, tune in to Pathology with Dr. Priya, where the physical evidence takes center stage.

📢 If you enjoyed this episode, follow Zone 7: Crime Roundup on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others find the show. Have a case or topic you want discussed? Email coldcase2004@gmail.com or connect with the hosts on social:

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part 2 of the Olympic Park bombing series, Sheryl McCollum talks with Kent Alexander, who served as U.S. Attorney during the investigation. Alexander recalls the tense hours after the blast, the FBI and media’s rush to label Richard Jewell a suspect, and the non-target letter that cleared him. He also explains how Eric Rudolph became the focus, what investigators learned from the case, and how his book The Suspect grew into Clint Eastwood’s film Richard Jewell.

Kent Alexander served as U.S. Attorney for Northern District of Georgia during the Olympic Park bombing investigation. He is the co-author of The Suspect, the book that became the basis for Clint Eastwood’s film Richard Jewell.

To learn more about Kent Alexander, visit The Suspect

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl introduces guest Kent Alexander, former U.S. Attorney during the Olympic Park bombing
• (2:45) The 911 call and Alexander’s first moments of the investigation
• (5:30) Securing evidence and rebuilding the bomb
• (8:15) Remembering victims Alice Hawthorne and Melih Uzunyol
• (9:15) Media and FBI rush to judgment against Richard Jewell
• (12:30) The non-target letter that cleared Richard Jewell
• (17:30) Eric Rudolph emerges as the true bomber
• (22:00) Alexander start writing The Suspect, documenting the case
• (25:15) Understanding Eric Rudolph’s motives and methods
• (30:00) Sheryl recall firsthand stories of victims and media exposure
• (33:15) How The Suspect became the film Richard Jewell
• (37:00) “He was a hero. What he did saved a lot of lives.” - Kent Alexander on Richard Jewell

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports our mission to educate and investigate.

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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 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.