Joseph L. Giacalone is a retired NYPD sergeant, criminal justice educator, and nationally recognized expert in policing and investigations. With over 20 years of frontline experience, he now teaches criminal investigations and appears regularly in the media to discuss high-profile cases and law enforcement issues. He is also the author of two widely used textbooks in the field.

Connect with Joseph at his website, and on his podcast True Crime with the Sarge

Susan Hendricks is an investigative journalist and host of Headline Crime. Known for her thoughtful and fearless reporting, she brings national attention to overlooked cases and justice system breakdowns.

Listeners can learn more about Susan on IG @susan_hendricks, on X @susanhendricks, and on Headline Crime

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, welcomes back Susan Hendricks and Joe Giacalone to break down the second trial of Karen Read and y’all, it’s a mess. They lay out how John O’Keeffe deserved better, pointing to sloppy police work, mishandled evidence, and a justice system that’s falling apart. They break down the courtroom testimony that doesnt hold up, highlight signs of investigative bias, and considers how divided public opinion has become. Lastly, with the second trial underway, they raise the hard questions: Can this case be fairly tried? And what does it say about the larger issues inside the criminal justice system?

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum
• (0:10) Sheryl brings Joe Giacalone and Susan Hendricks back on Zone 7
• (0:30) Today’s discussion - Karen Read retrial
• (1:30) Prosecution's weaknesses and overreach
• (5:00) The missing documentation and police failures
• (9:00) Town tensions, brotherhood, and silence
• (13:30) Dysfunction and conspiracy - the system itself on trial
• (19:00) Jen McCabe's testimony and trial dynamics
• (21:30) Medical examiner's findings and reasonable doubt
• (25:00) Confirmation bias and jury considerations
• (31:00) Predictions and final thoughts
• (34:00)  ”I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.”
• 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.

A Special Agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for over 20 years, Ed worked in Los Angeles and a variety of international posts before retiring in 2022. During his career, he conducted many high-profile international wildlife trafficking investigations involving every continent, including Antarctica, and is known for bringing down some of our planet's most notorious wildlife criminals. He is a recipient of the Humane Law Enforcement Award from the Humane Society of the United States and a record six Law Enforcement Awards from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

Listeners can learn more about Ed Newcomer on his podcast - Nature’s Secret Service, and on LinkedIn @EdNewcomer

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, sits down with Ed Newcomer, a retired special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who spent over 20 years chasing down criminals most folks don’t even know exist. From bug smugglers to black market fish dealers, Ed’s seen it all, and y’all, he’s worked cases across a variety of continents, even Antarctica. The duo dig into some of his biggest cases, like the takedown of a notorious insect trafficker, Yoshi Kojima, and an undercover sting that exposed a major fish smuggling ring moving endangered Asian arowanas. Ed opens up about the real dangers behind wildlife crime, why these cases matter, and how they connect to other threats like human trafficking and organized crime.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum
• (2:00) Sheryl welcomes guest, Ed Newcomer to Zone 7
• (2:30) Ed's undercover work and challenges
• (3:00) The bug emporium heist
• (5:00) Becoming a wildlife cop
• (8:00) The case of Yoshi Kojima
• (14:00) Building the undercover persona
• (21:00) Taking advantage of communities and $10k butterflies
• (27:00) Gaining Yoshi’s trust
• (34:00) Ed uses awkward advances and undercover finesse
• (35:30) The arrest and aftermath of
• (37:30) The connection between wildlife and human trafficking
• (38:00)  ”Investigation is investigation, and crime is crime. This isn't directly what you're referring to, a lot of times once a smuggler has the systems in the roots in place, they will engage in other types of crimes.”
• (38:30) The fish smuggling case
• (43:00) How fish become evidence and crime currency
• (46:00) Operation RTG begins
• (50:00) The cost of Asian arowanas and setting up buyers
• (55:00) A deliver bust in broad daylight
• (1:01:00) Aftermath of case and final thoughts
• (1:04:00)  ”My dad worked for the Fish and Wildlife Service, and he worked for the Department of the Interior, you know, like the federal government. And consequently, I spent a lot of time outdoors in my life. I even became the voice of Smokey the Bear.” -Sam Elliot
• 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 dissect the incredible testimony of Cassie Ventura in the case of Sean Diddy Combs. The duo take listeners inside the courtroom, explaining how victim testimony works and why it’s so hard for prosecutors to prove abuse - especially when power, money, and influence are at play. Sheryl explains why Cassie Ventura’s hotel video is a “money tree” for the case - legal gold when it comes to proving the power dynamics and abuse. They explain what happens when a victim has to live under the intense control of an abusive partner - and how that control becomes a tumultuous abuse cycle. Nancy shares her own experience of this power play in the legal system to give the example of how a person in the situation of a power play has to weigh the choices of exposure. Last but not least, Nancy celebrates a proud parenting moment - her twins becoming Eagle Scouts.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome! Nancy and Sheryl introduce this week’s crime roundup
• (0:30) A star witness was born - Cassie Ventura takes the stand
• (2:00) Nancy breaks down victim behavior in abusive relationships
• (4:00) Why victims stay - power, fear, and livelihood
• (6:00) Nancy shares her personal experience dealing with harrassment
• (8:00) What Happened to Ellen?: An American Miscarriage of Justice
• (9:00) The hotel assault - bribery and blackmail
• (13:00) Corroboration and the “money tree” video evidence
• (15:30) Nancy shares her twins have officially become Eagle Scouts
• (20:00) 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.