Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

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. 

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.

In today’s CRU, Nancy Grace and Sheryl McCollum discuss the ongoing Delphi murder trial, that’s now in the hands of the jury. They recount their experiences covering the case from its beginning when Abby and Libby went missing, to the present, as they await a verdict. Nancy and Sheryl touch on police investigations, defense tactics, and the emotional toll on the victims' families. Despite facing public scrutiny, both Nancy and Sheryl stand firm in their commitment to seeking justice for the victims by summarizing the facts of the case, and giving verdict predictions.

Previous Zone 7 Episodes Covering The Delphi Case -

Amber Clemmons-Bean is Barbara Clemmons' granddaughter and family advocate, Amber has become a dedicated voice for justice in her grandmother’s unsolved murder case. She continues to work to seek answers, keeping the case alive and raising awareness.

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, sits down with Amber Clemmons Bean, Barbara’s granddaughter to dissect the tragic events of July 23rd, 1957, in Hobbs, New Mexico, where Dorothy Gibson, Barbara Clemmons, and J.D. Cantrell were brutally murdered. Dorothy and Barbara, both 23 and divorced, were found dead after being shot, following a night out and a flat tire on Highway 180. J.D. Cantrell, a truck driver who stopped to help, was shot eight times. The motives appear unclear, with no signs of robbery or sexual assault, while revenge seems the likely cause. Sheryl and Amber discuss potential motives, challenges in the investigation, and the emotional toll on the victims’ families.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum  
• (0:10) Sheryl introduces the triple homicide in Hobbs, New Mexico
• (1:25) The crime scene and initial investigation
• (2:20) Victim profiles and possible motives
• (3:20) Sheryl introduces guest, Amber Clemmons-Bean to Zone 7 
• (4:15) Theories and speculations
• (7:45) Details of the night before the murders
• (10:00) Crime scene analysis and evidence
• (15:45) Challenges in the investigation
• (20:30) Amber's ongoing fight for justice
• (30:30) Conclusion and future steps
• (31:00) “Justice is what love sounds like when it speaks in public.”
• Thanks for listening to another episode! If you love 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.  

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Today’s CRU Nancy Grace and Sheryl McCollum bring listeners into the courtroom and behind the scenes at the Delphi murder case trial. Nancy and Sheryl give on-the-ground detailed observations from the courtroom, including interactions with the victims' composed families and Richard Allen's unexpected behavior. They critically analyze Allen's chronological confessions, and some of the hate both have experienced covering this trial.

Previous Zone 7 Episodes Covering The Delphi Case -