Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died at a sober living facility in September 2026. His death is being investigated as a suspected overdose. Despite his family’s resources and access to treatment, Presley had publicly expressed frustration with his psychiatric care and the number of medications he had been prescribed. His death raises questions about addiction, overprescribing, and how families can find effective help for someone they love.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes her sister, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Shelley Halligan, to discuss the challenges of treating addiction and the risks associated with certain prescription medications. They talk about counterfeit pills, the dangers of mixing substances, and the questions patients should ask before taking new medications. For families trying to help a loved one, Shelley offers advice on researching treatment centers, explains why facilities that claim to treat everything deserve a closer look, and stresses the importance of researching treatment options.

Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl reflects on Cindy Crawford and the suspected overdose death of her son, Presley Gerber
(5:00) Shelley explains addiction and the emotional pain that can contribute to substance use
(7:30) Presley’s public frustration with psychiatric care and the number of medications he was prescribed
(9:15) Fentanyl, kratom, and the risks associated with high-potency THC
(12:45) Sheryl recalls a childhood prescription medication dosing error involving Shelley
(15:45) Questions patients should ask about prescribed medications and how to dispose of unused pills safely
(18:00) What families should look for when choosing an addiction treatment facility
(20:45) Shelley’s approach to evaluating multiple prescriptions and reducing unnecessary medications
(23:15) Counterfeit pills, fentanyl, and the dangers of taking medication from someone else
(26:45) Shelley shares stories of addiction-related loss and why she remains hopeful about recovery
(30:45) The importance of asking questions, advocating for loved ones, and removing the shame surrounding addiction

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Dr. Shelley Halligan is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with certifications in mental health first aid and advanced practice addiction nursing. She specializes in addiction treatment and recovery with a focus on individualized, patient-centered care.

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.

Social Links:
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum

Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint
River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lindsay Clancy trial ended in a mistrial in September 2026 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case involving the deaths of her three young children. The case has sparked strong opinions and heated debate, and with another trial potentially ahead, attention is turning to what prosecutors might do differently the second time around.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes former law enforcement officer, domestic violence expert, and on-air crime analyst Claudia King to discuss the prosecution’s strategy during the first trial and what may need to change if the case returns to court. They talk about how witness sequencing impacts the jury, mental health arguments, accountability, and the evidence surrounding the children’s deaths. Sheryl and Claudia also address the public identification of the lone holdout juror, concerns about jury intimidation, and whether sequestering the jury during a second trial could help protect the integrity of the proceedings.

Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl introduces Claudia King, former police officer, domestic violence expert, and crime analyst
(4:00) Claudia discusses the possibility of a retrial, pending defense motions, and jury selection challenges
(8:45) Where prosecutors succeeded in closing arguments and why their focus on Lindsay’s suicide attempt may have hurt the case
(11:00) How witness order and testimony can influence a jury●
(14:00) Claudia questions the defense’s claims about Lindsay’s efforts to seek mental health treatment
(17:00) Mental illness, criminal responsibility, and questions about accountability
(20:45) The children’s positions and locations and what they may suggest about the killings
(22:00) The holdout juror faces public backlash after his identity becomes known
(27:15) Jury selection, outside influence, and the case for sequestration
(29:00) Concerns about a defense psychiatric expert’s relationship with Lindsay’s family and potential bias
(31:00) Remembering Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy, the victims at the heart of the case

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps
others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Claudia King is a former police officer, domestic violence expert, survivor advocate, and crime
analyst. A domestic violence survivor herself, she uses both her personal and professional
experiences to advocate for victims and offer insight into high-profile criminal cases. She also
hosts the Strong Enough podcast.

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.

Social Links:
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum

Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High-profile cases don’t stay behind the scenes anymore. Lawyers are hired before investigations are complete, advocates and private experts release their own findings, witnesses speak on podcasts, and online accusations spread long before anyone is charged with a crime.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes back criminal defense attorney Joshua Schiffer to discuss how that shift is changing the criminal justice system and putting new pressure on prosecutors, investigations, witnesses, families, and potential jurors. Using the Nolan Wells investigation as an example, Sheryl and Joshua talk about outside experts, secondary autopsies, media coverage, death threats, doxing, and what can happen when people outside an investigation become involved before law enforcement has finished its work. They also explain how public statements, podcasts, and social media posts can complicate a case and potentially create reasonable doubt if it eventually reaches court.

Highlights:
(0:00) “Crazy town”: the troubling trend in high-profile cases that brings Joshua Schiffer back to Zone7
(1:00) How lawyers, GoFundMe campaigns, protests, and public pressure can begin before an investigation is complete
(6:00) The personal toll of high-profile cases on prosecutors, public defenders, investigators, and their families
(8:30) From theories accusing Lindsay Clancy’s husband to lawsuits against influencers: where true crime interest crosses into harassment and civil liability
(12:15) The Nolan Wells investigation and the outside force already influencing the case before any criminal charges are filed
(14:30) Private reports, outside experts, nonprofits, and public advocacy: when well-meaning help complicates an active investigation
(18:15) Why following police procedures matters when a defense attorney begins challenging an investigation
(20:00) Hiring a lawyer or remaining silent is a constitutional right, not an admission of guilt
(22:15) No blunt force trauma or signs of a fight: what the secondary autopsy does and does not show
(27:30) Death threats, doxing, disputed audio, and why Sheryl and Joshua question the theory of a violent death
(34:30) How podcasts, books, interviews, and social media posts can introduce reasonable doubt before a case ever reaches trial

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Joshua Schiffer is an Atlanta-based criminal defense attorney and longtime Zone 7 contributor. He represents clients in criminal matters and frequently provides legal analysis on high-profile cases, courtroom strategy, constitutional rights, and the realities of the criminal justice system.

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.

Social Links:
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum

Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother who had been struggling with serious mental health symptoms after the birth of her third child, admitted to strangling her three young children with exercise bands while her husband was out picking up dinner and medication. She then jumped from a second-story window, survived, and was left paralyzed. Her first trial ended in a mistrial, leaving major questions about what happens next.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes back board-certified forensic pathologist Dr. Priya Banerjee to talk through the Lindsay Clancy case and what the medical evidence can help explain. Dr. Priya describes what the children’s injuries can tell us about how they died and why Lindsay’s mental state that night remains one of the central questions in the case. They also discuss the difficult months leading up to it, from Lindsay’s sleepless nights to changing prescriptions and the challenges of coordinating care across multiple providers, and consider what could change if the case goes to trial again.

Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl and Dr. Priya address misinformation surrounding the Lindsay Clancy case and the questions following the mistrial
(4:45) Why the repeated ligature strangulation of three children raises difficult medical and psychiatric questions
(7:00) The Clancy children and the significance of different exercise bands being used to strangle each child●
(8:15) Dr. Priya explains how ligature strangulation causes asphyxia, loss of consciousness, and irreversible brain injury
(11:15) Lindsay Clancy’s injuries after jumping from a second-story window and Dr. Priya’s assessment of the suicide attempt
(13:30) Postpartum anxiety, hormonal changes, severe sleep deprivation, and why recovery does not follow a simple timeline
(17:15) Why psychiatric medications can take weeks to work and the complications of starting, stopping, or changing prescriptions
(21:30) How mental illness, multiple providers, telehealth, and incomplete communication can complicate psychiatric care
(23:45) Speculation about Patrick Clancy and what the defense stipulated at trial
(25:45) What prescription drug monitoring programs can and cannot tell doctors about a patient's medication
(29:30) Why another Lindsay Clancy trial could become a battle between psychiatric experts
(33:00) The emotional toll that graphic child-death evidence can place on jurors asked to decide a difficult case

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist and former Rhode Island state medical examiner. She previously co-hosted Pathology with Dr. Priya on Zone 7 and uses her forensic experience to help explain complex medical evidence and death investigations.

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.

Social Links:
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum

Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 11, 2001, with U.S. airspace closed after the terrorist attacks, dozens of transatlantic flights were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. Thousands of passengers and crew from around the world landed in the small town, nearly doubling its population within minutes. Their story later inspired the Broadway musical Come From Away.
In this episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes her sister, Sharlene Bowen, who was working as a flight attendant aboard Delta Flight 15 from Frankfurt, Germany, to Atlanta when the plane was ordered to land in Gander. Sharlene recalls spending 30 hours grounded on the tarmac with little information, the moment she finally saw the attacks on television, and the note that led her to Constable Oswald “Oz” Fudge and a hug Sheryl sent from Atlanta. Over the next five days, she watched the people of Gander open their schools, homes, and churches to the “plane people," as the locals called them.

Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl introduces the story of Gander, Newfoundland, and her sister Sharlene Bowen’s experience on September 11, 2001
(3:00) Sharlene remembers when an ordinary flight from Frankfurt to Atlanta suddenly changed and the crew learned something had happened in New York
(7:00) “All US airspace has been closed.” The announcement that silenced an entire cabin
(11:45) How passengers and crew worked together during 30 hours aboard the grounded plane●
(16:00) Why every passenger had to be cleared before leaving the aircraft and how Gander prepared for thousands of unexpected guests
(20:45) Sharlene finally sees the attacks on a TV at Walmart more than a day after they happened
(23:00) A note and a police hat lead Sharlene to Oz Fudge and a message from her sister
(28:00) Teenagers give free rides, Walmart hands over its keys, and the hockey rink becomes the town’s refrigerator
(36:45) Local teenagers create a special experience for stranded Make-A-Wish kids who missed their trip to Disney World
(41:45) Returning to Gander, hearing the original air traffic control recording, and seeing Come From Away with the people who lived the story
(46:30) How the hug from Oz Fudge delivered on Sheryl’s behalf became part of the production of Come From Away
(51:45) A scholarship fund started on the flight home has now sent more than 300 Gander students to college
(56:45) Delta employees wave American flags along the Atlanta taxiway, and Sharlene share a message about remembering the way people cared for one another after 9/11

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.
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Sharlene Bowen spent 34 years as a Delta Air Lines flight attendant and was a crew member aboard Delta Flight 15 when it was diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001. She later became a level one trauma nurse and charge nurse at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where she recently celebrated 20 years of service.
Related Episode
From Crisis to Compassion: A 9/11 Retrospective with Constable Oswald Fudge

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than four decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.
Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.
Social Links:
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum

Sheryl’s new book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, is available now wherever books are sold.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.