This week on Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer tackle a courtroom moment that has everyone talking: Cardi B’s bold, unscripted testimony in a civil trial that underscores the power of authenticity on the stand. They revisit the Karen Read case, where Trooper Proctor is fighting to regain his badge despite a misconduct scandal that may have ended his creditability as a witness.

In Georgia, Trooper A.J. Scott faces the consequences of a high-speed crash that killed two teenagers, but a puzzling verdict leaves one family still searching for accountability. The episode wraps with a brief but important warning for parents, as Joshua shares a recent case involving online blackmail targeting a student.

 

Highlights:

• (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer
• (2:45) Cardi B takes the stand and delivers unforgettable courtroom testimony
• (4:30) Hair relevance, and how not to question a celebrity witness
• (6:00) Behind the curtain of civil law: contingency fees and when lawsuits go too far
• (8:15) Trooper Proctor and the fallout from the Karen Read investigation
• (9:30) How private texts and off-duty behavior can derail a law enforcement career
• (16:15) Trooper A.J. Scott’s case: high speed crash left two dead, but only one homicide conviction follows
• (20:00) Cardi B owns the stand: embracing her voice, her language, and why authenticity resonates with juries
• (24:30) How attorney’s fees, not injuries, can drive strategy in civil trials
• (29:00) A quick warning for parents: how a student was targeted by online blackmail

 

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 fearless advocate for accountability.

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.

 

🎧 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 [email protected] or connect with the hosts on social:

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

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