This week on Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer dive into an explosive scandal out of rural Kentucky, where the murder of Judge Kevin Mullins has exposed a hidden world of courthouse corruption, sex-for-favors, and alleged misconduct at nearly every level of the local justice system. With reports of mirrored ceilings, sex parties, and jailhouse encounters involving law enforcement and officials, the hosts examine how deep the cover-up may run and what accountability looks like. They then turn to Bryan Kohberger, who has filed harassment complaints from inside a maximum-security prison. Sheryl and Joshua break down what those complaints reveal about prison power dynamics, the threat of extortion, and the likelihood of long-term solitary confinement.

 

Highlights:

• (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer
• (0:30) “The jail was a brothel.” Sheryl and Joshua set the stage for a story of scandal, power, and fallout
• (1:00) Judge Kevin Mullins’ murder and the web of corruption unraveling in small-town Kentucky
• (2:45) Sex-for-favors, law enforcement swingers, and an “open secret” exposed
• (6:30) The fallout: who knew, who looked away, and why federal intervention may be necessary
• (9:30) Bryan Kohberger files prison harassment complaints and faces the realities of life behind bars
• (11:00) Maximum-security dynamics: power, protection, and life under constant threat
• (12:00) Why solitary confinement may be Kohberger’s only option and how his mindset could make it worse
• (15:00) Some cases are off-limits for now. Sheryl and Joshua explain why respecting the system comes first

 

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’s 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 Crime Roundup on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others find the show. Have a case suggestion? Email [email protected] or connect with the hosts on social:

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

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