This week on Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer unpack the devastating double homicide at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas. They examine how predators gain access to children, the red flags that went unheeded, and why state parks can serve as both sanctuaries and stages for violence. With a mix of legal insight and forensic perspective, Sheryl and Joshua explore the psychological, systemic and legal failures behind a crime that stunned the country.

 

Highlights:

• (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer
• (2:00) “This was planned.” Devil’s Den and predators in isolated spaces
• (5:15) A killer with access to children and a long list of ignored warnings
• (6:45) Hidden plates, premeditation, and chilling prep
• (8:00) Death penalty or mental illness? The defense dilemma
• (10:30) "There’s no such thing as a part-time child predator”
• (12:15) How predators pass as mentors and slip through school systems
• (14:45) Red flags don’t matter—until they do
• (16:30) Wrapping up: outrage, action, and what comes next

 

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 a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook, Cold Case: Pathways to Justice and the founder of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national nonprofit that unites universities, law enforcement, and students to work on unsolved homicides and missing persons cases.

 

🎧 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—because every body tells a story.

 

📢 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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