In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum sits down with Susan Constantine, a leading expert in deception detection and body language. The conversation explores a range of topics, from the importance of objectivity in investigations to the nuances of voice pitch and tone. Susan covers how deception detection is a skill not just a gut feeling and how to understand human behaviors.

Show Notes:

• [0:00] Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum.  
• [2:40] Sheryl introduces Susan Constantine to the listeners
• [6:20] Susan unpacks how deception detection is a skill that can be learned, not just a gut feeling
• [8:30] Question: How did you get into this field of deception detection?
• [9:14] Susan recounts a haunting experience from her childhood that took place in a racially tense neighborhood
• [15:18] Susan talks about her career in jury selection
• [17:00] Susan discusses her role in the high-profile Casey Anthony trial, analyzing Anthony's body language
• [18:10] Sheryl and Susan dissect Casey Anthony's body language during her trial
• [21:34] Question: Can you tell us some of the facial expressions you try your best to look for and hone in on, depending on who you're working for?
• [22:20] The concept of cognitive load and how it can be a revealing factor when individuals are trying to lie
• [30:55] Susan discusses how she worked through the Michael Jackson case
• [39:55] “The more I've ranked up, the smaller my circle becomes.”
• [43:32] Susan discusses how she analyzes video footage to detect deception
• [45:00] Question: Could you talk a little bit about the Holmes case?
• [49:53] “Men are liars. We'll lie about lying if we have to. I'm an algebra liar. I figure two good lies makes a positive.” -T.A
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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.  

You can connect and learn more about Sheryl’s work by visiting the CCIRI website https://coldcasecrimes.org

Social Links:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

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