Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, talks with a diverse panel that includes former NYPD Sergeant Joseph Giacalone, forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston, Mike Morford of the Criminology Podcast,  polygraph expert Lisa Ribacoff, and Kerri Rawson, the daughter of the infamous BTK killer. They explore leads of the LISK case, discuss the importance of identifying victims, and theorize about the killer's methods.  The conversation also touches on mental health within the police force and the ripple effects of trauma on victims, their families, and entire communities. 

Show Notes:

• [0:00] Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum.  Sheryl shares a high school story that sets the tone for the importance of teamwork in solving complex problems
• [1:10] Listen to the previous episodes on the LISK case: LISK (Long Island Serial Killer) Panel: A Zone 7 Discussion; LISK (Long Island Serial Killer): Part 2 with Kerri Rawson
• [1:15] Sheryl reintroduces guest, Sergeant Joseph Giacalone to the listeners
• [1:40] Cold Case Handbook; Criminal Investigation Function
• [1:45] Question to Joseph: What do you think is next for this investigation, the next steps?
• [2:26] Question to Joseph: Do you see this task force being even larger than we think that it is? 
• [2:31] Joseph talks about the growth of the task force. He emphasizes the crucial role of expanding the investigation team
• [3:45] Sherly reintroduces guest, Lisa Robicoff to the listeners 
• [3:48] Question to Lisa: With a case of this magnitude, how do you think private investigators could possibly help this task force? I'm thinking specifically interviews with sex workers, possibly internet searches, and government records. What do you think?
• [4:00] Lisa Ribacoff is brought in to discuss private investigators' roles. Her insights highlight the value of collaboration in the task force
• [6:10] Sheryl reintroduces Mike Morford of the Criminology Podcast
• [7:32] Sheryl reintroduces Dr. Joni Jonston back to the listeners  
• [8:17] Dr. Joni Johnston discusses the age of the Long Island serial killer. Her thoughts explore the psychological implications of age in serial killing
• [10:00] Sheryl reintroduces Kerri Rawson back to the listeners 
• [10:14] Question to Kerri: How do we continue to advocate for victims and keep that mindset of being respectful toward victims, families, and suspect families?
• [13:33] Sheryl and Joseph discuss the use of humor in dealing with police mental health
• [17:53] Question to Lisa: When you start identifying some of these victims from the Long Island serial killer, that's going to give us the date that they actually disappeared. How important is that intel? 
• [20:48] Question to Dr. Joni: I firmly believe he's going to have journals and calendars and maps and I think he's been very detailed in what he's done. What do you think?
• [22:30] Joseph elaborates on factors that influence serial killers. Insight into the identification of a killer's first victim and the mistakes they make
• [25:42] Sheryl and Mike discuss the possibility of the killer owning secluded land 
• [27:33] Lisa highlights unusual property in South Carolina. A potentially significant clue
• [30:36] Kerri shares personal experiences as the daughter of the BTK killer
• [34:54] Mike talks about crime scene investigations' impact on criminals' families. An exploration of the emotional toll and aftermath
• [39:11] “Nothing about murder is clean. Everything is messy. Everything is horrible. Everything is gross.”
• [41:24] Final thoughts from the panel
• [45:55] “We will support this task force with every tool it needs to hopefully bring this investigation and these murders to a successful conclusion.” -M.J.D
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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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