This week on Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum takes the mic solo as Nancy Grace officially steps back from her regular Friday seat. Sheryl looks back on the past year with gratitude, sharing what made their time together unforgettable—Nancy’s sharp wit, loyalty, and the kind of friendship that runs deep. Then, it’s on to two cases that are anything but ordinary: a 17-year-old girl accused of murdering her parents, and a smuggler in Germany caught with 1,500 tarantulas… packed in cake boxes. And don’t miss the big announcement—Crime Roundup is welcoming a brand-new co-host starting next week.

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Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome to a solo edition of Crime Roundup
• (0:45) Sheryl looks back with gratitude on Nancy Grace’s year at the mic
• (3:00) Case 1: 17-year-old Sarah Patrick charged in her parents’ murders
• (5:00) Case 2: 1,500 tarantulas smuggled through Germany—in cake boxes!
• (6:30) From giraffes to Ziplocs: the wild world of animal smuggling and the strange methods behind it
• (7:45) Meet your new co-host: Joshua Schiffer joins Crime Roundup next week

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Nancy Grace is an outspoken, tireless advocate for victims’ rights and one of television's most respected legal analysts. She had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor and is the founder and publisher of CrimeOnline.com, a crime-fighting digital platform covering breaking news, missing persons, and cold cases.

Her daily show, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, airs on SIRIUS XM’s Triumph Channel 111 and is available on all major podcast platforms.

https://www.crimeonline.com/

X: @nancygrace

Instagram: @thenancygrace

Facebook: @nancygrace

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award–winning CSI, crime scene expert, and writer for CrimeOnline. She’s also co-author of Cold Case: Pathways to Justice and serves as a CSI for a metro Atlanta police department.

Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

X: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detective Vince Velazquez is a retired Atlanta Police Department homicide investigator with more than 20 years of service. He spent 16 of those years in APD’s elite Homicide Unit, where he helped bring closure to hundreds of families. He’s also the real-life inspiration behind the hit true crime series ATL Homicide. Today, Vince is a speaker, mentor, and advocate for justice who continues to teach, investigate, and fight for victims.

Follow Vince Velazquez on Instagram: @vincevelazquez and don’t miss The Murder Mind Show—Vince’s newest true crime series—premiering July 21st at 6:00 PM ET on YouTube.

👉 Subscribe now: The Murder Mind Show

In this episode of Zone 7, CSI Sheryl McCollum welcomes one of her favorite people on the planet—retired APD Homicide Detective Vince Velazquez. Known for his signature blend of grit, empathy, and straight talk, Vince opens up about what it takes to earn trust on the streets, the lessons from his early jobs (butcher shop included), and the real-life experiences behind ATL Homicide. He and Sheryl dig into long-term cases like the murder of Nacole Smith, the emotional weight of bearing witness to other people’s worst days, and why his new YouTube series The Murder Mind Show is more than just storytelling—it’s a mission. Full of real-life case stories, hard-won wisdom, and no-nonsense truth, this episode is a masterclass in perseverance, purpose, and showing up with heart.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with Vince Velazquez
• (3:30) Respect, effort, and presence—no matter the role
• (8:30) Human connection isn’t optional—it is the job.
• (16:45) Murder Mind: Turning real crime into real change
• (21:00) Nacole Smith’s case: a vow to never let go
• (27:00) What separates a good detective from a great one?
• (29:45 ) “If you want to soar with eagles, don’t hang out with ducks.”
• (34:45) Empathy, dignity, and the detective's creed
• (37:00) “Criminal investigation is a team concept—everyone has a role to play.” — Sgt. Joe Giacalone (Ret.), NYPD

Thanks for listening to another episode! If Zone 7 is part of your weekly routine, show us some love with a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more folks find the show—and helps us keep telling these stories.

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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.

Social Links:

• Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips

• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sean Houle is a former police officer and K9 handler who served in North Carolina for nearly a decade. In 2021, he was critically wounded in the line of duty—shot twice at point-blank range with his own service weapon. Since medically retiring, Sean has become a sought-after speaker on faith, resilience, and the lifelong commitment to service..

In this unforgettable episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator Sheryl McCollum welcomes retired Officer Sean Houle for a powerful firsthand account of survival and purpose. Sean recounts the harrowing night he was ambushed by a suspect from an earlier call—an encounter that would change his life forever. He shares the moments of chaos, the struggle to stay conscious, and the clarity that surfaced as his life hung in the balance. Together, he and Sheryl discuss the split-second decisions officers face, how department policy shapes those choices, and the unbreakable bond between handler and K9 partner. But Sean’s story doesn’t end on the pavement. During recovery, a surprising moment on a family beach trip reminds him that his calling to serve wasn’t finished—it was just taking a new shape. This episode is a profound look at duty, faith, and the quiet strength behind the badge.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with guest Sean Houle
• (1:45) The traffic stop that changed everything
• (3:00) Familiar faces and high-risk situations
• (5:00) The slow roll and signs of trouble
• (7:30) Commands ignored, tension escalates
• (8:00) Following policy: use-of-force, K9 deployment, and the art of bluffing
• (14:00) A terminated track and what came next
• (15:30) Face to face again—Sean confronts Quinton Blocker
• (20:00) A fight inside a Toyota Corolla
• (23:00) Disarmed and staring down the barrel
• (25:00) Thoughts of family, faith, and a second chance
• (27:00) The second shot—and the will to survive
• (28:30) “I’m dying, help.”
• (29:15) “72 Units of Blood”: The trauma, stroke, and fight for survival
• (30:15) Jax, the K9 partner, and the heartbreaking malfunction
• (32:00) End of shift: going 10-42 for the last time
• (35:00) A new calling, a life saved in Myrtle Beach
• (40:00) “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one.” – Abraham Lincoln

Update on the Case:

In 2024, Quinton Donnell Blocker—the man who shot Officer Sean Houle—was sentenced to 55 to 72 years in prison after being convicted on multiple charges, including attempted murder. The sentencing marked a long-awaited moment of justice for Sean, his family, and his department.

Thanks for listening to another episode! If you're enjoying Zone 7, head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a quick rating and review—it’s one of the best ways to support the show and help others find it.

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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.

Social Links:

• Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips

• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.