Sheryl McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police Department, and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute which collaborates with colleges and universities in the United States. She has worked on thousands of cold cases focusing on solvability factors with an investigative system she developed called the Last 24/361. This method utilizes the media, evidence, innovative forensic testing, and nationally recognized experts. Sheryl has been involved with some high profile and notable cases such as The Boston Strangler, Natalee Holloway, Tupac Shakur, and the Moore's Ford Bridge Lynching. This work earned her an Emmy on CSI: Atlanta. Sheryl is also the host of the cold case and investigative podcast Zone 7. Sheryl has received many awards and commendations over her forty-four year career, but the pinnacle was when she was inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame in 2023.

"With a swift-paced narrative and details of forensics and investigative techniques, this will appeal to true crime readers, especially those interested in cold cases."--Booklist

"Melissa's mom said, 'You can't give up; you just keep going... that's what Sheryl did for us.' Sheryl McCollum, my friend, is far more than an investigator; she's a champion for the voiceless and a guardian of untold narratives. With relentless determination, she unveiled the truth behind Melissa Wolfenbarger's disappearance, involving a shocking twist with Melissa's serial killer father. I am proud and inspired by her work; it's a testament to her skills and heart. Where others saw barriers, Sheryl found stepping stones."--Susan Hendricks, former Weekend Express anchor, author, and podcaster

"The Melissa Wolfenberger case needed a fresh set of eyes and didn't get an ordinary pair, it got Mac's! One investigator can make all the difference in a cold case and Sheryl "Mac" McCollum is the best there is!"--Sgt. Joseph Giacalone, (Retired), NYPD, Supervisor Detective Squad

"A tale full of twists and turns about a crime scene investigator leaving no stone unturned in the hunt for Melissa's killer...one such stone lead to the mindset of a serial killer, which resulted in an unlikely yet masterful partnership between the cops and Melissa's father to catch her killer in one of Atlanta's notorious cold case murder mysteries."--Scott Duffey, FBI, (Retired), Supervisory Special Agent

"A fascinating true Hannibal Lecter story in which Mac describes how an imprisoned Atlanta serial murderer, and his wife who had assisted him, helped her catch the murderer of their daughter."--Michael M. Baden, M.D., Former Chief Medical Examiner, New York City

"The Devil went down to Georgia and met his match in Sheryl McCollum. This harrowing yet captivating tale underscores the profound complexity of human psychology and the dark connections that sometimes emerge in the pursuit of truth."--Linda Kenney Baden, Esq., high-profile criminal attorney

"Some cases seemingly have no hope of being solved--no DNA, no eyewitnesses, nothing apparent that can be used to identify the offender. The victim's mother has never given up hope though waves of detectives have failed to solve her daughter's brutal murder and brings her case to Sheryl "Mac" McCollum. Mac, initially out of compassion but then obsession, digs in and tries something no one else had--using a killer to catch a killer."--Paul Holes, New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, and television host

Publisher: Post Hill Press

Pub date: 2026-05-12

Length: 256 pages