Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series: A Body in the Trunk

This week on Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series, Dr. Priya Banerjee and Sheryl McCollum walk through a case that’s captured national attention—the discovery of a missing teenager’s body in the trunk of a car linked to a rising music star. From decomposition and dismemberment, to teeth, tattoos, and tech, Dr. Priya breaks down how identification works when the body is severely compromised. Together, she and Sheryl discuss the forensic challenges, legal red flags, and the many unanswered questions that still surround the case. Highlights • (0:00) Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya focus the week’s episode on the discovery of a young girl's body in the trunk of a famous musician’s car • (4:45) How decomposition and dismemberment alter a body, and the tools pathologists use to uncover the truth • (11:00) Tattoos, teeth, and tech come into play as investigators work to identify the victim and interpret the meaning behind the song “Romantic Homicide” • (15:30) Dating a minor: red flags, blurred boundaries, and the legal realities behind grooming and consent • (16:45) “I got a beater car, and if it ain’t in my driveway, I’m going to call somebody.” • Why the car wasn't reported stolen and what that might suggest about ownership and intent • (17:45) How anthropology and toxicology provide answers when traditional autopsy results fall short • (24:30) Looking at the bigger picture: survival, exploitation, and the forensic clues left behind in both bones and behaviors About the Hosts Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island’s state medical examiner and now runs a private forensic pathology practice. Her work includes military deaths, NSA cases, and high-profile investigations. Dr. Priya has also been featured as a forensic expert on platforms such as CrimeOnline and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She is a dedicated educator, animal lover, and proud mom. Website: anchorforensicpathology.com Twitter/X: @Autopsy_MD Sheryl McCollum is an Emmy Award–winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, and the Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She works as a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department and 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 (CCIRI), a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together universities, law enforcement, and experts to help solve unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and kidnappings. Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com Twitter/X: @149zone7 Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcast 📣 If this episode opened your eyes to the reality behind the headlines, share it. Follow the show, tell a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps others discover the science, the stories, and the heart behind Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series.

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