Part 3 - The Anatomy of a Serial Killer: Redemption, Regret, and the Cop Who Listened

This is a three-part podcast series dedicated to understanding how serial killers form, and how we can stop them before they strike again. Hosted by award-winning crime scene investigator Sheryl McCollum, each episode features a guest expert who brings unique expertise into the psychology, behavior, and patterns of serial offenders. Guest Bio and Links: David Quinn is a retired Atlanta Police Department homicide detective and a co-host and producer of the true crime TV series "ATL Homicide" on TV One. He was promoted to homicide detective in 2000 and worked on numerous cases for Fulton County. He has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, including time as a beat cop and a homicide detective. He is currently involved in the true crime series "ATL Homicide," where he and his former partner, Vince Velazquez, discuss their experiences solving some of Atlanta's most difficult cases. Connect with David Quinn on IG @david.quinn56 Aeman Presley is a currently incarcerated serial killer who is serving life sentences for four murders committed in Georgia. Before his crimes, Presley worked as an actor and performer, appearing in commercials and on television. Now, from prison, he shares his story in an effort to help law enforcement and society understand the psychological trajectory that led to his violence.  Phil Chalmers is a 40 year American Criminal Profiler, true crime writer, and host of the Dennis Quaid owned podcast “Where The Bodies Are Buried.” His live trainings are legendary in the law enforcement world, as he trains police officers, the FBI, probation officers, school administrators, and many other professionals. You may have seen Phil on A&E’s Killer Kids, or Fox’s Crime Watch Daily. He has interviewed hundreds of violent killers, including serial killers, school shooters, mass murderers, family annihilators, and spree killers. Names you might know on his interview list include Charles Manson, The Son of Sam, BTK, The Hillside Strangler, The Gainesville Ripper, The Zodiac Copycat, The Smiley Face Killer, and the Amityville Horror Killer. Learn more about at Phil Chalmers at his website, on IG @philechalmerprofiler and his podcast - Where The Bodies Are Buried Resources: Part 1 - The Anatomy of a Serial Killer: Psychology, Profiling, Prevention Part 2 - The Anatomy of a Serial Killer: Inside Aeman Presley’s Hunt   In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum and Phil Chalmers come together for pt. three of Preventing a Serial Killer. Former Detective David Quinn sits down with Aeman Presley for the first time since their unforgettable six-hour interrogation. For Quinn, this wasn’t just another case; it was the final chapter of a 30-year career in homicide, one that forever changed how he views justice, redemption, and even the death penalty. He reflects on the spiritual moments that guided the investigation, calling them nothing short of divine intervention. Aeman opens up about the pain and trauma of his upbringing, the influences that shaped his descent into violence, and the regret he carries every day. Together, they discuss the human side of tragedy, how community, media, and personal choices intertwine to create paths that sometimes end in darkness, and how, even then, healing and understanding are still possible.  Show Notes: (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum   (0:15) Sheryl introduces Detective David Quinn to the conversation (2:00) Aeman’s reflections (4:30) The impact of growing up in a violent environment (7:30) Six hours of interrogation and confession  (8:45) “For two hours we were talking nothing but life.” -Det. David Quinn (11:00) God moments and case breakthroughs (19:00) The arrest - a split-second mistake (22:00) Aeman’s hotel revelation  (24:00) The decision not to discard the gun (26:00) The train station incident  (29:00) Reflections on the victim's lives (33:00) The case’s profound impact (37:00) David Quinn on the death penalty (41:25)  ”Your life is fluid, brother. Your life is meaningful.” -Det. David Quinn  Thanks for listening to another episode! If you’re loving the show and want to help grow the show, please head over to Itunes and leave a rating and review!  --- 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: [email protected] Twitter: @ColdCaseTips Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.