Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series: Anatomy of an Autopsy

Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

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6d ago 27:01

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Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of internal autopsy procedures, causes of death, and discussions of trauma, drug use, and infectious diseases. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, Dr. Priya and Sheryl McCollum go beneath the skin to examine what internal findings reveal about how someone lived and what ultimately caused their death. From the first incision to the final look at the neck, Dr. Priya walks through each step of the internal autopsy, showing how the lungs, liver, stomach contents and brain tissue all contribute to a complete forensic picture. It's an unfiltered look at the science behind suspicious deaths and the small but critical findings that can change the course of a case. Whether it's an undiagnosed disease or unexpected toxins, nothing gets past a thorough autopsy.

Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Pathology with Dr. Priya | A Zone 7 Series
(0:30) Honoring the legacy of Judge Frank Caprio
(3:00) Making the first cut: the Y-incision and what it reveals
(6:30) The process of removing weighing and inspecting organs
(8:30) Clues in the lungs: smoking damage, silent infections, and signs of COVID
(10:30) Why every case includes drug testing, no matter the age
(11:30) What stomach contents can us about timing and intent
(12:45) Reading the liver and spleen for signs of alcohol hepatitis in cancer
(16:00) STDs beneath the surface: infections that quietly destroy
(18:00) Detecting undiagnosed disease and hidden internal trauma
(23:00) Inside the brain: swelling, strokes, and oxygen-starved tissue
(25:15) The final step of the autopsy: what the neck can reveal

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: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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