Hoax Kidnapping Sparks Chaos: What Really Happened in Florida

It starts with a single message: “I’ve been taken.” Within minutes, panic spreads, officers mobilize, and fear grips an entire community. But what if the whole thing is a lie? In this week's episode of Crime Roundup, Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer explore the rise of modern hoaxes, from a Florida teen’s fake abduction to the mysterious disappearance of a Cobb County dentist. They expose how a single false story can spiral into chaos and change the lives of everyone it touches.   Highlights: (0:00) Welcome to Crime Roundup with Sheryl McCollum and Joshua Schiffer (2:00) A 17-year-old's fake kidnapping text, Susan Smith’s lies, and other infamous hoaxes (6:00) False reports and how they create first responder fatigue (7:30) Scene vs. Story: vague details, missing specifics, and suspicious Walmart purchases (11:15) The cost of hoaxes: mobilizing resources and fueling fear (14:15) Philadelphia's missing person case and signs of authentic urgency (15:15) Cobb County's missing dentist: social media’s role, cascading lies, and loved one’s involvement (23:00) Sheryl McCollum: “A lie is as good as a confession.” (23:45) Parental instincts vs. Truth: the Landry family’s heartbreak (25:30) Joshua Schiffer: “All lies are burdens. They are rocks in your pockets.” (29:00) Instincts during real emergencies: how victims respond under threat (32:15) Closing reflections   About the Hosts Joshua Schiffer is a veteran trial attorney and one of the Southeast’s most respected legal voices. He is a founding partner at ChancoSchiffer P.C., where he has litigated high-stakes criminal, civil rights, and personal injury cases for over two decades. Known for his bold courtroom presence and ability to clearly explain complex legal issues, Schiffer is a frequent media contributor and a fearless advocate for accountability. Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, a forensic and crime scene expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.   🎧 Want more from Sheryl? Catch her every week on the Zone 7 podcast, where she hosts the main series on Wednesdays, Pathology with Dr. Priya on Mondays, and Crime Roundup each Friday alongside Joshua Schiffer.   📢 Stay Connected Subscribe using your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to support the show. Have a case or topic you’d like Sheryl and Joshua to cover?  Email [email protected]   Follow the Hosts: Sheryl on X: @ColdCaseTips Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Joshua on X and Instagram: @lawyerschiff See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.