Director's log: Sheryl McCollum

Editor's note: CNN is following four Bauder College students as they build their case files in the Chandra Levy and Natalee Holloway investigations. The following are logs each is keeping to document the cases. Sheryl McCollum is the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of CNN, its affiliates or the schools where the campus correspondents are based. Got a tip? E-mail the class at ColdCaseTips@USACops.com

Log 3: Investigations hit the midpoint
June 2008

The midcase symposium went well, and helped focus our work. The suspectology is narrowing and students must have this completed by September.

We were very fortunate to have some nationally recognized experts join us for the "rule in, rule out" round table.

We had approximately 10 experts and more than 30 students in attendance. The experts walked the students through each of the theories and counseled them on what they needed next.

For example, both prosecution experts told students that the theories so far were intriguing and fact based, however, much more is needed before they would ever take a look at it.

Detective Vince Velázquez, of the Atlanta Police Department's cold case squad, told the students that a "scream" may not be that significant. "In a big city that must happen six or seven times a night," he said. Velázquez was most interested in the similar crimes aspect of the Chandra Levy case.

"You may never know why a killer does what he does -- but he does," he said. "We can try to get in their mind but we will never really understand the way they think because we are not them."

Velázquez explained to students that witnesses can often change or add to their stories once additional information comes to light. For example, with the scream, did the witness state in the 911 call that it was "bloodcurdling" or was that statement made after the news that Chandra went missing? This is a valid point.

Dr. Cindy Hatfield, a psychopathologist, explained to the students that a killer can kill once and then not kill again for a while. Sometimes a "killer will leave some victims alive and murder others," she said. She reminded the students that you cannot predict what a psychopath will do.

Hatfield has worked on cases with law enforcement agencies and will work with the students in a professional manner to give them insight into the criminality of the suspect. I have had the good fortune to work with her several times and she often provides insight that otherwise would have been overlooked.

Hatfield gave the students insight into the statements and writings of several key people in the Levy and Holloway cases. She has agreed to work individually with the researchers on numerous samples to help them link the statements with the facts and then start the process of finding gaps, deception and misleading information.

The students have read and watched hours of statements and video coverage. Hatfield will work with students to dissect quotes from each case and figure out what they may mean. The statements that people make tell a story by themselves. Why was a statement made? Who made it and when? This makes a difference to the validity of the facts.

One twist in the case came when psychic Reese Christian started working with the students based on her meditation on the Levy case. Christian started to describe a suspect that some of the students have pinpointed as a person of extreme interest.

Though a warrant can't be based on this information, the students found it exciting and interesting. The suspect that Christian pinpointed is the same suspect identified by the victimology completed by Faulkner University students. Christian is unaware of this report and has not seen it.

The student researchers at Bauder have not been privy to this report either. Their work must lead them and they cannot be influenced by other reports or findings. The results of the victimology will be shared with the students at the end of the research on the case.

Auburn University Montgomery will assist in the crime analysis of both cases. This work should be completed by October. The plan is for all three segments -- the victimology, crime analysis and suspectology -- to link up with the same suspect. Then we will formulate a cold case re-investigation plan and report.

The students work on each cold case for a period of one year. During that time they will develop their own case file. This file will contain numerous items such as photos, timelines, maps, sketches and/or profiles.

The CCIRI has approximately 80 student researchers working on these two cases for three colleges. All of the students work as volunteers. They receive no college credit or grades for their research. The four students that have been selected to log for CNN.com have different areas of interest and career goals and will share they experience throughout the research project.

The CCIRI has numerous specialists that also freely give their time and talents to train the students in their area of expertise.

Log 2: A scream in the night
May 2008

It's a little past 4 a.m. and I'm reminded of the scream coming from or near Chandra Levy's apartment at roughly the same time. It is hard for me to not find that event significant.

The neighbor hears a scream, the police are called, they respond, nothing is discovered -- should be the end of it. However, the next day Chandra went "missing."

Does the scream mean she was harmed much earlier than believed based on the activity on her computer? The activity means someone was on the computer, but it does not mean Chandra was on the computer? How did her body get to Rock Creek Park if she was hurt earlier?

We have all heard screams and not called the police because we were not sure if it was truly a cry for "help." The neighbors were so certain they stated the scream was "bloodcurdling" and made the 911 call.

This would indicate to me that the scream was indeed terrifying. That does not sound insignificant when the next day the tenant in that same apartment goes missing.

I spoke with Susan Levy at the first of this month to check in and to see how she was on the anniversary of the date that Chandra went missing. She is a strong woman with determination to see justice in this case. I feel for her each time we talk.

As a mother it is hard for me to imagine her daily need for answers or the consuming grief she lives with. This inconceivable grief was witnessed by the students, experts and faculty and serves to drive this investigation. We want to assist her and this family in their quest to see justice.

The victimology is now complete. The students at Faulkner University have sent their findings. These results will be cross checked with our suspectology in a few months. We have made a lot of headway with our "rule in, rule out" efforts. In the Levy case we are still considering three suspects. These suspects should be narrowed down to one in the next few months.

One of the most significant parts to the CCIRI is our experts. These specialists give their time and talents freely and without hesitation. It is an awesome sight to watch our students engage in a "bull session" with national experts. This opportunity to not just meet top professionals but to sit and talk and learn from them is the pinnacle to this project.

We had a minisession May 15 with prosecutor Shawn LaGrua, stalking expert Betsey Ramsey and psychic Reese Christian. We also had approximately seven lead student researchers in attendance. The 12 or so participants talked about the Levy case in depth for two hours.

The subject matter included stalking, forensic testing of soil, sexual assaults, computers and marital affairs. The professional guests were on hand to make certain the students stayed grounded in their method of research and did not venture into "made-for-TV theories."

LaGrua was the most vocal about the integrity of the project and the truth in the results. She is a career prosecutor with more than 17 years of experience. She approaches a cold case in one way and one way only: "Can I take this to trial?" If there is not enough evidence, the answer is no. Period.

Ramsey talked openly about the stalking issue -- again. If Chandra was stalked, there should be signs and clues to that fact.

Reese Christian is one of the newest expert members of the CCIRI. Numerous cold cases have sought the assistance of psychics, mediums and paranormal detectives. Christian was gracious enough to agree to assist in these two cases. She has worked with numerous law enforcement departments on cold cases and is well respected in her field. It is an important area of victimology and victim services. Our students are intrigued by the prospect of her abilities rendering results.

I also spoke with Sunny Tillman this week regarding safety issues during the graduation season. Tillman co-wrote the book "Loving Natalee" with Beth Holloway. Sunny and I want to have information available to students who may be traveling abroad for graduation trips. We hope to have this safety information soon. This is the work Holloway is doing since Natalee disappeared. Mrs. Levy has also started a nonprofit foundation since her daughter was victimized.

Log 1: Getting started
January - April 2008

Stalking expert Betsey Ramsey facilitated a training session in March for the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute student researchers on "stalkers and their targets."

This four-hour training provided students with an overview of the different types of stalkers, their victims and the other crimes they may commit. Ramsey is the author of "Stop the Stalker" and serves as an expert witness on these types of cases. The students enjoyed her forum and we plan on having her back at the Institute soon for some follow-up instruction.

Auburn University-Montgomery hosted a training session, also in March, on interviews and interrogations. This 24-hour training was facilitated by Bill Wagner. The students were invited to participate in the training.

Wagner was a member of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington and has 37 years of experience as a criminal investigator and investigative supervisor. He has had extensive experience in all areas of criminal investigations with a specialty in violent crimes.

He is a nationally recognized trainer in criminal investigations, case management and defense proofing techniques for trial presentation. This was a wonderful experience for our students and an outstanding educational benefit.

This training gave CCIRI experts an opportunity to meet and strategize about the progress of the research. Approximately 10 experts from Georgia and Alabama were able to meet and map out the plan for the continued research.

This session proved to be beneficial in planning for the task needed to be completed by the end of April. Having numerous experts working together is an awe-inspiring experience. This experience is transferred to the students and their work.

To date, the students have completed the timelines on both cases and are actively connecting alibi, events, suspects and known activities on the charts. These charts will assist in the case linkage, profiling and geographical analysis of each crime.

The victimology, which is a description of the victim, will be prepared by Faulkner University and should be completed by the end of April. The victimology information will then be cross-examined with information gathered on possible suspect types.