Podcast Summary: "The Search For Sheree | Talking Cold: Burning Questions with Dave Cawley | 13"

Podcast: Cold
Host(s): Amy Donaldson & Sheryl Worsley (Talking Cold), Dave Cawley (Cold)
Guest: Dr. Jean Norman (Associate Professor of Journalism, Weber State University)
Date: May 8, 2023

Overview

This episode of Talking Cold features a deep-dive Q&A session addressing listener questions and unresolved issues from Season 3 of Cold, focused on the 1985 disappearance of Sheree Warren. Amy Donaldson and Sheryl Worsley lead a frank discussion on journalism ethics—especially conflicts of interest in true crime reporting—before bringing in host Dave Cawley to answer burning audience questions about the investigation and the status of Sheree's case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Journalism Ethics & Conflicts of Interest

(00:33–13:49)

• The hosts and Dr. Jean Norman discuss the ethics of a KSL journalist covering the trial of an acquaintance (Kerry Hartman, a rape suspect in Season 3), highlighting the importance and failures of full disclosure.
• Red Flags in Reporting:
  • “Somebody who is a close associate of somebody in a rape trial should not be covering the trial. Period. End of story.” — Dr. Jean Norman (02:04)
  • Questions remain about the level of disclosure; terms like “acquaintance” can minimize the true nature of relationships.
• Responsibility and Oversight:
  • Ethics depend on both the journalist’s honesty and the editor’s vigilance. The Society of Professional Journalists’ code (seek truth, minimize harm, act independently, be accountable) is cited as foundational.
  • On public accountability:
    • “There is no independent agency that holds us accountable...we don't want to ever be accountable to a government agency. That is a conflict of interest in itself that violates our independence given to us in the First Amendment.” — Dr. Jean Norman (04:58)
• Disclosure & Transparency:
  • Disclosures to audiences are discussed—not only as a practice for credibility but as a means to preserve trust.
  • “The whole idea of transparency is to help our readers understand that, for one, we are human, and...we're not trying to hide something from them.” — Dr. Jean Norman (06:30)
• Personal Connections in Reporting:
  • The “Norman Rule”: “Don't interview anybody who can make your life miserable.” — Dr. Jean Norman (08:27)

2. Q&A with Dave Cawley / Listener Burning Questions

(14:05–29:59)

• Why Wasn’t Richard Moss (Cherie’s coworker) a Suspect?
  • “Isn't the last person to see Cherie Warren a pretty serious suspect? ...no real record from the early case files of Richard being interviewed.” — Dave Cawley (14:46)
  • Lack of thorough investigation by authorities, with focus quickly shifting to primary suspects Chuck Warren and Kerry Hartman.
• Investigative Missed Opportunities:
  • No face-to-face interview with Richard Moss, even when he was available in Salt Lake City. “That was a miss on the part of Jack Bell and quite frankly, the Salt Lake City Police Department.” — Dave Cawley (16:14–16:52)
• Jurisdictional Challenges:
  • Small-town resource constraints and lack of coordination between Roy City PD and larger agencies stunted investigation progress.
• Dave's Work-Life Balance:
  • “There are a lot of things in my personal life that get pushed to the side...I become fairly singular focused on these stories.” — Dave Cawley (17:57)
  • Highlights the emotional and psychological toll of immersive investigative work.
• Current Search Efforts for Sheree’s Body:
  • “There have not been, to my knowledge, active searches for Cherie in many, many years...members of law enforcement working that case are listening to the podcast...there are some plans in place for searches in the future.” — Dave Cawley (19:43–21:09)
  • Discusses practical challenges: seasonality, terrain, and property ownership issues restrict search activity.
• Cherie’s Family & Victim-Focused Reporting:
  • “Some family members...want to step up and use the platform...Others are not interested...I don't want to be in a position of...exploiting their trauma.” — Dave Cawley (22:41)
  • Cherie’s son offered support to Dave off-record and grew up facing conflicting narratives about his parents.
• Documenting Cherie’s Story:
  • “Cherie Warren in many ways feels less like somebody I know than Susan Powell or Joyce Yost...I didn't have the anecdotes from interviewing people that she interacted with every day.” — Dave Cawley (25:47)
  • Emphasizes the challenge of personalizing a victim’s story without direct sources or materials.
• What Was Cherie Wearing the Day She Disappeared?
  • Only Cherie’s mother testified about the “Graceway jacket”; no corroboration from coworkers or ex-husband, and memory reliability is questioned. “I could show Richard a picture of the jacket...but am I now planting that memory for him? Maybe.” — Dave Cawley (29:12)
• Did Chuck Warren Have a Car Dealership Appointment?
  • Police confirmed the appointment was scheduled and canceled, but documentation is lacking.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the threshold for recusal in reporting:
  • “Anything beyond an acquaintance, anything beyond a pass, I would say roommates in college would raise a red flag for me.” — Dr. Jean Norman (03:28)
• On balancing professional and personal ethics:
  • “For me, ethics is also guided by your own compassion. There are times where I feel...the discomfort, I feel the line...But I always say, it's not about me as a person, it's about me as a journalist.” — Amy Donaldson (09:32)
• On true crime media and victim’s families:
  • “In the true crime space you see a lot of growing pushback from victim families who feel they're being exploited by a lot of true crime productions...I don't want to be in a position of doing that.” — Dave Cawley (22:41)
• On the difficult lack of closure:
  • “Unless you have somebody who is willing to step forward and speak on behalf of this missing person, that becomes incredibly difficult.” — Dave Cawley (25:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:33–13:49: Journalism ethics discussion with Dr. Jean Norman
• 14:05: Dave Cawley joins for listener Q&A
• 14:46: Why wasn’t Richard Moss a suspect?
• 16:52: Police investigation oversights
• 19:43: Are there active searches for Cherie?
• 22:41: Cherie’s son, family relationships, and ethical true crime reporting
• 25:47: The difficulty of telling Cherie's story without family sources
• 27:00: Confirming what Cherie wore the day she vanished
• 29:27: Did Chuck Warren have a car dealership appointment?
• 29:59: Wrap up and thanks

Final Thoughts

This episode blends nuanced commentary on the evolving standards of journalistic ethics with a revealing look behind-the-scenes of the Cherie Warren investigation. It underscores the difficulties inherent in cold cases—both for journalists and those personally affected—while promising continued transparency and updates as new developments arise. The hosts and guests approach sensitive subjects candidly and compassionately, offering thoughtful reflection not only for true crime fans, but for anyone interested in the responsibilities of storytellers serving the public interest.