1 | Give Me Your F**kin Money - Crook County

Summary

Crook County: Episode 1 | "Give Me Your Fkin Money"**

Introduction to "Crook County"

"Crook County," a true-crime podcast produced by Tenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts, delves into the hidden life of Ken Tekiela, a celebrated Chicago firefighter and devoted father who simultaneously led a double life as a hitman for the Chicago mafia. Hosted by his son, Kyle Tequila, the podcast seeks to uncover the layers of deception that allowed Ken to maintain his criminal activities undetected for over two decades, ultimately revealing the profound impact on his family.

Ken Tekiela’s Descent into the Chicago Outfit

The episode opens with an atmospheric depiction of 1970s Chicago, juxtaposing the city's vibrant, sunlit beauty with its darker underbelly. Through this contrast, listeners are introduced to the duality of Ken Tekiela's life.

Kenny the Kid's Testimony [02:11 - 06:38]

Kenny the Kid, Ken Tekiela's moniker within the mafia, provides a harrowing first-person account of his life as a hitman:

“It's about 9pm at night. I'm in an apartment complex in a neighborhood that I really don't know very well...I put it right in his forehead...I beat him. I don't know who pulled the trigger...I left the door unlocked and I left. It was the end of him. That's it. Story's over.” [02:11]

This vivid description sets the tone for the episode, highlighting the brutality and routine nature of Ken's criminal activities. Kenny emphasizes the cold, methodical approach he took in executing his hits, underscoring the darkness that dominated his existence.

Impact on the Family and Community [06:38 - 31:13]

The narrative transitions to the emotional fallout of Ken's double life. Kyle Tequila confronts the chaos wrought by his father's actions:

“It destroyed our life. It destroyed our marriage, it destroyed my kids.” [07:40]

Maria Tremarke echoes the sentiment, sharing her fears and the constant threat of revenge from both the mob and law enforcement:

“Like, I started having flashbacks about his legs being broken when he went out to check the mail... Now these fucking people can, like, find him at our address.” [07:27]

The family's struggle is palpable as they navigate the treacherous waters of Ken's criminal past resurfacing, threatening their newfound suburban stability.

Interview with Kenny the Kid [12:28 - 31:13]

Kyle Tequila sits down with Kenny the Kid, marking the first direct interview with Ken about his life in the Outfit. Kenny describes his recruitment into the mob at 17, driven by desperation after being thrown out of his home:

“I got tossed out of my house at gunpoint by my mother.” [18:47]

He recounts his early activities within the mafia, including running whorehouses and executing hits, portraying himself as a low-level enforcer who never aspired to climb the ranks:

“My goal wasn't to run whorehouses and fucking kill... I did what I had to do to have a normal life and raise a normal family.” [17:24]

Kenny reflects on the absence of glory in his life of crime, expressing a desire to forget the violent past he once embraced:

“I try to forget these stories and I've been trying to forget these stories for years and years and years.” [17:24]

The Turning Point and Double Life [29:19 - 31:13]

As Kenny elaborates on his efforts to separate his criminal life from his family, the complexity of maintaining such a facade becomes evident:

“Nobody knew anything. I didn't want anybody to know. I was. I was kind of embarrassed.” [27:44]

Kyle reveals his own shock and betrayal upon discovering his father's true identity, highlighting the emotional toll of Ken's secrecy:

“How do you keep an entire life of crime away from your friends, away from your family?... I know because I was there because Kenny is my father.” [28:15]

Kenny acknowledges the consequences of his actions on his family, expressing remorse and the ongoing struggle to escape his past:

“I love my family. I still do, you know, very much.” [27:12]

Conclusion and Reflections

The episode concludes with Kyle reflecting on the complexity of his father's character. Contrary to the archetypal hardened criminal, Kenny is portrayed as a tired, remorseful man haunted by his past:

“I just don't see what you would expect to see from someone who's had a life like this... Instead, I see a tired, sad man, genuinely hurt that this was his life.” [18:06]

Kyle expresses a deep desire to understand how his father became entangled in such dark deeds and the ongoing impact it has had on their family.

Notable Quotes

“It destroyed our life. It destroyed our marriage, it destroyed my kids.” — Kenny the Kid [07:40]
“Nobody knew anything. I didn't want anybody to know. I was. I was kind of embarrassed.” — Kenny the Kid [27:44]
“I try to forget these stories and I've been trying to forget these stories for years and years and years.” — Kenny the Kid [17:24]
“How do you keep an entire life of crime away from your friends, away from your family?... I know because I was there because Kenny is my father.” — Kyle Tequila [28:15]

Insights and Reflections

"Crook County" masterfully intertwines personal narrative with broader themes of identity, secrecy, and the insidious impact of organized crime on family dynamics. Through Kenny the Kid's candid recounting and Kyle's introspective questioning, the podcast paints a nuanced portrait of a man torn between two worlds. The episode invites listeners to contemplate the complexities of morality, the allure of power, and the devastating repercussions of living a double life.

Conclusion

Episode 1 of "Crook County," titled "Give Me Your F**kin Money," sets a compelling foundation for the series. By delving deep into Ken Tekiela's clandestine life and its aftermath on his family, the podcast promises an intricate exploration of true crime, personal trauma, and the quest for redemption. As Kyle Tequila navigates his father's dark legacy, listeners are offered a profound look into the shadows that can lie beneath a seemingly ordinary life.

Transcript

Kyle Tequila (0:01)

Crook county is released weekly and brought to you absolutely free. But if you want to hear the whole season, right now it's available ad free on Tenderfoot Plus. For more information, check out the Show Notes. Enjoy the episode.

Kenny the Kid (0:18)

You're listening to Crook County. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals participating in the podcast. This episode also contains subject matter including graphic depictions of violence which may not be suitable for everyone.

Listener Discretion (0:33)

Listener discretion is advised.

Kenny the Kid (0:40)

Chicago is Chicago is exciting.

Kyle Tequila (0:47)

This is a 1970s era board of Tourism Advertisement for the City of Chicago.

Kenny the Kid (0:52)

Chicago is fun.

Kyle Tequila (0:56)

It's overflowing with sunlit cityscapes and joyful, smiling faces of young people, families and tourists, all locked in a state of perpetual 8 millimeter textured happiness and wonder of this city of broad shoulders, this great city by the lake.

Kenny the Kid (1:12)

Look north now to that glittering shopper's paradise proudly dubbed the Magnificent Mile.

Kyle Tequila (1:19)

It really does look like a wonderful place to live. A place with endless possibilities where anybody, no matter who you are or where you came from, can get a fair shot at the brass ring.

Kenny the Kid (1:31)

Chicago is something you've just got to see for yourself.

Kyle Tequila (1:39)

But only a few miles from the bright lights of Michigan Avenue is a different stretch of road, a dark corner of the Windy City you won't see in any Board of Tourism commercial. It's a place where the cops are just as crooked as the criminals, where drugs and prostitution run rampant, and where a young mafia hitman they call the Kid is parked outside of a dark, dilapidated apartment building waiting for just the right moment to make his next move.

Kenny the Kid (2:11)

It's about 9pm at night. I'm in an apartment complex in a neighborhood that I really don't know very well. And I'm in. I'm listening to my song, the song that I always play before I do something sketchy like this. And that's Sympathy for the Devil. It just does something to me. I don't know what it does. It's just part of my routine. I sit in my car and I do what I always do. I breathe. I make myself aware. I heighten my senses. My sight, my smell, my hearing. I don't know how I do it, but I do it. As I'm listening to the music, I feel my senses start to kick in. As they kick in, the moment arises. The moment always hits me. I don't know how it hits me, but I know when I'm ready for the moment. Out of my car, walk up to the apartment complex, ring the buzzer. This asshole comes in a buzzer, announces his name, I said, this is Ken. I'm coming up for the coke. Says, fine, come on up. Buzzer hits. I walk up the stairs. I reach my right hand behind my belt, on my back. Knock on the door with my left hand. As the door opens up, I pull my arm out with my.22 and I put it right in his forehead. Back it up, I tell him. He backs it up. His eyes are as big as saucers. I want to say his name, dude, but I can't. Will you edit his name out of here? Back it up to the bathroom. He didn't move fast enough and I wanted him to know I meant business here. So I beat him. I hit him twice, right cheek, left cheek. Backed off, put the gun back up to his forehead. Backed him up into the bathroom. Got to the bathroom. Get on your knees. He wouldn't got on his knees fast enough, so I dropped it with my left foot. I got him right behind his right knee that dropped him to his knees. Pushed him down towards the toilet. Grabbed the cuffs that were in my left rear pocket and cuffed him right behind the base of the toilet. There he sat. I can't remember exactly what I said to him, but I was dead serious what I said, but I really can't remember. Anyway, I waited like I was asked to do. Knock at the door comes and three of my boys come in. Showed them to the bathroom. I backed out because it wasn't my hit, it was just my setup. It wasn't my head. Went back into the living room, sat and waited. Heard some commotion, a muffled gunshot. I know that's the end of the story. The boys walk out. Where's the dope? Ken ransacked his bedroom, found the dope. Got about 3 or 4 ounces of what was called at the time it was pink cocaine. What the hell they call it back then? Peruvian son, I don't know. Anyway, it was coke, all right. Cause that's what everybody was doing back then. Uncuffed them, brought them to the living room, started tearing up the carpet inside the living room, wrapped them up in there and left them until tomorrow. What normally happens is. Or what was already set up was not by me, but it was already set up to have a carpeting company come in the next day, put in a new carpet, take him out, put in new carpeting, lay it. And then me leave. Spent the night, waited for the carpeting people. In the morning, they arrived about 9:00. They took him out wrapped up in the carpet, brought up a whole new carpeting and Padding laid that down. I left the door unlocked and I left. It was the end of him. That's it. Story's over.