4 | Keeper Of A House Of Prostitution

Summary

Crook County: Episode 4 | Keeper Of A House Of Prostitution

Hosted by Kyle Tekiela, "Crook County" delves into the hidden life of Ken Tekiela, a celebrated Chicago firefighter who simultaneously operated as a hitman for the Chicago Outfit. In Episode 4, titled "Keeper Of A House Of Prostitution," Kyle explores his father's deep entanglement with organized crime, particularly his role in managing and running brothels. This episode uncovers the complexities of Ken's double life, his relationships, and the profound impact on Kyle's family.

---

1. Introduction to the Episode

Timestamp: [02:47]

Kyle Tekiela sets the stage by revisiting his father's recruitment into the mafia:

Kyle Tequila: "I got recruited into the mob when I was 17 years old."

This marks the beginning of Ken's journey from a young recruit to a significant player within the Chicago Outfit.

2. Early Involvement in the Mafia

Timestamp: [02:47] - [04:20]

Ken's initiation into organized crime is detailed, highlighting his initial position and rise within the ranks:

Kyle Tequila: "I was quite the schmoozer. Yes. I was running her whorehouse. I was running them later, you know, 18, 19, 20, 20, you know, up till what, 28, you know, so."

Ken starts as a doorman and quickly ascends to managing brothels, showcasing his charisma and tactical skills in handling both legitimate and illicit operations.

3. Managing the Brothels

Timestamp: [03:08] - [05:00]

Ken describes his daily responsibilities and interactions within the brothels:

Kyle Tequila: "A guy would come in. I'd introduce him to all the girls by name. They would negotiate a deal. She would hand me half the cake and then she would be on her way."

This segment underscores the transactional nature of Ken's role, balancing his duties between ensuring smooth operations and maintaining the mafia's interests.

4. Meeting Holly: The Turning Point

Timestamp: [07:11] - [12:47]

A pivotal moment unfolds as Ken meets Holly, who would become Kyle's mother. The episode recounts their first encounter and subsequent relationship dynamics:

Kyle Tequila: "She was our local dominatrix. She was our club dominatrix. She had all the gear, all the leather, all the outfits, and, boy, she would raise hell on these guys. And they loved her, man."

Holly's charismatic presence attracts Ken, leading to a deep emotional connection that contrasts sharply with Ken's tumultuous life in the mafia.

5. The Duality of Ken's Life

Timestamp: [12:47] - [23:14]

Ken grapples with maintaining his allegiance to the Outfit while attempting to forge a stable family life with Holly:

Kenny: "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."

This struggle highlights the inherent conflict between Ken's criminal obligations and his desire for normalcy, a theme that resonates throughout the episode.

6. Stories from the Clubs

Timestamp: [17:11] - [26:35]

Ken shares vivid anecdotes from his time managing the clubs, detailing interactions with various women and the underbelly of mafia-controlled establishments:

Kyle Tequila: "Cindy was our local dominatrix. She had all the gear, all the leather, all the outfits, and, boy, she would raise hell on these guys. And they loved her, man."

These stories provide a raw glimpse into the operations of the brothels, the personalities involved, and the moral complexities of Ken's actions.

7. The Consequences of a Double Life

Timestamp: [26:35] - [38:10]

As Ken's involvement deepens, the repercussions of his dual existence become more pronounced. The episode delves into the corruption within the Outfit and the increasing danger it poses to Ken and his family:

Kyle Tequila: "Set that shit up. He did not do. Him and somebody."

Ken reflects on the moral decay and the irreversible choices that tether him further into the criminal world.

8. The Psychological Impact on Kyle

Timestamp: [37:44] - [38:10]

Kyle expresses the emotional toll of uncovering his father's dark secrets:

Kenny: "With several years in the outfit under his belt and a few successful busts to boot, Kenny was a rising star in the crew. And word was getting around that he could handle himself."

This introspective moment underscores Kyle's struggle to reconcile his father's actions with his own perception of morality and family.

9. Conclusion and Teasers for Future Episodes

Timestamp: [38:10] - [43:54]

The episode wraps up by hinting at forthcoming revelations and deeper dives into Ken's criminal activities:

Kenny: "Next week on Crook County."

Listeners are left anticipating further explorations into the intricate web of Ken's life and the lingering effects on his family.

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Notable Quotes

• Kyle Tequila: "I got recruited into the mob when I was 17 years old." [02:49]

• Kyle Tequila: "A guy would come in. I'd introduce him to all the girls by name." [03:12]

• Kyle Tequila: "She was our local dominatrix. She had all the gear, all the leather, all the outfits." [18:58]

• Kenny: "Crook county is released weekly and brought to you absolutely free." [02:10]

• Kyle Tequila: "Set that shit up. He did not do. Him and somebody." [26:35]

Key Takeaways

• Dual Identity: Ken's ability to maintain a façade as a respected firefighter while deeply entrenched in organized crime showcases the complexities of leading a double life.

• Impact on Family: The revelations of Ken's criminal activities have profound and lasting effects on his family, particularly Kyle, who grapples with understanding his father's motives and actions.

• Mafia Operations: The episode provides an unfiltered look into the operations of mafia-controlled brothels, highlighting the intersection of legitimate businesses and illicit activities.

Conclusion

Episode 4 of "Crook County," "Keeper Of A House Of Prostitution," offers a compelling exploration of Ken Tekiela's involvement with the Chicago Outfit and its ramifications on his personal life. Through candid storytelling and poignant reflections, Kyle Tekiela invites listeners to journey through the shadows of organized crime and its enduring impact on family dynamics.

---

For those intrigued by the intricate tales of crime and its personal toll, "Crook County" continues to unravel the layers of deception, loyalty, and consequence in the heart of Chicago's underworld.

Transcript

[Gabe Lehners]

What would you do if mysterious drones appeared over your hometown? I started asking questions. What do you remember happening on that night of December 16th?

[Kyle Tequila]

It actually rotated around our house, looking as if it was peering in each window of our home.

[Gabe Lehners]

I'm Gabe Lehners from Imagine I Heart Podcasts and Leonhurst Entertainment. Listen to Obscurum Invasion of the Drones wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

[Maria Tremarki]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarki]

Each season we explore a new theme. From poisoners to art thieves, we uncover.

[Holly Fry]

The secrets of history's most interesting figures, from legal injustices to body snatching.

[Maria Tremarki]

And tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in cocktails and mocktails inspired by Easter.

[Holly Fry]

Each story Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kyle Tequila]

To have a murder as gruesome as Jade Beasley's doesn't happen very often down.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Here in Marion, Illinois. An 11 year old girl brutally stabbed to death. Her father's longtime live in girlfriend maintaining innocence but charged with her murder.

[Kenny]

I am confident that Julie Begley is guilty.

[Kyle Tequila]

They've never found a weapon. Never made sense. Still doesn't make sense. She found out she was pregnant in jail. The person who is still out there.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Listen to Murder on Songbird road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Gabe Lehners]

It was big news.

[Kyle Tequila]

I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big big news.

[Kenny]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Kyle Tequila]

I like saw one thing that happened. An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Holly Fry]

He did not kill her.

[Kyle Tequila]

There's no way is the real killer.

[Kenny]

Rightly behind bars or still walking free.

[Kyle Tequila]

Did you kill her? Listen to the real Killer Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kenny]

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.

[Kyle Tequila]

You're listening to Crook County. The views and opinions expressed in this.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Podcast are solely those of the individuals.

[Kenny]

Participating in the podcast.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

This episode also contains subject matter including.

[Kenny]

Graphic depictions of violence which may not.

[Kyle Tequila]

Be suitable for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.

[Kenny]

Previously on Crook County.

[Kyle Tequila]

I got recruited into the mob when I was 17 years old.

[Kenny]

After two years in the Outfit, Kenny was on his way up.

[Kyle Tequila]

He Trusted because I didn't steal money. I just did my job. It's hard to find an honest guy in the fucking outfit.

[Kenny]

He got a new boss.

[Kyle Tequila]

My crew boss was Jack Jack Jackie Lemons Erickson. He ran the whorehouses.

[Kenny]

And Kenny got a new job working the door at a brothel.

[Kyle Tequila]

A guy would come in. I'd introduce him to all the girls by name. They would negotiate a deal. She would hand me half the cake and then she would be on her way.

[Kenny]

And then one night, he met a girl.

[Kyle Tequila]

I think I was 19. I met her, she was 20. Saw her sitting at the end of the bar. I fell in love with her pretty quick.

[Kenny]

That pretty little redhead at the bar was my mother. My name is Kyle Tequila. Welcome to Crook County.

[Kyle Tequila]

We would have to take busts every once in a while just so Cook county cops could, you know, show that they're making some progress here. And those are all arranged. Bus. Okay, Ken, it's your turn. Oh, man. When half the motherfuckers were running their own whores on the side out of our fucking clubs.

[Kenny]

Episode 4 Keeper of a House of Prostitution.

[Kyle Tequila]

Coming from Paramount Pictures, he's very good, huh? He's the best. Hey, man, he's great.

[Kenny]

He's the king out there.

[Kyle Tequila]

John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever I'm.

[Kenny]

Watching the trailer to the 1977 box office monster, Saturday Night Fever. Believe it or not, I've actually never seen this movie, which obviously is a huge mistake because it looks hilarious, but.

[Kyle Tequila]

You know, you're not my dream girl.

[Kenny]

Or nothing like that. A 23 year old unknown actor named John Travolta with his trademark cleft chin, strutting around Brooklyn in silk and polyester, dancing up a storm every night to what has become the second highest selling soundtrack of all time, just behind the Bodyguard soundtrack. That is a good song. Oh, and how wild is this? The Bee Gees didn't even write these cultural defining songs until after the movie was filmed because the producers couldn't license the original music. So they scrambled and begged the Bee Gees to write a few songs on spec, which they didn't even want to do because they were in the middle of recording their album in some studio in France. So they basically threw together four songs in a weekend to get it over with. Those four songs, Night Fever. If I can't have you.

[Kyle Tequila]

More than.

[Kenny]

A woman to me and of course, Stayin Alive.

[Kyle Tequila]

Stayin alive.

[Kenny]

Oh, if that shit don't make you want to get up and dance Then I can't help you. I Can't help you, brother. Anyway, the reason I'm even going down this rabbit hole in the first place is because apparently Saturday Night Fever might as well be a documentary of my parents relationship in their first few years. I'll let my mom explain this one.

[Kathy]

One of our songs would come on and we'd run out to the dance floor because we're so excited, because we can dance so good together. We're like John Travolta.

[Unknown]

And I was gonna say, that was just what I was thinking. I'm like, believe me, it was Saturday Night Fever.

[Kathy]

It was how those two would practice and then they would go on the dance floor and people would just like separate, move away and watch us dance. That's how it was. People were even throwing money at us at one time on the floor.

[Unknown]

But I think that was about. They wanted you to take your clothes off. I'm kidding.

[Kenny]

That other voice is my mom's childhood friend Kathy, who was with my mom a lot during those disco days.

[Kathy]

So, yeah, so we continued to do that like two, three, maybe even four times a week. And it was just fun, fun, fun. Were you 20?

[Unknown]

You were sneaking in, you were underage.

[Kathy]

Okay, I still got served.

[Unknown]

Okay. Absolutely. Well, because they always let the pretty girls in. And the way that I actually know Holly is. Is I knew your grandma before I knew Holly. And I will tell you this. Your mother used to walk in with $5 in her pocket. And she'd leave with $5 in her pocket. She never had to buy anything.

[Kathy]

Never changed.

[Unknown]

She never had to do anything. And one of the times when we were out, and I have no idea why, but your father came up and asked me to dance, so. And he was quite the dancer. We had seen him on the floor. We had all commented, all three of us, and the three of us meaning your grandma. So when we came off the dance floor, I said, come with me, I have someone I'd like you to meet. And he's like, really? And I said, holly, this is Ken. Ken, this is Holly. Go dance your socks off. Basically. Maybe this won't be exact words. And I pushed her off her bar stool. And as they say, the rest is history.

[Kenny]

That's amazing. So it's all your fault.

[Unknown]

Yes, it is.

[Kenny]

Let's see how my dad remembers it.

[Kyle Tequila]

Yeah. 19 years old. I was over at fucking a disco called Some Other Place. She was sitting at the bar. She was sitting at the end of the bar with her mother, of course. And I saw her and I whoa, nice little redhead there. And I kind of dug her. And I walked up to her, just started talking. And that's how we met. That simple. In a bar. But that's how we met back then. We didn't meet online like everybody meets online now. You actually had to go out and do something. Back in my day, I mean, you actually had to give it some effort. You actually had a walk and sit down and talk to somebody, look them in their eyes and talk to them, you know.

[Kenny]

All right, close enough. What happened next?

[Kathy]

He called me almost like the next day and asked me out on a date. It took me about three months though, to actually really, really like the guy. Because that summer when I met Ken, I was also dating this other guy from the complex I was living in, the guy that I was dating before I met Ken and somebody else. So it was like an awesome summer for me.

[Kenny]

We don't know who my real father is.

[Unknown]

I was gonna say.

[Kenny]

Okay, let's wrap this up, please.

[Kathy]

He lived with some guys in an apartment. We would go back to the apartment and there'd be people all over the place, you know, so it was. Wasn't very romantic. But one night nobody was there and it was just like he lit all these candles and he had Pink Floyd playing on the record player back in the day, which every time that song comes on here, us and them, us.

[Kyle Tequila]

Us, us, us, us.

[Kathy]

I remember he was wearing cut off little jean shorts and his wife beater tank top. And he had really nice legs and he had long curly hair like to his shoulders. And I don't know, he just looked really sexy that night. And that's. That's the night after six months, he proposed to me. And I was. He was 19 and I was 20. And of course I said yes because I guess when I fall in love, I fall really deep.

[Kenny]

Even though Ken had put a ring on her finger, they basically acted like kids who were dating. She was still living at home with her mom. Ken had his own apartment. They had their own separate lives and only spent a few days a week together. Eventually, Holly started hearing things from friends who had seen Ken out at bars talking to other women, or rumors of huge parties at his apartment that she didn't know about.

[Kathy]

Ken was always such a schmoozer. He was always flirting. Very charismatic, you know, he was a good looking guy, very charismatic, like you say. And he just attracted women. And I was a very jealous person. And I, to this day I am. And that was not good for me to have a guy like that in my life. He would say, oh, you know, I've never cheated on you, blah, blah, blah, you know? And I just never believed him.

[Kenny]

I asked my dad about this. She said, you were quite the schmoozer.

[Kyle Tequila]

I was quite the schmoozer, Yes. I was running her whorehouse. I was running a whorehouse. I was schmoozing with horns all day long. I was banging six at a time, for Christ's sake. But I liked your mom, though. I liked your mom. She wasn't. She wasn't. I didn't look at her as a whore. I looked at her as a woman that I liked. You know? So totally different thing. Totally different. Totally different.

[Gabe Lehners]

Have you ever looked into the night sky and wondered who or what was flying around up there? We've seen planes, helicopters, hot air balloons, and birds. But what if there's something else, something much more ominous that appears under the COVID of night? Silent, unseen, watching. They may be right above your car late one night as you cruise down the road. Or look like mysterious lights hovering above your home. Drones. Or are they?

[Kyle Tequila]

We used the word drone because it was comfortable to other people. One minute was there and one minute it wasn't. Oh, that is beyond creepy.

[Gabe Lehners]

Do you feel like this drone was targeting you specifically?

[Kyle Tequila]

Yes. Absolutely.

[Gabe Lehners]

Listen to Obscurum Invasion of the Drones on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Maria Tremarki]

Welcome to the Criminalia podcast. I'm Maria Tremarchi.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together, we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarki]

Each season, we explore a new theme, everything from poisoners and pirates to art thieves and snake oil products and those who made and sold them.

[Holly Fry]

We uncover the stories and secrets of some of history's most compelling criminal figures, including a man who built a submarine as a getaway vehicle. Yep, that's a fact.

[Maria Tremarki]

We also look at what kinds of societal forces were at play at the time of the crime, from legal injustices to the ethics of body snatching, to see what, if anything, might look different through today's perspective.

[Holly Fry]

And be sure to tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in custom made cocktails and mocktails inspired by the stories. There's one for every story we tell.

[Maria Tremarki]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Hi, listeners. I'm Mary Kay McBrayer, host of the podcast the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told, season two. Our show is a little different from other true crime podcasts because we tell the stories in which Women are not just the victims, but the heroes or the villains. I'm also excited to tell you that you can now get access to all episodes of the Greatest True Crime stories ever told, season one and season two, 100% ad free. Plus you'll get access to all episodes of the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told, Season two one week ahead of everyone else. Available only to I Heart True Crime plus subscribers. So don't wait. Head to Apple Podcasts, search for I Heart True Crime plus and subscribe today.

[Kyle Tequila]

To have a murder as gruesome as Jake Beasley's.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Doesn't happen very often down here in Marion, Illinois. An 11 year old girl brutally stabbed to death. Her father's longtime live in girlfriend maintaining innocence but charged with her murder.

[Kenny]

I am confident that Julie Beverly is guilty.

[Kyle Tequila]

This case, the more I learned about.

[Kenny]

It, the more I'm scratching my head. Something's not right.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

I'm Lauren Bright Pacheco Murder on Songbird Road dives into the conviction of a mother of four who, remember, remains behind bars and the investigation that put her there.

[Kenny]

I have not seen this level of corruption anywhere.

[Kyle Tequila]

It's sickening. If you step somebody that many times, you'd have blood splatter. Where's the change clothes? She found out she was pregnant in jail. She wasn't treated like she was an innocent human being at all, which is just horrific.

[Kathy]

Nobody has gotten justice yet, and that's.

[Kyle Tequila]

What I wish people would understand.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Listen to Murder on Songbird road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kyle Tequila]

I'm running whorehouses. I'm not running them, but I'm a doorman. I ended up running them later, you know, 18, 19, 20, 20, you know, up till what, 28, you know, so. But these girls, man, these girls, I mean, you know, we're talking lost hardcore souls, you know, just lost. Some of them angels, you know, just lost angels, you know, just lost and drug addicted.

[Kenny]

During the years I filmed these conversations with my dad, we spent hours and hours talking about all the sensational mafia bullshit you would come to expect in a story like this. But when he remembers the girls that worked in the club, there's an immediate shift in his demeanor. A calm washes over him as he smiles in memory and begins diving into dozens of stories from his 10 years as a doorman and eventually manager of the clubs. Many of these stories I will feature in later episodes as they relate to the larger overall story. But first I need to say what's on my mind. None of this has been an easy pill to swallow for me. The drugs and the murders make this whole thing bad enough. But where I get the real pit in my stomach is hearing him talk about his time in the clubs with these girls. Especially knowing my mom was very much in the picture during these years. And as hard as that is to digest, the fact is this is not my story. It's Kenny's story. And I have a responsibility to let him tell it the way he wants to tell it. And right now, he wants to talk about these girls. So that's what we're gonna do. First up, Cindy.

[Kyle Tequila]

She was our local dominatrix. She was our club dominatrix. She had all the gear, all the leather, all the outfits, and, boy, she would raise hell on these guys. And they loved her, man. One of the chiefs in Cook county was one of her clients. And he'd come in every Tuesday or Thursday, that piece of shit. But, man, she would wail on him. She would wail on him. We had little peepholes in the doors where we could watch what was going on. She would let us know, watch what I have in store for this guy. Then we'd all run up to the door, be fighting for the peephole. The three of us pushing each other out of the way, trying to get to the people, while she wailed on these guys. And these guys just loved it. Loved it. Oh, God, some funny man.

[Kenny]

There's Ming and Ling, the Chinese identical twins.

[Kyle Tequila]

Ming and Ling. These girls had their feet wrapped when they were young. Back in the day, it was a Chinese custom to wrap the feet of the girls because they thought small feet was a beautiful thing in China. You guys can look this up, go online and look it up. But they were strictly business, man. No drugs, no bullshit, no partying, no talking to anybody, just business. And they had a plan where all the other girls and guys never had plans. So I admired them. I admired those two.

[Kenny]

And a short blonde they called Marilyn.

[Kyle Tequila]

Marilyn because she looked like Marilyn Monroe. That's what we call it. I dated her for a while. Nymphomaniac. Purely sex, I guess. Our relationship was really have a lot to talk about. She was a cokehead, but hey, it was someone I was hanging out with for a while there, you know? But she would have been your typical. She would have been your typical whore. And there's so many of them that came in and out throughout the years. So I would classify her as just a typical in n out girl. You know, in for a while, working and off. Do something else.

[Kenny]

He goes on about a few more girls.

[Kyle Tequila]

Big, tall, blonde, had a couple Hispanic girls there.

[Kenny]

And I can't help but notice that in its own twisted way, it sounds a lot like how someone would tell stories about their crazy college years. You know, the debauchery and stupidity of 20 year olds living together with only one thing on their mind.

[Kyle Tequila]

It was just amazing. It was really an experience for me.

[Kenny]

For Kenny, who never finished high school, this club was as close as he ever got to the university. Experience with a slightly different core curriculum. Underworld, economics, the business of sex, Crooked cops and politicians, how to give a beating and stay alive, keeping secrets 101. And the girls a welcome distraction from the overwhelming dark reality that once you're in the outfit, there's no getting out. I want to be clear here. In no way do I condone my father's infidelities to my mother as acceptable in any way. I am merely trying to understand the psychology behind his actions during this time. Proposing to my mom at 19 years old, while knowing exactly what kind of lifestyle he lives is an extremely odd decision which he must have known would fail miserably. Why would he do that? Why would he put himself and Holly through that? What could he possibly have been thinking?

[Kyle Tequila]

When I wasn't working at the clubs, when I wasn't working a shift, I went home, I went to my apartment and I was. I was either dating your mother or if I wasn't dating your mother, I was. I was completely just. I would completely detach myself from work in that environment where everybody else would hang around at the clubs and bullshit around, do coke and party, party, all this other crap, and I would just go home, man. I'd do my shift and I would go home. But no, I completely. I kept myself completely separated. Especially when I was with your mother. Yeah, I could do that. I just. It wasn't a lifestyle for me. It was a lifestyle. Those grease balls, it was a fucking lifestyle. That's the style they wanted to live. They wanted to live that way. I did not. I don't know if I can make that any fucking clearer. I did not want to be them, all right? That wasn't my goal in life. So I kept myself completely detached from those people.

[Kenny]

I asked a psychologist about this and she broke it down to what she calls a sense of normalcy. His engagement to Holly was an attempt to establish a safe space of love and stability that exists outside of the dangerous and chaotic world he was living in. And by doing so, he was laying the foundation that would eventually fragment his life into two completely separate halves, both mentally and physically. But as fascinating as all that sounds, the reality is much easier said than done.

[Kathy]

He realized at 19 years old, what am I doing being engaged? And I'm 20. He's only 19.

[Unknown]

And that has a lot to do with it.

[Kathy]

So, anyway, you know, maybe a year into the engagement, he called it off.

[Kyle Tequila]

Bill Curtis with Chicago's number one news. Camel two, the 10 o'clock news.

[Kathy]

In Chicago, the connection between organized crime.

[Kyle Tequila]

And prostitution was the target of government sting. More from Ned Potter. The targets involved were clubs and bars.

[Holly Fry]

Such as these, where officials say sex.

[Kyle Tequila]

Was openly for sale, but the transactions were carefully covered up. We would have to take bus every once in a while just so Cook county cops could, you know, show that they're making some progress here. Okay. When half the motherfuckers are running their own horse on the side out of our fucking clubs anyway. That's another fucking story.

[Kenny]

Well, that is a story I would love to hear, but we've been going for a while now, and he's getting a little hungry, so we decided to take a drive. Of course, he starts talking in the car. So I whip out my phone and hit record.

[Kyle Tequila]

So, you know, these motherfuckers were so crooked, and we owned them. We owned them. But here's the deal. You know, they had to show numbers, so somebody had to catch a bust every once in a while.

[Kenny]

All right?

[Kyle Tequila]

So I caught two busts. If you dig deep enough and it's there, the only thing you'll really see on me is two arrests. Early 80s for a keeper of house of prostitution. Late 70s, early 80s. Keeper house of prostitution. That's. That's all that's gonna pop on me. So, you know, we would arrange this. I can. Okay, you're on. You're on. Tonight. You're taking one for the team. Take the bus and give us a call afterwards and we'll come get you. So. So I took two of those, and the girls would come with me, and, you know, a little party, everybody be laughing, having a good time, and, you know, but had to take the bus. But here I am, Ken Young, not thinking as smart as I was, is as fucking dumb as I was, because I would use my name.

[Kenny]

Your real name.

[Kyle Tequila]

My real name. And, you know, I. I don't know what came over me, but I would use my real name while I'm hearing all the girls, you know, using their club names. Mm. And so.

[Kenny]

So now that shit's on your record forever.

[Kyle Tequila]

Yeah. So now it's on My fucking record and I can't shake it. But at this point, it really doesn't make a difference.

[Kenny]

Not many people have Keeper of a.

[Kyle Tequila]

House of Prostitution on your record, and I got two of them.

[Kenny]

Keeper of a House of Prostitution, huh? Not seeing any greeting cards at the supermarket for that lovely badge of honor. If only that was as bad as it got for Kenny, maybe things would be different for all of us. But unfortunately, that's where this fairy tale end.

[Gabe Lehners]

Have you ever looked into the night sky and wondered who or what was flying around up there? We've seen planes, helicopters, hot air balloons, and birds. But what if there's something else, something much more ominous that appears under the COVID of night? Silent, unseen, watching. They may be right above your car late one night as you cruise down the road. Or look like mysterious lights hovering above your home. Drones. Or are they?

[Kyle Tequila]

We used the word drone because it was comfortable to other people. One minute was there and one minute it wasn't. Oh, that is beyond creepy.

[Gabe Lehners]

Do you feel like this drone was targeting you specifically?

[Kyle Tequila]

Yes, Absolutely.

[Gabe Lehners]

Listen to Obscurum Invasion of the Drones on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Maria Tremarki]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarki.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarki]

Each season we explore a new theme. Everything from poisoners and pirates to art thieves and snake oil products and those who made and sold them.

[Holly Fry]

We uncover the stories and secrets of some of history's most compelling criminal figures. Including a man who built a submarine as a getaway vehicle. Yep, that's a fact.

[Maria Tremarki]

We also look at what kinds of societal forces were at play at the time of the crime. From legal injustices to the ethics of body snatching. To see what, if anything, might look different through today's perspective.

[Holly Fry]

And be sure to tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in custom made cocktails and mocktails inspired by the stories. There's one for every story we tell.

[Maria Tremarki]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kyle Tequila]

To have a murder as gruesome as Jay Beasley's doesn't happen very often down.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Here in Marion, Illinois. An 11 year old girl brutally stabbed to death. Her father's longtime live in girlfriend maintain innocence but charged with her murder.

[Kenny]

I am confident that Julie Beverly is guilty.

[Kyle Tequila]

This case, the more I learned about.

[Kenny]

It, the more I'm scratching my head. Something's not Right.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

I'm Lauren Bright Pacheco. Murder on Songbird Road dives into the conviction of a mother of four who remains behind bars and the investigation that put her there.

[Kenny]

I have not seen this level of corruption anywhere.

[Kyle Tequila]

It's sickening. If you step somebody that many times, you have blood splatter. Where's the change of clothes? She found out she was pregnant in jail. She wasn't treated like she was an innocent human being at all, which is just horrific.

[Kathy]

Nobody has gotten justice yet, and that's.

[Kyle Tequila]

What I wish people would understand.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Listen to Murder on Songbird road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Hi, listeners. I'm Mary Kay McBrayer, host of the podcast the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told, Season two. Our show is a little different from other true crime podcasts because we tell the stories in which women are not just the victims, but the heroes or the villains. I'm also excited to tell you that you can now get access to all episodes of the Greatest True Crime Stories ever told, season one and season two, 100% ad free. Plus you'll get access to all episodes of the Greatest True Crime Stories ever told, season two, one week ahead of everyone else, available only to iHeart True Crime plus subscribers. So don't wait. Head to Apple Podcasts, search for I Heart True Crime plus and subscribe today.

[Kenny]

With several years in the outfit under his belt and a few successful busts to boot, Kenny was a rising star in the crew. And word was getting around that he could handle himself. The club became his world, and he made friends with the other guys who worked there.

[Kyle Tequila]

You know, it was like an office, you know, hanging out around the water cooler. Just bullshit, you know, that type of thing. We're not any different. It was just, you know, there's not. There's still human beings. They may be animals, some of them, and grease balls and narcissists and sociopaths, but they're still human beings, you know.

[Kenny]

There was Billy the bartender, big old.

[Kyle Tequila]

Thick southern accent, cowboy hat, big old belt, big old belt buckle, jeans, cowboy boots. Lanky, tall, lanky and muscular. A guy you do not want to fuck with. I was afraid of this guy, and I was afraid of nobody. This guy worried me because those tall, lanky ones, boy, there's a lot of airtime before that fist hits you. We hit you in the right spot. That's it, you're done for. So this guy kind of scared me. Plus, he was just strong. Just a strong, dumb hillbilly. But A great guy.

[Kenny]

Sam, the younger brother of Ken's crew boss, Jack Erickson.

[Kyle Tequila]

His brother was a good guy, you know, I just. He didn't belong in the business. I did like him a lot. He wasn't like other yellow sociopaths, narcissistic maniacs that were in the mob. A little overweight, quiet, wanted to be like his brother, but knew he couldn't be like his brother. So that kind of bothered him. Things went bad at a club, he couldn't handle it. He just didn't belong in the business. But that's, you know, that's the way he was.

[Kenny]

Jack's brother and Danny, a low level doorman.

[Kyle Tequila]

Dan was just a fat guy, loved the eats. Typical grease ball. Kind of unkept, though, for a grease ball. A jovial, nice guy, you know? Yeah, he was a door guy. Yeah, we were door guys. I would relieve him and he would relieve me. You know, work a morning shift, I'd relieve him at night, or I'd work a night shift and he'd relieve me on a graveyard shift. You know, just something like that. We relieve each other. So he'd stay and talk, you know, chat. Just like any job. You stand. Talk to your, you know, it was a job, you know, chatted up a little bit, mess around with the girls, you know, have fun with them a little. Not sexual fun, but just goof around, you know, just like an office.

[Kenny]

One night while Danny was working the door, a gunman broke in and robbed the cash box. Everybody was, of course, questioned, including Ken, who wasn't working that night and had a credible alibi. Eventually it was discovered to be an inside job.

[Kyle Tequila]

Oh, fuck. He did. Him and somebody. I can't remember who the other person was. While Danny was working, he had someone come in and rob the place while he was working, you know, so of course Dan's gonna put up his arms, take the money and leave. And that happened.

[Kenny]

Why do you think Dan wanted to rob this place?

[Kyle Tequila]

Cause they were all greedy bastards. Man. Listen, I was taught by Jack, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. And that stuck with me. Meaning if you're making a living, take the living. If you're making a good living, take that living. Don't be a hog. Don't get greedy, you know, Be thankful for what you got. Cause you're gonna get slaughtered. All these guys wanted more. More broads, more dope, more fucking money, more power, more grease ball, more mob, you know, they wanted more, more, more, more, more. Very ambitious people. I guess it's like in the private Sector. Very ambitious people. But in our business, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. And he got slaughtered.

[Kenny]

Danny had to go. And the powers that be felt this was the perfect opportunity to see what young Kenny was made of.

[Kyle Tequila]

I was there for the setup on the WAC for Danny. All right, I think we. After. After Huck's shift one night, we just waited for him out in the parking lot and you know, we were all friends. He got in the car and was just one of those, you know, you're gonna get whacked by your buddy type of thing, you know. So anyway, we got him. I got him. And it was, you know, when the guys trust you, it's easy. Get in the car, let's go to Denny's, have some breakfast. Boom. Next, you know, he's getting his ass kicked, all right, and got him in the car and drove them to one of the chop shops and dropped them off there. And whatever I did with them from there, I don't know. That was the only time I ever had any emotion in any hit. Cuz everybody I hit was a animal. A degenerate psychopath, seduction, sadistic narcissist that didn't. We needed to get rid of that seed. That seed is not good for earth. That seed needed to be destroyed. That's how bad these people were. So I never had any remorse. The remorse I have now is that it's not my place. It's not my place. It's not my place. That's what God does. That's not what Ken does. That's God's job. That's not my job.

[Kenny]

My head is spinning. I don't know who this man is. And it's now obvious that I never did. But I want to know. I need to know.

[Kyle Tequila]

Set that shit up.

[Kenny]

Next week on Crook County.

[Kyle Tequila]

You could see why he could being enforcer. I'm blind rage, out of control, violent person. He was a freaking crazy man.

[Kenny]

Crook county is a production of Iheart podcasts and Tenderfoot TV in association with Common Enemy. All episodes are written, produced and hosted by me, Kyle Tequila. Executive producers are Donald Albright and Payne Lindsay. Original score by makeup in vanity set. Main title song is called crush by the band Starry Eyes. End credits song is called no show, also by the band Starry eyes. Sound mix by Cooper Skinner. Thank you to Oren Rosenbaum and the excellent team at UTA for their support and to my fearless attorney, Wendy Bench for her guidance to stay updated on all things Crook County. Follow us on all socials. Rookcountypodcast or leave us a voicemail by visiting crookcountypodcast.com for more podcasts like Crook county, search Tenderfoot TV on your favorite podcast app or visit Tenderfoot TV. Thanks for listening. The story continues next week. I'm an awesome. I'm a messenger. I'm setting fire. I will watch you show.

[Kyle Tequila]

Watch you.

[Gabe Lehners]

What would you do if mysterious drones appeared over your hometown? I started asking questions. What do you remember happening on that night of December 16th?

[Kyle Tequila]

It actually rotated around our house, looking as if it was peering in each window of our home.

[Gabe Lehners]

I'm Gabe Leonors from Imagine I Heart Podcasts and Lehners Entertainment. Listen to Obscurum Invasion of the Drones wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

[Maria Tremarki]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Maria Tremarki]

Each season we explore a new theme. From poisoners to art thieves.

[Holly Fry]

We uncover the secrets of history's most interesting figures, from legal injustices to body snatching.

[Maria Tremarki]

And tune in at the end of each episode as we indulge in cocktails and mocktails inspired by each story.

[Holly Fry]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kyle Tequila]

To have a murder as gruesome as Jay Beasley's doesn't happen very often down.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Here in Marion, Illinois. An 11 year old girl brutally stabbed to death. Her father's longtime live in girlfriend maintaining innocence but charged with her murder.

[Kenny]

I am confident that Julie Beverly is guilty.

[Kyle Tequila]

They've never found a weapon. Never made sense. Still doesn't make sense.

[Kenny]

She found out she was pregnant in jail.

[Kyle Tequila]

The person who did it is still out there.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Listen to Murder on Songbird road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Gabe Lehners]

It was big news.

[Kyle Tequila]

I mean white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery. Big big news.

[Kenny]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Kyle Tequila]

I like saw whole thing that happened. An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Holly Fry]

He did not kill her.

[Kyle Tequila]

There's no way is the real killer.

[Kenny]

Rightly behind bars or still walking free.

[Kyle Tequila]

Did you kill her? Listen to the real Killer Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.