Do Not Turn On the Lights - Crook County

Summary4 min read

Crook County – Episode: "Do Not Turn On the Lights"

Podcast by Tenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts
Host: Kyle Tekiela
Release Date: September 4, 2025

Brief Overview

This episode of Crook County is presented by host Kyle Tekiela, who introduces listeners to the shocking double life of his father, Ken Tekiela: a devoted Chicago firefighter and family man, who for decades led a secret existence as a mafia hitman for the Chicago Outfit. The series explores the complexity, deception, and impact of Ken’s criminal life on his unsuspecting family. However, this particular episode is largely devoted to plugging a new podcast, "Wisecrack," so the content is more promotional than story-driven.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Podcast Cross-Promotion: Wisecrack (00:02–04:12)

Kyle introduces "Wisecrack" – a unique mashup of true crime and stand-up comedy, hosted by comedian Ed Hedges.
Premise of Wisecrack:
- Comedian Ed Hedges returns to his rural hometown for a performance.
- After his show, two people are brutally murdered, and the killer appears at Ed's house.
- Ed deals with the trauma through comedy, incorporating the harrowing events into his act.
- A TV crime producer sees Ed's performance and launches a years-long investigation into the tragedy.

2. Stand-Up and True Crime Intertwine

Trailer includes stand-up snippets that blend dark comedy with the harrowing subject matter:
- "My dad is a farmer and my mum is a cousin. So like it's not like not loads going on.”
  — Ed Hedges, Stand-Up Set (00:42)
The audience, initially engrossed by humor, is quickly thrown into a tense, chilling narrative when Ed recounts terrifying events from July 22, 2015.

3. The Central Incident (01:23–03:00)

Night of July 22, 2015:
- Ed describes being woken by a loud noise at his door and seeing someone outside his window.
- “She is terrified and she says, 'whatever you do, do not turn on the lights.'"
  — Ed Hedges, Recounting the Scene (01:47)
- The murder of a woman and a man—details are graphic and unsettling:
  - "Found the lifeless body slumped on the sofa and covered in her own congealed body. Also repeatedly stabbed and caused a fatal head injury. 41 stab wounds..."
    — News/Voiceover (02:04)
- The killer, a 23-year-old man, murders his own family and then seeks out Ed.

4. The Lasting Impact and Ongoing Mystery (03:00–03:37)

The event sparks intense shock and disbelief, expressed both by Ed and his audience:
- “I was shocked and so was the audience. This can't be true. But I had to find out.”
  — Ed Hedges (03:18)
The investigation continues, leading Ed (and the podcast) through rural England as the story deepens—indicating more murders and unresolved mysteries.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Kyle Tekiela's introduction to Wisecrack:
"If you like true crime or comedy podcasts, then I have a show for you. It's called Wisecrack and it's a first of its kind series that blends stand up comedy with investigative true crime. Pretty cool.”
— Kyle Tekiela (00:09)
Ed Hedges, on family and rural life:
"My dad is a farmer and my mum is a cousin. So like it's not like not loads going on.”
— Ed Hedges (00:42)
The core chilling warning:
"Whatever you do, do not turn on the lights."
— Unknown woman, as recounted by Ed (01:47)
Ed’s reaction:
“I was shocked and so was the audience. This can't be true. But I had to find out.”
— Ed Hedges (03:18)

Important Timestamps

00:02 — Kyle’s intro and explanation of Wisecrack
00:42 — Stand-up set excerpt from Ed Hedges
01:23 — July 22, 2015, Ed recounts the night of the incident
01:47 — The warning: “do not turn on the lights”
02:04–02:29 — Graphic details of the double murder
03:18 — Ed reflects on the audience’s shared shock
03:37–04:12 — Close of the Wisecrack trailer and reminder to listen

Overall Flow & Tone

The episode is more of a cross-promo for another show than a new installment in the ongoing saga of Ken Tekiela’s secret criminal life. Kyle’s tone is conversational and inviting, mixing a sense of excitement for innovative true crime storytelling with an acknowledgment of the disturbing real-life events being discussed. The trailer for Wisecrack uses dark, self-effacing humor to ease listeners into a truly harrowing real crime story, providing jarring contrast and increasing its emotional impact.

Episode Takeaway

While Crook County is a podcast about hidden secrets and family legacies within the Chicago Outfit, this episode pivots to recommend Wisecrack, a podcast that uniquely examines the intersection of comedy and horror through the lived experience of comedian Ed Hedges—and leaves listeners with the chilling command: “Do not turn on the lights.”

Listeners looking for the story of Ken Tekiela’s life will need to wait until future Crook County episodes resume the family’s true crime tale.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:02]
A
Kyle here, host of Crook County. If you like true crime or comedy podcasts, then I have a show for you. It's called Wisecrack and it's a first of its kind series that blends stand up comedy with investigative true crime. Pretty cool. Wisecrack follows comedian Ed Hedges, a bullied kid who returned to his hometown as a rising comic to perform a charity gig. But the laughter gave way to fear when two people were brutally murdered just hours after his performance. Then the killer showed up at Ed's house. Ed processed the tragedy through comedy, weaving the scariest night of his life into a shocking standup set. And when a TV crime producer stumbled upon his quirky yet creepy performance, it did more than get a few laughs. It sparked a years long investigation forcing Ed to deal with the truth behind the tragedy. Part comedy special, part true crime documentary, Wisecrack is available now. Check out this trailer and while you listen, search Wisecrack in your podcast app to follow the show. Please welcome to the stage, Ed Hedges. My name is Ed. Everyone say hello Ed. Hello Ed. I'm from a very rural background myself. My dad is a farmer and my mum is a cousin. So like it's not like not loads going on. Ed Hedges, a slender, floppy haired up and comer, stands on the stage. He was captivating and quirky and had the audience eating out of his hand. And then the whole night took a turn. On 22 July 2015, I woke up to that noise coming from my front door. That was the loudest thing I've ever heard in my life. At the end of my bed, staring out of my window, there is someone standing. She is terrified and she says whatever you do, do not turn on the lights. In quests into the death of a woman and a man. Found the lifeless body slumped on the sofa and covered in her own congealed body. Also repeatedly stabbed and caused a fatal head injury. 41 stab wounds to the head, neck and torso plus 14 blunt force injuries and defensive wounds. On 22 July 2015, between 11 and 12 o' clock at night, a 23 year old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house. I was shocked and so was the audience. This can't be true. But I had to find out. The mystery would take me to a small village outside of London. And the murders, they didn't stop there. Does anyone know what show they've come to see? Well, it's a story and it's about the scariest night of my life. From Tenderfoot tv, this is Wisecrack available now. Listen for free on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.