Crook County – "Kenny Needs Your Help" (December 2, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this deeply personal and raw special episode of "Crook County," host Kyle Tekiela steps away from the ongoing narrative of his father's double life as a Chicago mafia hitman and firefighter to deliver an urgent, emotional plea for help. Kyle openly shares the heartbreaking current state of his father, Ken Tekiela—now homeless, experiencing severe PTSD, and battling mental health crises. This episode is less about crime storytelling and more a testament to the generational fallout of violence, secrecy, and trauma, culminating in a son’s desperate call for community support.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ken Tekiela’s Current Crisis (00:04)

• Kyle describes his father’s dire situation: Homeless, recently evicted, experiencing episodic mental breakdowns, and cycling between hospitals and shelters.

  • “My father, Kenny, is currently homeless, and he's out on the streets. He has been for a while. He was kicked out of his apartment about a couple months ago, and he's been in and out of hospitals and shelters…” (A, 00:04)

• Kyle’s family is shouldering the burden: Efforts include paying rent, buying necessities, covering utilities, and providing emotional support, but resources and energy are dwindling.

• The emotional toll on Kyle: He expresses feeling overwhelmed and terrified that withdrawing support could lead to tragedy.

  • “And I am terrified that if I just say, no more, dad. No more, I've had enough. I don't know. I don't know. Something terrible will happen.” (A, 01:09)

Ken’s Voice: PTSD and Hallucinations (01:28)

• Kyle shares personal voice memos from Ken, providing gut-wrenching insight into Ken's mental state.

• Ken describes ongoing trauma and hallucinations:

  • “All those voices you hear back there are nurses, A million nurses up here. I still need help, man. I still get horrible dreams. I still get violent. I still can't tell reality from what's not real. I get visual hallucinations and audible hallucinations still. And they're all from fighting, and they're all from fighting and shooting and killing.” (B, 01:28)

  • He recounts speaking with people he’s killed, apologizing to them in his hallucinations:

    • “...you don't know how bad it is to take somebody with half his head blown off and talk to him. Let's tell him you're sorry for that. And he smiles at you and says, it's okay, Ken. I understand it was war, but I can't do that, man. I don't have the guts. I just don't like dealing with the dead. But the dead deal with me.” (B, 02:05)

• Notable Quote:

  • “But the dead deal with me. And it's all because of night. It's all because of horrible dreams. It's all because of the violence at night.” (B, 02:19)

Hopelessness and Self-Loathing (03:31)

• In a second voice memo, Ken outlines his bleak future post-hospital:

  • “I'm gonna be homeless again in the next couple of days. I have nowhere to go. DSS doesn't even know what to do with me. I gotta have my car. At least I can live in that. I'm gonna leave this hospital with nothing. I'll have shoes, pants, and a sweatshirt. And over the sweatshirt, I'll have a flannel, and that's it. And where am I gonna go from there? I have no idea. Probably some shelter, if I could find one.” (B, 03:31–03:57)

• Ken’s crushing sense of failure:

  • "Hey. Been dealt a bad hand. I'm a fucking loser. You guys were dealt good hands. You’re winners. Take advantage of it. Learn by my fucking mistakes and your life will be good. But I am. I'm just. I have no luck. I have no nothing. I am nothing. I can't do this anymore." (B, 03:57–04:30)

The Host’s Plea for Support (04:42)

• Kyle returns to ask listeners for help, expressing deep vulnerability.

  • “I feel like I'm completely out of options with him. The only thing I can think of doing is this. I'm embarrassed and I'm humbled, but I'm asking for support.” (A, 04:42)

• He urges donations or shares via a GoFundMe page:

  • “You can go to gofundme.com crookcounty and donate if you want to, or share this with people who you might think could help or would be interested. But I'm just desperate at this point. I don't know what to do. I don't know. I just hope that at some point this guy can get the care he needs and have a productive life again. Thank you.” (A, 04:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kyle on his family’s exhaustion:

  • "And it's just been a constant battle. And it's been very, very overwhelming for me and my family..." (A, 00:39)

• Ken on the never-ending torment:

  • “But the dead deal with me. And it's all because of night. It's all because of horrible dreams. It's all because of the violence at night. I'm gonna stop. Goodbye.” (B, 02:19–02:34)

• Ken’s utter despair:

  • “I have no luck. I have no nothing. I am nothing. I can't do this anymore.” (B, 04:30)

• Kyle’s heartfelt appeal:

  • “I'm embarrassed and I'm humbled, but I'm asking for support.” (A, 04:42)

Important Timestamps

• 00:04 – Kyle opens up about his father’s homelessness and declining mental health
• 01:28 – Ken’s first voice memo: PTSD, hallucinations, and conversations with the dead
• 03:31 – Ken’s second voice memo: Facing homelessness after leaving hospital; message of regret
• 04:42 – Kyle’s GoFundMe plea and conclusion

Tone and Takeaway

Raw, honest, and aching with vulnerability, this episode is a stand-alone window into the real-life, ongoing impact of decades-old secrets and violence. It amplifies the personal cost of crime far beyond the headlines—an intergenerational battle with trauma, shame, and survival. Kyle’s open call for help embodies the heart of "Crook County": confronting the consequences, not just the crimes.

If you’re moved to help or share, visit GoFundMe.com/crookcounty.