Kill List Podcast: Episode Rockwood | 18 – Detailed Summary

Introduction In Episode Rockwood | 18 of Kill List, host Carl Miller delves into the intricate and ethically complex operations of rentahitman.com, a seemingly joke-oriented murder-for-hire website that has evolved into a powerful tool for intercepting genuine threats. This episode explores the origins of the site, the pivotal cases it has influenced, and the moral quandaries faced by individuals like Bob Ennis, the site’s mastermind, juxtaposed with the investigative team’s own methods.

1. Unmasking Rentahitman.com

Timestamp: 00:00 – 02:20

Carl Miller introduces listeners to rentahitman.com, initially appearing as a trivial site built using generic templates. However, a closer look reveals its sinister purpose—a platform for placing murder-for-hire orders with increasingly gruesome requests. Unlike other dark web kill lists monitored by Carl and his team, rentahitman.com operates independently, under the guise of Guido Finelli, a character far removed from the usual administrators like Yura from Romania.

Carl Miller [00:00]: "If you keep scrolling down the site, you'll see a TV ad in which Guido reassures you that the website is fully compliant with the entirely fictitious Hitman code of conduct."

The website's absurdity hints at its deeper, darker functionality, transitioning from a joke to a mechanism for tracking and intercepting murder plots.

2. The Genesis of Rent a Hitman

Timestamp: 05:49 – 11:11

Bob Ennis, the real person behind Guido Finelli, recounts the accidental inception of rentahitman.com. Initially intended as a playful business venture with friends during paintball sessions, the website inadvertently began receiving over 250 inquiries for illicit services. These persistent, earnest requests transformed the hobby project into a serious conduit for potential violence.

Bob Ennis [07:02]: "I thought, man, this is a cool play on words. Rent as in hire us, Hit as in web hit and men."

Despite the site's mockery-laden interface, it attracted real threats, compelling Bob to pivot from indifference to proactive intervention.

3. A Defining Case: Wendy and Frank

Timestamp: 14:08 – 24:58

The episode spotlights a critical case from Rockwood, Michigan, involving a user known as Georgina Harris, later revealed to be Wendy. Wendy’s desperate plea for help to eliminate her ex-husband, Frank, under the pretense of protecting special needs children, exemplifies the dangerous individuals rentahitman.com attracts.

Wendy [19:17]: "At one time he used to be the nicest person I ever met, and now he's just a liar."

Wendy’s claims of Frank's misconduct are thoroughly investigated, uncovering her own troubled past, including allegations of childhood abuse and mental health struggles. Her genuine peril culminates in her arrest after Bob coordinates with local police to conduct an undercover operation.

Wendy [21:21]: "When you have the mental diseases I have, sometimes you care and sometimes you don't."

This case underscores the dual-edged nature of rentahitman.com—while the site lures dangerous individuals seeking murder, it also serves as a tool for law enforcement to apprehend them.

4. Ethical Dilemmas and Moral Quandaries

Timestamp: 28:40 – 34:39

Carl and his production team engage in a profound discussion about the ethical implications of their investigative methods compared to Bob Ennis's proactive approach. While both parties aim to prevent violence, Bob’s method of directly interacting with perpetrators by maintaining the facade of a legitimate hitman service blurs traditional journalistic boundaries.

Carl Miller [31:01]: "When we reasoned that simply going through the police wasn't going to work, I felt like it was actually ethically incumbent upon us to step out of the ethical frameworks of being a journalist."

The team grapples with the morality of crossing into operational roles, questioning how far one can ethically go to stop potential murders. Caroline Thornham and the unnamed producer reflect on their discomfort with actively engaging users, contrasting their observational tactics with Bob’s interventionist strategy.

Unnamed Producer [30:57]: "There's definitely a Lot of parallels between what Bob is doing and what we have been doing for the last few years."

This introspection highlights the fine line between reporting and acting, emphasizing the challenges of navigating uncharted ethical territories in digital crime prevention.

5. The Broader Implications and Conclusion

Timestamp: 35:09 – End

The episode concludes by contemplating the extensive reach of rentahitman.com, which continues to receive thousands of requests despite widespread acknowledgment of its fraudulent nature. Bob Ennis has recently disabled the service request form to regain control over his life, yet the site remains accessible, symbolizing the persistent allure of such dark platforms.

Bob Ennis [35:48]: "They're going to the Internet anyway. They're looking for a hitman or somebody else to take care of, and they just find the page."

Carl and his team reflect on the necessity of their and Bob’s interventions, recognizing the gaps in traditional policing that individuals like them are compelled to fill. The episode underscores the enduring fantasy of accessible violence and the ongoing battle to dismantle such dangerous digital fantasies.

Unnamed Producer [34:19]: "I can only hope there's just less need for people like Bob and people like us in the future."

Key Takeaways

• Rentahitman.com’s Evolution: From a joke to a significant tool for intercepting real threats.
• Bob Ennis’s Role: Transforms a frivolous domain into a proactive crime prevention platform.
• Case Study - Wendy: Illustrates the complex motivations of individuals seeking murder-for-hire services.
• Ethical Boundaries: Highlights the moral dilemmas faced by both private citizens and investigative teams in preventing violence.
• Persistent Dark Web Threats: Emphasizes the ongoing challenge of mitigating the allure and risks of dark web murder-for-hire sites.

Quotes Highlight

• Carl Miller [00:00]: "If you keep scrolling down the site, you'll see a TV ad in which Guido reassures you that the website is fully compliant with the entirely fictitious Hitman code of conduct."
• Bob Ennis [07:02]: "I thought, man, this is a cool play on words. Rent as in hire us, Hit as in web hit and men."
• Wendy [19:17]: "At one time he used to be the nicest person I ever met, and now he's just a liar."
• Carl Miller [31:01]: "When we reasoned that simply going through the police wasn't going to work, I felt like it was actually ethically incumbent upon us to step out of the ethical frameworks of being a journalist."
• Bob Ennis [35:48]: "They're going to the Internet anyway. They're looking for a hitman or somebody else to take care of, and they just find the page."

Conclusion

Episode Rockwood | 18 of Kill List offers a gripping exploration of the unintended consequences of digital platforms and the lengths individuals will go to intervene in preventing violence. Through the lens of rentahitman.com and the intricate cases it surfaces, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the ethical landscapes navigated by those striving to preempt murder in the modern age.