Spokane | 15

Summary

Kill List: Spokane | Episode 15 – A Detailed Summary

Title: Kill List
Host/Author: Wondery | Novel
Release Date: December 24, 2024
Episode: Spokane | 15

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Introduction

In Episode 15 of Kill List, hosted by Carl Miller from Wondery | Novel, listeners delve into the harrowing case of Dr. Ronald Ilgerman. This episode intricately weaves the narrative of a respected neonatologist who, beneath his commendable public persona, orchestrated a dark web-based kidnapping and abuse scheme. Through investigative journalism and personal interviews, the episode unravels the layers of manipulation, control, and the profound impact on the lives his actions touched.

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Emily Sugarman's Assignment and Initial Contact

Emily Sugarman, a senior reporter at the Daily Beast, receives an assignment from her editor to investigate a sensational story featured in the Spokane Spokesman Review. The headline reads: "Spokane Doctor Accused of Attempted Kidnapping in Dark Web Bitcoin Scheme." Intrigued by the contrast between Ron Ilgerman's respectable standing and the shocking allegations, Emily decides to pursue the story.

Emily Sugarman [00:38]:
"It said Spokane County Jail on my phone. And I was like, is this what I think it is?"

Emily's initial skepticism turns into determination as she uncovers Ron's dual life.

---

Unmasking Ron Ilgerman

Ron Ilgerman, known publicly as a dedicated neonatologist and a volunteer for children's charities, appears to embody the ideals of a compassionate medical professional. However, behind this façade, Ron is implicated in a disturbing plot involving the dark web and a "kill list" of intended victims.

Emily Sugarman [02:17]:
"He was a neonatologist. He was pretty high up in the practice. You know, he volunteered for children's charities. And from the outside, you know, just seemed so kind of like a typical guy."

This revelation prompts Emily to delve deeper into understanding the psyche of someone capable of such heinous actions.

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The First Call: A Glimpse into Manipulation

While Emily is at the gym, she receives an unexpected call from Ron Ilgerman, who is incarcerated at Spokane County Jail. This interaction marks the beginning of a complex relationship characterized by Ron's attempts to manipulate and charm.

Ron Ilgerman [06:39]:
"Let me know if you can't hear me because I can wander around in my cell a little bit and try to get better reception."

During their 15-minute conversation, Ron presents himself as a misunderstood individual seeking to share his side of the story, attempting to cast doubt on the prosecution's narrative.

Emily Sugarman [07:36]:
"Imagine you're me getting this call from a guy who has some incredibly damning evidence against him in court. Anybody else would be telling me just, you need to speak to my lawyer."

Ron’s demeanor and statements reveal his calculated approach to influence Emily, positioning himself as a victim rather than an abuser.

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Unveiling the Abuse and Dark Web Activities

As Emily investigates further, testimonies from Ron’s victims, including his estranged wife Jennifer and another woman named Amanda, emerge. Jennifer reveals the extent of Ron's abusive behavior, masked under the guise of a consensual BDSM relationship.

Jennifer [04:11]:
"He wanted me to call him sir all the time, and then he'd get frustrated if I didn't want to do certain things that he requested me to do."

Amanda also shares her traumatic experience, recounting how Ron threatened to leave her in a septic tank for hours.

Jennifer [04:20]:
"There's like a septic tank thing in his yard. She said that he put her down in there and put the top on, threatening to leave her in there for hours."

These accounts paint a grim picture of Ron's manipulative and abusive nature, starkly contrasting his public image.

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The Guilty Plea and Emergence of Izzy

In August 2022, Ron Ilgerman pleads guilty to the charges, signaling an acceptance of his actions, yet not without ulterior motives. During this period, Ron introduces Izzy, a new woman who becomes entwined in his manipulative schemes.

Emily Sugarman [18:08]:
"So, okay, wherever you are right now, sounds pretty good."

Izzy, who has her own history of trauma and abusive relationships, becomes a target for Ron’s continued manipulation. Through persistent phone calls and letters, Ron leverages Izzy’s vulnerabilities to maintain control and influence.

Emily Sugarman [20:23]:
"She told me, you know, well, if someone cared enough to do that for me, try to kidnap and torture me to get me back, I would be flattered by that."

---

Manipulation Through Izzy: Letters and Online Campaigns

Ron orchestrates a campaign to rehabilitate his image and influence his sentencing through Izzy. He encourages Izzy to start a YouTube channel, presenting a distorted narrative of his innocence and downplaying his abusive behavior.

Ron Ilgerman [21:42]:
"I am Izzy. I am Izzy. I am Izzy."

Through letters and online content, Ron attempts to sway public perception and the judicial system, manipulating Izzy into becoming a conduit for his continued influence.

Ron Ilgerman [21:59]:
"Baby daughter, Spokane hit to hire, dark web, kidnapping, all that big story that went and well, he is my best friend."

These actions not only perpetuate Ron's manipulative tactics but also further entrench Izzy in his web of control.

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Sentencing Hearing: Exposing True Intentions

As the sentencing date approaches, the prosecution uncovers seven letters Ron wrote to Izzy, showcasing his lack of remorse and continued manipulative intent. These letters become crucial in solidifying the prosecution's case for a harsher sentence.

Prosecutor Richard Barker [32:57]:
"In some of the letters, he's attempting to use this case to get more attention. He wants to do interviews with Dateline. He wants to get on TV and just draw more attention to his poor victims."

During the sentencing hearing, Ron's statement intended to convey remorse quickly devolves into self-serving rhetoric, revealing his true nature.

News Reporter [34:54]:
"This is going to be very difficult for me. What I did was horrible. The messages I wrote were I can't even and wrap my mind around what I did. I truly can."

Despite moments that appear genuine, Jennifer and the prosecution recognize the underlying manipulation and disingenuousness in Ron's demeanor.

Jennifer [35:09]:
"I cried because I was shocked and I thought, wow, he actually admitted to it and called it, you know, horrendous."

Ultimately, the judge sentences Ron Ilgerman to eight years in prison, the maximum allowed, underscoring the severity of his crimes and lack of genuine remorse.

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Reflections on Domestic Abuse and Manipulation

Post-sentencing, Emily Sugarman and Carl Miller reflect on the broader implications of Ron's case, highlighting the intricate dynamics of domestic abuse and the potent combination of public persona and personal manipulation.

Emily Sugarman [38:23]:
"What Jennifer was saying was very scary. And the fact that he was allowed to continue following her, stalking her, until the FBI got notified that there was a possibility dark web hitmen plot, I find that very striking."

The episode emphasizes how abusers like Ron exploit their status and manipulate vulnerable individuals, making it challenging for victims to escape and for authorities to intervene promptly.

Carl Miller [39:54]:
"Where does Ron's power, the power of abusers, come from? It can seem so strange that anyone could fall for a guy like Ron and stand by him. And one part of the answer is who? Ron is. A careful, calculated manipulator with influence, intelligence, and money. But according to Emily, it's also down to something else."

Emily underscores the role of victim vulnerability in abusers' pervasive control, illustrating how the quest for love and acceptance can lead individuals to overlook red flags.

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Conclusion: The Lingering Threat and Ongoing Vigilance

The episode concludes by highlighting that Ron Ilgerman's story is far from over. With his scheduled release in September 2027, there are concerns about his continued manipulative tendencies, evidenced by his creation of a profile on a prisoner dating website.

Carl Miller [40:55]:
"News Reporter: I used to work as a doctor and loved helping with community outreach. I keep a positive attitude. I'm a Christian and people describe me as a nice guy. I'm an open person, so feel free to ask me anything. I look forward to getting to know you."

Kill List underscores the importance of vigilance and the need to address the underlying issues that empower abusers, ensuring that victims receive the protection and support they deserve.

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Final Thoughts

Episode 15 of Kill List masterfully blends investigative reporting with personal narratives to shed light on the complex dynamics of abuse and manipulation. Through Emily Sugarman's relentless pursuit of the truth and Carl Miller's insightful commentary, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of how abusers like Ron Ilgerman can maintain control and the critical importance of recognizing and addressing abusive behaviors early on.

Transcript

[Carl Miller]

Wondry plus subscribers can binge all episodes of Kill List early and ad free. Join Wondri in the Wondry app or on Apple Podcasts. Hey, it's Carl here. Just letting you know that this episode contains descriptions of a coercive and controlling relationship. Emily Sugarman is working out at her gym in New York City. She's in the zone until she gets pulled out of it by an incoming call.

[Emily Sugarman]

It said Spokane County Jail on my phone. And I was like, is this what I think it is?

[Carl Miller]

Emily is a senior reporter at the Daily Beast, a national news website.

[Emily Sugarman]

I, like, ran into this vestibule between the entrance and the check in counter. Maybe the quietest place where they're not, you know, pumping workout music. And I answered the call and, you know, there's this that said, hello, this.

[Ron Ilg]

Is a free call from Ron, an incarcerated individual at Spokane County Jail. To accept this free call, press one.

[Emily Sugarman]

I am, like, sweaty and in the middle of a workout.

[Ron Ilg]

To refuse this Pre call, press 2.

[Emily Sugarman]

But it's now or never. I don't think this guy's gonna call me back.

[Carl Miller]

Emily says that in her experience, people who are being prosecuted don't want to talk. This call is a huge deal. It's for a story Emily's editor had assigned her.

[Emily Sugarman]

She, you know, came up to me and just said, there's this crazy story in the Spokane Spokesman Review that you should look at. The headline of the story was, spokane Doctor accused of attempted kidnapping in Dark Web Bitcoin Scheme. And I was like, oh, let's go. Let's look into that.

[Carl Miller]

The name of the doctor behind this mind blowing headline was Ron Ilkerman. At first, Emily thought Ron had to be someone totally disconnected from reality, someone at the edges of society. But then she looked him up.

[Emily Sugarman]

He was a neonatologist. He was pretty high up in the practice. You know, he volunteered for children's charities. And from the outside, you know, just seemed so kind of like a typical guy. It made me want to understand more about his psyche.

[Carl Miller]

Now, as Emily is standing in her gym here, Ron is calling her.

[Ron Ilg]

We may start the conversation now.

[Emily Sugarman]

Hey, Ron.

[Ron Ilg]

Hey, Emily. How are you?

[Carl Miller]

My name is Carl Miller. Since 2020, I've been part of a team of journalists working in secret to stop people getting murdered. We broke into a scam murder for hire website. On the dark Web. We could see every order being placed, real money being paid to have real people killed. The tally of targets we've identified is now in the hundreds. We call it the kill list. So far, we've managed to help law enforcement arrest or Convict More than 30 people all around the world. In this episode, we return turning to the case that haunts me more than any other, the case of Dr. Ron Ilk. I want the target kidnapped for seven days.

[News Reporter]

While being held, she will be given injections of heroin at least two times per day.

[Carl Miller]

In our entire investigation, we hadn't come across anything as shocking as Ron's treatment of his wife Jennifer. Abuse masked as bdsm.

[Jennifer]

He wanted me to call him sir all the time, and then he'd get frustrated if I didn't want to do certain things that he requested me to do.

[Carl Miller]

Jennifer wasn't Ron's only victim. Jennifer also told us about Amanda, a woman Ron dated while he was still married to Jennifer.

[Jennifer]

There's like a septic tank thing in his yard. She said that he put her down in there and put the top on, threatening to leave her in there for hours.

[Carl Miller]

Ron was arrested by the FBI, but the story isn't over. As me and my team built a relationship with Jennifer, Daily Beast reporter Emily Sugerman started building a relationship with Ron Ilg himself. After his arrest, she followed as Ron desperately tried to wrestle back control from inside his jail cell, showing us how dangerous the manipulations of an abuser like Ron can be even from behind bars. Foreign this episode is brought to you by Audible, where you can find audiobooks and exclusive content to provide inspiration, comfort, insight or guidance. Whatever you're looking for. New members can try audible free for 30 days. Visit audible.com list or text list L I S T to 500. 500.

[Emily Sugarman]

Ryan Reynolds here for, I guess my hundredth Mint commercial. No, no, no, no, no, no, don' I mean, honestly, when I started this.

[Carl Miller]

I thought I'd only have to do.

[Emily Sugarman]

Like four of these. I mean, it's unlimited premium wireless for $15 a month. How are there still people paying two or three times that much? I'm sorry, I shouldn't be victim blaming. Here, give it a [e-mail] switch whenever you're ready.

[Jennifer]

$45 upfront payment, equivalent to $15 per month. New customers on first three month plan only. Taxes and fees, extra Speed slower above 40 gigabytes. See details.

[Carl Miller]

From Wandery and Novel. I'm Carl Miller and this is Kill List.

[Ron Ilg]

Let me know if you can't hear me because I can wander around in my cell a little bit and try to get better reception.

[Emily Sugarman]

So, okay, wherever you are right now, sounds pretty good.

[Carl Miller]

This first phone call between Emily and ron happens in 2021, and it lasts about 15 minutes. It's the start of a long and wild ride for Emily.

[Ron Ilg]

How was your workout? Good.

[Emily Sugarman]

It was good. Good thing to do on a Saturday. The call was not at all what I expected immediately. When I started talking to Ron, it was like he saw me as a potential ally and he was trying to win me over to his side.

[Ron Ilg]

At some point I do want to get my story out there in its entirety, right? So for instance, how does a small town country boy like me becomes a reasonably well known to the point where he's at? It's a big story, It's a giant story. It's kind of a Shakespearean tragedy in some ways.

[Emily Sugarman]

Imagine you're me getting this call from a guy who has some incredibly damning evidence against him in court. Anybody else would be telling me just, you need to speak to my lawyer. You know, you need to get the facts. But he is presenting himself as like the Great Gatsby and just trying to create this incredible character for himself and sell me on his life story. And being the hero, Ron is trying.

[Carl Miller]

To deploy against Emily a glistening public Persona that he's spent years constructing around himself. The heroic, chisel jawed doctor who saves babies, lives, and gets stopped in public by thankful mothers.

[Ron Ilg]

You know, I'd be in Costco and people would come up to me and they'd say, hey, Dr. Hill, do you remember us?

[Carl Miller]

And.

[Ron Ilg]

And 25 weaker. He's now five years old, laying around the store and doing great.

[Carl Miller]

Ron says he'd be in Costco and parents would come up to him saying, Dr. Ilg, do you remember us? And that their five year old, whose life he'd saved as a baby, was running around the store healthy and well. Ron is obviously hoping that after this call, Emily will write this version of the story, his version challenging the prosecution's narrative that he is an insidious abuser with a years long violent history.

[Emily Sugarman]

I was thinking, I was like, oh, this guy really thinks he's some kind of Don Juan who can charm anyone. And I think he might be evil.

[Carl Miller]

Emily lets Ron talk and he quickly moves onto his next point. His dominant and submissive lifestyle.

[Ron Ilg]

Prosecution is, you know, they're using the DS lifestyle or my sexual orientation, much like back in the day when homosexuals, you know, were persecuted and prosecuted.

[Emily Sugarman]

True, but just, you know, I think what's being prosecuted here is not your lifestyle, but, you know, the things that you ordered on the dark web. When he started comparing having a BDSM kink to being gay back in the 80s or 90s I was like, this can't be real. His argument was essentially that he was being kink shamed by the US Government.

[Carl Miller]

When Emily challenges Ron on this point, it leads to something she isn't expecting.

[Ron Ilg]

Hear how you said that you're supposed to be this belief in America that you're innocent until proven guilty. Right?

[Emily Sugarman]

Right.

[Ron Ilg]

And the way you just stated it is, does that guilty?

[Emily Sugarman]

Well, okay, so are you. So your argument is that you did not send those messages. You didn't place those orders.

[Ron Ilg]

The person that was writing those emails was not me.

[Carl Miller]

Ron tells Emily he's innocent. He suggests that someone could have easily hacked into his dark web accounts and framed him. This moment shows Emily how Ron actually operates.

[Emily Sugarman]

You can hear him in there trying to manipulate me, and it's just this very like, I am the teacher. I am in charge. Let me show you how you've got this all wrong about me. Oh, but you hear how you said that, right, Emily? Like, that's not right.

[Carl Miller]

This call is Emily's first mad dash through Ron's web of lies and misdirections. She barely gets a word in. Before she knows it, their time runs out.

[Emily Sugarman]

Okay, well, thank you so much for calling. I appreciate it.

[Ron Ilg]

Okay, bye.

[Emily Sugarman]

Bye.

[Ron Ilg]

The caller has hung up.

[Carl Miller]

Over the next few days, Emily writes her story. The headline reads, hitmen, Bunkers, and Bondage inside the case of Washington Baby Dr. Ronald. Ilg. It's exactly the kind of shocking story a tabloid editor would love. In their paper, Emily writes about all the darkest parts of Ron's abuse and his dark web plot. But the tone of the article definitely isn't what Ron had hoped for. When it comes out, Emily is ready to move on.

[Emily Sugarman]

I didn't expect to have a running.

[Carl Miller]

Conversation with this guy, but Ron has a different plan.

[Emily Sugarman]

You just kept calling me, you know, hello.

[Ron Ilg]

This is a free call from Ron.

[Emily Sugarman]

I would be at work. I would be going to the grocery store. It would be like Spokane County Jail, you know, Spokane County Jail.

[Ron Ilg]

Spokane County Jail.

[Carl Miller]

Spokane County Jail.

[Emily Sugarman]

To the point that, like, some of my friends knew, you know, like the guy that I was seeing at the time knew be like, oh, that's like Ronald calling.

[Carl Miller]

Emily says she became more and more intrigued by Ron's psychology. She says she would go on to speak to him about 20 times over the course of the next year and a half. During that time, Ron's story spreads wider. He's talked about on news websites and on TV channels.

[Jennifer]

A federal grand jury has indicted a Spokane doctor accused in a dark web kidnapping plot. He's accused of finding someone on the Dark Web to kidnap his estranged wife before assaulting, drugging and extorting her.

[Carl Miller]

A Washington doctor stands accused of taking to the Dark Web to hire someone.

[News Reporter]

To kidnap his estranged wife for seven.

[Carl Miller]

Days with a reward of $40,000 in Bitcoin. Whilst the media latch onto the story, it's Emily who has exclusive and really quite extraordinarily intimate access to Ron. She speaks to him basically throughout the entire time he's in court as he fights the charges against him.

[Emily Sugarman]

It was just this very odd relationship. I wanted him to feel comfortable talking to me. I wanted him to open up to me. That's the whole deal. But I also didn't want to sound like I was his friend. And so I think I literally said to him sometimes, like, Ron, I'm not your friend.

[Carl Miller]

As Emily logs more and more hours on the phone with Ron, the world as seen through his eyes starts coming into view.

[Emily Sugarman]

He had a very clear picture of who he was, and it was not what I or the prosecution was representing publicly.

[Carl Miller]

Ron obviously doesn't want the world to see him as the monster that's written about in the court documents. He insists he wasn't abusive. He just practiced, he says, consensual BDSM with the women he loved. Despite the fact both Jennifer and Ron's other partner, Amanda, had filed restraining orders against him and are actively cooperating with.

[Emily Sugarman]

The FBI, he would say, no, no, they're lying. I think he kind of had this image of a grand love story with Jennifer and Amanda, and he just had to make them see that they could live this life together, that they would see the truth, they would come back to him.

[Carl Miller]

Emily sticks with the story and writes two more articles about Ron. She grows fascinated by his determination to shape the narrative, to own it, to control it. She follows his case as he tries to do the same in the courtroom, too. He claims innocence, repeating the lie about having been hacked and framed. But no one is buying it. So in August 2022, Ron at last pleads guilty, meaning that he will definitely be going to prison, although a judge will still have to decide for how many years. A guilty plea might at first look like Ron is admitting defeat. But he isn't. Instead, he's just realised his defence has hit a brick wall. Now he needs to figure out a way to get as low of a sentence as possible. Emily finds out what Ron's scheme is just a few weeks later. She's sitting at work in the Daily Beast offices. Up high inside a Manhattan skyscraper. When the familiar caller ID Spokane County Jail shows up on her phone, she picks up and chats to Ron like she's done so many times before.

[Emily Sugarman]

We'd been talking about him taking a plea deal and how unfair that was and how unfair the court system is.

[Carl Miller]

Which is when Ron says to Emily.

[Emily Sugarman]

Also, by the way, I'm engaged. And I was like, to who? How? What?

[Carl Miller]

Somehow, from behind bars, Ron Ilg has put a new plan into motion and another woman under his spell.

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[Carl Miller]

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[Carl Miller]

With her phone glued to her ear, Emily can't quite believe what Ron is telling her.

[Emily Sugarman]

He was like, we're in love and we're going to get married.

[Carl Miller]

While in jail, Ron has somehow gotten engaged to someone new. The incredible thing is, details of his crimes are splashed all over news sites and TV stations.

[Emily Sugarman]

He wanted someone to kidnap his estranged.

[Prosecutor]

Wife and inject her with heroin until.

[Carl Miller]

She stopped the divorce proceedings. When you Google his name, the top results are all articles about Ron being arrested. So Emily wonders, who is this Woman who's agreed to marry Ron. And actually, Ron wants Emily to talk to her, too. He gives her the woman's number.

[Emily Sugarman]

He was like, you can call her. Why don't you give her a call? And so I did, because I was like, this can't be real, you know, And I called and I got on the phone with this very sweet woman who said, yeah, that's true. I'm in love with him and we're going to get married.

[Carl Miller]

The woman goes by the name Izzy. Me and my team, we've been trying to speak to her directly. We've rung numbers, we've sent emails, but we've never heard back. Luckily, Izzy told Emily the whole genuinely astonishing story of how her relationship with Ron began. It started when Izzy's husband was in prison for abusing her, although sometimes they still spoke on the phone. And Izzy's husband started telling her tales of this other magnetic prisoner, Ron. Izzy grew intrigued and wrote Ron a letter. Soon, they started talking on the phone.

[Emily Sugarman]

She was someone who had had a lot of trauma from past relationships, had had bad experiences with partners being violent to her, and here was someone who was consistently calling her, being affectionate towards her and laying out a model for their life together, which would involve him really calling the shots, you know, being in charge.

[Carl Miller]

Emily says that on the phone with Izzy, Ron mapped out a reassuring future for her, one spent in a dominant, submissive relationship with him. And when Emily asked her how she felt about Ron's crimes, Izzy's response was shocking.

[Emily Sugarman]

She told me, you know, well, if someone cared enough to do that for me, try to kidnap and torture me to get me back, I would be flattered by that. I think she is a great example of how Ron's powers of manipulation do work. I think we all do this. I think we all accept what someone is telling us, even if it maybe seems a little hard to believe because they're also promising to love us.

[Carl Miller]

Emily says that during this interview, she starts to feel incredibly protective of Izzy.

[Emily Sugarman]

It felt so sad to me. I wished so deeply that I could have done something, because I could tell that this was someone who just wanted affection and care and was being duped.

[Carl Miller]

After getting off the phone with Izzy, Emily files her penultimate article about Ron. She walks away from the interview with a clear sense of Ron's intentions.

[Emily Sugarman]

I think he was kind of using her as a connection to the outside world. He had her start a YouTube channel to post interviews with him.

[Ron Ilg]

I am Izzy. I am Izzy. I am Izzy.

[Carl Miller]

This seems to be Ron's Big plan with Izzy. While he's stuck in jail on the outside, Izzy starts to run a sort of free Ron Ilg campaign online. It seems Izzy wants to introduce to the world the quote unquote, real Ron ilk.

[Ron Ilg]

Baby daughter, Spokane hit to hire, dark web, kidnapping, all that big story that went and well, he is my best friend.

[Carl Miller]

In this video, she interviews Ron from prison through a video call. The sound quality is awful, but you get the gist. Early on, it's Ron's plea to the world that he can change.

[Ron Ilg]

I am broken.

[Carl Miller]

Pretending otherwise is exhausting in our wasteful, consumption addicted society. He says he's broken and that our consumerist society throws away broken things, but that maybe broken things can be put together and made more beautiful than ever before. Ron's making the case that he should be given a second chance, and I imagine also a lighter sentence. But if Ron is pinning his hopes on this PR campaign, he's bound to be disappointed. Most of Izzy's videos have just a few dozen views, and it's really hard to imagine they could change anyone's mind. Here's a video Izzy posts about how Ron is supporting her.

[Ron Ilg]

Dr. L has been helping me get ready to start a new trip for my life, so I'm gonna do that.

[Carl Miller]

Listening to these videos is very uncomfortable. It's clear that Izzy is extremely vulnerable and that she's relying on Ron for his support and affection to get out of a dark place. For example, there's one video in which it sounds like Izzy is speaking to Ron directly.

[Ron Ilg]

Baby, I know you're scared that I wasn't gonna get sober, but I wasn't dragging my feet. Just, there's always a bunch of things going on in my life. I hope it gets less, but if it doesn't, I hope it doesn't mean you love me less.

[Carl Miller]

Now, we don't know exactly what challenges Izzy was facing with sobriety, but all of her videos make it seem clear that Ron is trying to exploit her vulnerabilities to take control of her life, to ultimately help him. Over time, his demands on Izzy grow Beyond just the YouTube channel. We asked an actor to read out one of Ron's letters to Izzy in which he sent her instructions for a ploy he's come up with.

[News Reporter]

Find the social media that is talking about my stuff the most and post this. There was an alleged leak from the prosecution that Jennifer, Ron Elke's wife, says she was involved in creating the fake messages.

[Carl Miller]

Ron is attempting to use Izzy to try and erode the prosecution's case against him by still spreading the lie that he's innocent even after he's pleaded guilty, only this time pinning it all on Jennifer, his estranged wife.

[Jennifer]

It was pretty disturbing.

[Carl Miller]

Of course Jennifer sees what Izzy is doing online. She even watches some of her videos. Throughout this entire time, me and my team stay in touch with her. Checking in about how she's doing and watching those videos on Izzy's channel is a really weird experience for her.

[Jennifer]

A lot of what he says is stuff that I've heard myself. It was pretty triggering.

[Carl Miller]

Jennifer is basically watching the same manipulations she's lived through with Ron play out again online in real time.

[Jennifer]

He's just grooming her and manipulating her to think he's gonna help her when he's just enjoying it because he has control over somebody. That's what he thrives on.

[Carl Miller]

At this point, it's clear that Ron will be in prison, but a judge still hasn't decided for how long. And despite being inside a jail cell unable to do any physical damage, we see that he can still manipulate and dominate Izzy's life. Through letters and phone calls, Ron is able to bind Izzy to himself in the same ways that he once did Jennifer. And Jennifer knows how that story ends, with Ron turning gradually over the course of years, taking over his partner's life and then becoming violent. Yet for months, it seems that Ron's mask of a loving and caring partner just makes Izzy fall for him deeper and deeper.

[Ron Ilg]

Dr. Bill is so caring and has the biggest hurt because he goes on and on and on about just wanting to help me.

[Carl Miller]

Watching her videos, Izzy appears to be fully dedicated to Ron.

[Ron Ilg]

Very Dr. Ilg Dr. Me away. Can't wait.

[Carl Miller]

So far, Izzy has seemingly followed Ron's plan, working with him to make sure he gets off as lightly as possible. But then, out of nowhere, just a day before he is to be sentenced by a judge, Izzy turns on Ron and ultimately lands the final blow against him.

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[Carl Miller]

One day before Ron's sentencing hearing, the prosecution submits an unexpected document. It's entitled Notice of Exhibits for Sentencing and Notice Regarding Acceptance of Responsibility. Now that might sound boring, but its contents are explosive. With just a day to go before Ron will plead with the judge for leniency, the prosecution has gotten their hands on brand new evidence, evidence that shows how brazenly unremorseful Ron is about the crimes he's pleaded guilty to. It consists of seven letters written by Ron, given to the prosecution by Izzy. Up until now, it seemed that Izzy has been totally devoted to Ron. So why she's walked away, slipped out of his grip at this crucial moment is a mystery to us. But even though we haven't been able to speak to Izzy directly, there's still a trail of clues we can follow to try to understand why she ended up leaving. Even in their one conversation, journalist Emily Sugarman noticed some glimpses of uncertainty in Izzy about Ron. For one, Izzy used to think that before all this, Amanda, the woman Ron dated while married to Jennifer, had just been Ron's mistress.

[Emily Sugarman]

But he didn't tell her that he and Amanda had been engaged at one point. And she read a detail, I don't know if it was in my article or in someone else's, about Amanda having a Pinterest board with wedding inspiration on it for their wedding. And so it was kind of dawning on her that this was maybe a more serious relationship than she thought.

[Carl Miller]

Izzy must have started feeling nervous every time Ron mentioned Amanda to her.

[Emily Sugarman]

He talked about her a lot. When they talked on the phone, he would talk to her. When he wrote letters to her, he would talk about Amanda.

[Carl Miller]

Even though Amanda didn't want anything to do with Ron anymore, he remained steadfast in his delusion that there was still some love between them. But he would try to reassure Izzy about his feelings for her, too.

[Emily Sugarman]

He told her that he was in love with her and that, you know, she was the one. But she told me, you know, when he gets out, I don't know how he's gonna feel. I think that was an indication that already some of what he was saying was starting to not resonate with her. She was starting to see some of the lies behind this kind of suave personality.

[Carl Miller]

Ron must have started noticing a shift, a nervousness in Izzy. Here's an actor reading one of the letters she handed to the prosecution. Ron wrote to her, I bet you.

[News Reporter]

Are pissed that I'm stuck in the past. I'm not. I'm actually looking out for your future. Please don't disappear. I'm only trying to help you and us.

[Carl Miller]

I can imagine Izzy reading this and feeling her anxiety about Amanda transform into doubt. About Ron. And while we don't have any of the letters she wrote to him, the prosecution only released Ron's side of their conversation. It's clear that whatever she was writing back must have been getting more and more apprehensive because Ron's writing started growing anxious, too, Mainly about the impact Izzy can have on his sentencing.

[News Reporter]

We need to stick with our narrative, which is you and I are the perfect dominant, submissive couple. If we do anything away from this narrative, you will give me eight to ten years. You disappearing, eight to ten years. You leaving. Eight to ten years.

[Carl Miller]

It seems that the tighter Ron wanted to hold onto Izzy towards the end, the more she wanted to slip out of his grasp. The real Ron began to reveal himself once more.

[Emily Sugarman]

You can pull the wool over people's eyes for a while, but not forever. The crazy leaks out.

[Carl Miller]

As far as we know, Izzy hasn't spoken publicly since the end of her relationship with Ron. So it seems that she's now done with this part of her life. But her final act in this story, giving Ron's letters to the prosecution, will ripple out. They become crucial when it comes to the sentencing.

[Jennifer]

None of the other victims or witnesses ever show up to the court hearings. I was the only one that did. They don't feel comfortable going, and I understand their discomfort because I've been there, but I just felt like I needed to face it.

[Carl Miller]

Other than Jennifer, Ron's estranged wife, the judge doesn't get to see the people impacted by Ron's actions. So as Ron fights to keep his sentence to a minimum, the letters to Izzy help underline how much of a threat he still is. When the lead prosecutor on Ron's case, Richard Barker, first reads them, he can't quite believe what Ron has been writing.

[Prosecutor]

In some of the letters. He's attempting to use this case to get more attention. He wants to do interviews with dateline. He wants to get on TV and just draw more attention to his poor victims. And not in any way showing or reflecting remorse, but in a way that aggrandizes Mr. Ilg.

[Carl Miller]

And not only did he try to get TV appearances, Ron also wanted a book deal. He attached this text for Izzy to send out to a publishing company while he remains incarcerated.

[News Reporter]

We are seeking a publishing company and an exceptional writer to document his story. His true life story will be the next 50 shades of grey, but on steroids.

[Carl Miller]

Still, years after his arrest, Ron is trying to emerge from the story as some sort of a hero, which backfires on him because all of Izzy's letters give the Prosecution a very strong hand when asking the judge for the maximum possible sentence.

[Prosecutor]

We're absolutely gonna have to ask for eight years because he's engaging in conduct that's really reflective of a lack of remorse.

[Carl Miller]

On the day of the sentencing itself, Jennifer and her family arrive in a wood paneled courtroom. Ron is sitting just across the aisle from them. Jennifer glances over at him.

[Jennifer]

He seemed nervous. He didn't look at us at all. He just avoided eye contact.

[Carl Miller]

The hearing begins. Rich Barker and the prosecution team present all their arguments for why Ron shouldn't get any leniency. With all his frenzied scheming laid bare, it's not looking good for him, Ron. But he has one final opportunity to help himself. He's allowed to give a statement that shows he understands what he's done. As he steps up to deliver his speech, he lets the courtroom know he wants to speak from the heart.

[News Reporter]

This is going to be very difficult for me. What I did was horrible. The messages I wrote were I can't even and wrap my mind around what I did. I truly can.

[Carl Miller]

Jennifer can't believe it.

[Jennifer]

I cried because I was shocked and I thought, wow, he actually admitted to it and called it, you know, horrendous.

[Carl Miller]

But quickly, Ron's statement starts going off track, becoming far less about remorse and much more about trying to win sympathy for himself.

[News Reporter]

Becoming a physician was always a dream for and I was discouraged from trying to reach that dream because when you live in rural Oregon, it's not very often that somebody achieves that sort of a dream. But I did. It was a miracle.

[Carl Miller]

It's the same story Ron was trying to sell to Emily. His Persona is the only thing he's got left.

[Prosecutor]

The sentencing was unlike any other that I think I've attended. It was a very self serving statement.

[News Reporter]

I was drowning and everything was just out of my control.

[Prosecutor]

He talked for about an hour and it was almost just a ramble.

[News Reporter]

It was like I was watching myself in a role or in a play or some sort of a fantasy world and I didn't understand what was happening.

[Jennifer]

I don't know how genuine he really is. I think that it's his last resort and so he just was forced into doing it. He's using it to make himself look good. Like, you know, oh, I was broken and I'm being fixed and I'm a better man now. But it's all a. I don't believe it.

[Carl Miller]

It seems that the judge doesn't believe Ron either. After he finishes, he gets sentenced to eight years in Prison, the most he can get. Ultimately, this story is one with a happy ending, or as happy as you can get in these circumstances. Here we have an abuser who hid in plain sight for years, so skilled at maintaining a pristine public Persona until he was finally unmasked, held to account, with his reputation destroyed. But the thing is, it was a really unlikely series of events that made this ending possible. I spoke about this with Emily sugarman.

[Emily Sugarman]

There are so many, I think Ron ilgs in the before period, before it all really broke down. He just hit a series of hardships that were insurmountable to him. But maybe there are people out there who never quite hit one as catastrophic as a team of journalists hacking their dark web messages.

[Carl Miller]

Ron's case reveals dynamics that play out over and over again in domestic violence cases. The psychology of these relationships, the control people like Ron exert in meticulous ways, means that from the outside, it can be so hard to see what's really going on. For victims, though, Emily makes the point that even in this case, where it seems that we were only able to expose Ron thanks to the kill list, information about how dangerous he is, was already out there, because before we ever stepped in, Jennifer had already filed for divorce and for a restraining order detailing much of Ron's abuse in her petitions.

[Emily Sugarman]

What Jennifer was saying was very scary. And the fact that he was allowed to continue following her, stalking her, until the FBI got notified that there was a possibility dark web hitmen plot, I find that very striking. This really made me think about how seriously we need to be taking allegations of domestic violence and intimate partner violence.

[Carl Miller]

Emily makes the case that those kinds of allegations, they're often the first sign that something worse is going to happen. But the problem is that very often, abusers don't face any repercussions, even if it's well known how dangerous they are.

[Emily Sugarman]

Assuming a position of power and status in your community helps an abuser to reach more victims. If you're a highly respected figure, people are more willing to trust you, Both victims, and then the people that these victims talk to and try to complain to.

[Carl Miller]

I think the core thing I've taken away from this case and my conversation with Emily is an answer to a question that has permeated this whole story. Where does Ron's power, the power of abusers, come from? It can seem so strange that anyone could fall for a guy like Ron and stand by him. And one part of the answer is who? Ron is. A careful, calculated manipulator with influence, intelligence, and money. But according to Emily. It's also down to something else.

[Emily Sugarman]

It's less about him and more about the people that he victimized. A lot of people are out there hurting, wanting something better and very vulnerable. To someone like Ron who can swoop in and promise you the world and you don't realize what it's going to cost you. It's like just how vulnerable we all are in the pursuit of love and affection.

[Carl Miller]

The story doesn't end here. Ron is due to get out of prison in September 2027 and he's already looking for someone new. He's created an account on a prisoner dating website, and if you click on his profile, you'll see him standing with his hands in his pockets, smiling. He's somewhere outside, perhaps a farmer. He looks handsome. In his bio, he writes.

[News Reporter]

I used to work as a doctor and loved helping with community outreach. I keep a positive attitude. I'm a Christian and people describe me as a nice guy. I'm an open person, so feel free to ask me anything. I look forward to getting to know you.

[Carl Miller]

Next time on Kill this A family in Minnesota pack their guns, skip town and hide out on the road. After they learn that someone's trying to kill their teenage daughter, the first thing the cop asks me is, what have.

[Jennifer]

You done lately to piss someone off?

[Carl Miller]

If you like Kill List, you can binge all episodes ad free right now by joining Wondry plus in the Wondry app or on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. Before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey from Wandery and Novel. This is Kill List. Kill List is hosted by Me Carmilla. This episode is produced and written by Jay Kutajevic. Our series producer is Tom Wright. Our producers are Caroline Thornham, Amalia Saltland and Anna Sinfield and our researchers are Megan Oyinka and Lena Chang. Additional research from Chris Monteiro For Wondery. Our senior producer is Mandy Gorenstein. Fact checking by Fendor Fulton. Our managing producers are Cherie Houston, Sarah Tobin and Charlotte Wolf For Novel, Sarah Mathurs is our managing producer and Callum Plews is our senior managing producer for Wandery. Original music by Skylar Gerdman and Martin Linabel. Music supervision by Nicholas Alexander, Max O'Brien and Caroline Thornham. Sound design and mixing by Daniel Kempson. The news clips you heard in this episode were from KREM 2 News, Daily Mail and 4 News now for novel, Willard Foxton is creative director of development. Our executive producers are Sean Glynn, Max O'Brien and Craig Strachan for novel. Executive producers for Wandery are Marshall Louie and Erin O'Flaherty.