Small Town Murder – "Double Life, Double Murder – Newton, Kansas"

Podcast: Small Town Murder
Hosts: James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman
Episode Air Date: February 21, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, James and Jimmie delve into the small city of Newton, Kansas, unraveling a chilling murder case rooted in deception, brutal violence, and the consequences of a double life. The story centers around the 1994 murder of Rhonda Krebel in her own home – a crime initially enveloped in mystery but eventually linked to a killer with a secretly criminal past and a false identity. The hosts provide their usual in-depth research, gruesome crime details, and signature comedic banter, exploring not only the facts, but the oddities, frustrations, and small town quirks surrounding the case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Newton, Kansas: Setting the Stage

• Introduction to Newton

  • Located 30 minutes from Wichita; population ~18,500.
  • Median income below US average; affordable housing market.
  • Notorious past: Gunfights, high crime reviews, alleged police corruption – “the wickedest city in the West.”
  • Residents’ reviews: “Quiet town, good for raising kids, but meth is a problem”; others call it “the vortex of despair.”
    • Memorable Quote: “A vortex. The wickedest city in the west or the vortex of despair.” – James (09:17)

• Local Flavor

  • Events like Sand Creek Summer Days, cardboard boat regattas, and a surprisingly robust music scene – “good old Midwestern family fun.”

The Krebel Family and the Crime

• Rhonda Krebel (née Schmidt)

  • Born and raised in Newton, 1957. Married Von Andros Krebel in 1980; three daughters.
  • Described as the ideal small-town mom: active in churches, nurseries, community groups, always a happy, welcoming home.

• Precursor Incident

  • Weeks before the murder, Rhonda argued with Matthew Murphy, a waiter/assistant manager at the Newton Inn, over a bill at a Christian Women’s Club meeting.
    • Matthew was enraged by the confrontation, describing Rhonda as “a fucking bitch.” (18:37)
    • Co-workers recall his regular complaints when serving her group.

The Day of the Murder: May 20, 1994

• Rhonda brings her daughters and a friend home after a field trip; is last seen scooping ice cream for the kids.
• Friend’s mother comes to pick up her daughter, finds no one answering, and eventually contacts Rhonda’s husband and a nearby relative (Kevin).
• Kevin finds two young girls crying in a closet; the six-year-old says, “The bad man hurt Mommy” (26:25).
• Police discover Rhonda’s body: hogtied with pantyhose, gagged with tape, strangled and severely beaten with a blunt instrument (13 head strikes); apparent attempted sexual assault interrupted.

Investigation and Community Crisis

• Immediate Suspects

  • Focus on family members; Kevin’s odd behavior (dumping Rhonda’s purse) and bizarre answers during questioning ("an angel stopped me from opening that bedroom door"; describes Rhonda as “sexy” – 44:00) make him an initial suspect, but he’s cleared due to the child witness’s recognition: “Kevin is a dipshit... but not the man in the house.” (46:58)

• Child’s Testimony

  • Six-year-old victim witness provides a surprisingly detailed description – tall, thin man, blue eyes, Jesus-fish red cap, aviator sunglasses (37:43).
  • Lois Gibson (famed forensic sketch artist) creates a composite that’s plastered across Kansas, but leads go cold for over a year.

• Physical Evidence

  • Sunglasses under the bed (do not belong to the family), cigarette butts under the window (family are non-smokers, pointed to the killer’s surveillance), bindings made from materials within the house.

A Second Murder and the Unraveling of a Double Life

• September 1995: Jody McCown’s Disappearance

  • Wichita sex worker Jody McCown accepts an unusually large offer for an overnight “date”; her friend notes the john’s car license plate.
  • Jody disappears; the car is traced to “Matthew Murphy,” but the man’s actual name is Chester Higginbotham – a felon with a tragic, abusive past and an intricate false identity.

• Chester’s Background

  • Child abuse victim; locked in closets; mother died when he was 13.
  • Long criminal record: theft, burglary, forgery.
  • Assumed the identity of an Arizona man who died in a bike accident to become “Matthew Murphy.”

• Connecting the Murders

  • Police, initially investigating Jody’s case, find rope, tape, and zip ties in Chester’s shed, matching bindings used in both killings.
  • Both victims: hogtied, gagged, bound with improvised materials, apparent sexual assault interrupted – killer knew both women.

• Breakthroughs

  • Chester’s wife (Vicki) reports seeing a blonde woman slumped in his car (later identified as Jody), didn’t question him due to her meek nature (59:02).
  • Chester previously worked as a waiter/assistant manager at the Newton Inn (Rhonda’s nemesis); he walked past her house daily, explaining surveillance.
  • Vicki confirms Chester smokes the same brand of cigarettes found under Rhonda’s window and wore signature aviators and the Jesus-fish hat.
  • At work after the murder, Chester had a swollen eye (Rhonda fought back).

Trials, Aftermath, and Closure

• Trials & Sentencing

  • Jody McCown’s case (1996):
    • Chain of physical evidence (rope, tape, matching tattoos in Chester’s sketchbook) leads to a first-degree murder and kidnapping conviction.
    • Verdict: Hard 40-year minimum sentence plus 49 months for kidnapping.
  • Rhonda Krebel’s case (1999):
    • By now, DNA analysis definitively links Chester to the crime (1 in 5.5 billion match).
    • Signature similarity to Jody’s murder.
    • Verdict: Guilty – another “Hard 40” sentence.
  • Quote from the judge (74:24):
    • “This is an especially heinous, atrocious and cruel crime... You, sir, may fuck off.” – Judge, on sentencing Chester

• Psychological Profile

  • Chester described as a manipulative sociopath formed by a cruel, abusive childhood.

• Family & Community Response

  • Krebel family’s impact statements and loss described as especially heartbreaking; video montages and victim support group outreach noted.
  • Rhonda's sister refuses to judge Vicky, Chester's wife, noting, "She could have been a victim. She could have been killed, too." (74:56)
  • Newton’s culture is permanently changed: from unlocked doors and safe neighborhoods to alarm systems and vigilance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Newton’s reputation:
  • “A vortex. The wickedest city in the west or the vortex of despair.” – James (09:17)
• Kevin’s interrogation:
  • “An angel stopped me from opening that bedroom door.” – Kevin (42:37)
  • “Sexy.” – Kevin on what he thinks about his cousin, the victim (44:00)
• On suspects:
  • “You're a complete jackass, let me tell you that. But I don't think you're a murderer.” – James, on Kevin (46:06)
• On child witnesses:
  • “Adults second guess themselves. They overthink it. Children just tell you what they saw.” – Lois Gibson (52:40)
• Chester’s signature:
  • “He wore his favorite shit to the murder.” – Jimmie (72:54)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Town Introduction and Reviews: 04:17 – 12:42
• Background on the Krebels and lead-up to the crime: 12:42 – 19:54
• The Murder & Immediate Aftermath: 20:05 – 34:05
• Investigation & Child Witness: 34:05 – 40:49
• Case Goes Cold, Community Panic: 50:03 – 52:55
• Jody’s Case, Discovery of Chester’s Identity: 52:55 – 58:57
• Storage Shed Search, Vicki’s Testimony: 61:50 – 62:41
• Linking the Murders, Evidence Building: 62:41 – 67:29
• Trials and Sentencing: 67:29 – 74:56
• Final Thoughts and Reflections: 74:56 – 76:09

Tone & Delivery

The episode expertly balances detailed, factual storytelling with comedic detours and personal asides, staying sensitive when needed but unafraid to highlight the oddities and dark humor that only small-town America (and true crime) can provide. James and Jimmie punctuate the bleak story with banter, impressions, and relatable frustrations with institutions, suspects, and the odds of survival in a town like Newton.

Conclusion

This harrowing yet oddly absurd tale underscores the dangers lurking in plain sight and the layers of deception a single person can create in a trusting community. The hosts demonstrate both reverence for the victims and a critical eye toward law enforcement, witness behavior, and the quirks of small-town life.