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
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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)
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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
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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.
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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.
- 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.
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
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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)
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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
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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
- Jody McCown’s case (1996):
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Psychological Profile
- Chester described as a manipulative sociopath formed by a cruel, abusive childhood.
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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.
