Small Town Murder – “Murder Mystery On Wheels - Clarks, Nebraska”
Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman
Release Date: February 7, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of Small Town Murder takes listeners to tiny Clarks, Nebraska (population: 333) for an absurdly twisty murder mystery filled with small-town intrigue, a sluggish police investigation, and a deadly love triangle. As always, James and Jimmie deliver a heavily researched retelling with trademark sarcasm and tangent-filled commentary, shining both a comedic and tragic light on this true small-town crime saga centered on the killing of Jerry Carlson.
Key Discussion Points & Timeline
Setting the Stage: Clarks, Nebraska (04:27–11:03)
- Town Profile: Clarks is a minuscule, rural town in Merrick County, Nebraska, surrounded by similarly tiny communities. The main economic marker is low median income and cheap housing.
- “If you’ve been feeling like things are a little too active, a little too crazy, get yourself to Nebraska. That’ll calm you right down. Trust me.” – James [04:46]
- Trivia & Notables: Evan Williams (co-founder of Twitter) is from here; the town’s major event is “Bean Day,” featuring beans, street dances, and comedic speculation on fart-themed contests.
The Main Players: Love, Breakups, Rivalries (11:06–14:30)
- Key People:
- Charles “Chuck” Johnson: Amy’s ex-husband, unhappy about their 1994 divorce, desperate to reconcile.
- Amy Johnson: Recently divorced, dating Jerry Carlson.
- Jerry Carlson: Amy’s new boyfriend, described as a teasing, ball-busting guy with a job at Watts Electric and a fondness for fixing cars.
- “I've been divorced... not all of us, but me and you. Anyway, all of us in this room.” – James [11:55]
- Love triangle drama sets the tension, with Chuck unhappy and Jerry dating Amy.
The Night of the Crime: Suspicion, Swerves, & A Body in the Ditch (14:30–17:48)
- Timeline:
- April 15, 1994: Jerry and friend Frank Cuba work on a golf cart and drink at Cuba’s Auto Body Shop.
- After 10:30 PM: Jerry almost run over by a swerving van (later central to the case).
- 11:30 PM: Jerry is last seen leaving in his Chevy pickup.
- Early Morning Discovery:
- 1:15 AM, April 16: Jerry’s truck found idling in a ditch, headlights on, body slumped forward, killed by a single high-powered rifle shot through the back.
- Police surmise Jerry could have lived 4–7 minutes after being shot, possibly driving a short distance before dying.
Investigation & Suspects: Twists, Lies, and a Bean-Spilling Witness (20:25–28:06)
- Strange Witness Accounts:
- Rhonda Braun admits (after being pressed by investigators) that she was following Chuck Johnson’s truck the night of the murder, lied initially, and was romantically involved with Chuck.
- “The crying is a dead giveaway that something’s going on here… Like, what are you crying about?” – James [22:13]
- Identifying the Weapon: The bullet (a rare 6.5mm Carcano rifle, the same model used to kill JFK) becomes a crucial link. It’s so rare, ammo for it is only sold through pawn shops and military surplus.
The First Round of Accusations: Chuck & Tom in the Hot Seat (31:39–36:24)
- Police Theory: Initial suspicion falls hard on Chuck Johnson and his buddy Tom Branting due to the love triangle and inconsistent stories from witnesses.
- Community chaos: Drink-driving is rampant; everyone seems to own a Chevy pickup; witness timelines and details become comically convoluted.
- “It is awesome that this whole town casually just admits to drinking and driving.” – Jimmie [35:36]
A New Suspect Emerges: Enter ‘Angry Ed’ Kula (36:52–47:08)
- Edwin (Ed) Kula: Army veteran, marksman, expert in ambush tactics, with a known temper and a history of legal troubles. Worked at Watts Electric with the victim.
- April 15:
- Ed goes bar-hopping with his 15-year-old son, Travis, in tow.
- Encounters Jerry and Frank walking; Ed (drunk) swerves his minivan at them. Travis says Ed looked “not real pleased.”
- Ed soon leaves home alone, telling his son, “That’s something I don’t want you to be a witness to and have to testify in court... I’m gonna take care of business.” [40:26]
- Aftermath: Ed’s wife and children flee for safety, fearing his anger; Ed returns to find his family gone, and acts utterly unconcerned.
Mounting Evidence: Lies, Guns, and Toilet Humor Motive (47:08–55:50)
- Ed’s Interview: He admits to swerving at Jerry—but says it was just a “joke.” Claims he blacked out part of the night and does not remember any shooting.
- “He teases about poop, I tease about vehicular manslaughter. It’s sort of similar.” – James [46:30]
- Guns: Multiple witnesses and relatives confirm Ed had access to the exact murder weapon, although the rifle is never found.
- Motive: Jerry was known to tease Ed about, among other things, overflowing a toilet at work—a recurring humiliation that became central to Ed’s resentment.
- “There was a story about Ed overflowed a toilet and Jerry broke his balls for him.” – James [44:28]
The Trials: Justice Small Town Style (53:27–79:41)
First Trial (1995)
- No eyewitness, circumstantial evidence: Prosecution leans heavily on Ed’s hatred for Jerry and his ominous remarks to Travis.
- Defense: Argues the love triangle points to Chuck and Tom; Rhonda and other witnesses gave inconsistent stories.
- Verdict: Guilty, first-degree murder. Life in prison plus extra for weapons charge.
Post-Trial Chaos (69:03–71:58)
- Police bungling: The department fails to secure the scene, mishandles evidence, fails to investigate Ed properly; sheriff ignores evidence that didn’t fit his theory.
- “Within 15 minutes of being on the scene, the sheriff announced... he knew who committed the crime.” – James [69:38]
- Brady violations & lawsuits: Prosecution fails to turn over crucial evidence, leading to claims of misconduct, appeals, and even a sheriff recall campaign.
Second Trial (1997)
- New venue, some new evidence, testimony read in from Ed’s late wife Rose. After lengthy deliberation, Ed is found guilty—this time of second-degree murder. Life sentence again.
Appeal & Third Trial (76:29–76:54)
- A technicality—jury had access to inadmissible evidence—results in another overturned conviction.
- Plea Deal: Ed pleads “no contest” to manslaughter, gets 20 years (with time served, makes him parole eligible in less than two years).
Aftermath and Reflections (78:18–79:54)
- Civil Suits: Jerry’s mother sues Ed for funeral costs and general damages.
- Kula Family Tragedies: Rose (Ed’s wife) dies at 41; Travis (his son) dies at 39, along with his own young son.
- Editorial: The Grand Island Independent calls the case a prime example of the danger of sloppy justice and the toll it takes in small communities.
Most Memorable Quotes
-
On Small Town Life:
“Clarks is full of beans and small town dreams. I wish I could name this episode, beans and Small Town Dreams.” – James [10:05] -
On Motives:
“There was a story about Ed overflowed a toilet and Jerry broke his balls for him. Jesus Christ. How many you gotta eat? More beans, Ed.” – James [44:29] -
On Justice:
“Justice has to be an exacting science. Close simply isn’t good enough when the future of a suspect’s life hangs in the balance.” – Editorial quoted by James [79:00]
Timeline of Major Segments
- [04:27] – Introduction to Clarks, Nebraska and its local flavor
- [11:06] – The central love triangle (Chuck, Amy, Jerry)
- [14:30] – The night of the murder: swerving van, discovery of Jerry’s body
- [20:25] – Messy investigation and Rhonda Braun’s evolving statements
- [31:39] – Chuck Johnson and Tom Branting initially arrested for murder
- [36:52] – Edwin Kula replaces them as the main suspect—his background and behavior
- [47:08] – Investigators build their case; Ed’s interview, motive, and gun evidence
- [53:27] – First trial: prosecution vs. defense, verdict
- [69:03] – Sheriff’s egregious mishandling of the investigation
- [71:34] – Conviction overturned, retrial
- [76:29] – Second conviction overturned, plea to manslaughter
- [79:31] – Aftermath: lingering lawsuits, deaths, and an editorial on justice
Tone & Style
James and Jimmie maintain an irreverent, conversational approach—balancing gallows humor with empathy for the victim and sharp satire at bureaucracy and small-town foibles. Tangents abound, but even amidst laughter, the tragedy and complexity of small town dynamics and justice are not lost.
For New Listeners
Whether you’re drawn by the shocking backwoods drama, small-town color, or just want a true crime case set in utterly relatable mundanity, this episode embodies why Small Town Murder continues to engage: a wild case, deeply flawed investigation, and the fallible, very human cast of suspects, survivors, and lawmen. The full journey from murder, to investigation, to appeals, and a plea deal is covered in explicit but entertaining detail—no need to have heard previous episodes or know Clarks, Nebraska.
Notable Timestamps
- 04:27 – Welcome to Clarks, “it’ll calm you right down”
- 10:05 – “Clarks is full of beans and small town dreams”
- 14:30 – Jerry almost hit by van, murder discovery
- 20:25 – Rhonda Braun’s shifting story
- 44:28 – Motive: “Ed overflowed a toilet and Jerry broke his balls”
- 53:27 – First trial begins
- 66:39 – First guilty verdict announced
- 69:03 – Sheriff’s bungled investigation
- 71:58 – Second trial; Rose’s testimony read from beyond the grave
- 79:31 – Editorial on the dangers of “good enough” justice
Final Thoughts
An entertaining but sobering ride, this Clarks, Nebraska episode is a case study in how murder, egos, and incompetence are amplified by small-town isolation—and how, even after the “solution” of justice, everyone is left a little worse for the wear. All aboard… the Murder train!