Somebody Knows Something – S2E6: "Stabbed In The Alley (1977)"
Elgin Police Department Cold Case Podcast
Release Date: October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the unsolved 1977 murder of Casey D. Kyles, a beloved 68-year-old Elgin, Illinois resident. The hosts, Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall, reexamine the case, sharing new details, walking listeners through the crime scene, and appealing for public help to bring closure to Casey's family. Along the way, the episode honors Kyles’ life, highlights challenges in historic investigations, and revisits key witness accounts and case files.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Remembering Casey D. Kyles (04:01–09:16)

• Background: Casey, born in 1908 in rural Durant, Mississippi, was part of the Great Migration to the North.
• Community Integration: He worked at Elgin State Hospital, then at Burgess Norton Manufacturing, retiring in 1974 but remaining active in the community.
• Family Life: Married to Ida May, with three children, 15 grandkids, and 8 great-grandkids. Family stories emphasized his generosity and the importance he placed on family traditions.
• Casey’s Legacy: “Casey is an example of yet another victim from our case files who was very well liked, very well respected and is dearly missed.” – Detective Chris Hall (07:51)
• Family's Pain: Even after Ida May lived to 97, she never learned who killed her husband.

2. Timeline & Setting of the Murder (09:16–12:23)

• Night of the Incident: July 21, 1977, Casey was walking home after a night out at Paul’s Tap. The weather was notably hot.
• Last Sighting: Witness ‘Lanny’ described Casey softly singing as he walked through the alley near the Douglas Hotel.
• Lanny’s Police Statement (09:52–10:26):
  “We seen him a couple times that night… He went up the alley towards his house… A little while later he come running out of the alley screaming... he was staggering, looked like he was gonna fall. So we started running over towards him. He did fall and landed flat on his face.” – Lanny, primary witness

3. Crime Scene Walk-Through (12:23–18:11)

• On-Scene Observations (12:23–14:34): Detectives revisit the location, describing visibility, the layout, and possible escape routes.
• Darkness & Visibility (16:05–17:59):
  “Even in 2025, there’s very little illumination out here… If this whole parking lot was dark, it’d be very, very dark over here.” – Detective Andrew Houghton (16:26)
• Key Insight: The darkness and alley layout created conditions where the killer could escape unseen, despite the proximity to witnesses and the police station.

4. Witnesses and Investigation (18:11–20:49)

• Lanny Cleared: Lanny and his companion were cleared via polygraph and cooperation.
  • “It is the opinion of this examiner… that the subject told the truth in his answers…” – Polygraph examiner (19:01)
• Overheard by Residents: Second-floor residents, playing gin rummy with windows open, heard Casey shout “Don’t do that. Don’t do that.”
• No Known Motive or Altercations: Bar staff and patrons described Casey as friendly and generous, with no tensions reported that night.

5. Possible Motives & Theories (20:49–24:38)

• Potential Robbery (21:28–22:43): Casey was known to carry cash, possibly making him a target. However, after the attack, his wallet, cash, and watch were still on him.
  • “It seems like he had all of his possessions, including his wallet containing cash. His silver watch was probably fairly expensive, too.” – Detective Chris Hall (22:22)
• Prior Victimization: Casey had been robbed in 1976 but did not report it. The past robbery suggests a pattern, but fails to definitively explain the 1977 attack.
• Alternative Theory: Rumors suggest Casey may have intervened in another crime and was killed for trying to help. No evidence of a second victim has been found.

6. Details of the Attack (24:38–25:36)

• Injury: Casey was stabbed once in the shoulder, severing his brachial artery—a wound causing fatal blood loss within minutes.
  • “Reports documented that the stab wound was nearly five inches deep… Casey bled to death.” – Detective Chris Hall (24:49)

7. Impact and Ongoing Appeal (25:36–27:42)

• Lingering Grief: Casey’s sons died before finding justice, and the wound lingers for the family.
• Community Call-to-Action: Detectives urge anyone with information, even rumors, to come forward.
  • “That’s why we want to put out information like this in this podcast. A new witness could be a game changer in a case like Casey’s.” – Detective Andrew Houghton (24:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Casey’s Reputation:
  “Casey was always available to help out or provide money for his family… Casey is an example of yet another victim from our case files who was very well liked, very well respected and is dearly missed.”
  – Detective Chris Hall (07:51)

• Lanny's Recollection:
  “He come running out of the alley screaming. And that got our attention. We was both watching him and he was staggering, looked like he was gonna fall…”
  – Witness Lanny (10:35)

• On the Difficulty for Witnesses:
  “It really helped to see where Lanny and his friend were sitting versus where the actual attack occurred. And it helps explain why they didn’t see the suspect. It was just a little too far, a little too dark…”
  – Detective Chris Hall (18:11)

• On Motive:
  “Could this incident have been a robbery gone wrong? It surely seems that way, at least as a possibility.”
  – Detective Chris Hall (21:28)

• Call for Public Help:
  “A new witness could be a game changer in a case like Casey’s.”
  – Detective Andrew Houghton (24:06)

• Reflection on Justice:
  “Casey… is buried on a hillside in Bluff City Cemetery where his living grandchildren and other family members still visit to place fresh flowers on his grave in his memory and where he still waits for justice for his murder.”
  – Detective Andrew Houghton (25:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Content | |-----------|----------------| | 04:01–07:51 | Casey Kyles’ personal background and family legacy | | 09:16–12:23 | Timeline of Casey’s final night and witness testimony | | 12:23–14:34 | Crime scene walkthrough and physical layout | | 16:05–17:59 | Nighttime site visit, darkness and impact on witness visibility | | 18:11–20:49 | Witness accounts, polygraph, statements | | 21:28–22:43 | Robbery theory and evidence regarding Casey’s cash | | 23:45–24:38 | Rumor about Casey intervening in a possible crime | | 24:47–25:36 | Injury details and circumstances of the attack | | 25:36–27:42 | Family impact and public appeal for information |

Episode Tone & Atmosphere

The episode maintains a deeply respectful, investigative, and community-driven tone. The hosts balance sensitivity for the family with the hard, practical realities of cold case work and openly invite listeners to contribute information, recognizing the power of the community in solving longstanding cases.

Next Episode Preview

The season finale investigates the unsolved 1979 murder of Renee Tovar (Casey Kyles’s birthday), connecting her case to wider regional crime trends and notorious suspects like the Ripper Crew.

**If you have any information about Casey D. Kyles’ murder or any other cold case in Elgin, reach out to:

• ColdCaseTips@elginil.gov
• Cold Case tip line: 847-289-COLD**