Podcast Summary: "The Girlfriends: Untouchable – S4/E5: I Smell A Rat"

Podcast: The Girlfriends: Untouchable
Episode: Season 4, Episode 5 – "I Smell A Rat"
Release Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Nikki Richardson
Producers: iHeartPodcasts and Novel

Overview

This powerful episode centers on the devastating murder of Stacey Quinn, as seen through the eyes of her sister Nico Quinn, and the unrelenting pursuit of justice in the face of entrenched corruption and abuse of power within the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. The story exposes the decades-long reign of terror perpetrated by Detective Roger Golubski, who exploited vulnerable Black women, and how community members—primarily women—banded together to reveal the shocking truth and demand accountability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Devastating Impact on the Quinn Family (03:14–13:19)

• Nico Quinn recounts the trauma of seeing her sister Stacey kidnapped, her struggles with addiction, and their family's entanglement with Roger Golubski.
• After Stacey's arrest and puzzling early release from prison, Nico becomes suspicious about Golubski's continuing influence and possible exploitation of her sister even within the prison system.
  • Quote: “She said she was in Galupski’s office…you know, they walked in on us.” — Stacey Quinn (04:26)
• Stacey returns home acting erratic and fearful, hinting at being targeted by an officer (“that police officer that smoke a cigar…he gonna kill me” — 06:59).
• Emotional last interactions: Following a heated argument, Nico and Stacey reconcile days before Stacey is murdered, with Stacey asking Nico to look after her son (10:40).
  • Quote: “She told me if anything happened to her to make sure I take care of her son.” — Nico Quinn (10:50)
• The murder itself is narrated in heart-wrenching detail: Stacey is chased and shot 22 times as neighbors watch helplessly (12:33–13:07).

2. Distrust and Corruption in the Murder Investigation (15:43–21:44)

• The Quinn family is stunned when Detective Golubski is assigned as lead investigator on Stacey’s case.
  • Quote: “And my uncle said, I smell a rat.” — Nico Quinn (15:56)
• A local man, Marcus Washington, is arrested and convicted, but Nico is convinced his confession was coerced and that he was not the real killer.
  • Quote: “There’s no way he could have shot her like that.” — Nico Quinn (20:58)
• Nico’s skepticism is rooted in her knowledge of Golubski’s manipulative tactics and previous injustices involving coerced statements.

3. Golubski’s System of Exploitation (21:52–27:44)

• The episode dives into how Golubski blackmailed and groomed women to serve as confidential informants, using intimidation, threats, and sexual violence.
• Golubski leveraged Polaroid photos and the threat of labeling women as “snitches,” putting their lives at greater risk (23:48–24:11).
  • Quote: “[Golubski] would take that Polaroid...either you do what I want, or your picture goes out there as you being a snitch.” — Khadijah (24:00)
• Survivors recall being driven to cemeteries at gunpoint, assaulted, threatened, and told to dig their own graves if they did not cooperate (25:12–26:32).
  • Quote: “There was even one woman who recalled Golubski telling her to get out of the car and find a spot to dig the grave her body would end up being buried in if she refused him.” — Nikki Richardson (26:22)
• The trauma experienced by survivors and the emotional fallout for advocates like Khadijah touches listeners deeply (27:09–27:21).

4. The List: Pattern of Linked Murders (31:21–34:31)

• In 2016, attorneys working on Lamont McIntyre’s exoneration reveal a chilling spreadsheet to Khadijah: a list of 33 women, all of whom died violently and had been linked to Golubski in some form.
  • Quote: “There were 33 women on this list…33 murdered women who were said to have, at some point in their lives, been associated with Roger Golubski.” — Nikki Richardson (33:15)
• Many of these victims were labeled as drug users or sex workers—a stigma that, as the podcast stresses, should not absolve law enforcement from accountability or lessen the tragedy of their deaths.
• Stacey Quinn’s case is shown not to be an outlier, but part of a horrifying pattern.
  • Quote: “If you hear Stacy’s story, it sounds like it’s an anomaly…but there are so many stories like [hers].” — Khadijah (34:31)

5. Community Resistance and the Pursuit of Justice (35:47–41:20)

• Nikki and Khadijah describe efforts to document stories, support survivors, and change the narrative about the victims.
  • Interviews, podcasts, social campaigns focus on “saying their names” (37:35–37:44).
• The women candidly discuss the risks and active intimidation faced when seeking justice—police showing up at Nikki’s grandmother’s house, attempts to scare them into silence (35:47–36:42).
  • Quote: “Speaking out has consequences. The more we dug into Golubski, the more hostile KCK began to feel.” — Nikki Richardson (35:47)
• They invoke the importance of community care and challenge listeners to consider their own responses if faced with these tragedies.
  • Quote: “If it was your mom that got killed in the 80s and you did not grow up with no parents, what would you have done?” — Khadijah (41:41)
• The episode closes on the determination to see Golubski held accountable and ensure the women’s stories are told and remembered.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nico Quinn recalling her sister’s last words:
  “She told me if anything happened to her to make sure I take care of her son.” (10:50)
• On the trauma of the murder:
  “My sister was shot 22 times. Every time she got shot, she got up and was begging and pleading for her life. They had no mercy on her.” — Nico Quinn (13:03)
• Khadijah on the list of victims:
  “Listen, baby, it was nerve wrecking, that...my mind was just, like, already blown. Like, there’s 33 women on this list.” (32:57)
• Khadijah on courage and fear:
  “Hearing those stories and understanding what the women went through was like, do you really want to do this? Do you really want to put yourself in this situation?” (36:42)
• Community determination:
  “My mindset was to see that man with handcuffs shackled. That was literally my end game.” — Khadijah (41:13)
• Final confrontation with Golubski preview:
  “I told Roger Galuski, you’re going to see my face to the day that you die.” — Khadijah (41:58)

Key Timestamps

• Stacey’s arrest, prison experience, early release: 03:33–06:35
• Stacey’s fear and Golubski’s intimidation: 06:59–08:48
• Family’s last moments with Stacey: 09:02–10:50
• The night of Stacey’s murder, family grief: 11:03–13:19
• Golubski assigned to murder case: 15:43–15:56
• Investigation, conviction of Marcus Washington: 19:46–20:45
• Golubski’s system of informant coercion: 23:19–27:44
• The “list” of murdered women: 31:21–34:31
• Community organizing and resistance: 35:47–41:20
• Preview of confrontation and continued fight: 41:28–41:58

Episode Tone and Language

The tone is raw, personal, and resolute. The voices—particularly those of Nico, Nikki, and Khadijah—are filled with pain, love, and determination. The language is direct and unflinching, reflecting both the horrors exposed and the fierce care and advocacy of those seeking justice.

In Summary

This episode lays bare the painful aftermath of Stacey Quinn’s murder while revealing the systematic, predatory methods used by Detective Golubski to terrorize and exploit Black women in Kansas City, Kansas. Through deeply personal storytelling and community-driven investigation, the episode highlights the courage of women who risk retaliation to break a decades-long silence. "I Smell a Rat" is not only a call for justice for Stacey and the other women lost, but also a testament to the strength of sisterhood and community action in the face of systemic violence.