Murderland Chicago: A Deep Dish of Death

Today we conclude our conversation about Tillie Klimek with an exploration of her trial and how 1920s newspapers colored the public (and history’s) view of her. We also take a quick sidebar into the background of Judge Marcus Kavanagh's thoughts about women and how this contributed to the verdict and sentencing. 

Sources

Martin, Alison. "This week in history: Chicago serial killer Tillie Klimek dies in prison.&quo...

In Episode 2 of our coverage of Tillie Klimek, we discuss Tillie’s four husbands (each of whom suffered from arsenic poisoning) and other potential victims.

TW: murder (and attempted murder) by poisoning

Recommended reading for Episode 2: https://www.mearsheimer.com/publications/

Notes:

TILLIE KLIMEK IS STRONG WITNESS IN OWN DEFENSE. 1923. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 13, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?u...

We kick off our series on Tillie Klimek with an exploration of 1920s Chicago, the social impacts of the industrial revolution, the city’s persistent rat problems, and the symptoms of arsenic poisoning.

TW: murder by poisoning

Notes:

“Arsenic: A Murderous History | Dartmouth Toxic Metals.” Accessed September 1, 2025. https://sites.dartmouth.edu/toxmetal/arsenic/arsenic-a-murderous-history/.

"From our archives – March 14, 1923."...

Part 3 of our discussion about Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber); in this episode we discuss the timeline of Kaczynski’s attacks, how Ruby Ridge, Waco, and Oklahoma City helped to escalate his madness, and his imprisonment and death. Additional topics include the similarities between Kaczynski’s isolation and current instances of AI psychosis.

TW: Death by suicide, AI psychosis, terrorism

Notes:

The Daily: Trapped in a ChatGPT Spiral:...

Part 2 of our discussion about  Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber); in this episode we discuss Kaczynski’s abandonment of his career, rejection of society, and what he got up to in that secluded Montana cabin.

“No man is more unhappy than he who has never faced adversities”—Seneca

TW: Death by suicide

Research sources include:

Cruz Lat, Emelyn. “ Kaczynski: Childhood of Rage.” SFGate, 2 Nov. 1997, https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Kac...

We kick off season 4 with the first of a multi-part series on Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber); in this episode we discuss Kaczynski’s working class roots as a member of the Polish community on the South Side of Chicago and his journey through the academic world (Harvard —> UMich —> UCBerkley). 

TW: Death by suicide

Recommended reading / watching:

• The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
• The Manchurian Candidate, directed by John F...

This is the part 3 of our 3-parter on the south side neighborhood of Englewood, which harbored 3 active serials killers at the same time in the 1990s. This episode focuses on the the police torture that led to an unknowable number of false confessions, the ongoing legacy of that torture, and how it contributed to the difficulty in identifying and prosecuting the murderers who were killing women in Englewood throughout the 1990s.

This is the part 2 of our 3-parter on the south side neighborhood of Englewood, which harbored 3 active serials killers at the same time in the 1990s. This episode focuses on the similarity of the crimes committed by all three of these killers, and how the conditions in Englewood promoted these similarities.

TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, murder

Research sources include:
Facts and Fictions About Serial Killer...

This is the part 1 of our 3-parter on the south side neighborhood of Englewood, which harbored 3 active serials killers at the same time in the 1990s. This episode focuses on the history of Englewood and how it became a fertile environment for violent serial murder.

TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, murder

Research sources include:
Mello-Klein, Cody. “Why Are There Fewer Serial Killers Now than There Used to Be?...

This is the part 2 of our 2-parter on Wolf Lake, a southeast side lake that drew the attention of Leopold and Loeb as well as Andrew Urdiales. In this episode we discuss Andrew Urdiales' murderous actions in both SoCal and around Wolf Lake.

TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, torture, murder, death penalty

Research sources include:
"California Kidnapping Survivor Details Brush With Alleged Serial Killer....

This is the part 1 of our 2-parter on Wolf Lake, a southeast side lake that drew the attention of Leopold and Loeb as well as Andrew Urdiales. We dive into the history of Wolf Lake and the Chicago neighborhood it sits it, Hegewisch.

TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, torture, murder

Research sources include:
“Southeast Side Marsh Is Urban Oasis.” WBEZ Chicago, 15 June 2011, https://www.wbez.org/stories/hegewisch-...

This is the part 2 of our series on the L&L Tavern, a notorious dive bar that both John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer patronized. What drew them to the L&L Tavern? What made them feel so comfortable there? Who's drinking there today?

TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, torture, murder, cannibalism, anthropophagy, homophobia

Research sources include:

“Jeffrey Dahmer’s Life (and Death) in Prison.” Biography, 16 June 2...

Welcome to Season 3 of Murderland Chicago: A Deep Dish of Death! Our theme this season is TRIANGLES OF TERROR—we'll explore key Chicago locations that have drawn the attention of more than their fair share of Chicagoland's serial killers. This is the first of a 2 part series on the L&L Tavern.

TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, child abuse, torture, murder

Research sources include:

“Jeffrey Dahmer’s Life (and Deat...

This is part 3 of our series on the deadly duo of Patricia Columbo and Frank DeLuca, who killed Columbo's family in 1976. We discuss the media aftermath of Columbo and DeLuca's convictions. We also recap season 2 and give a preview of season 3! 

Howard, Clark. Love’s Blood. St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 1994.

“Woman Speaks out about 1976 Murder of Her Parents, Brother.” The Daily Journal, 8 May 2006, https://www.daily-...

This is part 2 of our series on the deadly duo of Patricia Columbo and Frank DeLuca, who killed Columbo's family in 1976. We discuss how the toxic romance between Patty and DeLuca led them to plan and carry out the murder of Patty's parents and younger brother.

Howard, Clark. Love’s Blood. St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 1994.

“Woman Speaks out about 1976 Murder of Her Parents, Brother.” The Daily Journal, 8 May 2006, ht...

This is the first of our3 episode series on the deadly duo of Patricia Columbo and Frank DeLuca, who killed Columbo's family in 1976. In this episode we discuss the culture of Chicago's middle-class suburbs and cover Patty's childhood in the city, adolescence in the suburbs, and how she and Frank DeLuca met and sparked their deadly relationship.


Howard, Clark. Love’s Blood. St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 1994...