Murderland Chicago: A Deep Dish of Death

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32: Gacy Revisited May 05, 2026

Show notes

Today we conclude our about the Polish American serial killers of Chicago with a conversation about John Wayne Gacy’s Polish heritage and how he used that heritage as a key part of his camouflage.

Notes:

The Leopard Man (1943) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036104/
M by Fritz Lang (1931) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022100/?ref_=nm_knf_c_2
“The secret source of humor is not joy but sorrow; there is no humor in heaven.” ―Mark Twain

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31: Tillie Klimek Part III Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

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." Chicago Sun-Times (IL), November 19, 2020. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/17EDE16BD1F83C28.

"From our archives – March 14, 1923." Mexia News, The (TX), March 14, 2017: 4. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/163244C312AE49A0.

Daily Times (Chicago, Illinois), November 23, 1931: 10. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A176820A8B9EC1C11%40EANX-NB-16C22ACF9EC2C604%402426669-16C172605C3A5DE6%409-16C172605C3A5DE6%40.

Daily Times (Chicago, Illinois), June 1, 1931: 3. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A176820A8B9EC1C11%40EANX-NB-16C3529F71BE60F1%402426494-16C2115FA42D89A6%402-16C2115FA42D89A6%40.

Daily Times (Chicago, Illinois), November 20, 1936: 82. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.chipublib.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A176820A8B9EC1C11%40EANX-NB-16C3D040C58001FC%402428493-16C3CB8353C95CCE%4081.

Marcus Kavanagh One of Many Judges in Iroquois Theater Fire Trials. https://www.iroquoistheater.com/marcus-kavanagh-circuit-court-judge-iroquois-theater-fire.php. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kavanagh, Marcus. The Criminal and His Allies. Indianapolis, The Bobbs-Merrill company, 1928. Internet Archive, http://archive.org/details/criminalhisallie0000kava.

Forbes, Genevieve. 1923. "GUILTY" IS KLIMEK VERDICT: LIFE IN PRISON FOR WOMAN AS ARCH POISONER HEARS VERDICT WITH: "ISN'T IT WARM?" LIFE TERM FOR TILLIE KLIMEK; SHE'S UNMOVED PENALTY SETS RECORD HERE FOR WOMAN SLAYERS. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 14, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/guilty-is-klimek-verdict/docview/180477844/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

TILLIE KLIMEK IS STRONG WITNESS IN OWN DEFENSE. 1923. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 13, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/tillie-klimek-is-strong-witness-own-defense/docview/180453327/se-2 (accessed Septe

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30: Tillie Klimek Part II Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

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:

MRS. KLIMEK IS FORMALLY HELD IN POISON DEATH: BODIES OF OTHER RELATIVES WILL BE EXAMINED. 1922. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922), Nov 11, 1922. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/mrs-klimek-is-formally-held-poison-death/docview/175083939/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

Forbes, Genevieve. 1923. GRAVE DIGGER TELLS OF GOINGS ON AT KLIMEKS': SAW ONE KISS, THEN VIEW WAS SHUT OFF, HE SAYS. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 10, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/grave-digger-tells-goings-on-at-klimeks/docview/180465757/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

MYSTERY DEATHS IN POISON CASE MAY REACH 20: SEEK NEW MISSING MATE; QUIZ ANOTHER WOMAN. 1922. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922), Nov 14, 1922. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/mystery-deaths-poison-case-may-reach-20/docview/174991920/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

Forbes, Genevieve. 1923. HOW MRS. KLIMEK JESTED OF DEATH OF HUSBAND TOLD: STATE DROPS CASE FOR TIME AGAINST HER COUSIN. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 09, 1923. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/how-mrs-klimek-jested-death-husband-told/docview/180486247/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

KLIMEK POISON LIST IS TWENTY; ARREST 1 MORE: SISTER OF MRS.KOULIK LATEST ACCUSED. 1922. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922), Nov 19, 1922. https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/klimek-poison-list-is-twenty-arrest-1-more/docview/175050889/se-2 (accessed September 1, 2025).

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29: Tillie Klimek Part I Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

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/.

Berg, Caitlin. “The History behind the Musical ‘Chicago’: How 1920s Crime and Vaudeville Inspired the Show.” New York Theatre Guide, 25 Feb. 2022, https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/history-behind-musical-chicago-1920s-crime-and-vaudeville.

Tillie Klimek and The Bluebeard Clique of Little Poland (Aka the Ukranian Village) – Mysterious Chicago. 17 Feb. 2010, https://mysteriouschicago.com/tillie-klimek-and-the-bluebeard-clique-of-little-poland-aka-the-ukranian-village/.

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28: Ted Kaczynski Part III Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

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: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/podcasts/the-daily/chatgpt-ai-delusions.html

“AI Psychosis”: Emerging Cases of Delusion Amplification Associated with ChatGPT and LLM Chatbot Use – A Psychiatric Review: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/psychiatry-psychotherapy-podcast/episode-253-ai-psychosis-emerging-cases-of-delusion-amplification-associated-with-chatgpt-and-llm-chatbot

Research sources include:

Cruz Lat, Emelyn. “ Kaczynski: Childhood of Rage.” SFGate, 2 Nov. 1997, https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Kaczynski-Childhood-of-rage-3091103.php.

“Hospital Incident Haunts Unabomber Suspect’s Mother.” Tampa Bay Times, https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/06/17/hospital-incident-haunts-unabomber-suspect-s-mother/. Accessed 22 June 2025.

“David Kaczynski: ‘Every Last Tie: The Story Of The Unabomber And His Family.’” Diane Rehm, https://dianerehm.org/shows/2016-01-28/david-kaczynski-every-last-tie-the-story-of-the-unabomber-and-his-family. Accessed 22 June 2025.

Theodore Richard “Turk” Kaczynski (1912-1990) -... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213155567/theodore_richard-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Wanda Teresa Dombek Kaczynski (1917-2011) - Find... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207475370/wanda_teresa-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Jakub Kaczynski (1865-1943) - Find a Grave... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108871364/jakub-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Helen Alchimowicz Kaczynski (1886-1976) - Find a... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182219271/helen-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Editors, HISTORY com. “Unabomber (Ted Kaczynski) - Manifesto, Cabin, Victims.” HISTORY, 14 May 2018, https://www.history.com/articles/unabomber-ted-kaczynski.

“‘Unabomber’ Ted Kaczynski Died by Suicide, Official Says.” NBC News, 12 June 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unabomber-cause-death-rcna88737.

“‘Unabomber’ Ted Kaczynski Had Late-Stage Rectal Cancer and Was ‘Depressed’ before Prison Suicide, Autopsy Says.” NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unabomber-ted-kaczynski-late-stage-rectal-cancer-was-depressed-prison-rcna147819.

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27: Ted Kaczynski Part II Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

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/Kaczynski-Childhood-of-rage-3091103.php.

Theodore Richard “Turk” Kaczynski (1912-1990) -... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213155567/theodore_richard-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Wanda Teresa Dombek Kaczynski (1917-2011) - Find... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207475370/wanda_teresa-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Jakub Kaczynski (1865-1943) - Find a Grave... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108871364/jakub-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Helen Alchimowicz Kaczynski (1886-1976) - Find a... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182219271/helen-kaczynski. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Editors, HISTORY com. “Unabomber (Ted Kaczynski) - Manifesto, Cabin, Victims.” HISTORY, 14 May 2018, https://www.history.com/articles/unabomber-ted-kaczynski.

“‘Unabomber’ Ted Kaczynski Died by Suicide, Official Says.” NBC News, 12 June 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unabomber-cause-death-rcna88737.

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Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

26: Ted Kaczynski Part I Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

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

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