In October 1978, the Phillips Petroleum attorney from Oklahoma was found dead in her hotel room—shot in one of the city’s most elegant addresses. Nearly half a century later, questions linger: Who wanted her silenced, and what disappeared with the evidence?

Alex explores the Kansas City–Oklahoma connection, the power and secrecy behind the case, and why justice sometimes stalls in the glow of the Plaza lights.

This episode was made possible in part by the detailed reporting in The Pitch: https://www.thepitchkc.com/the-icecold-case
And be sure to check out Jamie’s “Killer Cocktail” inspired by this case—his blind interpretation of the cryptic clue Alex gave him before the show.

Visit us at killingcitypod.com and on Substack at kilingcitypod.substack.com for bonus content, behind-the-scenes notes, and more true Kansas City stories.

We’ve launched a new way for listeners and readers to go deeper into the world of Going to Killing City. Think of it as your backstage pass to Kansas City’s darker history—paired, of course, with a splash of cocktail culture. This isn’t just a fan club. It’s a community of people who love Kansas City, its history, and its strangest untold stories—seasoned with a little gin, rye, or whatever’s in your glass.

Memberships are open now. Consider it your invitation into the shadows.
All membership perks are available exclusively through our Substack page.

This month's Killer Cocktail: Mt. Vesuvius:

2 oz Mezcal, Banhez
3⁄4 oz Bergamot liqueur, Italicus
1⁄2 oz Amaro, Cappelletti Sfumato Rabarbaro
1⁄2 oz Maraschino Liqueur, Luxardo
1 ds Chocolate bitters, Scrappy's Chocolate
1 twst Orange peel (Flamed)
Instructions
Stir, strain, up, chilled coupe, garnish with flamed orange peel

Questions or comments? Email us at: killingcitypod@gmail.com

In March 1941, Kansas Citians woke up to the most horrific news, 24 year old Leila Welsh was brutally murdered in her own bedroom after coming home from a date. The killer had laid in wait for hours, before sneaking into her bedroom through an open window while her mother slept in the room next to her, while her brother was asleep downstairs. Despite a bevy of physical evidence, there has never been a conviction to her murder, and to this day remains unsolved.

6 years later and almost 1700 miles away, 22 year old Elizabeth Short's body was found perfectly dissected, in a weed strewn empty lot in Los Angeles. It would be another case that would never be solved, but maybe it now has been.

The author Eli Frankel joined Jamie with UMKC's Chris Wolff to discuss his new book "Sisters in Death." Frankel ties the two murders together with a huge amount of detail. He spent 5 years total investigating the cases. And at the very least, both women did know the same Kansas City man. Could he possibly murdered them both and got away with it?

This discussion was recorded live at Rainy Day Books in front of a packed audience. Listen in as Frankel makes his case as to who was responsible for both murders, and how he managed to get away with it.

Special thanks to this month's sponsor, KC Bier Co! They invite you to enjoy their winter seasonal beer, Schwarzbier!

Be sure to join both Jamie and Alex at the Speakeasy Spa on Tuesday December 9 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm! The event is free, but space IS limited- you must email us at: killingcitypod@gmail.com to reserve your space before it sells out! Jamie and Alex will each make a killer cocktail, while discussing some of their most interesting cases, while Speakeasy Spa will provide free tacos, sangria AND chair massages! Plus enter to win a free massage!

This special episode was recorded LIVE on Thursday October 15, 2025 - Alex from the purported most haunted room of the Hotel Savoy, room 505. Jamie, of course, NOT there, instead manning "mission control".

This special episode was brought to you by: The JonBenét Game at Unicorn Theatre, running now through November 2.
It’s a dark, psychological new play about childhood games gone wrong—literally. When Rae’s childhood friend dies, her daughter finds the old ‘game’ they used to play... based on the JonBenét Ramsey case. And what unfolds? It's disturbing, intimate, and absolutely unforgettable.
Tickets are at UnicornTheatre.org—go see it before it vanishes.

Our special guests, the introduction voice of our podcast, Laura Ellis.

Ryan Maybee with J. Rieger & Co.

The gals from the Tipsy ghosts podcast.

And, of course, Ernie Nolan, our episode sponsor from The Unicorn Theatre.

It's Halloween season and we all love a good scary story - but sometimes, a tale is so scary, it leaves literally with chills.

Kansas City was home to the first documented internet serial killer. He had a long criminal record, but for the vast majority of his life, he was simply a con man who swindled various businesses and individuals out of their money. Law enforcement and Prosecutor's office had numerous opportunities to put him behind bars for a long time, but they failed to do so. They would lead to deadly consequences as he pivoted away from being a con man into being a horrifying serial murderer, who preyed on the most vulnerable. Join us for this truly terrifying tale that most likely will keep you up at night.

Full show notes, including all the accompanying links can be found on our website: www.killingcitypod.com.

A skeleton in a cave. A businessman who vanished 17 years earlier. A partner who disappeared the same day. Was it murder, a cover-up, or both? 🥃 Sponsored by Gunnar’s Bourbon Company. Complete show notes at killingcitypod.com (http://killingcitypod.com/).

Welcome back! We launch Season 3 with a doozy of a story of a building collapse that led to one of the most brutal civilian massacres in American history.

Our story starts way back in 1863, when a women's prison for Confederate sympathizers crashed to the ground, killing 4 women and maiming many others. That collapse enraged Quantrill's raiders, who decided to burn, murder and maim much of Lawrence Kansas in revenge. When it was all said and done, over 150 Lawrence residents were dead, and a quarter of the buildings were burnt to the ground.

This month's episode is sponsored by our good friends at J. Rieger & Company!

Killer Cocktail recipe: Killer Crash & Burn Martini (Original Creation)


Ingredients:
• 2 oz J. Rieger’s Gin
• 1 oz dry vermouth
• 0.5 oz pineapple juice (for tropical “crash”)
• 1 dash orange bitters (adds complexity)
• 1 dash Tabasco or a spicy tincture (for “burn”)
• Flamed orange twist or fresh jalapeño slice for garnish
Instructions:
1. Add gin, vermouth, pineapple juice, bitters, and Tabasco into a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir until well chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
4. Flame an orange twist over the glass, or garnish with a thin jalapeño wheel for a spicy kick.
Optional: Rim the glass with a mix of sugar and cayenne pepper for extra burn!

Sources:

Bloody Dawn, The Story of the Lawrence Massacre by Thomas Goodrich

Civil War on the Western Border, 1854-1865 by Jay Monaghan

In December 2023, we released "A Killer Headache", an episode recorded live where we discussed the Kansas City connection to the infamous Tylenol poisoning case in Chicago.

Now with Netflix releasing a 3 part documentary on the Tylenol case, we decided to weigh in on Netflix's take of the tragedy, and then allow you to hear how we told the story back in 2023.

We also make an announcement of subscriber only content coming to you in Season 3. Have suggestions or comments on that? email us at: killingcitypod@gmail.com

email us if you want to do a summer walking tour!: killingcitypod@gmail.com

n the heart of Kansas City, hidden beneath the modern cityscape, lie the forgotten landmarks of the city's criminal past. Join us as we uncover the untold stories of the mob’s influence on this city—places you walk past every day without realizing they once hosted murder, corruption, and shady dealings. From speakeasies to smoky backrooms, these landmarks were the epicenter of Kansas City's mob world.

This is our second season finale, brought to you by our sponsor West Bottoms Whiskey Co., with a Killer Cocktail recipe from Jamie Green. Don’t miss this gripping exploration of the dark side of the Crossroads....the heart of Killing City.

Have a tip or a comment about the show? Contact us at killingcitypod@gmail.com!

ALSO, we are planning TWO live streams that we will also put up on here. Please follow us on YouTube and Facebook. We will have a live stream on May 15, 2025 AND June 15, 2025! Details soon