In 2013, Ken Tekiela revealed a secret to his son who had been sustaining for greater than 20 years.
At the moment, he had been combating a paralyzing heroin habit for about a decade and had been separated from 28 years for about 5 years. However his firstborn, who believed that issues have been getting worse for the patriarch, put him in a detoxing set up to assist him clear.
“He fell a number of instances, however his journey to restoration was constructive,” Kyle Tekiela informed Fox Information Digital. “As soon as he felt that he had recovered … I feel that opened some doorways. And I feel he gave him the arrogance to inform me. However it was an amazing shock. Was it like, ‘I heard it accurately?”
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Ken Tekiela in Firehouse, round 1984. (Kyle Teela)
Tekiela, a well-known Firefighters paramedic and father of two kids, confessed that he had led a double secret life as a wage assassin for the Chicago mafia.
Kyle is now detailing his father’s story in a podcast of true crime entitled “Criminal County”, a co -production of Iheartpodcasts and Tenderfoot TV.
Based on studies, discover how Tekiela, referred to as “The Child”, rose by the ranks of the Chicago outfit and its lasting influence on his household. It has honest interviews with Tekiela and different family members.
Kyle Tekiela is an award -winning filmmaker and Ken Tekiela’s eldest son. (Kyle Teela)
“These are household secrets and techniques that ought to in all probability have been buried,” Kyle admitted. “However they’ve come to gentle, and it’s not straightforward to digest.
“It took me a very long time to course of it earlier than having sufficient confidence to share it with others. However I needed to ask myself, is that this one thing that we buried ceaselessly? Or we possess it and say: ‘That is whom they’re, they usually benefit from what Higher of that and perhaps additionally they study some classes from him? “
Ken Tekiela seems to be right here cooking in Firehouse Kitchen. In 1982, he spent all his proof to turn into a firefighter paramedic. Kyle Tekiela mentioned her father requested the unique bonnet that invited him to the outfit if she might pursue her dream of working for the Hearth Division. The capo, whose identify was not revealed, gave him his blessing. (Kyle Teela)
When he grew up, Kyle noticed his father as “a neighborhood hero” who was revered in his neighborhood. Working 24 -hour shifts and being out of residence was regular for Tekiela and her household. Nevertheless, he at all times remained devoted to his most vital position: that of the daddy.
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“Criminal County” is accessible for transmission. (Iheartpodcasts and Tenderfoot TV)
“That was his job,” Kyle mentioned. “We thought we had a brilliant father rising. He was a firefighter paramedic, and his schedules are normally round 24, 48 hours or at some intermediate level. That gave him loads of time away from residence.”
Tekiela’s dedication to responsibility arose from the tragedy. In 1979, American Airways Flight 191 crashed close to the O’Hare Worldwide Airport in Chicago. A complete of 273 individuals died. Tekiela was about 23 years outdated at the moment.
Aerial view of emergency autos morning after the aircraft crashed on the O’Hare Worldwide Airport in Chicago on Could 26, 1979. (Archive/Getty Pictures of UPI/Bettmann)
“Seeing all these lifeguards, firefighters and paramedics go and attempt to management the scene impressed him,” Kyle mentioned. “That’s what made him go, ‘I wish to be that. I wish to assist individuals.’ At the moment, I had been working for the mafia, not serving to individuals.”
Based on the “Criminal County,” Ken Tekiela efficiently stored her life within the mafia in secret of her household and closest buddies for greater than twenty years. (Kyle Teela)
However earlier than calling responsibility, Tekiela described having a tumultuous childhood. He mentioned he was expelled from his residence by his mom at age 16. Stoning to discover a path and stay exterior his automobile, a determined Tekiela stole a drug vendor, who turned out to be the nephew of a capo. The FBI describes a boss within the mafia as a member fabricated from classification that leads a crew of troopers, much like a navy captain.
The Chicago outfit was the department of town of the American mafia. His most infamous chief went to Capone. (Photograph12/Common Pictures Group by Getty Pictures)
Tekiela was 17 years outdated at the moment. Kyle mentioned the boss discovered his father and questioned him. Then he made a proposal that the patriarch couldn’t reject.
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Photograph of Ken Tekiela highschool. (Kyle Teela)
“It was the fallacious place, the fallacious second, the fallacious resolution,” Kyle defined. “However he had wrapped. And the capo noticed that. So that they introduced it. He had some other place the place to go, so he had no alternative … he was the toddler beneath his wings. He was ‘the kid’. And he wished to impress them. “
Based on Kyle, Tekiela’s position within the outfit was “to get rid of the people who the mafia wished exterior the mafia.”
“Individuals who have been and being egocentric, or stealing from the group,” Kyle defined.
Ken Tekiela along with her then girlfriend, Holly. They married in 1984. (Kyle Teela)
Kyle believes that the key of his father’s survival, will not be killed or thrown into jail, “didn’t ask too many questions.” In 1982, Tekiela grew to become a paramedic firefighters, making it an asset for the outfit.
“It was about doing all of your job, doing nicely and going residence, doing nothing extra,” Kyle mentioned. “Many of those guys did issues apart to get more money. They’re promoting medicine, which is meant to do. They have been working ladies. They have been stealing … like these different varieties.
The Chicago outfit was energetic within the metropolis through the 70s and 80s. Seen right here there’s a photographic picture of the Chicago Mafia Joseph “Joey” Hohn Aiuppa (1907-1997), round 1980. (Potter and Potter/Gado/Getty Pictures auctions)
“Who is aware of what would have occurred if he didn’t turn into a firefighter,” Kyle mirrored. “And I feel selfishly, the mafia realized that, as the primary responder, it’s an asset. They’ve somebody who goes to crime scenes … can have a household, be a civilian, however [the mob] He additionally has a man inside that he can do his approach, or his beating, I need to say. “
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Ken Tekiela in his 20 years. By then he was working with Chicago’s outfit, mentioned his son. (Kyle Teela)
Tekiela’s spouse by no means suspected that her husband might have had a double life. They married in 1984 and Kyle was born a 12 months later.
“For my mom, ignorance was a happiness,” Kyle mentioned. “She believed every part he informed her. He did not fall. He did not suspect. And if he did not suspect, kids do not suspect.
“He was capable of preserve all that world away from our little home that stored out of town within the suburbs. It was only a common center class. And attributable to his profession as a firefighter, he had respect in the neighborhood. And he had that point out of The home to do no matter obligatory for the outfit. “
Ken Tekiela combating a fireplace. In 1999, he suffered a piece -related harm that resulted in a heroin habit. (Kyle Teela)
Issues took a flip when Kyle was in highschool. When he was about 16 years outdated, his dad and mom started to battle continuously. He realized that the infected veins of his father “have been horrible” and that he acted “erratic.”
“After I was 14, he had an accident,” Kyle mentioned. “I used to be holding a staircase for a firefighter who was climbing to the attic of a excessive ceiling warehouse throughout a fireplace … the staircase got here out and fell on the firefighter.
“The staircase and the fireman fell on high of my father … virtually killed him. He had loads of surgical procedures, and the docs have been prescribing opiates … Then he simply began utilizing [heroin]. In his phrases, “I took a style for these analgesics, however after some time it was not sufficient.” He grew to become addicted, and stayed out of his management. “
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Ken Tekiela together with his spouse Holly. Kyle Tekiela was 17 when she suspected for the primary time that her father was utilizing medicine. (Kyle Teela)
The podcast particulars how Tekiela lastly misplaced its work, and “every part fell aside fairly quick” with the mafia.
It was through the restoration of Tekiela in a detoxing set up, and an need to rebuild his relationship together with his son, which started to open about his previous.
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“I feel … He feels aid and has accepted his actuality, his story,” Kyle mentioned. “He has not lived an excellent life within the final 10, 15 years … It has been tough … My dad went large and destroyed our entire household.
Kyle Tekiela mentioned the final time she noticed her father was in 2023. (Kyle Teela)
“Though the context is horrible, it’s nonetheless its story, and its historical past is smart,” Kyle mirrored. “I feel for him, he thought: ‘Will I be a drug trafficker or a drug addict that ruined my household, or lastly I’m going to inform individuals who I used to be, how I bought there, how I attempted to exit? However could not he And the way did it crumble?
“Even after he informed me all these items, even after all of the ache and wrestle we spent together with his habit, I nonetheless love him,” Kyle continued. “And I respect him extra now that he lastly informed me every part … Now I do know that there was a cause why he had secrets and techniques. There’s a cause why he was drugged. It’s tough to keep up a secret and needed to cope with the ache of some method “.
Kyle, the identical husband and father of a 10 -year -old son, mentioned that speaking to Tekiela for the podcast has been “a therapeutic expertise.” As we speak, Kyle and Ken communicate “often.” Kyle mentioned his father “continues to be utilizing in a roundabout way.”
Kyle Tekiela talks to her father on the cellphone often. (Kyle Teela)
“I can see the true regret in him,” Kyle mentioned. “When these tales inform, these horrible issues I needed to do, there’s a actual regret. All the things is ashamed.”
As we speak, Tekiela has “zero concern” of talking. Kyle feels the identical.
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Ken Tekiela tells her story in “Criminal County.” (Kyle Teela)
“This isn’t simply one other story concerning the mafia,” Kyle mentioned. “It’s a discovery journey between a father and a son … there may be loads of progress. And the factor is that many individuals don’t wish to speak about their emotions. They really feel that it’s weak to speak about your emotions or search remedy.
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“I feel it is rather vital that households speak about arduous truths,” Kyle mentioned. “As quickly as you begin sustaining secrets and techniques, it’s when every part falls aside.”
The brand new episodes of the “Criminal County” can be found for weekly transmission.