What Ash Kelley has said about Tillie Klimek murder case

Kelley says Klimek remarried only one month after her first husband's death and that the second husband died within three months.

“in February of 1914, just one month after Joseph's death, Tilly married Joseph Ruszkowski. But that marriage proved to be very short-lived”

Morbid: Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 5:59

Kelley recounts that Klimek told a Milwaukee boyfriend she had poisoned her first two husbands after he laughed off her marriage proposal.

“contrary to popular belief, my previous two husbands didn't die of natural causes. I fucking poisoned them. So don't mess with me”

Morbid: Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 7:35

Kelley describes landlady Martha Weselek's trial testimony that Klimek publicly shopped for a cheap coffin while Frank was still alive.

“came out in the yard with a piece of newspaper all about a fine coffin for $30 that she was going to get for Frank”

Morbid: Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 10:42

Kelley recounts a mourner's account that Klimek grabbed her dead husband's ear at his funeral and shouted at the corpse.

“tilly reached into the coffin and grabbed frank's ear shouting you devil you won't get up anymore”

Morbid: Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 12:42

Kelley says Joseph Klimek later explained he married Tillie because she kept a good home.

“He later said that he married her for a nice home because she was a good cook and kept a clean space”

Morbid: Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 16:12

Kelley says Klimek confessed to poisoning her husband because she believed he was seeing other women.

“she broke down and confessed that she tried to poison Joseph because he was, quote, fooling around with other women”

Morbid: Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 25:58

Kelley summarizes prosecutor William McLaughlin's opening statement alleging a wholesale poison plot involving at least six deaths.

“the two women had planned and carried out a wholesale poison plot, which claimed at least six lives and caused serious illness to nearly a score more”

Morbid: Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 36:27

Kelley relays nurse Mildred Scully's testimony that Klimek joked about striking her ailing husband with a board.

“if he makes any trouble for you take a two by four board and hit him over the head with it”

Morbid: Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 38:02

Kelley quotes Klimek's testimony denying responsibility for her husbands' deaths.

“I loved them. They loved me. They just died. Same as other people. I'm not responsible for that”

Morbid: Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 41:19