Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode covers the horrific 2008 crime committed by William Keck in Las Vegas, Nevada, against his estranged wife Angel and her new partner Jonathan Lestelle. After a whirlwind romance and proposal, William had displayed increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior, including faking mental illness to get discharged from the Navy, breaking into an apartment with a chainsaw, and killing a pet. When Angel left him and later became pregnant with Jonathan's child, William targeted the couple in the middle of the night. Armed with a chainsaw and an AK-47, he sawed through their apartment door and fired 21 rounds inside. Jonathan was killed, along with their dog and unborn child, while Angel survived despite being shot eight times.
The hosts detail William's subsequent arrest, trial, and eventual death sentence in 2012, highlighting how the defense attorneys went as far as berating their own client in court while asking the jury to lock him away forever. Listeners hear how Angel rebuilt her life through music and tattoo artistry, despite the lingering trauma of the attack. The episode stands out for its deep exploration of domestic narcissism, the warning signs of escalating abuse, and the harrowing details drawn directly from court transcripts, witness accounts, and Angel's own documentary interviews.
- Recognize early behavioral extremes and deceptive stories as critical warning signs of a dangerous partner. 11:46
- Ensure proper separation from an unhappy marriage before pursuing a new relationship to maintain clear boundaries. 24:01
- Surviving severe trauma requires immense physical and mental rehabilitation, such as Angel returning to her rock band. 44:18
Chapters
- 0:00Podcast Intro and Advertisements
The episode opens with a brief ad break before the hosts welcome listeners to the True Crime All the Time podcast.
- 2:18Hosts Introduce Episode and Guest
Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson introduce the episode and set the stage for the discussion of William Keck.
- 6:01Background on William Keck and Angel
The hosts provide context on Keck’s relationship with Angel, including their romance, marriage, and the early warning signs.
- 32:22Escalation of Violence and Chainsaw Attack
Keck’s violent behavior escalates, culminating in a chainsaw‑assisted break‑in and shooting of Angel and Jonathan.
- 50:57Discussion of Mental Health and Defense Strategy
The hosts analyze Keck’s defense of mental illness and the court’s handling of his remorse statements.
- 54:26Legal Proceedings and Trial
The episode covers Keck’s arrest, trial, charges, and the eventual death sentence.
- 57:14Conclusion and Ongoing Appeals
The episode concludes with reflections on the case’s impact and Keck’s continued appeals.
- 57:48Keck’s Narcissistic Abuse Tactics
Discussion of Keck’s love‑bombing, gaslighting, and refusal to take responsibility.
- 59:08Keck’s Final Plan to Kill
Hosts explain how Keck’s jealousy over a new partner led to a murderous plot.
- 1:00:20Hosts Respond to Voicemail
Hosts thank the caller and express interest in the new case.
Highlights
- 4:10
Unsolved and Patreon Case Previewsstory
The hosts discuss parallel cases, including the stabbing death of Terry Fetner in South Carolina and the murder of John Hillrich.
- 8:07
Bizarre Military Application Answerinsight
William told Angel he wrote that he wanted to join the Navy because he wanted to kill people.
- 10:59
Faking Madness to Leave the Navystory
William called Angel to confess he had cut his arms with a razor blade and claimed he saw imaginary spiders.
- 19:24
Another Midnight Break-In Attemptstory
Police arrived after William tried to smash through the glass door of a young woman living alone in a nearby townhome.
- 21:49
Meeting Jonathan and Shared Interestsstory
Angel found solace and fell in love with fellow tattoo artist Jonathan Lestelle, who shared her passion for art and Halloween.
- 32:33
The Late Night Apartment Attackstrategy
William used a chainsaw to breach Angel and Jonathan's apartment door before firing 21 rounds from an AK-47.
- 37:41
Surviving Eight Gunshot Woundsdata
Angel was rushed to the hospital after being shot eight times, while Jonathan and an unborn baby were killed.
- 52:49
Defense Attorneys Berate Their Clientdebate
In a dramatic courtroom strategy, William's public defenders publicly insulted him and urged the jury to lock him away forever.
Quotes
“He was armed with a chainsaw and an assault rifle, and he opened fire into the couple's apartment.”
Unnamed speaker · 6:10 “Angel said that looking back on the extremes he went to to get out of the military, it is now a huge warning sign for her.”
Unnamed speaker · 11:46 “He used the chainsaw to cut a hole in the apartment door and then fired 21 rounds through the hole before fleeing the scene.”
Unnamed speaker · 33:53 “The defense suggested that William suffered from a mental disorder. Angel testified that before the shooting, William threatened to shoot her in the stomach and kill her baby.”
Unnamed speaker · 47:57 “The worst kind of evil is when it comes from somebody you thought you could trust.”
Unnamed speaker · 56:23 “I don't know if he had any mental health issues or if he was, as has been alleged, kind of faking them when he felt as though he needed to, right?”
Unnamed speaker · 57:30 “He wanted to know what was going on with this new man in her life.”
Unnamed speaker · 59:04 “And I really do think it was because he wanted to keep tabs on her.”
Unnamed speaker · 58:59 “He had to figure out a way to stay in her life somehow.”
Unnamed speaker · 58:53
Sponsored segments
- DraftKings Casino 0:00–1:08
- Securian.com 1:25–1:43
- Patreon 3:14–4:39
- Quince 18:04–19:23
About this episode
In 2008, tattoo artists Ainjil Chipp and Jonathon Lestelle were building a life together in Las Vegas and preparing for the birth of their son. Ainjil had separated from her husband, William John Keck, whose increasingly erratic and disturbing behavior had plagued their relationship. After learning Ainjil was pregnant with Jonathon’s child, Keck became enraged, threatening to shoot her in the stomach and kill the baby. In the early morning hours of November 3, Keck arrived at Ainjil and Jonathon’s apartment dressed in black and armed with a chainsaw and an AK-47. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss William Keck. Keck used the chainsaw to cut through the apartment door before firing 21 rounds inside the apartment. Witnesses spotted Keck leaving the complex, and investigators arrested him about 90 minutes after the shooting. Evidence recovered by police, along with Keck’s previous threats and Ainjil’s account of years of troubling behavior, helped reveal the jealousy and rage behind the horrific attack. You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetime Visit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation information An Emash Digital production See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
9,516 words · 4 speakers
Topics
- chainsaw
- AK-47
- Las Vegas
- Evil Lives Here
- Las Vegas Review-Journal
- Red Honda Civic
- Ottawa
- Las Vegas Sun
- Nevada
- AR
Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated