So we're in the studio today and we thought it would be fun to call some of the people back who have called us and left us great voicemails.

And I've got somebody here with me, a very special guest.

His name is Sweet Kevin.

Yo.

Sweet Kevin is Kevin Shephard, our associate producer.

He's the guy who responds to your tweets or Instagram messages.

He's also in charge of the voicemails you leave us we call bananas.

The first message he's pulled is one you heard in the last Bonus episode from someone we've come to call parking lot.

Okay, what the fuck?

This is such a good podcast that I had to stop driving.

I'm on episode six.

It's in a grocery store parking lot, like just sitting here listening because I'm so enthralled.

This is the best podcast.

Dope.

Let's call her.

Hello.

Hey, this is Io from the Ballot of Billy Balls.

Okay, wait a minute, I was listen.

This is some crazy Okay, what's up?

Parking lot?

Where is this?

Uh?

The grocery store parking lot that I now imagine you to like pay rent in.

I am in a public's grocery store, parking lot.

Um what town with city with state?

Country?

Oh oh oh like outer space.

No, it might as well be to you Boone, North Carolina, where Appalachian State University is.

Wow, I'm from the city.

But here's the thing.

I left home when I was like fifteen and a half and I worked to kitchens.

I come from four generations of bakers, you know.

I spent a lot of my youth being, you know, just on the streets and like living that kind of life.

So that was like the biggest thing was your podcast is I was like, as your mom, not to just kind of bust in, but I just want to get it out.

As your mom was like discussing the streets and she was saying the words, I was like, fuck yeah.

I was like, it is volumptuous, it is sticky, it is sweaty.

That's the beauty of it.

Like everyone else is a voyor to what she's saying.

But for those of us that have lived in those moments, it's like reminiscing today.

I talked with some of you about the connection you felt to the show, and later you'll hear from some other characters you've gotten to know well from Crimetown.

I'm Io's till it right, and this is another special bonus episode of the Ballot of Billy ball Feel.

Hey, Cheetah, it's Io.

How are you good?

How are you doing?

Yeah?

Hold on, I'm gonna throw it off.

Sorry, watch the South Park Ron.

I do have one more question, though, How do you think we should refer to you because you're not our lawyer?

Law outlaw, higher gun the law Linger.

Pretty much anything works great?

Hello, Hello, Yes, Hey, this is Io, Rebecca Wright's kid.

Wow, I can't believe you're called epilogue two.

I'll call you back.

Get my phone voice ready.

Let's see.

We've got three new voicemails since we started this.

Oh wow, do you want to um?

What about that guy Dom?

Dom?

Yeah?

I liked this voicemail when it came out a lot.

Yeah, that's sweet.

We actually featured that.

It was featured in the credits of chapter four.

To be exact.

Hey, this is Dom from Los Angeles.

I just wanted to say that this podcast is making me feel all kinds of stuff, specifically about my friend Gregory Capri, an amazing soul who got taken too young.

And I think of Billy and Gregory are somewhere special beginning.

Can we call him?

Call him?

Yeah you do?

Hey, Dom, this is uh I, the host of the Ballad of Billy Balls.

Oh what's up, Hey?

I heard that I got featured.

That was freaking crazy.

Yeah you did.

We really liked your voicemail.

Thank you for calling in and sharing that with us.

I wanted to call you back and talk to you a little bit more about Gregory.

Yeah, let's do it.

I'm actually walking with my mom too.

Hi.

Mom.

I know that we're both really connected to our mom.

She's going through crazy times right now too.

She's like got like stage four cancer and it's just kind of crazy, Like life is wild.

So I'm really sorry to hear that.

Tell her I said hello.

And also, if you want to hang out with her and don't want to talk to us about this, you totally don't have to.

Oh let's good.

We're just enjoying a walk together.

So this is perfect timing.

Well, who was Gregory to you?

So?

Greg was a friend.

We were both born like fairly close to one another and small towns in Oregon, and so we have like some kind of weird kinds of spirit.

We used to have a bunch of uh, you know concerts and stuff at our house in the basement, you know, stuff like that, and he would just come through and supply the party.

You know.

So he just had like a fire under him, like he you know, he'd go up to Alaska and fish and like do a super dangerous job to get money and then would just do whatever else he wanted for the rest of those months.

Like he was just a wild man.

But you know, you hang out with him and talked to him, and he was just like a lover, you know, just kind of reminded me like how Billy was.

Just everyone talks about how charismatic he was, about how talents he was.

Like that was like Greg, what ended up happening to him.

He got busted on Saint Patty's Day in his car with like twenty four vials of ascid as something crazy.

We just started to drift because like he got arrested and I didn't know what was going on with him, and then I knew he got out, and I think that he just got like super an academy and I think he was just using one night with somebody and just indeed and it was just like terrible, you know, like it was a huge shock to all of us, even the people that knew him, like thought that he was able to understand his limits in that regard.

But I mean he was just shot out of the cannon.

So that was Greg.

And I mean it really hit me though, because, like even now, it's like my desire to get fucked up and be crazy.

He kind of died with Greg.

You know.

I was just like, what's the point if Greg's not around?

You know, do you think there's an afterlife down and you think that Greg and Billy are hanging out somewhere ripping the world apart.

I think they're both writing like dragon like Game of Throne style somewhere, just like wrecking ombies, playing guitar, like that dude strapped to that monster truck in Mad Max, you know, just like craziest scene you've ever seen.

Who else is there with them?

Shit, I'm sure Jane's Choplin's there, maybe George Herbert Walker, but but hopefully it's a good ratio party.

There's not too many dudes, you know.

Well, thank you, Tom, I really appreciate it.

Yeah, Hey, say hi to my mom.

Her name is Leslie Chris Chris.

Hi, Leslie Chris.

He's also a wild woman, and she had some wild time to recommend day.

Best wishes to Leslie Chris for good healing and health.

Thank you, all right, I'll talk to you so now by unbelievable.

Well that was beautiful.

Thanks again, Dom.

What's next week?

Kevin?

H Let me go to this one right here.

Your podcast has gotten me thinking about the disappearance of my mom, who disappeared in twenty sixteen.

M it's a really strange thing.

Um.

Yeah, I trying to figure out how to Yeah, I don't know, huh, just not sure how to talk about all right.

So my name is Brian Safer.

Thank you.

I was out to lunch when that call came in, and I kind of just listened to them as they come and I stopped and cried for a couple of minutes, just like the you can't even get the kid.

Hello, Hey, Brian, this is Io from the Ballad of Billy Balls.

Yes, how are you?

I'm doing okay?

Is it okay that I'm calling you back?

Yes, it's okay that you're calling you back.

I thought I had my ship together, and just saying that on that voicemail was really hard.

I'm sorry.

It was just really a lot harder than I thought.

Yeah, I mean it makes perfect sense to all of us.

Yeah, well, do you want to tell tell me what happened.

Well, my family all went up to Lake Alpine a camping trip, and my mom wanted to go for a walk down to the lake.

So my dad walked with her about halfway down and then you know, walked back to the campsite and then never heard from her again.

They did a sonar to the lake.

All they found was some logs and whatnot.

They didn't find a scrap of clothing or object that belonged to her, and they scanned the whole area.

Yeah, like miles and miles.

How long did the search gone.

It went on for about two weeks.

They expended as much resources as they could, and they got to the point where they couldn't expend any more resources.

At the time, at least, it was a large search and rescue in California state history.

Wow.

Really, they found absolutely nothing.

She just disappeared, She vanished.

Do you mind if I ask did your mom have any history of any kind of mental illness or anything going on?

Well, she was hiding a lot of things.

What we had figured out is she had been hiding a lot of beginning stages of either dementia or what has it done Alzheimer's Alzheimer's.

Yeah, she didn't want to admit that stuff.

You don't want to admit that you're getting older, you know, it's kind of hard.

So do you have a theory, Brian, of what happened?

I think that probably her whatever she was going through, whether it be dementia or whatever, you know, was way worse.

Yeah, and she was in a place that she didn't really recognize.

So my faught is someone offered to give her a ride.

Yeah, and she got confused and she may have gotten a car with someone that had not necessarily good intentions.

Yeah.

What was her name, Rosalind Saxon Mayer, Rosalind Saxon Meyer.

Yeah.

How have you made peace with this, Brian?

Or have you?

I went through therapy for like for over two years.

Before that, I had two friends get basically murdered.

I was being evicted from my home.

I had a cancer scare that turned out to not be cancered, thankfully, And then I had this and I went in to go see my doctor and I was telling her.

She asked me how I was doing, and I told her everything is She went, do you get a therapist?

Like, yeah, that could be a good thing, I think.

So.

You listen to some people tell their stories about their parents dying, and they're preparing for their parent to die.

I didn't get to prepare for my parent to die.

My parents vanished.

I've always wondered how to really properly tell the story.

It was.

It's hard to speak it into that voicemail.

It was very hard to find those words at that point in time.

And I thank you for listening.

If I could say anything to you after hearing your story and speaking to you a little bit, is like if me opening up impacted you, remember that as you go through the world and the power of you opening up, because that will open things up for other people too, And your story is really powerful and we'll be helpful to someone else.

So keep finding your words.

Man.

Thank you all right, Brian, thank you so much for talking to us and sharing your story.

Have a beautiful day, you too, have a wonderful day.

Bye bye.

Coming up, we check in with some old friends.

That's after the break.

Hello, Hi, this is Austin.

It's Austin, Austin the Ballad of Billy Balls Austin.

This is someone we called Natasha in the show.

Oh hey, how are you doing?

Hi?

You met her in chapter four.

I'm just curious how you're feeling after listening to the season.

I think you guys did in the marvelous job.

I loved every second of an except it still an emotionally training and a very upsetting story, and I feel very sorry for Rebecca.

Did it change what you think happened to Billy or why you think he was shot?

Well, you know, after listening to Ron, that really was the turning point for me, because I actually do believe Ron was very serious and genuine Ron the undercover cop.

I really don't think he was lying, So I think all that's true.

And he was a drug dealer and he definitely dealt in heroin because he knew where to get it.

And the trigger happy stuff that happens with a lot of testosterone with guns involved in fear, and you know, it's really too bad, and I really do think Ron is remorseful that I actually shot and fell them.

How did you feel about being involved in this?

I wanted to make a contribution.

I love the show.

I think you did a fabulous job.

I think it should make a good movie.

I hope you put me in it to it.

I will reveal who I really am in that case and the music that came out of that place.

I wish you would use a little piece of my music from that time.

Okay, all right, I'll throw it consider that.

I'll throw in a piece of music right here.

You're just a bad boy.

What can you give me?

You're just a bad boy.

The lean and lanky.

You're just a bad boy.

You're just a bad bad boy.

Didn't get you?

Well?

Good luck with everything, and thank you for talking with me.

Yeah, and I hope you stay in touch.

Yeah, yeah, definitely.

You can tell me who might want into my podcast.

Um, so are you gonna do a movie?

You think you're gonna going?

Hello?

Hiy Cheetah, Yeah, Hey, hey Cheetah.

This is Austin.

This is Cheetah, Chrome Billy's close friend and fellow musician.

Have you had a chance to listen to the show.

I listen a part of it.

I didn't get a chance to listen to all.

I don't know.

Do you want to know what we found?

Yeah?

No, I was Elvin?

Would your fine?

Okay?

So we um found the police report and the police report said it had the story from the undercover cop.

Austin tells Cheetah about the police report and that we talked with the undercover cop.

He said that Billy pulled a gun on him while he was trying to buy heroin from him and cocked it and that's why he shot Billy.

I don't find Billy would have never pulled a fucking gun.

That's my first reaction to that.

Billy was a musician.

Yeah, he was some street criminal.

Yeah, you know, yeah, our cops little shit.

No Billy.

I don't buy it once.

Second, when Billie never sold heroin to any of us, these old pills to you know, volumes and fucking second halls and shit like that.

Speed, I don't buy that.

I don't buy it at all.

Unless he was into something deeper than I know about.

Yeah, and there is that chance.

Well, I'm sorry, I'm sorry to tell you the story.

I know it sounds it's probably upsetting.

Man.

I'm up saying, shit, he was a good friend.

Yeah.

How many people do you find at midnight a roller skates and snow show, little snug in a blue jumpsuit, in a blue jumpsuit.

Yes, Tima's roller skate.

Did he roller skate everywhere?

We've heard a couple of times, yes, any body else roller escape?

No?

And he wrote great songs.

You maybe just to win.

There's just much too much for you.

I was awesome guy, and I mean what happened just fuck?

Yeah, I'm sorry.

God, that's okay, man, because it is closure one.

I mean, getting the fucking cop on the phones boss, far as you can get it.

Yeah, that's how we feel.

Well, thanks for talking with me.

Yeah, yeah, thanks all right, well thanks, thank hello Boston, it's ub How are you man?

And of course we had to talk with the law slinger ron Kuby.

Did you listen to the final episode?

Yes, of course I did, deeply sad, deeply moving, realizing that in the guise of a true crime story, it was really very much a love story between mom and her son.

Yeah, and you know, it illustrated something that we don't need much illustration of these days, which is the power of false narrative to affect people's lives and behaviors, and their persistent refusal and unwillingness to examine actual facts that could contradict that narrative or add a way of nuance to that narrative, and you know, it made me feel really bad for Rebecca, who kind of is now and has kind of always been a child who needed taken care of.

And I think different people played that role in her life.

I think Io ended up playing that role.

And to be self referential to it, you know what what you guys called it was just like, Okay, you want to do an interview or you want to ask me some questions about this aspect of policing or whatever.

Fine, Fine, And then you know the level of depth and discussion and your charm and Io's charm and everything.

The two of you were really serious about this project and we're really seriously trying to get the documents that would tell a version of the story that it had not been told.

And you went about it in all the role long way now you did.

I mean, it's not your fault, your your life people, your lawyers.

Yeah, and you talk to it all the wrong people who gave you all the wrong answers.

And this was k of those things like I know, if I spend two hours on this, I can do this.

And it made a real difference in how the story got told and what the story really was and I'm just I'm very happy I did that.

Is there any advice for somebody who is wanting to do a kind of foil request like we did if they don't have a lawyer involved?

The answer is find a lawyer, don't call me or you know what, I've got an idea.

They should like email or call you and you just spend a mc comfy to watch set.

Okay, that's true.

Maybe we can put this make public what you put in for us.

Sure, we're going to do just that.

We'll put Ron's full foil request on our social media pages.

That's so nice of you.

We can't thank you enough.

Sure you can't.

Trying to figure out a way to thank me or not?

Yeah, okay, thanks Ryan.

I just realized I should also.

I have it on Do not Disturb and go straight to voice.

Man.

I'm back in the studio with sweet Kevin.

This is a funny one.

It's funny, but then it gets real.

Oh, we've got one last person to call back.

You got k Balls here, a ka Ralph Tillman, a K cooking Kimball.

I've been in a rock and roll business currently drive a rock and roll bus in Your podcast has filled many many miles of joy.

I've laughed, I've cried, question my owd fucking reality.

Keep up the good work party home.

That message was awesome, but then we got another message once again, K Balls, And I believe this podcast made me gonna change my life.

When I get home, I'm gonna quit rock and roll business and spend some time with my daughter before she is grown up at jug forever.

Holy shit, call K balls right now, we're calling K balls.

Hey, Hey, is this K Balls?

It is K Balls, K Balls.

This is I am.

I'm the host of the Ballot of Billy Bass.

Wow.

How are you.

I have thoroughly enjoyed your program, Thanks man, thank you.

Where are you?

I'm in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Cool I drive to the Marshall Checker Band and you want the guys called me kay Ball.

I like cooking Kimball too.

That's another one of your nicknames, Cooking Kimball.

Ralph Tillman, I got a whole buck you eliot said you never use your real name out on the road, So Ralph Tillman's not your real name either.

No Kimball, Hi, Kimball.

It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

We all really loved your voicemail.

When I'm just sitting there listening to shit a baby and it was me, I said, just that get good.

But hey, I have a question for you.

Go for it.

Your second voicemail, you said, I'm gonna go home and quit the rock and roll business and spend some time with my daughter.

What's that all about.

Well, I've been on the road all these years.

When you're gone two hundred days a year, you're gone, and you know, you know, you missed some things.

So like the first formative years seven years of her life, I was there, and then her mother and I just split up, and then I've just been on the road ever since.

My daughter's a senior, and so I said fuck it and came straight home and I'm at home.

No shit, no shit.

I'm not going to presume that that's because you listen to our podcast.

Well you sort of, because you know, as a driver, you know I'm up all night, you know, self medicated, you know how it goes and all that shit.

So I just got really emotional listening to y'all thing.

That's it.

Damn you found Amanda.

And when you found Amanda, you know you just think it just look at the life that she had to live.

You know, it's crazy, and you know life's too fucking short to just let it just fly on by you, you know.

Yeah, And I've got a farm and all the things that you want on a life except happiness, oh that little thing.

But yeah, I think it did influence me to just say fuck it, and I did.

That's amazing, Cables, what's your what's your daughter like?

She is a sack of hell.

She's just the best kid, She's honest.

I don't know how that's possible.

Well, what are you gonna do with her?

Now that you're home?

So I'm gonna just hang out with her.

Um, take my daughter to the beach for grad week, and we're gonna do dinner tonight and hopefully you can get your ash from here tomorrow.

Help me with this garden.

We got stuff to do.

But you know how seventeen year old girls are.

Oh, you're in for it, man, Kimball.

It's been a real pleasure speaking to you.

Thank you for picking up and and thank you for calling us in the first place.

And I'm really proud of you.

Man.

If I'm allowed to be, I'll tell you what.

Keep up the good work kids, all right, take care.

If you guys drink moonshine, I'll send you some great man all right.

Don appreciate the call.

It means so much, Jimmy, Hello, ky Balls here, I'm just laying in bed here.

I've been at the fucking beach with bunch of senior girls that have graduated.

Oh God gives on the un party anymore?

Kate Balls, k Balls, wherever you are.

Party on Crimetown is Zach Stewart Pontier and Mark Smirling.

The Ballad of Billy Balls is hosted by me Io till It Write and made in partnership with Kaden's thirteen.

You can find me on the Internet and Io loves you on everything.

I love it when you say hello.

And if you want to know more about my story, you can pick up my memoir Darling Days.

It's inaudible too.

If you'd like to leave us your own voicemail, please do you never know when we'll be done, give us a call at five to seven ero three nine two nine six six ero.

This episode was produced by me, Kevin Shepard, and Ryan Swikert.

Our senior producer is Austin Mitchell, editing by Zach Stewart Pontier and Mark Smerling.

This episode was mixed by Sam Baer, music by Kenny Quciak.

Our title track is Dark Allies by Light Asylum.

Special thanks to David Williams at Melrose Music and Palm Springs for all your help this season.

Thanks to Daniella Ariah Rachel, Lee Wright, Emily Wiedemann, Green Card Pictures, Alessandro Santoro, Bill Clegg, Cassie Evashevsky, Ben Davis, Orn Rosenbaum, and the team at Caden's thirteen, And of course, as always, my Mom, without whom none of this would be possible and fe