Hey, Prime members. You can binge eight new episodes of the Mr. Ballin podcast one month early and all episodes ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today.

In the fall of 2003, two detectives were in the middle of a year-long homicide case involving the brutal murder of a 19-year-old girl.

And for the first time, they finally felt like they had a viable suspect.

However, when they pulled up to this suspect's house to conduct a second interview,

the detectives quickly realized the house was abandoned, and their suspect had just disappeared.

And when they tried to track the suspect down, they discovered something totally bizarre

that would turn their case on its head.

But before we get into that story, if you're a fan of the Strange, dark, and Mysterious

delivered in story format, then you've come to the right podcast because that's all we do

and we upload twice a week, once on Monday and once on Thursday. So, if that's of interest

to you, please bring the follow button to a fancy art auction,

and then when the bidding gets absurdly high, shock them with a taser so they waved their paddle

by accident, thereby placing a bid, forcing them to buy a painting they can't afford.

Okay, let's get into today's story. They say Hollywood is where dreams are made, a seductive city where many flock to get rich,

be adored, and capture America's heart.

But when the spotlight turns off, fame, fortune, and lives can disappear in an instant.

Follow Hollywood and Crime, the Cotton Club murder on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the afternoon of June 18, 2002, 19-year-old Ali Kemp walked through the gate at the local pool where she worked in Leewood, Kansas, and headed towards a deck chair.

Ali had on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and she had a backpack slung over her shoulder.

She also had a huge smile on her face because her boyfriend, Phil Howes, was sitting in the chair that she was approaching.

Phil stood up, Allie threw her arms around his neck, and they kissed.

Normally, they wouldn't do this at the place where they both worked, but it was a gray, cloudy

...