The Brutally Batted Bartender - West Liberty, Iowa - Part 1
Sep 11, 2026 · 1h 12m
Summary
This episode of Small Town Murder Express covers the 1992 murder of Corey Lee Wenke, a popular bartender in West Liberty, Iowa. Hosts James Petrigall and Jimmy Wman detail Wenke's chaotic lifestyle, including his engagement to Jody Hotz, his affair with Annette D. Hazen, and his other relationships. The narrative follows the timeline of October 12-13, 1992, highlighting Annette’s erratic behavior, her confrontation with Wenke, and her subsequent day working roofing jobs. The episode concludes with Jody discovering Wenke’s body, which showed signs of 13 blunt force trauma strikes, while poli…
Topics discussed
Intro and live show ticket announcements
Patreon promotion and Crime & Sports preview
Introduction to West Liberty, Iowa
Town history, demographics, and resident reviews
Dutchess County Fair and local events discussion
Corey Wenke's background and life at Wink's Tap
Corey's multiple relationships and past behavior
Events of October 12, 1992: The night of the murder
Discovery of the body and initial police response
Forensic evidence and the murder weapon
Community reaction and initial investigation theories
Suspect analysis: Jody, Bob Morrison, and Annette
Other suspects and the case going cold
Further suspects and the 10-year anniversary update
Dog witness theory and cold case unit efforts
Outro, upcoming episodes, and social media plugs
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