Episode 92: Amelia Zelko, Part 1 with guest reader Taylor Meskimen

Just before midnight on September 27, 1957, a quiet neighborhood in Joliet, Illinois, was jolted awake by the sound of a woman’s scream, a car door slamming, and tires screeching into the night. By morning, 47-year-old journalist and co-owner of The Joliet Spectator, Amelia Zelko, was gone. Known for her fearless reporting on organized crime and political corruption, Amelia had powerful enemies and a long list of people who might’ve wanted to silence her.

In this first episode of a two-part series, we trace Amelia’s path from her role as a pioneering woman in media to the final night she was seen alive.

📖 Featuring an original poem written in her honor, read by Taylor Meskimen. Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Taylor is a multifaceted actress and artist, well-versed across a variety of creative fields with professional accomplishments in Theater, Film, Music and Television.

Taylor has been performing live for over a decade at venues throughout Los Angeles when she hasn't been in recording studios voicing characters for animation and commercials. She has also won awards for her Audiobook Narrations and has over 130 audiobooks available on Audible.

No stranger to artistry and hard work, talent and success run Taylor's blood. She is the granddaughter of television star Marion Ross, best known for her role alongside Ron Howard in the hit TV series Happy Days. Taylor's parents are also both professional actors and her mother runs one of the top acting schools in Los Angeles, The Acting Center.

🎙️ If you have any information about the location of Amelia Zelko, contact the Illinois State Police - District 5 at (815) 726-6377.

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