He was one of LA’s most feared and calculating gang leaders, linked to at least a dozen murders and known for his chilling control over a neighborhood in Atwater Village. Dive into the dark story of Timothy Joseph McGhee, the mastermind behind a reign of terror and one of the FBI’s Most Wanted.
This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.
Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time… look alive guys, it’s crazy out there!
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Footnotes
Articles/Websites
Wikipedia. (05/03/2025). Timothy Joseph McGhee. Retrieved 06/26/2025 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Joseph_McGhee.
Eways, Andrew. (02/07/2013). The Monster of Atwater Village. Police1. Retrieved 06/19/2025 from https://www.police1.com/gangs/articles/the-monster-of-atwater-village-JKKROkWEjhQPShXg/
Krikorian, Greg. (10/26/2007). Jury convicts L.A. gang leader of three murders. LA Times. Retrieved 06/19/2025 from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-sep-28-me-mcghee28-story.html
Leonard, Jack. (01/10/2009). Gang Leader Sentenced to Death. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 06/20/2025 from https://www.newspapers.com/image/193601244/
Leonard, Eric; Blankstein, Andrew. (04/03/2025). California Supreme Court reverses murder convictions of notorious Atwater Village gang boss. NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 06/20/2025 from https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/california-supreme-court-reverses-murder-convictions-atwater-village-gang-timothy-mcghee/3669647/
Perez, Chris. (04/06/2025). ‘Basically, he’s a monster’: Man who ‘seemed to enjoy killing’ gets conviction and death sentence overturned in triple-murder case by state Supreme Court. Law & Crime. Retrieved 06/20/2025 from https://lawandcrime.com/crime/basically-hes-a-monster-man-who-seemed-to-enjoy-killing-gets-conviction-and-death-sentence-overturned-in-triple-murder-case-by-state-supreme-court/
FindLaw. (06/23/2003). THE PEOPLE v. TIMOTHY JOSEPH McGHEE (2010). Retrieved 06/20/2025 from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-court-of-appeal/1528849.html
Spano, John. (09/28/2007). L.A. gang leader’s murder trial starts. LA Times. Retrieved 06/20/2025 from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-sep-28-me-mcghee28-story.html
Hurd, Rick. (08/31/2012). San Quentin: Officers attacked by death-row inmate. Contra Costa Times. Retrieved 06/23/2025 from https://www.corrections1.com/officer-safety/articles/san-quentin-officers-attacked-by-death-row-inmate-V4aC9ITiHKb3Tgll/
Sinco Kellehe, Jennifer. (11/28/2001). From the Archives: Police look for gang leader in woman’s death. LA Times. Retrieved 06/24/2025 from https://www.latimes.com/la-me-archive-womans-death-20141114-story.html
Rolling Stone. (10/20/1999). More Violence While Rapper Kurupt Finishes Upcoming Album. Retrieved 06/24/2025 from https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/more-violence-255156/
Blankstein, Andrew; Winton, Richard. (02/13/2003). Gang Leader Held in Arizona. LA Times. Retrieved 06/24/2025 from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-13-me-mcghee13-story.html
Westphal, Sylvia; Philips, Chuck. (10/19/1999). 1 Killed, 2 Wounded Outside Music Studio. LA Times. Retrieved 06/25/2025 from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-19-me-23964-story.html
Blankstein, Andrew; Winton, Richard. (01/11/2003). ‘Monster’ Sought in a Dozen Killings. LA Times. Retrieved 06/25/2025 from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-11-me-killer11-story.html
Supreme Court of California. (11/14/2024). People Of The State Of California v Timothy Joseph Mcghee. Retrieved 06/25/2025 from https://supreme.courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/supremecourt/default/documents/6-1580-s169750-resp-supp-brief-111424.pdf
Los Angeles Daily News. (05/14/2007). Words may hurt, after all. Retrieved 06/26/2025 from https://www.dailynews.com/2007/05/14/words-may-hurt-after-all/
Los Angeles Daily News. (10/26/2007). Gang leader Timothy McGhee convicted of murders. Retrieved 06/26/2025 from https://www.dailynews.com/2007/10/26/gang-leader-timothy-mcghee-convicted-of-murders/
History
Wikipedia. (04/02/2025). Toonerville Folks. Retrieved 06/20/2025 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toonerville_Folks
Wikipedia. (02/27/2025). Toonerville Rifa 13. Retrieved 06/20/2025 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toonerville_Rifa_13
Anderson, Meg. (01/14/2020). Racist Housing Practices From The 1930s Linked To Hotter Neighborhoods Today. NPR. Retrieved 06/26/2025 from https://www.npr.org/2020/01/14/795961381/racist-housing-practices-from-the-1930s-linked-to-hotter-neighborhoods-today
Podcasts
Serial Killers: S1.E290. “The Monster of Atwater Village” Timothy Joseph McGhee
Video
Gangsters: America’s Most Evil S4E2. Timothy McGhee
Music
“Abyss” by Alasen: ●https://soundcloud.com/alasen●https://twitter.com/icemantrap ●https://instagram.com/icemanbass/●https://soundcloud.com/therealfrozenguy●
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Late Nights by Marlene Miller. Used with permission. Find her Facebook and Instagram under SEMNCHY or marlenemiller138@gmail.com
“Dance of Death” by Purple Planet Music http://www.purple-planet.com
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
“Bleeping Demo” & “Furious Freak” by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/full_list.php
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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