In the summer of 1997, Tom Klonowski was in his mid-twenties and just starting his journey as the owner of Pizza by Marchellonis in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It was a Friday night in August when a routine order for a pepperoni pizza turned into a life-altering encounter with a man the local press dubbed "The Pizza Bandit."

In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, host Jake LaMore sits down with Tom to recount the details of the robbery and the multi-state investigation that followed. Tom shares the vivid details that remain with him nearly thirty years later—from the specific golf polo the robber wore to the high-stakes "code words" his family used to keep watch over the shop in the weeks that followed.

We also discuss:

• The Investigation: Tom’s experience working with Detective Kunce and the Bourbonnais Police Department during a string of local pizza shop robberies.
• The Ohio Arrest: The strange-but-true story of how the suspect was finally apprehended after trying to blend in as an employee during a robbery in another state.
• Resilience & Recovery: Tom’s honest reflection on the emotional aftermath of the event and the importance of seeking help after a traumatic experience.

A Note on the Research: While Tom's memory of these events is clear, the official paper trail has faded over time. Jake shares his efforts to locate the original police reports and Daily Journal articles, and why those records are no longer available in the public archives.

Episode Highlights:

• [03:38] – Tom’s signature intro: "This one time in Kankakee..."
• [06:10] – The Friday night order that changed everything.
• [14:21] – The "pizza apron" ruse and the eventual arrest in Ohio.
• [29:51] – Tom’s advice on processing trauma and moving forward.

Subscribe & Follow: Hear the full story of the Pizza Bandit by subscribing to This One Time in Kankakee on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Have a story of your own? Reach out to [email protected].

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