Some of the teens had been found dead and, like the girl in the cornfield, with signs of strangulation. Co-star Ray Liotta, who passed away in May of 2022, was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor as “Big Jim Keene”. The series received critical acclaim with particular praise toward Jimmy Keene's original story and its cast.

Beaumont then sat opposite Keene and, with a typical dramatic flourish, slid a fat legal file across the table. Keene gives a clear and honest account of his life's beginnings, as well as the extraordinary tale of his ascent and descent. The two talk about sex, where Larry reveals that he does not care about the woman's consent and alludes to having killed victims who threatened to report on him. James Keene is a well-known American author and businessman raised in Kankakee, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. But back then I discovered a way to put more money in my pocket than the richest kids had—selling drugs.When Jimmy Keene first heard the judge pronounce his sentence in July of 1997, he says, “The life went right out of me. Black Bird was nominated for three Golden Globe awards, including Best Limited Series or Television Motion Picture and Best Actor in a Television Limited Series or Television Motion Picture (Egerton as Keene). I reached out to Jimmy early, confirmed a bunch of stuff from the book, asked for some anecdotal stuff that wasn't in the book.

Every major news outlet and many notable journalists, including Newsweek, CNN, and Paula Zahn have interviewed him. For the meeting with the prosecutor, a sheriff’s deputy put Keene in handcuffs and shackles, then marched him into the jail’s tiny, windowless conference room, where his lawyer, Steinback, was waiting. James Keene is the son of a former police officer who went from high school football star to major-league drug dealer. Obviously the arcs of each man's story are grossly different, but Levin weaves through both in a way that helps explain without excusing the worst behaviors of either.

He produces and consults on various film projects, enjoys acting, and had a cameo appearance in the final episode of Black Bird.