As a Young Man, He Went on a Deadly Crime Spree with His Mother. Now He’s Speaking Out
Kenneth Kimes, now 49, has spent decades behind bars after embarking on a deadly crime spree alongside his domineering mother, Sante Kimes. The pair, notorious for their twisted history of fraud, arson, and murder, terrorized victims from Los Angeles to the Bahamas. In a rare interview, Kenneth reflects on his dark past, his turbulent childhood, and the choices that led to his downfall.
A Chilling Crime Scene: Irene Silverman Disappears
In the summer of 1998, Irene Silverman, an 82-year-old New York socialite, grew suspicious of her mysterious tenant and his evasive visitor. The lanky man with green eyes and dark hair shielded his face from security cameras, while his frequent companion, an older woman, remained equally elusive.
Kenneth Kimes and his mother Sante in a Los Angeles courtroom, 2004. (Getty Images)
Silverman had unknowingly rented her townhouse apartment to Kenneth and Sante Kimes, a mother-son duo already wanted for crimes spanning multiple states. Weeks after their arrival, Silverman vanished without a trace. Her disappearance marked the beginning of the end for the Kimeses, unraveling their sinister web of deceit and violence.
From Heir to Accomplice
Kenneth Kimes grew up in a household marked by deception and dysfunction. His father, a wealthy contractor, tried to provide stability, but his mother’s criminal tendencies loomed large. After serving time for enslaving domestic workers, Sante resumed her criminal ways, eventually pulling her son into her schemes.
"If I could only have an hour with my younger self, I would say, ‘Buddy, you have to emancipate from your parents and save yourself,’” Kenneth said from prison.
A Murder Plot Unfolds
In July 1998, Kenneth and Sante’s aliases began to unravel. Police investigating Silverman’s disappearance discovered a trove of evidence in their possession, including guns, forged deeds, and Silverman’s personal belongings. The pair had rented the apartment with the intent to defraud the socialite of her fortune.
Irene Silverman, a vivacious widow and former Radio City ballerina, was murdered by Kenneth and Sante Kimes. (NYPD/Getty Images)
Kenneth later confessed to strangling Silverman in her bedroom, describing how his mother urged him to "do it." He dumped the body in a construction site in New Jersey, where it was never recovered.
Behind Bars: A Life of Reflection
Today, Kenneth serves a life sentence at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in California. Despite his crimes, he remains conflicted about his relationship with his mother.
"I love my mom. She had a lot of baggage and criminal tendencies, but I would never hate her," Kenneth admitted.
Kenneth has since turned to religion and reflected on how intervention could have changed his trajectory. He believes his life is a cautionary tale of what happens when a child is raised in a cycle of crime and manipulation.
Sante Kimes in a 1998 police mugshot. (NYPD/Getty Images)
A Message to Victims
After years of introspection, Kenneth has a message for the families of those he harmed: “To anyone I’ve hurt, I know it’s worthless, but I’m sorry.”
Source: Rebecca Cole, Independent Reporter