Irene Silverman was 74 years old when she was found strangled in her Manhattan townhouse on July 4, 1998. The wealthy socialite had been reported missing by her housekeeper three days earlier, sparking a massive search effort that would end in one of New York City's most shocking homicide cases.
Background
Sante Kimes and her son Kenneth Kimes Jr. had been living with Irene Silverman in her 12 East 69th Street townhouse for several months before the murder. The pair had met Silverman in Las Vegas earlier that year, and Sante had cultivated a friendship with the elderly widow, eventually moving into her home.
The prosecution would later argue that the murders were premeditated. Investigators discovered that Sante Kimes had taken out a $1 million life insurance policy on Silverman shortly before the killing. The motive appeared to be financial—Silverman was known to have substantial wealth.
Irene Silverman's body was discovered by her housekeeper on July 4, 1998. She had been strangled in her bedroom. The murder sent shockwaves through Manhattan's Upper East Side, where Silverman had been a well-known figure in social circles for decades.
The Investigation
The investigation moved quickly after Silverman's body was found. Police discovered that Sante and Kenneth Kimes had vanished, along with Silverman's car. A nationwide manhunt was launched, and the pair were eventually arrested in Colorado in August 1998.
During their trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Sante Kimes had orchestrated the murder, with her son carrying it out. The defense attempted to argue that Kenneth Kimes acted alone, but the jury rejected this theory.
In 2000, both Sante and Kenneth Kimes were convicted of murder in the first degree. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case was notable for its unusual circumstances—a mother and son team responsible for a calculated killing that shocked the nation.
Key Takeaways
- Irene Silverman, 74, was found strangled in her Manhattan townhouse on July 4, 1998
- Sante Kimes and Kenneth Kimes Jr. were convicted of the murder and sentenced to life without parole
- The motive was reportedly financial—Sante Kimes had taken out a $1 million insurance policy on Silverman
- The pair were arrested in Colorado in August 1998, one month after the murder
- Both mother and son remain incarcerated decades later
What's Next
Both Sante Kimes, now in her late 80s, and Kenneth Kimes Jr., now in his mid-50s, remain imprisoned at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California. There is no possibility of parole for either convict. The case remains one of the defining criminal partnerships in American true crime history, a reminder of how calculated and cold-blooded murder can be when financial greed drives it.