Sante Kimes Dies at 87, Ending Decades of Infamy for Notorious Con Artist and Murderer
NEW YORK (AP) — Sante Kimes, the charismatic con artist and convicted murderer whose decades-long crime spree with her son captivated the nation, has died at the age of 87, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The cause of death, at a state prison medical facility, has not been publicly disclosed, though she was known to have numerous health issues.
Who: Sante Kimes, born Sante Marie Johnson, was a career criminal who operated primarily alongside her son, Kenneth Kimes Jr. The duo were convicted of the 1998 murder of 82-year-old Manhattan socialite Irene Silverman, whom they were attempting to swindle out of her luxury townhouse. Kimes was also convicted in the 1996 murder of her former housekeeper, Syed Bilal Ahmed, in California.
What: Kimes, a master manipulator known for her refined Southern accent and ability to forge documents and impersonate others, died while serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Her crimes, spanning decades, included theft, arson, and fraud, often targeting the elderly and vulnerable.
When: She died on Monday, July 15, 2024, at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Where: Kimes passed away at the maximum-security prison in Westchester County, where she had been incarcerated since her 2000 conviction.
Why: Investigators described Kimes as the mastermind behind a persistent scheme of con artistry that escalated to murder to eliminate witnesses or extract assets. The Silverman case, which garnered international headlines, saw mother and son beat and strangle the elderly woman before dumping her body in a New Jersey landfill. It was later found by authorities. Kimes maintained her innocence until her death, claiming she was a victim of a prosecutorial vendetta.
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