The Devil Wore White - Update
The story of Sante Kimes, a woman so mesmerizingly manipulative and criminally prolific that she orchestrated a decades-long crime spree across the U.S. and Caribbean, culminating in the murder of wealthy widow Irene Silverman. Once a con artist who stole identities and forged documents, Sante transformed her life into a masterclass in deception—marrying a millionaire, faking ambassadorships, and burning down her own home for insurance. Her son Kenny, groomed from childhood to be her accomplice, carried out her orders with chilling precision, including the execution-style killing of David Kasdan and the abduction and murder of Irene Silverman. Despite being arrested just hours after Silverman vanished, Sante remained defiant, charming investigators and even appearing on national TV to plead innocence. Her son Kenny’s eventual confession—detailing how he drowned Silverman in a bathtub and dumped her body in New Jersey—sealed their fate. But the story doesn’t end there: decades later, a cold case breakthrough revealed that Sante likely murdered a lawyer, Elmer Holmgren, in a dumpster near LAX, finally bringing closure to a family long haunted by the unsolved disappearance. Now in prison, Kenny Kimes seeks redemption through a bold plan to raise a million dollars for education, while his brother Kent, who escaped her grasp, remains haunted by guilt and skepticism about his brother’s remorse.
Sante Kimes orchestrated a 35-year crime spree using identity theft, arson, and murder, targeting wealthy victims across the U.S. and Caribbean.
Her son Kenny was trained from childhood to be a criminal accomplice, and confessed to murdering Irene Silverman, David Kasdan, and possibly a missing lawyer in a dumpster near LAX.
The murder of Irene Silverman was planned in detail: Sante used a stun gun, drowned her in a bathtub, and dumped her body in New Jersey before being arrested.
Kenny Kimes’ confession, given under pressure and with the promise of avoiding the death penalty, revealed the full extent of his mother’s control and his own complicity.
Sante’s death in 2014 brought relief to some, but not to her sons—Kent still feels guilt, and Kenny seeks redemption through a prison-based education initiative.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Rise of the Femme Fatale
Craig Melvin introduces the theme of optimism, but the episode quickly shifts to the chilling story of Sante Kimes, a woman whose charm masked a lifetime of deception and violence.
The Disappearance of Irene Silverman
On July 4th, 1998, the glamorous widow Irene Silverman vanishes from her Upper East Side mansion, sparking a massive investigation that leads detectives to a suspicious tenant named Manny Guerin.
The Arrest That Changed Everything
Detectives discover that Manny Guerin is actually Kenny Kimes, a known car thief, and that he and his mother Sante were arrested just hours after Silverman disappeared.
The Kimes Crime Family Revealed
Kent Walker, Sante’s firstborn son, recounts growing up under her manipulative rule—stealing, lying, and being trained as a criminal from childhood.
The Murder of David Kasdan
Sante and Kenny are linked to the murder of David Kasdan, a businessman who discovered their fraud and was killed with a single gunshot to the head.
“Before God, I love my mom and dad. And have those positive feelings toward them even though your mother was the one who instructed you to kill people.”
“She had to be dead. There are many kinds of villains. This is the story of a mother and two sons at all kinds of trouble.”
“I knew I was the only person on this planet that would feel pain from it.”
Host
Guests
Sante Kimes
person
Kenny Kimes
person
Irene Silverman
person
Kent Walker
person
David Kasdan
person
NYPD
organization
Cece McNair
person
Elmer Holmgren
person
LAPD
organization
Rhonda Martin
person
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