1 00:00:07,507 --> 00:00:08,641 - In the criminal justice system, 2 00:00:09,809 --> 00:00:12,412 detectives and prosecutors face daunting challenges 3 00:00:12,445 --> 00:00:14,514 when money is the motive for murder. 4 00:00:14,547 --> 00:00:17,851 [dramatic sting] 5 00:00:17,884 --> 00:00:19,152 - Irene Silverman, 6 00:00:19,185 --> 00:00:20,320 82 years old, 7 00:00:20,353 --> 00:00:23,623 last seen July 5th, 1998. 8 00:00:23,656 --> 00:00:25,158 - Irene lived on the Upper East Side. 9 00:00:25,191 --> 00:00:27,727 She's worth a lot of money. Now she's missing. 10 00:00:27,761 --> 00:00:30,163 - The disappearance of a wealthy socialite 11 00:00:30,196 --> 00:00:31,264 grips a nation... 12 00:00:31,297 --> 00:00:33,066 - This was the largest search 13 00:00:33,099 --> 00:00:35,635 that I have ever participated in by far. 14 00:00:35,669 --> 00:00:38,638 - And New York detectives stop at nothing to find her. 15 00:00:38,672 --> 00:00:40,540 - The investigation is in full swing. 16 00:00:40,573 --> 00:00:42,542 Everyone is riveted to this case. 17 00:00:42,575 --> 00:00:44,544 - But the city faces a case 18 00:00:44,577 --> 00:00:46,146 that has never been tried and won. 19 00:00:46,179 --> 00:00:48,915 - There was no body. This was an uphill battle. 20 00:00:48,948 --> 00:00:50,650 - No one's prepared for how twisted 21 00:00:50,684 --> 00:00:52,452 the real story truly is. 22 00:00:52,485 --> 00:00:54,454 - She was the devil in sheep's clothing. 23 00:00:54,487 --> 00:00:56,856 - She loved to lie. 24 00:00:56,890 --> 00:00:59,259 - These men and women dedicate their lives 25 00:00:59,292 --> 00:01:00,527 to law and order. 26 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,162 - I had nightmares about her. 27 00:01:02,195 --> 00:01:04,297 She was as dangerous as a cobra. 28 00:01:04,330 --> 00:01:06,299 - These are their true stories. 29 00:01:06,332 --> 00:01:09,836 * * 30 00:01:11,504 --> 00:01:13,540 [dramatic sting] 31 00:01:15,809 --> 00:01:18,611 [dramatic music] 32 00:01:18,645 --> 00:01:22,082 - July 5th, 1998 was a beautiful summer night. 33 00:01:22,082 --> 00:01:25,985 There were three of us working in the detective squad. 34 00:01:26,086 --> 00:01:29,155 - Around 6:00 p.m., the detectives were notified 35 00:01:29,189 --> 00:01:30,657 about a missing person. 36 00:01:30,690 --> 00:01:32,459 [siren wails] 37 00:01:32,492 --> 00:01:33,493 - The patrol officers said that they had 38 00:01:33,526 --> 00:01:35,095 a missing elderly woman. 39 00:01:35,095 --> 00:01:38,131 [camera shutter snaps] Her name was Irene Silverman. 40 00:01:38,164 --> 00:01:40,300 - When the detectives responded to 41 00:01:40,333 --> 00:01:42,769 Irene Silverman's disappearance, 42 00:01:42,802 --> 00:01:44,804 they immediately started conducting interviews. 43 00:01:44,838 --> 00:01:47,173 [camera shutter snaps] 44 00:01:47,207 --> 00:01:51,144 She fit the category of special missing persons 45 00:01:51,177 --> 00:01:55,715 because of her age, and that alarmed everyone. 46 00:01:55,749 --> 00:01:58,385 - In 1998, I was an active detective 47 00:01:58,418 --> 00:01:59,552 in the 19th precinct. 48 00:01:59,586 --> 00:02:01,321 I worked with Joe Reznick. 49 00:02:01,354 --> 00:02:02,822 He was a lieutenant 50 00:02:02,856 --> 00:02:04,924 in the 34th precinct detective squad. 51 00:02:04,958 --> 00:02:08,528 - New York City in 1998 was fairly good. 52 00:02:08,561 --> 00:02:11,331 We had come a long way as far as crime was concerned. 53 00:02:11,364 --> 00:02:13,733 You could literally see good changes 54 00:02:13,767 --> 00:02:15,135 throughout the city, 55 00:02:15,168 --> 00:02:17,971 all the way until July 5th, 56 00:02:18,071 --> 00:02:19,973 when I'm given this case. 57 00:02:20,073 --> 00:02:23,743 I spent 36 years doing investigations. 58 00:02:23,777 --> 00:02:25,245 The ten-foot-tall moments 59 00:02:25,278 --> 00:02:27,580 that I've encountered over the years, 60 00:02:27,614 --> 00:02:29,082 they're rare. 61 00:02:29,082 --> 00:02:31,084 But on July 5th, 62 00:02:31,084 --> 00:02:33,620 that's a ten-foot-tall moment. 63 00:02:33,653 --> 00:02:35,922 - Irene Silverman had a staff 64 00:02:35,955 --> 00:02:38,391 of housekeepers and personal assistants 65 00:02:38,425 --> 00:02:41,561 who were all very concerned with her sudden disappearance. 66 00:02:41,594 --> 00:02:43,763 - One person that was available that evening 67 00:02:43,797 --> 00:02:45,231 to talk to detectives 68 00:02:45,265 --> 00:02:50,537 was a female named Aracelis, the weekend housekeeper. 69 00:02:50,570 --> 00:02:53,440 She says that on July 5th, 70 00:02:53,473 --> 00:02:56,710 approximately 11:45 in the morning, 71 00:02:56,743 --> 00:03:00,580 she was asked by Irene to walk the dog, 72 00:03:00,613 --> 00:03:02,582 clean some garments. 73 00:03:02,615 --> 00:03:05,151 And she went off to do those things. 74 00:03:05,185 --> 00:03:07,387 That, in fact, was the last time 75 00:03:07,420 --> 00:03:11,091 that Irene Silverman was seen by any of the workers. 76 00:03:11,124 --> 00:03:14,361 They were people that Irene had employed over the years. 77 00:03:14,394 --> 00:03:16,696 They were concerned for her. 78 00:03:16,730 --> 00:03:19,132 So they gave us a lot of details, 79 00:03:19,165 --> 00:03:22,068 hoping that that would help us figure out what happened. 80 00:03:22,068 --> 00:03:23,737 [phone rings] 81 00:03:23,770 --> 00:03:26,239 At about 2:20 that afternoon, 82 00:03:26,272 --> 00:03:30,110 Irene Silverman received a phone call. 83 00:03:30,143 --> 00:03:33,079 Aracelis knocked on Irene's door, 84 00:03:33,113 --> 00:03:35,949 but she didn't get a response. [knocking at door] 85 00:03:35,982 --> 00:03:37,917 About 4:40 p.m., 86 00:03:37,951 --> 00:03:42,422 Aracelis tried once again to wake up Irene Silverman 87 00:03:42,455 --> 00:03:45,592 and then realized she was not in her apartment. 88 00:03:45,625 --> 00:03:47,927 * * 89 00:03:47,961 --> 00:03:49,796 - We see that the bedroom is in disarray. 90 00:03:49,829 --> 00:03:51,398 We asked her if this was typical 91 00:03:51,431 --> 00:03:53,900 of Irene Silverman to keep her bedroom like this. 92 00:03:53,933 --> 00:03:56,936 Aracelis says, "Absolutely not." 93 00:03:56,970 --> 00:03:58,638 Irene's a very meticulous woman, 94 00:03:58,672 --> 00:04:01,841 keeps everything neat and squared away. 95 00:04:01,875 --> 00:04:04,511 - She also said that Irene Silverman 96 00:04:04,544 --> 00:04:07,814 always kept a lump sum of money in her apartment-- 97 00:04:07,847 --> 00:04:11,151 approximately $10,000 in nice, crisp bills. 98 00:04:11,184 --> 00:04:14,054 That appeared to be missing. 99 00:04:14,054 --> 00:04:16,589 There was also jewelry missing from the apartment 100 00:04:16,623 --> 00:04:19,192 and Irene Silverman's passport. 101 00:04:19,225 --> 00:04:20,927 [indistinct radio chatter] 102 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:22,128 - She was adamant 103 00:04:22,162 --> 00:04:25,365 that something was amiss with Irene. 104 00:04:25,398 --> 00:04:27,967 Irene never leaves the house alone. 105 00:04:28,068 --> 00:04:31,304 She would have told somebody where she went. 106 00:04:32,906 --> 00:04:36,076 - Being a millionaire missing from 65th Street 107 00:04:36,076 --> 00:04:37,444 in Manhattan, 108 00:04:37,477 --> 00:04:41,414 Irene Silverman's disappearance became the top news. 109 00:04:41,448 --> 00:04:43,149 - "NBC News In Depth" tonight-- 110 00:04:43,183 --> 00:04:45,985 the search for a wealthy and eccentric widow 111 00:04:46,086 --> 00:04:49,989 missing from her fashionable New York town house. 112 00:04:50,090 --> 00:04:53,360 - About 50 detectives are dispatched city-wide. 113 00:04:53,393 --> 00:04:55,695 We go to the airports. We're doing flight checks. 114 00:04:55,729 --> 00:04:58,465 We go to the train station, the bus stations. 115 00:04:58,498 --> 00:05:01,267 We are looking in every nook and cranny. 116 00:05:01,301 --> 00:05:02,836 [camera shutter snaps] 117 00:05:02,869 --> 00:05:05,572 - This is the Irene I knew... 118 00:05:05,605 --> 00:05:09,376 where she's sitting in her living room, 119 00:05:09,409 --> 00:05:12,912 her very ornately decorated living room. 120 00:05:12,946 --> 00:05:14,714 I love this picture of her. 121 00:05:14,748 --> 00:05:17,317 She's a very sophisticated lady, you know, 122 00:05:17,350 --> 00:05:20,487 even though she didn't act that way. 123 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,490 It's a very interesting combination 124 00:05:23,523 --> 00:05:25,759 of personality traits. 125 00:05:27,394 --> 00:05:29,062 She had no children. 126 00:05:29,062 --> 00:05:31,197 And I felt, in a way, 127 00:05:31,231 --> 00:05:33,900 like I was her adopted daughter. 128 00:05:33,933 --> 00:05:38,838 She would regale me with stories of her life. 129 00:05:39,806 --> 00:05:42,942 [bold jazz music] 130 00:05:42,976 --> 00:05:45,545 - Irene Silverman was a Rockette 131 00:05:45,578 --> 00:05:47,947 here in New York. 132 00:05:47,981 --> 00:05:51,584 And on October 3rd, 1941, 133 00:05:51,618 --> 00:05:55,455 she met a gentleman named Sam Silverman. 134 00:05:55,488 --> 00:05:58,291 - He was very wealthy. 135 00:05:58,324 --> 00:06:00,794 They got married and moved to 136 00:06:00,827 --> 00:06:04,564 a very up-scale section of the city. 137 00:06:04,597 --> 00:06:08,068 * * 138 00:06:08,101 --> 00:06:09,669 - Because of her husband's wealth, 139 00:06:09,703 --> 00:06:12,472 she knew what to do with finances, 140 00:06:12,505 --> 00:06:15,475 even after her husband passed away. 141 00:06:15,508 --> 00:06:18,278 - After Sam died, she owned property 142 00:06:18,311 --> 00:06:21,047 in France, Hawaii, 143 00:06:21,047 --> 00:06:24,050 obviously in New York. 144 00:06:24,050 --> 00:06:27,053 - A wealthy widow, Irene kept company 145 00:06:27,087 --> 00:06:28,822 with friends, politicians, 146 00:06:28,855 --> 00:06:32,258 and well-to-do New York society. 147 00:06:32,292 --> 00:06:34,694 - Irene liked to throw elaborate parties. 148 00:06:34,728 --> 00:06:36,830 She loved having interesting people come, 149 00:06:36,863 --> 00:06:38,331 affluent people come. 150 00:06:38,365 --> 00:06:40,867 She was a party--I'd love to hang out with Irene Silverman. 151 00:06:40,900 --> 00:06:43,536 I wish I was invited to one of her parties. 152 00:06:43,570 --> 00:06:48,108 - Irene would serve very expensive champagne. 153 00:06:48,141 --> 00:06:51,811 We went to some very posh restaurants. 154 00:06:51,845 --> 00:06:55,081 - At that age, she was living her life to the fullest. 155 00:06:57,283 --> 00:07:00,120 - But Irene's multimillion-dollar townhome 156 00:07:00,153 --> 00:07:02,455 was too big for her to live in alone, 157 00:07:02,489 --> 00:07:04,290 so she converted many of the rooms 158 00:07:04,324 --> 00:07:07,027 into apartments as short-term rentals. 159 00:07:07,027 --> 00:07:10,663 - Irene liked to rent to affluent or notable people. 160 00:07:10,697 --> 00:07:13,366 One was an actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, 161 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,535 a singer, Chaka Khan. 162 00:07:15,568 --> 00:07:18,405 You had to have money to rent a room from Irene. 163 00:07:18,438 --> 00:07:21,808 [dramatic music] 164 00:07:21,841 --> 00:07:25,111 - Interviewing everyone connected to Irene Silverman 165 00:07:25,145 --> 00:07:27,180 was a must in this case. 166 00:07:27,213 --> 00:07:30,784 - One of the staff members who we were unable to locate 167 00:07:30,817 --> 00:07:34,054 was a male by the name of Menji. 168 00:07:34,087 --> 00:07:37,257 We wanted to find Menji, because after she disappeared, 169 00:07:37,290 --> 00:07:41,528 he went right to Atlanta-- what he said was a vacation. 170 00:07:41,561 --> 00:07:44,597 That was suspicious to us at the time. 171 00:07:44,631 --> 00:07:46,533 - A fellow like Menji becomes interesting 172 00:07:46,566 --> 00:07:48,902 because we learn that he had access 173 00:07:48,935 --> 00:07:52,572 to some of Irene Silverman's financial records. 174 00:07:52,605 --> 00:07:53,740 - He was guiding her 175 00:07:53,773 --> 00:07:56,076 on some of her financial business. 176 00:07:56,076 --> 00:07:57,577 Definitely heightened us 177 00:07:57,610 --> 00:07:59,479 to really want to question him. 178 00:07:59,512 --> 00:08:01,047 - We start tracking them down. 179 00:08:01,081 --> 00:08:05,085 The search continued until we find Irene Silverman. 180 00:08:07,253 --> 00:08:09,356 [dramatic sting] 181 00:08:11,124 --> 00:08:14,294 Irene Silverman... 182 00:08:14,327 --> 00:08:17,630 very rarely leaves her residence. 183 00:08:17,664 --> 00:08:19,132 It seems like she disappeared 184 00:08:19,165 --> 00:08:23,603 under suspicious circumstances on 7/5. 185 00:08:23,636 --> 00:08:25,905 We got to figure out what went on 186 00:08:25,939 --> 00:08:27,607 over at 20 East 65th Street. 187 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:29,676 * * 188 00:08:29,709 --> 00:08:31,177 - We search the neighboring buildings. 189 00:08:31,211 --> 00:08:32,612 We try to recover video 190 00:08:32,645 --> 00:08:34,347 that might have been on the block. 191 00:08:34,381 --> 00:08:36,249 We search the house high and low. 192 00:08:36,282 --> 00:08:39,152 Inside Irene's office, we find a sketch 193 00:08:39,185 --> 00:08:41,121 of what appeared to be a male. 194 00:08:41,154 --> 00:08:43,623 And, of course, we didn't know who he was. 195 00:08:43,656 --> 00:08:45,892 * * 196 00:08:45,925 --> 00:08:49,929 - It depicted just basic characteristics of a person, 197 00:08:49,963 --> 00:08:53,633 but we were told that she had drawn that picture 198 00:08:53,667 --> 00:08:55,301 because she was skeptical 199 00:08:55,335 --> 00:08:58,571 of the tenant in apartment 1B-- 200 00:08:58,605 --> 00:09:01,307 a man named Manny Guerrin. 201 00:09:02,842 --> 00:09:05,345 - For Irene Silverman to draw up a sketch 202 00:09:05,378 --> 00:09:07,914 two weeks prior to when she disappeared 203 00:09:08,014 --> 00:09:12,552 definitely heightened us to really want to look at him. 204 00:09:12,585 --> 00:09:14,621 [dramatic sting] 205 00:09:17,357 --> 00:09:21,561 - Manny was a businessman from West Palm Beach. 206 00:09:21,594 --> 00:09:24,764 He was able to rent the apartment from Irene 207 00:09:24,798 --> 00:09:26,232 through her butcher. 208 00:09:26,266 --> 00:09:27,500 Apparently the butcher 209 00:09:27,534 --> 00:09:30,170 told him about the apartments that Irene rents, 210 00:09:30,203 --> 00:09:33,673 so he had a good reference, knew somebody that she knew. 211 00:09:33,707 --> 00:09:36,509 And Manny paid her $6,000 up front 212 00:09:36,543 --> 00:09:38,778 to rent a room. 213 00:09:38,812 --> 00:09:42,215 The staff told us that Irene was suspicious of him 214 00:09:42,248 --> 00:09:44,818 from day one that he rented the apartment. 215 00:09:44,851 --> 00:09:47,287 - There was just something about him 216 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,789 that gave her an ill feeling. 217 00:09:49,823 --> 00:09:52,192 Irene Silverman also had cameras 218 00:09:52,225 --> 00:09:54,394 throughout her building. 219 00:09:54,427 --> 00:09:56,563 She found it strange that he would elude 220 00:09:56,596 --> 00:09:58,331 the cameras that she had. 221 00:09:58,365 --> 00:10:02,469 He'd walk up against the wall, out of sight. 222 00:10:02,502 --> 00:10:04,204 - The staff also told us 223 00:10:04,237 --> 00:10:06,206 that she would see him standing at the door. 224 00:10:06,239 --> 00:10:09,376 She'd see his feet through the bottom of the door. 225 00:10:09,409 --> 00:10:10,677 She'd see him looking 226 00:10:10,710 --> 00:10:12,278 out the peephole of the apartment, 227 00:10:12,312 --> 00:10:13,613 observing her. 228 00:10:13,646 --> 00:10:16,516 [fireworks popping] 229 00:10:17,650 --> 00:10:19,652 The night of Fourth of July, 230 00:10:19,686 --> 00:10:21,855 Irene Silverman had a party, 231 00:10:21,888 --> 00:10:24,624 where she had a discussion with one of her assistants 232 00:10:24,657 --> 00:10:27,827 in regards to evicting Manny Guerrin. 233 00:10:27,861 --> 00:10:30,130 Their plan was, is just to serve him 234 00:10:30,163 --> 00:10:31,297 with an eviction letter 235 00:10:31,331 --> 00:10:33,366 and to get him out of the building. 236 00:10:35,335 --> 00:10:36,803 [train horn blares] 237 00:10:36,836 --> 00:10:40,206 - But the next day, Irene Silverman had vanished. 238 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:41,408 - The sketch, 239 00:10:41,441 --> 00:10:43,843 the apartment being in disarray, 240 00:10:43,877 --> 00:10:46,079 her leaving without telling anyone... 241 00:10:46,112 --> 00:10:49,082 * * 242 00:10:49,115 --> 00:10:53,053 Now we have ourselves a mystery on our hands. 243 00:10:53,086 --> 00:10:54,754 - It was frightening. 244 00:10:54,788 --> 00:10:58,091 [camera shutter snaps] - There was a stun gun box, 245 00:10:58,124 --> 00:11:01,761 wigs, Mace, and plastic handcuffs. 246 00:11:01,795 --> 00:11:04,631 - This is the anatomy of a frame-up. 247 00:11:04,664 --> 00:11:07,200 - They underestimated the perseverance 248 00:11:07,233 --> 00:11:09,202 of the New York City Police Department. 249 00:11:09,235 --> 00:11:11,104 - They were serial killers. 250 00:11:13,073 --> 00:11:17,077 - Detectives were searching for two people of interest 251 00:11:18,445 --> 00:11:21,681 in the missing-persons case of socialite Irene Silverman-- 252 00:11:21,715 --> 00:11:23,416 her tenant Manny Guerrin 253 00:11:23,450 --> 00:11:26,286 and her personal assistant Menji Melis. 254 00:11:26,319 --> 00:11:29,089 [dramatic sting] 255 00:11:29,122 --> 00:11:30,690 - Menji was down in Atlanta, 256 00:11:30,724 --> 00:11:32,726 but we were able to contact him. 257 00:11:32,759 --> 00:11:34,894 So he immediately flew back to New York. 258 00:11:34,928 --> 00:11:36,796 While questioning Menji, 259 00:11:36,830 --> 00:11:40,233 he offered for us to look at his financial records. 260 00:11:40,266 --> 00:11:42,736 He was very forthcoming with all his answers 261 00:11:42,769 --> 00:11:44,938 and everything he told us. 262 00:11:44,971 --> 00:11:47,307 - After speaking to Menji, it was just a matter 263 00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:49,609 of checking out what he had said. 264 00:11:49,642 --> 00:11:52,512 We concluded he has nothing to do 265 00:11:52,545 --> 00:11:55,148 with Irene Silverman's disappearance. 266 00:11:55,181 --> 00:11:57,751 Don't forget-- we were counting hours here. 267 00:11:57,784 --> 00:12:01,454 We're also tracking down this guy Manny Guerrin. 268 00:12:01,488 --> 00:12:03,123 When you look at everything, 269 00:12:03,156 --> 00:12:06,059 like that sketch that Irene prepared 270 00:12:06,059 --> 00:12:07,460 or the strange feelings 271 00:12:07,494 --> 00:12:09,362 that Irene Silverman had about them, 272 00:12:09,396 --> 00:12:11,197 he was a suspect. 273 00:12:11,231 --> 00:12:13,667 - As the investigation is unfolding, 274 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:16,536 we determine that we have to get into apartment 1B, 275 00:12:16,569 --> 00:12:19,339 which was Manny Guerrin's apartment. 276 00:12:19,372 --> 00:12:20,974 - We needed to know, 277 00:12:21,074 --> 00:12:25,145 was Irene Silverman in that apartment? 278 00:12:25,178 --> 00:12:27,147 - We get into the apartment. 279 00:12:27,180 --> 00:12:28,648 We notice that the bed was stripped, 280 00:12:28,682 --> 00:12:31,951 and one of the quilts was missing. 281 00:12:31,985 --> 00:12:33,420 - In the garbage, 282 00:12:33,453 --> 00:12:36,790 they found some rolled-up used duct tape. 283 00:12:36,823 --> 00:12:39,092 There were some black plastic bags 284 00:12:39,125 --> 00:12:41,161 that were present in a box, 285 00:12:41,194 --> 00:12:43,863 and either five or six bags were missing. 286 00:12:43,897 --> 00:12:46,332 [dramatic music] 287 00:12:46,366 --> 00:12:48,568 Add that to all these other comments 288 00:12:48,601 --> 00:12:50,637 made by the people in the building, 289 00:12:50,670 --> 00:12:52,305 Manny Guerrin 290 00:12:52,339 --> 00:12:54,374 went from being a person of interest 291 00:12:54,407 --> 00:12:56,743 to a suspect in this case. 292 00:12:56,776 --> 00:12:59,479 - Now we know what we need to do. 293 00:12:59,512 --> 00:13:01,181 Let's find him. 294 00:13:01,214 --> 00:13:03,350 - During the search for Manny Guerrin, 295 00:13:03,383 --> 00:13:06,052 investigators discovered that he wasn't 296 00:13:06,052 --> 00:13:09,222 the only resident in apartment 1B. 297 00:13:09,255 --> 00:13:12,192 - Accompanying Manny Guerrin, there was a female, 298 00:13:12,225 --> 00:13:14,694 possibly in her 60s or so. 299 00:13:14,728 --> 00:13:18,064 She used the name Eve or Eva. 300 00:13:18,064 --> 00:13:19,199 Some of the information 301 00:13:19,232 --> 00:13:21,201 we obtained during the investigation 302 00:13:21,234 --> 00:13:23,403 was that this woman was living with Manny 303 00:13:23,436 --> 00:13:24,971 in apartment 1B. 304 00:13:25,071 --> 00:13:27,207 - She was an older woman, 305 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,076 and Manny Guerrin said that that woman was his assistant. 306 00:13:30,110 --> 00:13:34,080 - We don't know exactly what role this woman played, 307 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,317 but we needed to talk to her. 308 00:13:37,350 --> 00:13:40,220 - Detectives knew that with each hour that went by, 309 00:13:40,253 --> 00:13:43,590 the hope of finding Irene alive diminished. 310 00:13:43,623 --> 00:13:45,425 [dramatic sting] 311 00:13:45,458 --> 00:13:47,560 [distant sirens wail] 312 00:13:47,594 --> 00:13:49,229 - You know, there's thousands of people missing 313 00:13:49,262 --> 00:13:50,864 here in New York City. 314 00:13:50,897 --> 00:13:55,635 And press conferences are great because you get the publicity. 315 00:13:55,669 --> 00:13:59,305 So Monday night I conducted a press conference. 316 00:13:59,339 --> 00:14:01,775 And I was able to show the sketch 317 00:14:01,808 --> 00:14:05,211 that was prepared by the witnesses earlier in the day. 318 00:14:05,245 --> 00:14:07,113 Irene Silverman was in good health, 319 00:14:07,147 --> 00:14:09,649 both physically and mentally. 320 00:14:09,683 --> 00:14:12,452 However, she would never leave her residence 321 00:14:12,485 --> 00:14:14,621 without one of her workers. 322 00:14:14,654 --> 00:14:17,490 The disappearance is highly uncharacteristic 323 00:14:17,524 --> 00:14:18,792 of the victim. 324 00:14:18,825 --> 00:14:21,094 - The whereabouts of Irene Silverman 325 00:14:21,127 --> 00:14:23,697 remains a mystery. 326 00:14:23,730 --> 00:14:26,299 - Authorities have also increased the reward money 327 00:14:26,332 --> 00:14:27,600 to $10,000, 328 00:14:27,634 --> 00:14:29,703 and they're asking anyone with information 329 00:14:29,736 --> 00:14:32,706 to call Crime Stoppers. 330 00:14:32,739 --> 00:14:36,643 - After the press conference, the FBI called us 331 00:14:36,676 --> 00:14:39,212 and said, "Listen, you better get down here. 332 00:14:39,245 --> 00:14:41,314 We think we have something that you are looking for." 333 00:14:41,348 --> 00:14:43,316 [dramatic sting] 334 00:14:43,350 --> 00:14:45,585 * * 335 00:14:45,618 --> 00:14:48,088 - While we were searching for Irene Silverman, 336 00:14:48,088 --> 00:14:50,090 the regional joint task force, 337 00:14:50,123 --> 00:14:51,624 which is with different departments, 338 00:14:51,658 --> 00:14:54,627 arrested Sante and Kenny Kimes 339 00:14:54,661 --> 00:14:57,630 based on a warrant that was issued in Utah. 340 00:14:57,664 --> 00:15:00,800 - Sante and Kenneth Kimes were a mother and son. 341 00:15:00,834 --> 00:15:05,705 They were wanted for an arson and insurance-fraud case. 342 00:15:05,739 --> 00:15:09,876 When Kenny Kimes was searched, they found identification 343 00:15:09,909 --> 00:15:13,446 and an American Express credit card... 344 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,515 in the name if Irene Silverman. 345 00:15:15,548 --> 00:15:18,952 * * 346 00:15:19,052 --> 00:15:22,722 When they searched Sante, they find $10,000 cash. 347 00:15:22,756 --> 00:15:25,191 They asked her what that money was. 348 00:15:25,225 --> 00:15:27,494 She said, "That's nothing. That was just travel money." 349 00:15:29,062 --> 00:15:31,131 - Detectives were very alarmed. 350 00:15:31,164 --> 00:15:34,367 Sante and Kenny Kimes had Irene's credit card 351 00:15:34,401 --> 00:15:36,436 and cash in the same amount 352 00:15:36,469 --> 00:15:39,072 that was missing from Irene's townhome. 353 00:15:39,072 --> 00:15:41,508 And they fit a description of the suspicious tenants 354 00:15:41,541 --> 00:15:43,276 from apartment 1B-- 355 00:15:43,309 --> 00:15:46,379 Manny Guerrin and his assistant Eva. 356 00:15:46,413 --> 00:15:47,881 - During the interview, 357 00:15:47,914 --> 00:15:49,783 we tried to take a gentle approach. 358 00:15:49,816 --> 00:15:51,551 And we appealed to her sense of humanity, 359 00:15:51,584 --> 00:15:53,520 saying, "Listen, Irene's an older woman, 360 00:15:53,553 --> 00:15:55,522 "a little bit older than you. 361 00:15:55,555 --> 00:15:57,824 "She's very frail. She can still be alive. 362 00:15:57,857 --> 00:15:59,592 "You still might be able to save her. 363 00:15:59,626 --> 00:16:01,661 You still might be able to save yourself." 364 00:16:01,695 --> 00:16:03,763 It didn't go anywhere. 365 00:16:03,797 --> 00:16:06,232 She said, "Well, she could be out walking her dog. 366 00:16:06,266 --> 00:16:07,600 "Maybe she fell. 367 00:16:07,634 --> 00:16:09,102 "Maybe she's laying in an alley somewhere 368 00:16:09,135 --> 00:16:11,604 "down some steps and she's passed out. 369 00:16:11,638 --> 00:16:14,374 Why are you wasting your time with me?" 370 00:16:14,407 --> 00:16:17,177 Kenny denied knowing her. He denied anything about her. 371 00:16:17,210 --> 00:16:20,113 We asked, "Well, why was the ID found on you?" 372 00:16:20,146 --> 00:16:22,682 And he kept saying, "What ID? What are you talking about?" 373 00:16:22,716 --> 00:16:24,050 Denying it. 374 00:16:24,050 --> 00:16:27,821 - Kenny also had a knife, brass knuckles, 375 00:16:27,854 --> 00:16:29,823 and two sets of keys. 376 00:16:29,856 --> 00:16:34,427 One set of those keys were, in fact, Irene Silverman's. 377 00:16:35,628 --> 00:16:37,497 - We asked, "Why was her apartment keys 378 00:16:37,530 --> 00:16:38,732 found on you?" 379 00:16:38,765 --> 00:16:41,835 And he kept saying, "What apartment keys?" 380 00:16:41,868 --> 00:16:46,606 Everything seemed to connect Kenny to Irene's apartment. 381 00:16:46,639 --> 00:16:48,608 It was at that point we believed 382 00:16:48,641 --> 00:16:51,077 Kenny was the person renting apartment 1B 383 00:16:51,077 --> 00:16:52,412 from Irene Silverman 384 00:16:52,445 --> 00:16:55,248 under the name of Manny Guerrin. 385 00:16:56,649 --> 00:16:59,252 - Detectives believed that they had finally located 386 00:16:59,285 --> 00:17:00,487 the primary suspect 387 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,722 in Irene Silverman's disappearance. 388 00:17:02,756 --> 00:17:04,724 Hoping to find Irene alive, 389 00:17:04,758 --> 00:17:07,327 they try to cut a deal for information. 390 00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:09,062 - I said, "It's time for you to fess up. 391 00:17:09,095 --> 00:17:12,465 You can help us find Irene Silverman." 392 00:17:12,499 --> 00:17:14,901 Kenny started to break and well up in tears. 393 00:17:14,934 --> 00:17:16,036 We had him. 394 00:17:16,036 --> 00:17:17,604 I thought he was gonna start talking 395 00:17:17,637 --> 00:17:19,139 and we were gonna have the answers 396 00:17:19,172 --> 00:17:20,407 that we've been looking for. 397 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,443 All of a sudden, he turned to stone... 398 00:17:23,476 --> 00:17:26,046 and the tears went away very quickly, 399 00:17:26,046 --> 00:17:28,915 and he requested an attorney at that time. 400 00:17:28,948 --> 00:17:32,052 * * 401 00:17:33,053 --> 00:17:36,389 - While NYPD patrol units 402 00:17:37,323 --> 00:17:39,626 search the city for Irene Silverman, 403 00:17:39,659 --> 00:17:41,161 detectives continue to learn 404 00:17:41,194 --> 00:17:43,329 more about their primary suspects-- 405 00:17:43,363 --> 00:17:45,932 Sante Kimes and her son Kenny. 406 00:17:45,965 --> 00:17:48,501 [dramatic sting] 407 00:17:48,535 --> 00:17:50,704 [train rattling] 408 00:17:50,737 --> 00:17:54,341 [dramatic music] 409 00:17:54,374 --> 00:17:57,444 - As far as the investigation was concerned, 410 00:17:57,477 --> 00:18:00,847 we have two suspects possibly in custody. 411 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,884 It's a matter of figuring out how they're connected. 412 00:18:04,918 --> 00:18:08,021 Our concentration was on Irene Silverman. 413 00:18:08,054 --> 00:18:11,024 Where was she? What did they do with her? 414 00:18:11,057 --> 00:18:13,760 And who is this Kimes family? 415 00:18:13,793 --> 00:18:16,062 - Sante Kimes comes from money. 416 00:18:16,096 --> 00:18:19,899 In the '70s, she married a man named Ken Kimes Sr. 417 00:18:19,933 --> 00:18:22,902 - We learned that he was a hotel developer. 418 00:18:22,936 --> 00:18:24,938 He was a millionaire. 419 00:18:25,038 --> 00:18:27,774 - Sante and Kenneth Kimes had so much money, 420 00:18:27,807 --> 00:18:29,876 they bought property in Hawaii 421 00:18:29,909 --> 00:18:32,178 in one of the most expensive areas, 422 00:18:32,212 --> 00:18:35,048 in addition to homes in Las Vegas. 423 00:18:35,048 --> 00:18:37,050 - In 1975, 424 00:18:37,050 --> 00:18:40,053 they had a son they named Kenny Jr. 425 00:18:40,053 --> 00:18:41,921 - Kenny Kimes, while being brought up, 426 00:18:41,955 --> 00:18:43,590 had the best of everything. 427 00:18:43,623 --> 00:18:46,059 He had private tutors. He lived in elaborate homes. 428 00:18:46,092 --> 00:18:48,495 He had housekeepers. He had nannies. 429 00:18:48,528 --> 00:18:50,530 - They had plenty of money. 430 00:18:50,563 --> 00:18:53,366 This just wasn't enough for Sante. 431 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,869 We had done background checks. 432 00:18:55,902 --> 00:18:58,438 One in particular is called a Triple I check, 433 00:18:58,471 --> 00:19:01,841 where they check other states for criminal histories. 434 00:19:01,875 --> 00:19:03,710 And what we discovered about Sante 435 00:19:03,743 --> 00:19:05,211 was that she had, in fact, 436 00:19:05,245 --> 00:19:09,382 approximately 12 prior arrests. 437 00:19:09,416 --> 00:19:11,451 - In Washington, D.C., 438 00:19:11,484 --> 00:19:15,221 Sante and Ken Sr. were at some elaborate party, 439 00:19:15,255 --> 00:19:16,923 and she happened to have stolen 440 00:19:17,023 --> 00:19:18,725 a fur coat from the coatroom, 441 00:19:18,758 --> 00:19:20,393 and she was arrested for that. 442 00:19:20,427 --> 00:19:22,495 She also served three years in prison 443 00:19:22,529 --> 00:19:25,799 for kidnapping back in 1986. 444 00:19:25,832 --> 00:19:29,069 She held one of her housekeepers captive 445 00:19:29,102 --> 00:19:31,237 in her house in Hawaii. 446 00:19:32,839 --> 00:19:36,309 - Kenny Kimes Sr. had a distrust for her, 447 00:19:36,343 --> 00:19:40,313 but divorce was never either of their intentions. 448 00:19:40,347 --> 00:19:43,116 In 1994, he does pass away, 449 00:19:43,149 --> 00:19:46,486 and Sante inherits all of his wealth. 450 00:19:48,254 --> 00:19:51,391 - NYPD was confident Sante and Kenny Kimes 451 00:19:51,424 --> 00:19:53,493 were behind Irene's disappearance. 452 00:19:53,526 --> 00:19:55,628 But despite having them in custody, 453 00:19:55,662 --> 00:19:58,231 investigators had a problem. 454 00:19:58,264 --> 00:20:00,800 Both the FBI and the LAPD 455 00:20:00,834 --> 00:20:03,903 wanted the Kimes for their own investigations. 456 00:20:03,937 --> 00:20:06,039 - We found out that they were both wanted 457 00:20:06,072 --> 00:20:09,843 in a homicide from LA for a man named David Kazdin. 458 00:20:09,876 --> 00:20:12,812 David Kazdin was actually a business associate 459 00:20:12,846 --> 00:20:14,381 with Sante and Kenneth Kimes. 460 00:20:14,414 --> 00:20:17,050 They were involved in some real-estate fraud. 461 00:20:17,083 --> 00:20:18,885 He wanted out. 462 00:20:18,918 --> 00:20:22,655 - An approximate $210,000 loan was taken out 463 00:20:22,689 --> 00:20:25,992 on his property without him knowing it. 464 00:20:26,026 --> 00:20:29,562 And then on March 14 of 1998, 465 00:20:29,596 --> 00:20:34,300 his body was discovered in a dumpster at LAX airport. 466 00:20:36,069 --> 00:20:37,937 [train horn blares] 467 00:20:37,971 --> 00:20:40,306 - We knew that we had to move quick 468 00:20:40,340 --> 00:20:41,608 to develop our case 469 00:20:41,641 --> 00:20:44,878 before the Kimeses were extradited back to L.A. 470 00:20:44,911 --> 00:20:46,780 We had to really make friends 471 00:20:46,813 --> 00:20:49,849 so there wouldn't be any jurisdictional problems. 472 00:20:51,151 --> 00:20:54,320 - LAPD agreed to suspend their investigation 473 00:20:54,354 --> 00:20:58,291 while New York detectives searched for Irene. 474 00:20:58,324 --> 00:21:00,860 - We had a lot of work to do. 475 00:21:00,894 --> 00:21:03,730 Inspector Reznick wanted us to find Irene Silverman. 476 00:21:03,763 --> 00:21:06,399 By some remote chance, she might be alive. 477 00:21:06,433 --> 00:21:09,936 So he creates a task force of about 20 detectives. 478 00:21:09,969 --> 00:21:12,539 We are dubbed the Silver Task Force. 479 00:21:12,572 --> 00:21:14,541 [dramatic sting] 480 00:21:14,574 --> 00:21:17,277 [indistinct chatter, telephones ringing] 481 00:21:17,310 --> 00:21:20,113 - We held our very first meeting in the war room. 482 00:21:20,146 --> 00:21:22,182 * * 483 00:21:22,215 --> 00:21:24,117 - There was a picture of Irene Silverman 484 00:21:24,150 --> 00:21:25,785 in the war room. 485 00:21:25,819 --> 00:21:28,788 As a task force and as detectives and humans, 486 00:21:28,822 --> 00:21:32,759 we all felt that we needed to solve this case. 487 00:21:32,792 --> 00:21:35,729 This could have been anyone's grandmother or mother. 488 00:21:35,762 --> 00:21:37,197 We were all very invested 489 00:21:37,230 --> 00:21:40,834 in doing whatever we had to do to solve this case. 490 00:21:40,867 --> 00:21:43,536 - It was very obvious to us we had two objectives. 491 00:21:43,570 --> 00:21:46,339 One of them was to find Irene Silverman, 492 00:21:46,373 --> 00:21:48,375 and the second one was to prove 493 00:21:48,408 --> 00:21:50,176 that Sante and Kenny Kimes 494 00:21:50,210 --> 00:21:52,612 were responsible for her disappearance. 495 00:21:54,314 --> 00:21:56,116 - Detectives look back at the evidence 496 00:21:56,116 --> 00:21:58,351 found on Kenny and Sante Kimes 497 00:21:58,385 --> 00:22:01,087 and discover a parking stub for a garage 498 00:22:01,121 --> 00:22:02,756 in Midtown Manhattan. 499 00:22:02,789 --> 00:22:04,791 * * 500 00:22:04,824 --> 00:22:07,560 - They recovered Sante and Kenny's car, 501 00:22:07,594 --> 00:22:09,696 for which a warrant had been issued. 502 00:22:09,729 --> 00:22:12,265 It became instrumental. [camera shutter snaps] 503 00:22:12,298 --> 00:22:14,234 For approximately 30 hours, 504 00:22:14,267 --> 00:22:18,605 a continuous search took place by the Crime Scene Unit. 505 00:22:18,638 --> 00:22:20,073 - The garage was hot. 506 00:22:20,106 --> 00:22:22,409 And there was a lot of things in that car. 507 00:22:22,442 --> 00:22:25,578 It was a grueling day in the basement of that garage. 508 00:22:25,612 --> 00:22:26,813 - Some of the items 509 00:22:26,846 --> 00:22:28,448 that were recovered from the car-- 510 00:22:28,481 --> 00:22:30,784 there was a stun gun box. 511 00:22:30,817 --> 00:22:32,118 Stun gun was missing, 512 00:22:32,152 --> 00:22:34,521 but the box was there, and the receipt was there. 513 00:22:34,554 --> 00:22:38,358 - One of the things we found was a caramel-color suitcase. 514 00:22:38,391 --> 00:22:41,761 Inside the suitcase was a 9-millimeter handgun 515 00:22:41,795 --> 00:22:44,230 which had 15 bullets in the magazine. 516 00:22:44,264 --> 00:22:46,800 There was also $22,000 in cash, 517 00:22:46,833 --> 00:22:50,837 unused syringes, and disposable gloves. 518 00:22:50,870 --> 00:22:54,274 - In the trunk, police find an empty duffel bag, 519 00:22:54,307 --> 00:22:56,976 big enough to hide a body. 520 00:22:57,010 --> 00:23:00,413 They also find a mason jar of liquid. 521 00:23:00,447 --> 00:23:03,249 - It was sent to the lab and determined to be "roofilin," 522 00:23:03,283 --> 00:23:05,485 which is a knockout drug. 523 00:23:05,518 --> 00:23:09,322 * * 524 00:23:09,356 --> 00:23:13,626 - Adding all this now to what we've had so far, 525 00:23:13,660 --> 00:23:15,362 we came to our conclusion 526 00:23:15,395 --> 00:23:17,897 that Irene Silverman was murdered. 527 00:23:17,931 --> 00:23:20,900 * * 528 00:23:22,068 --> 00:23:25,305 - Evidence discovered 529 00:23:26,473 --> 00:23:28,575 in Sante and Kenny Kimes' Lincoln Continental 530 00:23:28,608 --> 00:23:31,077 led New York detectives to believe 531 00:23:31,077 --> 00:23:33,179 they were no longer investigating 532 00:23:33,213 --> 00:23:35,081 a missing-persons case. 533 00:23:35,081 --> 00:23:37,417 [dramatic sting] 534 00:23:37,450 --> 00:23:39,819 Everything now pointed to Irene Silverman 535 00:23:39,853 --> 00:23:43,323 having been killed and disposed of by the Kimes. 536 00:23:43,356 --> 00:23:46,493 The need to find her body created new urgency 537 00:23:46,526 --> 00:23:48,194 for proving a murder case. 538 00:23:48,228 --> 00:23:50,663 - We wanted to establish a timeline 539 00:23:50,697 --> 00:23:52,565 of when Irene was killed. 540 00:23:52,599 --> 00:23:54,467 The parking attendant assured us 541 00:23:54,501 --> 00:23:58,238 that the car was checked in on June 14th at 11:02 a.m. 542 00:23:58,271 --> 00:24:01,241 It was not moved until July 4th. 543 00:24:03,677 --> 00:24:05,512 So we could kind of narrow down, 544 00:24:05,545 --> 00:24:08,148 he took her out of the building on July 5th, 545 00:24:08,181 --> 00:24:12,085 from 11:45 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.... 546 00:24:12,118 --> 00:24:13,953 and then he dumped her. 547 00:24:15,789 --> 00:24:18,058 - Given that it was a holiday weekend, 548 00:24:18,058 --> 00:24:19,893 streets were sort of desolate. 549 00:24:19,926 --> 00:24:23,096 This provided Kenny the ideal opportunity 550 00:24:23,129 --> 00:24:25,065 to just walk that body out. 551 00:24:25,065 --> 00:24:27,467 Lifted up the duffel bag, put it into the trunk, 552 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:31,938 and then ransacked Irene Silverman's apartment. 553 00:24:31,971 --> 00:24:35,308 - We're getting a lot of media attention. 554 00:24:35,342 --> 00:24:38,078 - New York City Police Department has a tips hotline. 555 00:24:38,111 --> 00:24:40,080 And day after day, they'd call us and say, 556 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,082 "Here, we got another one for you." 557 00:24:42,115 --> 00:24:43,316 - Dozens of police officers 558 00:24:43,350 --> 00:24:45,285 combed the perimeter of Central Park. 559 00:24:45,318 --> 00:24:49,289 Their search for clues gained in intensity. 560 00:24:49,322 --> 00:24:53,259 - We searched the Meadowlands in New Jersey based on a tip. 561 00:24:53,293 --> 00:24:56,930 We searched it by ground, and we searched it by air. 562 00:24:56,963 --> 00:24:59,632 Detectives also were sent to go through garbage 563 00:24:59,666 --> 00:25:01,234 at garbage dumps, 564 00:25:01,267 --> 00:25:03,136 because we thought at that point 565 00:25:03,169 --> 00:25:05,805 that Irene Silverman was dumped in a dumpster. 566 00:25:05,839 --> 00:25:08,041 So we had probably about 50 detectives 567 00:25:08,041 --> 00:25:10,643 raking through garbage looking for Irene. 568 00:25:10,677 --> 00:25:13,079 - Despite the massive search effort, 569 00:25:13,113 --> 00:25:15,448 investigators were unable to locate 570 00:25:15,482 --> 00:25:17,384 Irene Silverman's remains. 571 00:25:17,417 --> 00:25:21,354 Meanwhile, Sante Kimes began her own media campaign 572 00:25:21,388 --> 00:25:23,523 from her prison cell 573 00:25:23,556 --> 00:25:26,159 by hiring a production team to push her own narrative. 574 00:25:26,192 --> 00:25:27,927 - It is my great pleasure 575 00:25:27,961 --> 00:25:30,697 to introduce my beloved attorneys, 576 00:25:30,730 --> 00:25:32,665 who are champions of justice-- 577 00:25:32,699 --> 00:25:35,702 Mel Sachs. and this is Matthew Weissman. 578 00:25:35,735 --> 00:25:38,204 We will have other attorneys probably helping us. 579 00:25:38,238 --> 00:25:40,273 - Sante was doing press conferences 580 00:25:40,306 --> 00:25:43,143 out of the prison like she was getting ready 581 00:25:43,176 --> 00:25:44,511 to do a stage performance 582 00:25:44,544 --> 00:25:47,781 as opposed to defending for her life. 583 00:25:47,814 --> 00:25:49,616 - Michael Hardy was an associate 584 00:25:49,649 --> 00:25:52,519 of civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton. 585 00:25:52,552 --> 00:25:55,622 And Sante wanted him on her defense team. 586 00:25:55,655 --> 00:25:58,792 - I got involved when I received letters 587 00:25:58,825 --> 00:26:00,627 from Sante. 588 00:26:00,660 --> 00:26:03,797 "I really need you." "We are being prosecuted." 589 00:26:03,830 --> 00:26:05,799 "Our rights are being violated." 590 00:26:05,832 --> 00:26:09,536 She was appealing to my instincts, if you will. 591 00:26:09,569 --> 00:26:12,806 And eventually I decided to say yes. 592 00:26:12,839 --> 00:26:16,376 - After she hired Michael Hardy and Mel Sachs, 593 00:26:16,409 --> 00:26:19,045 her defense attorneys hold press conferences 594 00:26:19,045 --> 00:26:20,814 accusing the NYPD 595 00:26:20,847 --> 00:26:23,049 of setting up Sante and Kenneth Kimes, 596 00:26:23,049 --> 00:26:24,551 framing them for the disappearance 597 00:26:24,584 --> 00:26:25,852 of Irene Silverman. 598 00:26:25,885 --> 00:26:27,153 - They're not being charged 599 00:26:27,187 --> 00:26:28,855 with murder or anything of that nature. 600 00:26:28,888 --> 00:26:31,691 It's solely a warrant from Utah, 601 00:26:31,725 --> 00:26:32,892 and that's it. 602 00:26:32,926 --> 00:26:35,428 - This was a way of detaining them 603 00:26:35,462 --> 00:26:36,696 and holding them. 604 00:26:36,730 --> 00:26:40,233 This is the anatomy of a frame-up. 605 00:26:40,266 --> 00:26:43,169 - The little woman who has disappeared, 606 00:26:43,203 --> 00:26:45,538 if anything has ever happened to her, 607 00:26:45,572 --> 00:26:48,508 it's on the hands of the police. 608 00:26:48,541 --> 00:26:50,076 - To prove her innocence, 609 00:26:50,076 --> 00:26:52,178 Sante hired private investigators 610 00:26:52,212 --> 00:26:55,081 Larry Frost and Clarissa McNair. 611 00:26:55,081 --> 00:26:57,083 - My name is Clarissa McNair. 612 00:26:57,083 --> 00:26:59,886 I became her private detective. 613 00:26:59,919 --> 00:27:02,756 I got a lot of flak for taking on this case. 614 00:27:02,789 --> 00:27:06,026 But it was my first murder case, 615 00:27:06,026 --> 00:27:10,497 and I think everyone is entitled to a good defense. 616 00:27:10,530 --> 00:27:12,232 If a lawyer were there, 617 00:27:12,265 --> 00:27:14,668 she would tell him a certain story. 618 00:27:14,701 --> 00:27:16,936 Another lawyer might come for 20 minutes, 619 00:27:17,037 --> 00:27:18,238 and they'd talk. 620 00:27:18,271 --> 00:27:21,074 She'd tell him an entirely different version 621 00:27:21,107 --> 00:27:22,442 of the story. 622 00:27:22,475 --> 00:27:24,577 And I'd say, "Sante, what are you doing? 623 00:27:24,611 --> 00:27:26,112 "We're on your side. 624 00:27:26,146 --> 00:27:28,048 You're confusing everybody." 625 00:27:28,048 --> 00:27:30,116 And she'd say, "They believe me. 626 00:27:30,150 --> 00:27:31,918 It's my way of having fun." 627 00:27:31,951 --> 00:27:35,655 She loved to lie. 628 00:27:35,689 --> 00:27:38,925 [dramatic sting] 629 00:27:38,958 --> 00:27:40,760 - On July 23rd, 630 00:27:40,794 --> 00:27:42,896 detectives intercepted a phone conversation 631 00:27:42,929 --> 00:27:45,765 between Sante and one of her private investigators, 632 00:27:45,799 --> 00:27:47,334 Larry Frost. 633 00:27:47,367 --> 00:27:49,302 Sante needed a favor. 634 00:27:49,336 --> 00:27:50,804 - What she didn't realize 635 00:27:50,837 --> 00:27:54,140 was that all of her jailhouse conversations 636 00:27:54,174 --> 00:27:55,809 were being monitored. 637 00:27:55,842 --> 00:27:57,944 - Sante asked her private investigator 638 00:27:57,977 --> 00:27:59,212 to go to the Plaza Hotel 639 00:27:59,245 --> 00:28:01,581 to retrieve a bag that she had checked there. 640 00:28:01,614 --> 00:28:03,583 Unbeknownst to the private investigator, 641 00:28:03,616 --> 00:28:05,318 we had a wiretap on the phone, 642 00:28:05,352 --> 00:28:08,121 and we intercepted this information. 643 00:28:08,154 --> 00:28:10,290 - Once he retrieved the bag, 644 00:28:10,323 --> 00:28:13,727 the authorities were there waiting. 645 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,096 - What became critical about finding that bag 646 00:28:16,129 --> 00:28:17,764 was the contents. 647 00:28:17,797 --> 00:28:21,735 And those contents included a .22-caliber handgun 648 00:28:21,768 --> 00:28:24,237 that was wrapped in a white turban, 649 00:28:24,270 --> 00:28:26,840 forged social security cards, 650 00:28:26,873 --> 00:28:30,143 15 notebooks, wigs, Mace, 651 00:28:30,176 --> 00:28:32,145 and plastic handcuffs. 652 00:28:32,178 --> 00:28:33,613 - There were birth certificates 653 00:28:33,646 --> 00:28:34,814 for Manny Guerrin, 654 00:28:34,848 --> 00:28:37,884 for Kenny Kimes, for Sante-- 655 00:28:37,917 --> 00:28:42,055 all sorts of documents that were incriminating. 656 00:28:42,055 --> 00:28:43,390 - Other important items 657 00:28:43,423 --> 00:28:46,459 included these spiral notebooks. 658 00:28:46,493 --> 00:28:49,529 One page had a list of items. 659 00:28:49,562 --> 00:28:53,199 It included a shower curtain, rope, tape, 660 00:28:53,233 --> 00:28:57,604 which was most of the evidence recovered from apartment 1B. 661 00:28:57,637 --> 00:29:01,474 - They also find a folder that said, "Final dynasty," 662 00:29:01,508 --> 00:29:04,144 which was a key piece of evidence. 663 00:29:04,177 --> 00:29:08,181 Inside was the deed of Irene Silverman's mansion. 664 00:29:08,214 --> 00:29:10,817 * * 665 00:29:10,850 --> 00:29:13,119 The paperwork said that Irene sold 666 00:29:13,153 --> 00:29:16,189 her very, very expensive $10 million town house 667 00:29:16,222 --> 00:29:20,627 for only $300,000 to an offshore account 668 00:29:20,660 --> 00:29:23,496 which had the name The Atlantic Group. 669 00:29:23,530 --> 00:29:26,332 - It was forged. It all looked bad. 670 00:29:26,366 --> 00:29:28,368 - It was the evidence detectives needed 671 00:29:28,401 --> 00:29:31,338 to secure a motive in Irene's murder. 672 00:29:31,371 --> 00:29:35,108 - Knowing Sante's history of obtaining money, 673 00:29:35,141 --> 00:29:38,845 the plot was, kill Irene, take over the town house, 674 00:29:38,878 --> 00:29:40,780 move the money to an offshore account, 675 00:29:40,814 --> 00:29:43,049 and then dump her somewhere in Jersey. 676 00:29:43,049 --> 00:29:45,685 * * 677 00:29:45,719 --> 00:29:48,688 - On December 16th, 1998, 678 00:29:48,722 --> 00:29:51,057 the mother-son duo were indicted 679 00:29:51,057 --> 00:29:53,259 on 84 counts, 680 00:29:53,293 --> 00:29:55,428 which included a second-degree murder, 681 00:29:55,462 --> 00:29:59,165 burglary, robbery, as well as fraud. 682 00:29:59,199 --> 00:30:01,534 But there was no direct evidence-- 683 00:30:01,568 --> 00:30:04,904 no DNA, no fingerprints, none of that. 684 00:30:04,938 --> 00:30:08,742 This was a pure circumstantial case, 685 00:30:08,775 --> 00:30:12,212 and prosecutors knew they had an uphill battle. 686 00:30:12,245 --> 00:30:17,517 * * 687 00:30:18,084 --> 00:30:22,655 - Okay, just relax. 688 00:30:23,456 --> 00:30:25,558 And then the pauses are really great. 689 00:30:25,592 --> 00:30:26,760 They're essential. 690 00:30:26,793 --> 00:30:28,094 - [exhales deeply] 691 00:30:28,128 --> 00:30:29,863 - Just relax, Ken. 692 00:30:29,896 --> 00:30:32,932 - Hello, my name is Kenneth Kimes. 693 00:30:34,267 --> 00:30:36,036 You don't really know me. 694 00:30:36,069 --> 00:30:37,737 You may think you know me. 695 00:30:37,771 --> 00:30:40,540 You may think you know my mother, but you don't. 696 00:30:40,573 --> 00:30:42,142 We are innocent. 697 00:30:42,175 --> 00:30:46,146 * * 698 00:30:46,179 --> 00:30:49,115 - There were lots of stories about Sante and Kenny. 699 00:30:49,149 --> 00:30:52,385 The tabloids had a field day. 700 00:30:52,419 --> 00:30:54,220 - She would often call the press, 701 00:30:54,254 --> 00:30:56,823 try to give statements to various newspapers. 702 00:30:56,856 --> 00:30:58,958 - Sante was a celebrity. 703 00:30:58,992 --> 00:31:01,728 I mean, she literally used to have reporters 704 00:31:01,761 --> 00:31:04,964 come up to her cell and be giving interviews. 705 00:31:05,065 --> 00:31:07,701 - We're innocent, and if just given our rights, 706 00:31:07,734 --> 00:31:09,402 we will prove it. 707 00:31:09,436 --> 00:31:13,406 - Sante Kimes was practically Meryl Streep. 708 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:17,077 Her eyes could fill with tears in a second. 709 00:31:17,110 --> 00:31:18,878 - This case is different, like you said, 710 00:31:18,912 --> 00:31:20,547 in that they don't have any evidence. 711 00:31:20,580 --> 00:31:22,482 This case should have... - We will show that... 712 00:31:22,515 --> 00:31:24,284 - Never even been-- - At trial, Sante. 713 00:31:24,317 --> 00:31:26,286 - If you're gonna defend someone 714 00:31:26,319 --> 00:31:28,088 who's being accused of murder, 715 00:31:28,088 --> 00:31:31,891 I do not want my client doing daily interviews 716 00:31:31,925 --> 00:31:33,493 about the case. 717 00:31:33,526 --> 00:31:36,596 - But Sante continuously neglected to take 718 00:31:36,629 --> 00:31:38,264 the advice of her attorneys. 719 00:31:38,298 --> 00:31:41,968 - The reason why we're doing this before trial is because 720 00:31:42,002 --> 00:31:45,472 of the unfair portrayal that's been given about us. 721 00:31:45,505 --> 00:31:46,873 I mean, I've even heard rumors about 722 00:31:46,906 --> 00:31:49,976 how I don't love my mother, how I hate her. 723 00:31:50,010 --> 00:31:53,113 - The media has portrayed us totally like we are not. 724 00:31:53,113 --> 00:31:54,948 We're just a mother and son. 725 00:31:54,981 --> 00:31:57,817 - Essentially, what Sante was attempting to do 726 00:31:57,851 --> 00:32:00,553 is gain some sort of sympathy. 727 00:32:00,587 --> 00:32:04,758 You are talking about potential jurors 728 00:32:04,791 --> 00:32:08,128 reading newspapers, watching the news. 729 00:32:08,161 --> 00:32:11,765 So she was hoping to get to and through them. 730 00:32:11,798 --> 00:32:15,602 - If you believe in justice or family, 731 00:32:15,635 --> 00:32:17,837 I beg for your help. 732 00:32:17,871 --> 00:32:20,540 My son and I are innocent. 733 00:32:20,573 --> 00:32:22,375 - Her playing with the media 734 00:32:22,409 --> 00:32:25,445 and attempting to generate some sympathy 735 00:32:25,478 --> 00:32:27,981 makes me want to laugh, 736 00:32:28,081 --> 00:32:33,153 because people who commit these crimes are sociopaths. 737 00:32:33,186 --> 00:32:34,621 - Over the next year, 738 00:32:34,654 --> 00:32:36,523 detectives work closely with the DA 739 00:32:36,556 --> 00:32:38,091 to prepare for trial. 740 00:32:38,091 --> 00:32:40,694 But despite all the circumstantial evidence 741 00:32:40,727 --> 00:32:41,861 in their favor, 742 00:32:41,895 --> 00:32:45,198 a conviction was a long shot. 743 00:32:45,231 --> 00:32:47,167 - The Silver Task Force, along with the DAs, 744 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:48,768 really were up against something 745 00:32:48,802 --> 00:32:51,171 that New York City has never seen before. 746 00:32:51,204 --> 00:32:53,606 We were going for a murder conviction 747 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:55,108 without having a body. 748 00:32:55,108 --> 00:32:56,910 We didn't have any forensic evidence-- 749 00:32:56,943 --> 00:33:01,881 no blood, no hair fibers, no fabric fibers, nothing. 750 00:33:01,915 --> 00:33:04,351 - In a case where there's no body, 751 00:33:04,384 --> 00:33:08,054 the likelihood of it ending in a conviction 752 00:33:08,054 --> 00:33:09,923 was slim to none. 753 00:33:09,956 --> 00:33:11,524 [dramatic sting] 754 00:33:11,558 --> 00:33:14,060 [indistinct chatter] 755 00:33:14,060 --> 00:33:15,895 - Going into the trial, 756 00:33:15,929 --> 00:33:18,598 Judge Rena Uviller was the judge. 757 00:33:18,631 --> 00:33:21,368 And Judge Uviller had a great reputation. 758 00:33:21,401 --> 00:33:24,237 And so you really felt like you were walking into 759 00:33:24,270 --> 00:33:26,172 a level playing field. 760 00:33:26,206 --> 00:33:27,874 - To limit any influence on the jurors 761 00:33:27,907 --> 00:33:29,342 and the outcome of the trial, 762 00:33:29,376 --> 00:33:31,845 Judge Uviller barred all cameras 763 00:33:31,878 --> 00:33:33,947 inside the courtroom. 764 00:33:33,980 --> 00:33:37,117 [dramatic music] 765 00:33:37,150 --> 00:33:40,420 * * 766 00:33:40,453 --> 00:33:43,323 - First drawing I did of Sante and Kenneth, 767 00:33:43,356 --> 00:33:45,425 the son was exceptionally handsome 768 00:33:45,458 --> 00:33:46,826 and put together, 769 00:33:46,860 --> 00:33:48,962 although he had kind of a vacantness about his eyes. 770 00:33:48,995 --> 00:33:52,599 His mother, she just looked, like, dangerous. 771 00:33:52,632 --> 00:33:54,734 Her eyes were like coals. 772 00:33:54,768 --> 00:33:57,437 And there was something kind of strange 773 00:33:57,470 --> 00:34:00,040 about the relationship between Sante and Kenny. 774 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:02,809 There was a physical intimacy that is unusual 775 00:34:02,842 --> 00:34:07,113 between a mother and her son. 776 00:34:07,147 --> 00:34:10,917 She would actually grasp her son's hand 777 00:34:10,950 --> 00:34:15,055 and hold on to it like he was a child 778 00:34:15,088 --> 00:34:16,956 or like he was her man. 779 00:34:17,057 --> 00:34:20,894 The judge had the feeling Sante was in fact manipulating 780 00:34:20,927 --> 00:34:24,064 everyone in the courtroom by this display of affection. 781 00:34:24,097 --> 00:34:26,266 Oh, who could think such horrible things about 782 00:34:26,299 --> 00:34:28,168 such a caring mother? 783 00:34:28,201 --> 00:34:30,570 And she just said, "Cut it out." 784 00:34:30,603 --> 00:34:34,774 And after that, they were put several seats apart. 785 00:34:34,808 --> 00:34:36,509 [dramatic sting] 786 00:34:36,543 --> 00:34:38,778 [indistinct chatter] 787 00:34:38,812 --> 00:34:43,216 - On February 14th of 2000, the trial eventually commenced. 788 00:34:43,249 --> 00:34:44,984 - In their opening statements, 789 00:34:45,085 --> 00:34:47,887 the prosecution painted Sante Kimes 790 00:34:47,921 --> 00:34:50,690 as a woman addicted to crime. 791 00:34:50,724 --> 00:34:52,325 - Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, 792 00:34:52,359 --> 00:34:55,695 this is a case about arrogance and greed. 793 00:34:55,729 --> 00:34:57,864 - The prosecution did bring up 794 00:34:57,897 --> 00:35:01,201 that Sante had a very nice life 795 00:35:01,234 --> 00:35:04,170 as the wife of a multimillionaire. 796 00:35:04,204 --> 00:35:07,240 But she still was driven to steal. 797 00:35:07,273 --> 00:35:09,642 This was a compulsion. 798 00:35:09,676 --> 00:35:11,511 And I think there was something in her 799 00:35:11,544 --> 00:35:15,515 that was constantly thirsting for thrills. 800 00:35:16,816 --> 00:35:19,686 Sante Kimes was dangerous. 801 00:35:19,719 --> 00:35:21,554 I never stopped feeling 802 00:35:21,588 --> 00:35:24,791 she was as dangerous as a cobra. 803 00:35:24,824 --> 00:35:28,061 - This mother-son duo, 804 00:35:28,061 --> 00:35:31,131 they had long planned to steal 805 00:35:31,164 --> 00:35:35,335 Irene's $7 million town house. 806 00:35:35,368 --> 00:35:38,838 The mother posed as Irene in this case, 807 00:35:38,872 --> 00:35:42,876 duped a notary into approving a fraudulent deed 808 00:35:42,909 --> 00:35:45,845 that transferred the ownership of the mansion 809 00:35:45,879 --> 00:35:47,947 to a Kimes-owned shell company 810 00:35:47,981 --> 00:35:50,884 after stealing Irene's identity. 811 00:35:50,917 --> 00:35:54,220 She had to be gotten out of their way. 812 00:35:54,254 --> 00:35:56,890 Now, I'm confident that at the end of this trial, 813 00:35:56,923 --> 00:35:59,092 you will be left with no choice 814 00:35:59,125 --> 00:36:00,627 but to come back with a verdict, 815 00:36:00,660 --> 00:36:03,196 guilty as to all counts. 816 00:36:04,597 --> 00:36:07,033 - This is a picture of Michael Hardy 817 00:36:07,033 --> 00:36:10,136 doing his opening argument with Sante. 818 00:36:10,170 --> 00:36:11,771 - Ladies and gentlemen, 819 00:36:11,805 --> 00:36:14,040 there's gonna be a mountain of evidence 820 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:16,376 that the prosecution puts before you. 821 00:36:16,409 --> 00:36:18,778 They are going to show you 822 00:36:18,812 --> 00:36:23,049 date-rape drugs, rope, tape, guns. 823 00:36:23,083 --> 00:36:25,785 They're gonna show you all of these things. 824 00:36:25,819 --> 00:36:27,887 But let me ask you, 825 00:36:27,921 --> 00:36:31,091 where is the evidence of foul play 826 00:36:31,124 --> 00:36:33,259 against Irene Silverman? 827 00:36:34,894 --> 00:36:36,796 Was Irene Silverman strangled? 828 00:36:36,830 --> 00:36:39,065 There's nothing here to say that. 829 00:36:39,099 --> 00:36:40,800 [camera shutter snapping] What about the guns? 830 00:36:40,834 --> 00:36:42,802 Was Irene Silverman shot? 831 00:36:42,836 --> 00:36:44,371 There's not even any blood. 832 00:36:44,404 --> 00:36:45,472 If she was shot, 833 00:36:45,505 --> 00:36:47,140 there would have to be blood somewhere. 834 00:36:47,173 --> 00:36:49,943 Was Irene Silverman choked? 835 00:36:49,976 --> 00:36:51,811 There would be DNA evidence. 836 00:36:51,845 --> 00:36:55,081 There is none, not a shred. 837 00:36:55,081 --> 00:36:57,317 And if there is no evidence, 838 00:36:57,350 --> 00:36:59,786 there can be no guilt. 839 00:36:59,819 --> 00:37:02,922 - Their biggest defense was, "There's no body. 840 00:37:03,023 --> 00:37:04,591 "So how could there be a crime? 841 00:37:04,624 --> 00:37:07,594 "We don't know where Mrs. Silverman is. 842 00:37:07,627 --> 00:37:10,096 "She could be on a round-the-world cruise. 843 00:37:10,130 --> 00:37:12,365 She could be anywhere." 844 00:37:12,399 --> 00:37:14,034 - At the end of the day, 845 00:37:14,067 --> 00:37:16,503 you knew no matter what they said, 846 00:37:16,536 --> 00:37:18,338 they could not present a body, 847 00:37:18,371 --> 00:37:20,840 so there was reasonable doubt. 848 00:37:20,874 --> 00:37:24,678 - But the jury was still in store for 849 00:37:24,711 --> 00:37:27,180 the most dramatic testimony yet to come. 850 00:37:27,213 --> 00:37:31,718 * * 851 00:37:35,522 --> 00:37:36,890 - While the defense argued reasonable doubt, 852 00:37:37,824 --> 00:37:40,093 the prosecution painted Sante Kimes 853 00:37:40,126 --> 00:37:43,697 as the mastermind behind Irene Silverman's murder. 854 00:37:43,730 --> 00:37:46,266 [dramatic sting] 855 00:37:46,299 --> 00:37:49,803 - One of the pieces of evidence in the case 856 00:37:49,836 --> 00:37:51,371 was a tape recording. 857 00:37:51,404 --> 00:37:54,307 [cassette player clicks] - We recovered the cassette 858 00:37:54,341 --> 00:37:56,676 from that green Lincoln Continental. 859 00:37:56,710 --> 00:37:58,678 - There's no way to describe it 860 00:37:58,712 --> 00:38:01,181 except as damning evidence. 861 00:38:01,214 --> 00:38:05,251 It was Irene Silverman's voice and Sante's voice 862 00:38:05,285 --> 00:38:06,886 on a recording. 863 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:08,655 - She posed as a representative 864 00:38:08,688 --> 00:38:10,757 from the Circus Circus Hotel in Las Vegas. 865 00:38:10,790 --> 00:38:13,493 - She was telling Irene Silverman 866 00:38:13,526 --> 00:38:16,730 that she had won a trip to Las Vegas. 867 00:38:16,763 --> 00:38:18,264 All she needed to claim it 868 00:38:18,298 --> 00:38:21,234 was her social security number. 869 00:38:21,267 --> 00:38:22,635 - This tape was proof 870 00:38:22,669 --> 00:38:25,405 that Sante was actually eavesdropping. 871 00:38:25,438 --> 00:38:26,673 - I was horrified. 872 00:38:26,706 --> 00:38:29,843 I mean, Sante had made the recording herself. 873 00:38:29,876 --> 00:38:32,712 I think it had a great impact on the jury 874 00:38:32,746 --> 00:38:36,049 to know that Sante Kimes was on a mission 875 00:38:36,049 --> 00:38:38,218 to dupe Mrs. Silverman. 876 00:38:40,754 --> 00:38:44,891 - After 43 days of testimony, the prosecution rested, 877 00:38:44,924 --> 00:38:47,594 and the defense presented their case. 878 00:38:47,627 --> 00:38:50,697 - The defense argued to the jury that officers 879 00:38:50,730 --> 00:38:52,732 and the law enforcement officials in this case 880 00:38:52,766 --> 00:38:55,535 did not truly rule out other individuals 881 00:38:55,568 --> 00:38:57,904 that could have become suspects. 882 00:38:57,937 --> 00:39:01,307 - Irene Silverman was a very interesting victim 883 00:39:01,341 --> 00:39:04,711 because she did have employees, 884 00:39:04,744 --> 00:39:07,747 some of whom had a self-interest. 885 00:39:07,781 --> 00:39:13,019 And she regularly invited people into her home. 886 00:39:13,019 --> 00:39:17,323 And there was a not-for-profit that would inherit her house 887 00:39:17,357 --> 00:39:19,726 whenever she may have passed. 888 00:39:19,759 --> 00:39:22,028 So you had people in her life, 889 00:39:22,028 --> 00:39:25,131 all of whom could have motivation 890 00:39:25,165 --> 00:39:27,267 for her disappearance and death. 891 00:39:27,300 --> 00:39:29,336 [dramatic sting] 892 00:39:30,603 --> 00:39:32,572 - It's always a very tense atmosphere 893 00:39:32,605 --> 00:39:34,274 when the verdict comes in. 894 00:39:34,307 --> 00:39:35,809 You're really literally 895 00:39:35,842 --> 00:39:38,545 practically holding your breath. 896 00:39:38,578 --> 00:39:41,114 - As to Sante Kimes, 897 00:39:41,147 --> 00:39:42,549 guilty. 898 00:39:42,582 --> 00:39:44,584 Three counts of murder in the second degree, 899 00:39:44,617 --> 00:39:47,487 one count of robbery and conspiracy, 900 00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:49,489 16 counts of forgery, 901 00:39:49,522 --> 00:39:52,292 29 counts of eavesdropping, 902 00:39:52,325 --> 00:39:54,361 totaling 58 counts. 903 00:39:54,394 --> 00:39:57,163 [dramatic music] 904 00:39:57,197 --> 00:39:59,632 Kenny was convicted of those exact counts 905 00:39:59,666 --> 00:40:01,534 in addition to two counts 906 00:40:01,568 --> 00:40:03,303 of possession of a forged instrument, 907 00:40:03,336 --> 00:40:06,306 for a total of 60 counts. 908 00:40:06,339 --> 00:40:08,375 - "Guilty, guilty, guilty," 909 00:40:08,408 --> 00:40:12,712 rang out dozens and dozens of times. 910 00:40:12,746 --> 00:40:14,347 I was shocked. 911 00:40:14,381 --> 00:40:18,985 - The jury unanimously voted the two of them were guilty 912 00:40:19,019 --> 00:40:22,789 without the evidence of Irene's body. 913 00:40:22,822 --> 00:40:25,825 That was the first time in New York City history 914 00:40:25,859 --> 00:40:28,261 that it ever happened. 915 00:40:28,294 --> 00:40:30,964 - Before the judge delivered the sentence, 916 00:40:30,997 --> 00:40:32,866 she calls Sante Kimes 917 00:40:32,899 --> 00:40:35,035 "the most degenerate person 918 00:40:35,068 --> 00:40:38,271 who'd ever been in her courtroom." 919 00:40:38,304 --> 00:40:40,340 - She knew what we knew. 920 00:40:40,373 --> 00:40:43,843 Sante Kimes was the devil in sheep's clothing. 921 00:40:43,877 --> 00:40:45,712 - Following her remarks, 922 00:40:45,745 --> 00:40:48,014 Judge Uviller sentenced Sante Kimes to 923 00:40:48,048 --> 00:40:50,050 120 years in prison 924 00:40:50,083 --> 00:40:54,154 and her son Kenny to 125 years. 925 00:40:54,187 --> 00:40:56,222 [dramatic sting] 926 00:40:56,256 --> 00:40:59,359 Now Los Angeles authorities wanted their turn 927 00:40:59,392 --> 00:41:01,361 for the murder of David Kazdin, 928 00:41:01,394 --> 00:41:03,496 the Kimes' former business partner. 929 00:41:03,530 --> 00:41:05,899 This time Kenny Kimes took a deal. 930 00:41:05,932 --> 00:41:10,070 - The deal was that if he told everything about 931 00:41:10,103 --> 00:41:11,504 the Irene Silverman murder 932 00:41:11,538 --> 00:41:13,707 and to confess to the David Kazdin murder, 933 00:41:13,740 --> 00:41:16,509 California would take the death penalty 934 00:41:16,543 --> 00:41:20,580 off the table for him and his mother. 935 00:41:20,613 --> 00:41:25,085 I will never forget Kenny getting on the stand, 936 00:41:25,118 --> 00:41:27,387 and he began to recount 937 00:41:27,420 --> 00:41:30,190 how he murdered Irene Silverman 938 00:41:30,223 --> 00:41:32,692 on July 5th, 1998. 939 00:41:32,726 --> 00:41:36,496 - He said that his mother stun-gunned Irene. 940 00:41:36,529 --> 00:41:39,232 She fell to the floor. He choked her. 941 00:41:39,265 --> 00:41:40,700 He put her in the bathtub, 942 00:41:40,734 --> 00:41:43,903 wrapped her in that missing caramel-colored quilt, 943 00:41:43,937 --> 00:41:45,405 duct-taped her, 944 00:41:45,438 --> 00:41:46,706 put her in the trunk of his car, 945 00:41:46,740 --> 00:41:48,375 drove through the Lincoln Tunnel, 946 00:41:48,408 --> 00:41:51,211 and dumped her somewhere in Jersey. 947 00:41:51,244 --> 00:41:53,213 Unfortunately, to this day, 948 00:41:53,246 --> 00:41:57,917 Irene Silverman's body was never found. 949 00:41:57,951 --> 00:42:00,286 - Frankly, I was surprised 950 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:03,957 when I heard that he confessed. 951 00:42:04,057 --> 00:42:06,893 But Sante never confessed 952 00:42:06,926 --> 00:42:10,730 to having killed anyone, for that matter. 953 00:42:10,764 --> 00:42:13,099 * * 954 00:42:13,133 --> 00:42:16,636 - Best of all articles relating to the Kimes 955 00:42:16,670 --> 00:42:20,607 is probably this one here. 956 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:22,742 We knew he did it all along. 957 00:42:22,776 --> 00:42:25,078 * * 958 00:42:25,078 --> 00:42:27,147 Sad. 959 00:42:27,180 --> 00:42:31,084 - In 2004, Kenny Kimes was sentenced to life 960 00:42:31,084 --> 00:42:33,386 without the possibility of parole. 961 00:42:33,420 --> 00:42:37,957 That same year, his mother, 79-year-old Sante Kimes, 962 00:42:37,991 --> 00:42:41,227 died in prison while serving her sentence. 963 00:42:41,261 --> 00:42:43,596 - The lesson that was learned in this case to me was 964 00:42:43,630 --> 00:42:45,999 you can't judge a book by its cover. 965 00:42:46,099 --> 00:42:49,469 Sante and Kenneth Kimes presented themselves 966 00:42:49,502 --> 00:42:51,838 like the elite, like the affluent, 967 00:42:51,871 --> 00:42:55,775 and they were really the worst people that 968 00:42:55,809 --> 00:42:58,278 anyone could ever come in contact with. 969 00:42:58,311 --> 00:43:00,513 They were serial killers. 970 00:43:00,547 --> 00:43:03,550 - The Kimes underestimated a couple of things here. 971 00:43:03,583 --> 00:43:06,519 They underestimated the capabilities 972 00:43:06,553 --> 00:43:08,888 of Irene Silverman. 973 00:43:08,922 --> 00:43:11,691 And they underestimated the professionalism 974 00:43:11,725 --> 00:43:12,859 and the perseverance 975 00:43:12,892 --> 00:43:14,561 of the New York City Police Department. 976 00:43:14,594 --> 00:43:16,696 They met their match. 977 00:43:16,730 --> 00:43:22,068 * * 978 00:43:22,068 --> 00:43:24,838 - For the first ten years after she disappeared, 979 00:43:24,871 --> 00:43:28,208 I had this fantasy that she was gonna reappear. 980 00:43:28,241 --> 00:43:30,076 But I gave it up. 981 00:43:30,076 --> 00:43:32,512 I would have been wonderful if it had happened. 982 00:43:32,545 --> 00:43:34,481 She was a special lady. 983 00:43:34,514 --> 00:43:35,982 Here's to Irene. 984 00:43:36,082 --> 00:43:43,089 * *