Summary
Overview
Ash presents the shocking case of 'Mommy and Clyde' - Santa and Kenny Kimes, a mother-son criminal duo whose crimes escalated from arson and fraud to slavery and multiple murders. The case begins with the mysterious disappearance of 82-year-old former ballet dancer and wealthy socialite Irene Silverman from her Manhattan townhouse on July 4th, 1998, after she rented a room to a suspicious man who turned out to be Kenny Kimes. The investigation reveals an extensive criminal empire spanning decades, involving arson, insurance fraud, slavery charges, and the suspected murders of at least three people across multiple states and countries.
The Disappearance of Irene Silverman
On July 4, 1998, beloved 82-year-old socialite and former ballet dancer Irene Silverman threw a small party at her East 65th Street Manhattan townhouse. The next day, she vanished without a trace. Her maid discovered her missing that afternoon, which was highly unusual as Irene rarely went anywhere alone and loved being surrounded by people. Detective Tom Havajim was assigned to the case, and suspicion quickly fell on her newest tenant, Manny Guerin, who had moved in just weeks earlier and was also missing.
- Irene Silverman was an 82-year-old former ballet dancer who had studied under famous Russian instructor Michael Fokine
- Irene was known for her elegance, generosity, and love of throwing lavish parties where she made everyone feel special
- She had rented rooms in her mansion to celebrities like Daniel Day-Lewis, Lenny Kravitz, and Chaka Khan
- On July 5th, Irene's maid found her missing and called the police when she didn't return
- A suspicious tenant named Manny Guerin was also missing, and police found a spot of blood at the front entrance
- In Manny's room, police discovered garbage bags, duct tape, and shower curtain rings without a curtain
" She was a very exquisite woman, very beautiful. I remember offering her some coffee or tea when she came to our house. She refused, saying she was in constant pain with a bad back. She told us the only way that she could allay the pain was with champagne. And with that, she took a small bottle out of her purse and we got her a glass. "
" Lots of people think I'm very rich and I am but I've always worked and look at where I am and look at where I began. I'm a tough broad, a child of the depression. I had to be self-supporting from the age of 16. "
Santa Kimes: A Life of Crime Begins
Santa Kimes was born Sandra Louise Singers in Oklahoma City during the Dust Bowl in 1934. Her early life story was largely fabricated - she was a pathological liar who created false narratives about her childhood. By high school, she was already known as a liar and thief. After marrying Edward Walker in 1956 and having her first son Kent, she began committing arson on her husband's construction properties to collect insurance payouts. Her criminal behavior only escalated from there.
- Santa fabricated most of her backstory, claiming her father abandoned the family when he actually died of a heart attack
- She renamed herself Santa (pronounced 'Sahn-ta') because she thought it sounded more French and sophisticated
- In 1960, she set fire to one of her husband's properties to collect insurance money
- She was arrested and convicted for shoplifting in Sacramento in 1961
- After divorcing Edward Walker in 1969, she orchestrated a meeting with wealthy motel developer Ken Kimes by reading about his divorce and net worth in a magazine
" A pathological liar lies manipulatively to gain control, attention or an advantage, often with little remorse to serve a selfish agenda. "
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