Overview of Talking Dateline: The Devil Wore White - Update
This episode of Talking Dateline revisits the notorious Sante Kimes case, focusing on how Sante’s charm, manipulation, and criminal ingenuity drew her sons into a web of theft, fraud, and murder. Josh Mankiewicz and Keith Morrison also discuss a significant new update: a cold case connected to the family was recently solved through DNA genealogy, adding another piece to the already disturbing story.
The Core Story: Sante Kimes and Her Sons
Sante Kimes’ criminal persona
- Sante Kimes was portrayed as a remarkably charismatic con artist who could charm almost anyone, from ordinary people to powerful officials.
- Despite a murky backstory and repeated lies about her origins, she moved easily in high society and was able to manipulate people into helping her.
- Her crimes were not just impulsive murders; they often served broader schemes involving:
- financial fraud
- check kiting
- insurance fraud
- forgery
- property theft
- arson
Her sons’ different paths
- Older son Kent Walker ultimately broke away from Sante’s influence, helped by a girlfriend who pushed him out of that life and by his own fear of ending up in prison.
- Younger son Kenny Kimes remained deeply attached to Sante and became a participant in her crimes.
- The discussion emphasizes how Sante seemed to groom Kenny to be her loyal accomplice, making him her “whole world.”
Why This Dateline Story Stands Out
- The hosts note that this is unusually a killer-versus-killer story, rather than the more typical killer-victim narrative.
- The case is remembered as a sprawling, twisted tale of:
- manipulation
- family loyalty
- criminal improvisation
- shocking violence
- Keith Morrison highlights how Sante’s ability to persuade others to commit crimes on her behalf was one of her most dangerous traits.
Key Insights and Takeaways
Sante’s power was psychological as much as criminal
- She was described as someone who could be warm, funny, and socially magnetic while being profoundly dangerous.
- Her most effective weapon was not brute force but persuasion, charm, and intimidation.
Kenny’s confession was seen as part of the family dynamic
- The hosts interpret Kenny’s confession as an act meant largely to protect his mother from the death penalty.
- Even decades later, Kenny is portrayed as still emotionally stuck in the same relationship dynamic with Sante.
Kent’s early escape was crucial
- Kent’s decision to leave that world likely saved his life.
- His girlfriend’s role in pulling him out is framed as a major, life-altering intervention.
The Update: A Cold Case Breakthrough
What changed
- A former FBI agent working with Inglewood police revisited an old case and used DNA genealogy to identify a victim.
- The victim was identified as Elmer Holmgren, whose son had long believed he was murdered abroad and never properly investigated.
How they solved it
- Investigators had decent old autopsy photos and crime scene work, but DNA technology at the time was limited.
- By using genealogy and distant relatives, they traced the remains back to Holmgren’s family.
- His son in Texas recognized the body from the autopsy photos and confirmed the identification.
Why it matters
- The update underscores how modern forensic genealogy is transforming cold-case investigations.
- It also shows the value of collaboration between local police departments and the FBI.
Audience Questions and Reflections
Why did Sante get away with so much?
- The hosts agree she likely would have been harder to catch in any era because she was smart, manipulative, and experienced at avoiding detection.
- Modern digital traces might help investigators, but only if they already know where to look.
Why are women often drawn to true crime?
- The hosts suggest that many women relate to true crime because women are so often the victims in these cases.
- The appeal lies in both the mystery and the resolution.
Was Sante a psychopath or sociopath?
- The discussion leans toward Sante having psychopathic traits: no remorse, no empathy, and a seeming natural fit for manipulative criminal behavior.
- The hosts note that the terms are often used loosely, but they agree she fit the pattern of someone born with deeply antisocial tendencies.
Final Takeaway
This episode is both a recap of one of Dateline’s most chilling family crime stories and a reminder that cold cases can still break open years later. The central portrait is of Sante Kimes as a charismatic predator who controlled people through charm and fear, with her sons pulled into orbit in very different ways. The new forensic update adds one more haunting layer to an already disturbing case.