Overview of Dateline: True Lies
This Dateline episode examines the baffling murder of Diane Kine in Seminole, Florida, a case built around two competing 911 calls and two conflicting stories from the only other people in the house: her husband, Bill Kine, and her adult son, Kevin. Each accused the other of killing Diane, and investigators were forced to untangle a case filled with motive, prior family tension, DNA evidence, a failed polygraph, and a deeply disputed timeline. The case ultimately went through two trials, ending with Kevin’s acquittal — but the episode leaves lingering uncertainty about who actually killed Diane.
The Family and the Setup
Bill and Diane’s relationship
- Bill Kine was a widower raising five children when he met Diane at a nail salon.
- Diane had a son, Kevin, whom she adored and had raised largely as a single mother.
- Bill and Diane married in 2002, and Kevin initially appeared to fit well into the family.
- By 2010, tensions had grown in the crowded household, especially around Kevin’s behavior, employment, and desire to remain living at home.
A household under strain
- Kevin, then 23, was still living with Bill and Diane after recovering from brain surgery.
- Bill and Diane were planning to buy a dream home and wanted Kevin out on his own.
- Family conflict had escalated enough that the parents had even tried to evict Kevin previously.
The Murder and the Competing 911 Calls
August 15, 2010
- On a hot Sunday in Florida, Bill was outside working, Kevin was watching NASCAR, and Diane was in the bedroom.
- Around 2 p.m., emergency calls came in from the house.
- First Kevin called, saying his stepfather was trying to kill him.
- Then Bill called, saying Kevin had killed Diane.
Two irreconcilable stories
- Bill’s account: He said he caught Kevin on top of Diane in the bedroom, pulled him off, and was attacked by Kevin during a struggle that continued into the yard.
- Kevin’s account: He said Bill lured him toward Diane’s room, attacked him from behind, and was the one choking Diane when Kevin saw her.
The Evidence at the Scene
What investigators found
- Diane was found dead in bed, appearing to have been smothered and strangled.
- There were broken glasses, a shoe, disarray in the room, and signs of struggle.
- Investigators also noted blood on Diane’s leg and bed coverings.
Suspicious details
- Kevin’s glasses were found in the bedroom, which challenged his claim that he never entered the room.
- DNA testing found Kevin’s blood on Diane and on bedding.
- Bill’s DNA was found on Diane’s neck, which he explained by saying they slept in the same bed.
- Bill also failed a polygraph test on key questions about whether he killed Diane or lied about Kevin being in the room.
Why Police Focused on Both Men
Kevin as a suspect
- Kevin had a history of conflict and aggression.
- Police learned of prior incidents involving resisting arrest and family arguments.
- Prosecutors argued Kevin had a motive: he was being forced out of the house and had been in conflict with his mother.
Bill as a suspect
- Bill’s earlier wife, Krista, had died in a pool drowning that was ruled accidental, but the circumstances raised questions.
- Bill had collected significant insurance payouts over the years, including a large policy on Diane.
- Prosecutors and investigators saw possible financial motive, especially given the insurance money tied to Diane’s death.
Trials, Reversal, and Final Outcome
Kevin’s first trial
- Kevin was initially charged and convicted of second-degree murder.
- The prosecution’s case leaned heavily on:
- his blood at the scene,
- the glasses in the room,
- his violent history,
- and Bill’s testimony.
The appeal and new trial
- Kevin’s defense successfully challenged the use of an old 911 call, and he was granted a new trial.
- In the retrial, the defense attacked Bill much more aggressively and emphasized Bill’s financial motive and prior suspicious history.
- Kevin testified again, and this time he admitted more ambiguity about whether he stepped into the room and whether he had worn the sandals found at the scene.
The verdict
- The second jury found Kevin not guilty.
- He was released after years of legal battle.
- Bill remained convinced Kevin was responsible, while Kevin maintained his innocence.
Key Takeaways
What made the case so compelling
- Only two people survived the immediate events and each blamed the other.
- Both men had reasons to be suspected.
- Physical evidence could be interpreted in more than one way.
- The first conviction did not survive appeal, showing how fragile the case was.
The lingering mystery
- The episode never fully resolves who killed Diane Kine.
- It leaves viewers with a classic true-crime dilemma:
Was Kevin a violent son who killed his mother, or was Bill a calculating husband who framed him?
Bottom line
- True Lies is a courtroom whodunit centered on a family tragedy, where the truth remains contested even after two trials and years of investigation.