Associated Press
DANNEMORA, N.Y. — A freelance producer for Court TV was held hostage at a maximum security state prison today by an inmate convicted of killing a New York City millionaire.
Inmate Kenneth Kimes, 25, held a pen to the throat of Maria Zone, and ordered her camera crew and security personnel to "back off," Department of Correctional Services spokesman James Flateau said. He said Zone did not appear to be injured.
Kimes is serving a 125-year sentence at Clinton Correctional Facility. He and his mother, Sante Kimes, were convicted of killing Irene Silverman, 82, in a scheme to steal her $7 million Manhattan home. Silverman’s body was never found. Their lawyers are planning appeals.
Network spokeswoman Betsy Vorce said Zone had interviewed Kimes several weeks ago without problem and returned today to interview him on camera for "Crime Stories," a documentary-style program.
The prison, near the Canadian border, houses 2,865 inmates.
"I am totally shocked by this," said Matthew Weissmann, one of Kimes’ lawyers during trial. "In the two and a half years that I’ve known Kenny, he’s never shown that he would do anything like this, despite the charges he was convicted on. He’s never shown any violence. He must’ve totally snapped or something."
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