Court TV reporter held hostage at maximum security prison

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."

Copyright ©2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Addison Tubbs, 17, washes her cow Skor during load-in before the start of the Evergreen State Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Evergreen State Fair ready to shine in Monroe

Organizers have loaded the venue with two weeks of entertainment and a massive agricultural showcase.

Traffic moves northbound in a new HOV lane on I-5 between Everett and Marysville on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett to Marysville HOV lane opens to mixed reviews

Not everybody is happy with the project to ease the commute between the two cities.

ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Mifthakof, left, shows Gov. Jay Inslee a hydrogen-powered motor during an event at ZeroAvia’s new Everett facility on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, near Paine Field in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
FAA awards ZeroAvia in Everett $4.2M toward sustainable flight goals

The aerospace company will use federal grant to advance technology at new facility. Statewide, aviation projects received $38M.

An Everett Police boat is visible from Edgewater Beach as they continue to search for a kayaker that went missing after a storm on Sunday on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett police continue search for missing kayaker

Searchers began using an underwater drone on Tuesday night and continue to search Wednesday.

A dump truck passes through the mudslide cleanup area on Highway 20 in the North Cascades. The slide happened Aug. 11 after heavy rain. (Photo provided by WSDOT)
North Cascades Highway still buried under thick debris in spots

Highway 20 remains closed as cleanup continues from a mudslide earlier this month.

Everett
Everett police investigate shooting that left four wounded

Four people remain in stable condition as of Tuesday at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.

Christina Cratty, right, and her mother Storm Diamond, left, light a candle for their family member Monique (Mo) Wier who died from an overdose last July during A Night to Remember, A Time to Act opioid awareness event at the Snohomish County Campus on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It’s not a cake walk’: Overdose event spotlights treatment in Snohomish County

Recovery from drug addiction is not “one-size-fits-all,” survivors and experts say.

A Link light rail train pulls into the Mountlake Terrace station on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A brief timeline of the Lynnwood light rail extension

Four stations were added Friday in Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood as part of the 8.5-mile, $3.1 billion project.

People cheer as ribbon is cut and confetti flys during the Lynnwood 1 Line extension opening celebrations on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Today feels like Christmas’: Lynnwood light rail is here at last

Fifteen years after voters put the wheels in motion, Link stations opened in Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Shoreline on Friday.

3 injured in Everett apartment fire

Early Friday, firefighters responded to a fire at the Fulton’s Crossing and Landing apartments at 120 SE Everett Mall Way.

Jill Diner, center, holds her son Sam Diner, 2, while he reacts to the shaking of the Big Shaker, the world’s largest mobile earthquake simulator, with his siblings on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
All shook up: Marysville gets a taste of 7.0 magnitude quake

On Thursday, locals lined up at Delta Plaza to experience an earthquake with the “Big Shaker” simulator.

Outside of Everett City Hall and the Everett Police Department on Jan. 3. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves buyouts amid financial woes

The buyout measure comes after voters rejected a property tax levy lid lift. Officials said at least 131 employees are eligible.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.