Sharon Kinne, the female fugitive with a legacy of mystery and murder, lived for nearly fifty years on the run before authorities confirmed her death from natural causes on January 21, 2022. Initially arrested for the shooting death of her husband, Kinne later became linked to multiple homicides and eventually slipped away from prison life, baffling law enforcement with her ability to evade capture.
Kinne’s saga began with the death of her husband James Kinne, who was shot dead on March 19, 1960. The circumstances around the shooting were suspicious from the start. Sharon claimed their two-year-old daughter was responsible, saying she heard the toddler ask, "How does this thing work, daddy?" just before the gun went off. Investigators initially accepted her explanation, deeming the death accidental. But whispers of marital issues and infidelity hinted there was more to the story than met the eye.
Just months after his death, Sharon collected $5,000 from James’s life insurance, using the money to fund her new car purchase and possibly to finance her next romantic pursuits. She soon met car salesman Walter Jones, who was already married; her attempts to woo him away from his wife, Patricia, culminated tragically when Patricia went missing after meeting Sharon.
According to reports, Kinne supposedly led Patricia to believe they were going to discuss Walter, only for Patricia to vanish after they met. Kinne's involvement became evident when she was later discovered at the scene of Patricia’s body, which had been shot multiple times. Sharon was charged with Patricia’s murder but was acquitted by an all-male jury, leading to applause at the trial.
Later, she was convicted for the murder of her husband, but the Missouri Supreme Court overturned the conviction. Subsequent trials resulted in mistrials and hung juries, and amid this chaos, Kinne managed to escape to Mexico to start anew.
Her life took another dark turn when she picked up Francisco Paredes Ordonez at a bar, leading to another violent confrontation where she shot him dead. By 1965, she received another thirteen-year sentence for his murder. Kinne’s notorious reputation only grew, earning her the moniker "La Pistolera" and allowing her to grant interviews from behind bars. One notable quote captured during these interviews was when she asserted, "I knew out there, out of Kansas City and Independence, the world was going on its way someplace. And I wasn't going anywhere," emphasizing her entrapment both physically and existentially.
After her escape on December 7, 1969, Kinne vanished from public sight. While police launched manhunts, she began life anew under the alias Diedra Glabus, eventually settling down in Alberta, Canada. For decades, she lived relatively unnoticed, leading a quiet life as a real estate agent, until her death, which remained unconnected to her notorious past for years.
It wasn’t until December 2023 when anonymous tips finally pieced together the puzzle of Kinne’s whereabouts, leading law enforcement to confirm her identity via fingerprint analysis. Capt. Ronda Montgomery of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office expressed regret at not being able to bring her to justice during her lifetime, stating, "I have already extended my apologies to both sides of the family. It just so happens someone had the tip and was not willing to release it until after her death." This sentiment echoes within the victims' families, who recognized the damage her actions wrought upon their lives.
The closure of this chapter was marked by the acknowledgment of Kinne’s family, who later said, "Sharon was a woman who never faced the consequences of her actions, leaving them for her children to deal with. She caused great harm without thought or remorse." This statement encapsulated the tragic legacy Sharon Kinne left behind, intertwining grief with the specter of her long-evaded justice.
Days before her death, she remained almost forgotten, but now the question remains: could she have offered more insight or closure had she lived to be interrogated? Sgt. Dustin Love's eagerness to "pick her brain" reflects the lost opportunity for answers about her life, her choices, and the many questions left unanswered since the very first crime.
Sharon Kinne’s life encapsulates the complex interplay of crime and evasion, the haunting echo of unknowing victims, and the tragic consequence of one woman’s decision to live outside the law. The narrative serves as both caution and intrigue, capturing attention not just for the violence but the story of survival and the lengths one will go to escape the past.