Kimes Says He Dumped Body in New Jersey

N E W   Y O R K, Nov. 15 -- A man convicted along with hismother of murdering a missing Manhattan socialite has revealedto police that he dumped her corpse in a building excavationhole in New Jersey, a detective involved in the case said today.

Kenneth Kimes, 25, is serving a prison sentence of 125years to life for the murder of 82-year-old Irene Silverman,who disappeared on July 5, 1998.

Kimes told police sources during an interview Tuesday that he threw Silverman’s body into a ditch at a New Jerseyconstruction site 35 to 40 minutes from the Holland Tunnel.

The confession, which comes after 28 months of denying anywrongdoing, has encouraged police to find Silverman’s body, sourcessaid.

“He expressed a willingness to help us find the body,” said alaw enforcement source.

Kimes’ lawyer Mel Sachs said he was surprised at the so-called confession because his client has always denied the charges.

“I am totally taken aback because he has always denied any involvement inthe disappearance of Irene Silveman,” said Mel Sachs.

Kimes Drove Body to New Jersey

The detective, who spoke on condition he would not beidentified, said Kimes admitted that after killing Silverman, he wrapped her body in heavy-duty garbage bags, stuffed it in aduffel bag, put it in the trunk of his car and drove to NewJersey, where he dumped it, the detective said.

“Kimes told us the building where he dumped Silverman’sbody was under construction, and he dumped the body inside thehole. He said he doesn’t know the city or the town where hedumped the body but that it was close to the water,” thedetective said.

Another New York City Police detective, Joseph Reznick,also said authorities had talked to a witness who said she sawa car similar to Kimes’ in New Jersey on the day Silvermanvanished.

The detective said Kimes decided to talk in hopes ofreducing the eight years he has been ordered to spend insolitary confinement.