Mystery of accused triple killer escapee Sharon Kinne about to be solved

The mystery surrounding the bizarre disappearance of an American woman from a Mexican prison more than 50 years ago is about to be unraveled. Authorities are planning a press conference to discuss the case of Sharon Kinne, who, before her 25th birthday, was accused of killing her husband in Missouri, her boyfriend's wife, and a man she met in a Mexican bar.

Her whereabouts have been unknown since she allegedly escaped from the Ixtapalapan prison on December 7, 1969. Her story has been featured in the book "I'm Just a Girl: The Story of Sharon Kinne," and has been covered in podcasts and television shows, such as Discovery I.D.'s "Deadly Women."

An FBI spokesperson referred related questions to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office in Missouri. That office stated that it could not confirm any information, including whether she was deceased, prior to the press conference. However, a press release promises answers. In announcing the press conference, the sheriff's department said, "We hope that by bringing closure to this case, we can provide a sense of relief not only for the friends and family of the innocent victims, but also for those affected by her actions, including her own loved ones."

Kinne married at 16 and in March 1960 was living in a ranch-style home in the Independence, Missouri area. At that time, her 25-year-old husband, James Kinne, was shot in the back of the head while taking a nap. Independence is a suburb of Kansas City. Kinne told police she heard her two-year-old daughter ask, "Daddy, what's this thing?" and then a gunshot. Sharon Kinne said she ran into the bedroom and found her toddler holding her husband’s .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol. The death was ruled accidental.

However, later court testimony revealed that Kinne and her husband had marital problems and that she had been involved with other men. According to news reports and interviews with investigators, Sharon Kinne met car salesman Walter Jones while using her husband's life insurance money and proceeds from the sale of their house to buy a new car. More than a month later, Jones's wife, Patricia, was found shot to death. On June 1, 1960, Sharon Kinne was charged with the murder of Patricia Jones. Police reopened the investigation into James Kinne's death, and a Jackson County grand jury also indicted Kinne.

In June 1961, Sharon Kinne was tried for Patricia Jones's death. An all-male jury acquitted her, prompting applause in the courtroom. In January 1962, Sharon Kinne was convicted of murdering her husband. However, the Missouri Supreme Court later overturned the conviction due to improper jury selection. She was tried again, but the jurors could not agree on a verdict. After that, Sharon Kinne went to Mexico City.

One night, she met a man at a bar and went with him to a hotel. Around 3 a.m., gunshots were heard, and Francisco Ordonez was found dead on the floor. Kinne was sentenced to 13 years in prison for killing Ordonez. Ballistics tests confirmed prosecutors' suspicions that the gun found in Sharon Kinne's Mexican motel was the same gun that killed Patricia Jones. Unable to retry Sharon Kinne for the same crime, prosecutors closed the case.

Before her apparent escape, she gave several interviews and was known in Mexico as "La Pistolera," which translates to "The Gunwoman." In a 1965 interview with the Saturday Evening Post, Kinne said, "I know that outside of Kansas City and Independence, the world is moving in some direction. And I'm not going anywhere."