Elmer Holmgren. Credit: Othram
Remains found in a dumpster in Inglewood, California in 1991 have now been identified as Elmer Holmgren, a lawyer who disappeared after working with suspected serial killer Sante Kimes.
Case background
On Feb. 19, 1991, the remains of an unidentified individual were found lying inside a trash dumpster in an alley behind an apartment complex in Inglewood. The decedent was a White male estimated to be between 55 and 75 years old, approximately 6 feet tall and 155 pounds.
The man had no identification or personal belongings with him, and although investigators noted several distinguishing physical features, he could not be identified at the time.
However, the medical examiner did determine that “Inglewood John Doe” died of multiple blunt injuries to the head, and his manner of death was ruled as a homicide.
While an STR profile was developed and entered into CODIS years after the murder, no matches were ever found.
In September 2024, the Inglewood Police Department turned to Othram. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for John Doe.
The FBI's forensic genetic genealogy team then conducted a genealogy search to develop new investigative leads. A follow-up investigation eventually led to potential relatives, which ultimately led to the positive identification of the victim—now known to be Elmer Holmgren.
Holmgren was a lawyer working with Sante and her son, Kenneth Kimes, Jr., when he vanished more than 30 years ago.
Although the investigation into Holmgren's homicide remains open per the police, Sante is an unofficial likely suspect.
In 2001, Sante’s eldest son from a previous marriage, Kent Walker, wrote a memoir in which he alleges that his mother and Kenneth Jr., admitted to him during a 1992 argument that they had killed Holmgren.
The connection
Sante was a murderer, con-artist, fraudster, serial arsonist and more. She spent the better part of her life fleecing people of money, merchandise and real estate, either through arson, con games, forgery or outright theft. She committed insurance fraud on numerous occasions, frequently by committing arson and then collecting money for property damage.
She also violated federal anti-slavery laws by offering young, homeless undocumented immigrants housing and employment, then keeping them as prisoners by threatening to report them to immigration authorities if they did not follow orders.
In August 1985, Sante was arrested on charges of slavery and served three years in prison. Her decades-long crime spree was briefly paused during this time, but began again as soon as she was released.
In September 1990, about two years after Sante was released from prison, she hired Holmgren to burn down her Honolulu home due to a lien on the property. When insurance investigators interviewed Holmgren, he admitted his involvement in the arson.A month later, Sante burned Holmgren's office hoping to destroy documents related to the case that would have incriminated her.
But before the case could be brought to trial, Holmgren told his family he was taking a vacation to Costa Rica with Sante and Kenneth Jr. Holmgren was never seen alive again.
The crimes and convictions
Sante and Kenneth Jr., were finally arrested in 1998 for the murder of Irene Silverman in New York City. The pair were convicted of this murder, as well as the 1998 murder of David Kazdin in Los Angeles. Mother and son were also suspected of but never charged in a third murder in the Bahamas, to which Kenneth Jr., later confessed.
Ultimately, in 2000, the pair were tried and convicted together on 118 charges, including murder, robbery, slavery, forgery and more.
Sante received a life sentence without possible parole plus 125 years. She died in prison in May 2014 at the age of 79.
Kenneth Jr., who is now 51-years-old, is serving a life sentence without parole in a California state prison.