Sharon Kinne's mugshot after being arrested for murder in Mexico. (Photo: Jackson County Sheriffs Office)

By David Opinko

update: Statement from Taber Police

Serial killer wanted in U.S. and Mexico lived in Taber for 49 years

Jan 31, 2025 | 11:02 AM

Investigators spent decades trying to find her, but she had been hiding in southern Alberta almost the whole time.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) in Missouri has released the details of their long-standing investigation into a fugitive serial killer.

They say Sharon Kinne, then 20 years old, killed her husband James Kinne in March 1960 by shooting him in the back of the head. Sharon claimed that it was the fault of their two-year-old daughter and that the child had accidentally fired the gun.

Two months later, Kinne was accused of killing Patricia Jones after Kinne and Patricia’s husband, Walter, had an affair.

Kinne was found not guilty of the death of Patricia Jones but was sentenced to life in prison in connection to the murder of her husband on January 11, 1962.

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Her conviction was reversed by the Missouri Supreme Court in March 1963, was granted a new trial, and later released on a $25,000 bond.

The second murder occurred in 1964 after Kinne fled to Mexico City with her boyfriend. The Sheriff’s Office says, on September 18, Kinne shot a man in a motel room and was sentenced to 13 years for murder.

Kinne escaped the Mexican prison on December 7, 1969, and just two months later, married James Glabus in Los Angeles.

Law enforcement in Missouri gave Kinne the nickname of the “Pistol Packin’ Mama,” while she was referred to in a Mexican publication as “La Pistolera.”

Sharon Kinne is shown in a Mexican publication from 1964 and referred to a “La Pistolera.” (Photo: Jackson County Sheriffs Office)

Investigators were unable to find her for decades, but thanks to an anonymous tip in December 2023, her fingerprints confirmed her identity 64 years after her initial arrest.

It turns out that Kinne had changed her name to Diedra (Dee) Glabus and moved to Taber with James in 1973.

Diedra and James ran the Taber motel before working together as realtors. She also served as the chair of Taber’s daycare steering committee.

Diedra was married twice while living in Canada and died on January 21, 2022, at the age of 81.

The JCSO says her case was one of the longest outstanding felony warrants in U.S. history.

The Taber Police Service (TPS) says it was contacted by the JCSO. During its investigation, officers learned that Glabus’ fingerprint had been obtained by a funeral home for their own records.

Under Canadian law, police say there was no legal avenue for TPS to obtain the fingerprint though judicial authorization. Thankfully, a private company in America had stored Glabus’ fingerprint from the funeral home and from her arrest in Missouri.

Investigators from Jackson County were able to obtain both sets of fingerprints and confirmed the match.

TPS says in a social media post, “We would like to thank Sergeant Dustin Love of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for his assistance and lead on this investigation. This is a true example of Canadian and United States law enforcement agencies working across international borders to help solve crimes and identify wanted fugitives.”

Taber Police says all inquiries related to the original crimes should be directed to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

The full post from TPS can be found below:

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