Joe Kenda facts for kids

Joseph Patrick Kenda (born August 28, 1946) is a retired police detective. He worked for the Colorado Springs Police Department in the United States. During his 23-year career, he investigated many serious cases. He became well-known for solving a very high percentage of them. After retiring, he became a star on television shows like Homicide Hunter and American Detective With Lt. Joe Kenda.

Early Life and Education

Joseph Kenda was born on November 14, 1946, in Herminie, Pennsylvania. He grew up in this town. His grandparents came to the U.S. in 1913 from a country called Slovenia. His father, William, was a soldier in the United States Army during World War II. He also ran a trucking business. His mother, Virginia, was from Colorado Springs.

Kenda finished high school in 1964. He then went to the University of Pittsburgh. In 1967, he married his high school girlfriend, Mary Kathleen Mohler. After getting his first college degree, he earned a master's degree in international relations in 1970. He thought about working for the government overseas. However, he decided it wasn't for him. After helping with his father's business, Kenda joined the Colorado Springs Police Department in 1973.

Police Career Highlights

Kenda started working for the Colorado Springs Police Department in 1973. In 1977, he became a detective. He first worked in the burglary division, investigating thefts.

Becoming a Homicide Detective

In 1977, Kenda volunteered to take on a very difficult case. It was a serious crime that other experienced detectives thought couldn't be solved. Kenda managed to solve it. Because of this success, he was moved to the police department's homicide unit. This unit investigates serious cases where someone has died. He was promoted to sergeant in 1980. He returned to the homicide unit in 1984.

Solving Difficult Cases

As a homicide detective, Kenda solved 356 out of 387 cases he worked on. This means he solved about 92% of them. Kenda believed he was good at solving cases because he understood people well. He also said he was good at knowing when people were not telling the truth.

Retirement from Police Work

Kenda retired in August 1996. He decided to leave police work after a very tough case. This case deeply affected him. After retiring, he worked as a bus driver for students with special needs. He also dealt with the emotional impact of his demanding job.

Television Shows

In 2008, a television editor contacted Kenda. They wanted to create a TV show about his career as a detective. The show was called Homicide Hunter: Lt Joe Kenda. It started airing in September 2011 on the Investigation Discovery network. The show became very popular. It was the top show on Investigation Discovery in 2018. The final episode aired on January 29, 2020.

In December 2020, Kenda started a new series. It was called American Detective with Lt. Joe Kenda. In this show, Kenda talks about cases solved by other detectives across the United States. It first appeared on the Discovery+ streaming service in January 2021. The show was later renamed Homicide Hunter: American Detective.

Personal Life

Joe Kenda and his wife, Mary, have two children, Dan and Kris. Mary is often known by her nickname, Kathy. Kenda's family appeared in two episodes of Homicide Hunter. These episodes showed how his police work affected his family life. Kenda now lives in the Tidewater region of Virginia.

Cold Cases Solved Later

Even after Kenda retired, two cases he had investigated were finally solved in 2021. These were "cold cases," meaning they had been unsolved for a long time. The cases involved Darlene Krashoc (from 1987) and Mary Lynn Vialpando (from 1988). They were solved using new DNA technology.

Writing a Book

On July 25, 2023, Kenda released his first book. It is called All Is Not Forgiven. The book is a fictional story. It tells about a young Detective Kenda investigating a case in 1975.