Kenner Elias Jones had a knack for performance from an early age. He amazed audiences as a choirboy, even carrying the cross during Prince Charles’s investiture in 1969. This charming façade, however, disguised a life steeped in deception and fraud spanning three continents.
Jones’s talent for convincing people helped pave the way to a life of crime. His first taste of manipulation came when he lied to the bishop, claiming his fellow choristers had chosen him for the prominent role instead of another boy. It was a sly move that foreshadowed his future.
Filmmaker Marc Edwards has spent decades documenting Jones’s dark journey. He describes Jones as “the best conman” he’s encountered and points out that such a story seems almost unbelievable, even in fiction.
After his initial success, Jones ventured into politics while studying at Sheffield Polytechnic in the early 1970s. He was well-liked, a charming figure in various social circles, but the signs of dishonesty were evident.
In 1973, Jones faced his first conviction in Sheffield for fraud, which led to a suspended prison sentence and psychiatric treatment. Despite this, he continued to revel in deceit. His next big downfall came in 1975, when he received a 12-month sentence at the Old Bailey, again for fraud.
A pivotal moment in Jones’s life occurred when he met Canadian Lee McKenzie in 1979. Fascinated by his charm and allure, Lee fell in love. Yet, even as they married in Vancouver shortly after his release from prison, Jones’s long-standing issues persisted. He racked up debts, manipulated Lee’s finances, and spun tales of danger, causing her immense stress.
Psychiatrists labeled him as having a sociopathic personality disorder. They warned Lee to sever ties with him. Despite that advice, she tried to give their marriage another chance, believing in his potential for change. But the deception only deepened.
After fleeing to Virginia, Jones presented himself as a seasoned journalist. The cycle of fraud continued, ultimately leading to a nine-year prison sentence in Virginia. Even there, he managed to appeal to charm, becoming a spokesperson for inmates during a riot, which brought him media attention.
Following his release, he married church leader Elsie Hager, who unknowingly became a source of financial supply for his schemes. Yet again, Jones’s lies eventually led to his deportation back to the UK, where he once again resumed his deceptive practices.
His final act of deception took him to Kenya, where he posed as a medical professional. He ran clinics and treated children, gaining local admiration despite having no medical training. Journalists eventually uncovered his history, heightening scrutiny around him.
As of now, Jones is living in a care home in Munich. His past has caught up with him, and filmmaker Marc Edwards describes him as just as enigmatic as three decades ago. Jones expressed regret for his actions, yet he embodies the complexities of the imposter syndrome, admitting to lying compulsively.
Marc Edwards’s ongoing exploration of Jones’s story raises vital conversations about deception, mental health, and the fine line between charm and manipulation. Can someone so skilled at lying ever find redemption?
For more information on the psychological impacts of deception, you might want to check out resources from the American Psychological Association here.
