Kenner Elias Jones, once a choirboy admired for his talent at Prince Charles’s investiture, became a notorious global conman. His life of deception spanned three continents and is now the subject of a documentary film.
Jones’s Early Life and First Deceptions
Jones, who led a procession at a royal ceremony, began his deceptive life early. He convinced officials that he should carry the cross instead of another chorister, marking his first act of deceit. Fellow chorister Kevin Doughty criticized his slyness.
His charm helped him gain acceptance in various communities, but warning signs were evident. Jones received his first conviction in 1973 for fraud and after another in 1975, was incarcerated for 12 months.
Crimes Across Continents
In the late 1970s, he met Canadian Lee McKenzie, marrying her after his release. However, his abusive behavior led her to divorce him. Jones fled to Virginia, where he posed as a journalist, later serving nine years for fraud.
After a brief return to Canada, he remarried but continued his deceptive ways. Following his deportation in 1991, he escaped to California, where he re-established himself through charm and deceit.
Later Years and Notoriety
Returning to the UK, Jones attempted a career at the BBC but was recognized and eventually convicted again. He manipulated a charity into believing he had changed and even took up a leadership role.
His fraudulent activities intensified when he fled to Kenya, falsely claiming to be a doctor. He was celebrated in the media before his past caught up with him, leading to further escapes and deceptions across Europe.
