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Dateline Open Water revisits the bizarre and puzzling disappearance of Micki Kanesaki, who vanished in 2006 during a Mediterranean cruise with her ex-husband, Lonnie Loren Kocontes. It appeared to be a pointless tragedy at first, but the case unfolded into one of the most gripping stories of deception and cunning.
Through an examination of the evidence, court witnesses, and investigation, Dateline Open Water reveals a cross-border case that tested the limits of international cooperation and jurisdiction.
The Micki Kanesaki and Lonnie Kocontes' background
Micki Kanesaki was a 52-year-old California paralegal and the ex-wife of Lonnie Loren Kocontes. Although divorced, the two remained close friends and, as of 2006, seemed to be trying to rekindle their relationship. This history of renewed contact added an element of irony and tragedy to what happened afterward, making the story even more compelling for Dateline Open Water because of it.
Kocontes, the retired lawyer, posed as a worried former spouse, but officials later alleged there was a clever scheme behind that concern, to profit from Micki's death. The Mediterranean cruise in May 2006 was supposedly symbolic of a new beginning. Co-workers and friends reported Micki as hopeful about a future together, but others doubted whether trust could ever be restored between them.
The closeness of their relationship and the underlying tensions took center stage in the story Dateline Open Water told, highlighting that even the most intimate personal relationships could conceal evil motives.
Situation of the cruise and vanishing
Lonnie Kocontes reported to the police on May 25, 2006, that he and Micki had wine at their cabin, then took a sleeping pill and went to sleep. When he woke up the next morning, Micki was nowhere to be found. The cruise officer and then the Italian Coast Guard organized a search operation, but no one spotted her.
In the case of Dateline Open Water, these steps provided a solid foundation for identifying suspicious discrepancies in Kocontes's account, such as his story failing to match later forensic and circumstantial evidence. They had reserved a balcony cabin, raising questions about his intent and opportunity. Prosecutors noted that Kocontes chose this type of cabin deliberately because it allowed him to dispose of the body at sea while making it appear that the fall was an accident.
This theory was further supported when authorities noticed his unusual travel behavior and the timing of his departure from Italy, which seemed intentional. The way Dateline Open Water pieced together these details gave viewers insight into how seemingly small choices can suggest premeditation.
Discovery of Micki Kanesaki’s body
Two days later, Micki Kanesaki's body washed ashore near Paola, Italy. The discovery marked a turning point in the case, shifting it from a missing-person concern to a confirmed homicide investigation. The autopsy results, highlighted in Dateline Open Water, confirmed that Micki's lungs showed no water, indicating she had not drowned.
Instead, the presence of bruising typical of strangulation and other head injuries pointed to foul play. These findings not only discredited Kocontes' theory but also supported the prosecution's argument of premeditated murder. Italian authorities worked closely with American police to reconstruct the evidence. The location where Micki was found raised logistical questions about how she got there, making an accident less likely.
Dateline Open Water demonstrated how the autopsy results, specifically the evidence of strangulation, were crucial in shifting the case's direction and identifying Lonnie Kocontes as the main suspect, transforming the case from a perceived tragic accident into a carefully planned crime.
FBI involvement and suspicions
Because Micki Kanesaki was American, the FBI became involved and assisted the Italian police in their investigation. Their probe, shown on Dateline Open Water, uncovered some suspicious details that cast doubt on Kocontes's version of events. Experts analyzed recordings of Kocontes discussing Micki in cold, clinical terms like "the body," which heightened suspicions about his emotional detachment.
Additionally, Kocontes failed a polygraph test, a result that, while not definitive, convinced investigators of his guilt. Financial motives also came into focus during the FBI investigation. Evidence showed that Kocontes stood to inherit more than $900,000 from Micki’s estate. This financial gain, along with his quick departure from Italy and his calculated demeanor, painted a picture of deliberate premeditation.
Dateline Open Water explained how the combination of forensic data, financial data, and behavioral analysis led to Kocontes facing serious charges. The program also discussed the difficulties authorities faced in building a case across different jurisdictions.
Legal proceedings and conviction
The long journey to justice took years to materialize, with Lonnie Kocontes not being indicted until 2013. His trial, delayed multiple times, including due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was finally concluded in 2020. Prosecutors built a strong case against Kocontes, using forensic evidence, phone calls, and bank records to allege that Kocontes had brought Micki onto the cruise ship to be killed for the money.
Dateline Open Water presented these events with straightforward facts and demonstrated how Kocontes' case against him was carefully built over more than a decade. Kocontes kept denying his involvement, but the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of financial gain. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In 2023, his conviction was upheld by an appeals court, which stated that although there were a few issues with the evidence, they did not significantly affect the trial. The case's outcome supported the prosecution's theory that this was an act of premeditated violence rather than an accident, a detail that Dateline Open Water presented in a straightforward manner.
Dateline's role in presenting the case
Dateline Open Water took a thorough and chronological approach to the case, recognizing the challenges of prosecuting crimes at sea and onboard. Incorporating insights from investigators, lawyers, and people who knew Micki, the episode provided an even-handed view where viewers could understand the human and legal aspects of the case.
The show also examined larger issues, such as how close interpersonal relationships can hide deadly secrets and how monetary motives often drive household crimes. In presenting this case, Dateline Open Water emphasized the importance of perseverance in global crime investigations.
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The trial lasted nearly 15 years from Micki's death to the final appellate decision, involving multiple agencies and court systems. In describing these efforts, Dateline highlighted not only the horrific nature of Micki Kanesaki's murder but also the perseverance of justice despite numerous legal and practical challenges.
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