If you’re familiar with the name William Kyne, it’s probably because you’ve fallen down the true crime rabbit hole or remember the chilling Dateline episode titled "True Lies." It’s one of those cases that sticks with you. A dead mother, a son behind bars, and a husband—William "Bill" Kyne—who seemed to walk through tragedy like it was just another day at the office.
But most people stop at the death of Diane Kyne. They don't realize the story kept going. People often ask about William Kyne third wife Tonya, wondering if the patterns of his past repeated themselves or if he finally found a quiet life away from the sirens and insurance adjusters.
The reality is complicated. It’s a mix of a new business venture, a dedicated partner, and a death that, while less "mysterious" to the law, still left a trail of questions for those watching from the sidelines.
The Man Behind the Headlines
Before we talk about Tonya, we have to look at the man she married. Bill Kyne wasn't just some guy from Florida; he was a man with a history that read like a noir novel. By the time he met Tonya, he had already buried two wives.
His first wife, Kristina Kyne, died in 1996. The story goes that she fell into the family swimming pool and drowned. Bill collected a $250,000 life insurance payout.
Then came Diane. In 2010, Diane Kyne was strangled in her bedroom. The house was a crime scene of "he-said, he-said." Bill blamed Diane’s son, Kevin; Kevin blamed Bill. In a twist that still keeps legal experts debating, Kevin was originally convicted, but that conviction was later overturned. Bill walked away with $750,000 in insurance money.
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Basically, by the time Tonya entered the picture, Bill Kyne was a man who had seen a lot of "accidental" tragedy.
Who Was Tonya Grass?
The woman who would become William Kyne's third wife was Tonya Grass. Tonya wasn't a socialite or a celebrity. She was a woman who seemed to genuinely believe in Bill’s innocence or, at the very least, his potential.
They weren't just partners in a marriage; they were partners in business. Tonya served as the director for Bill's new venture, the Kyne Foundation. On the surface, it looked like a fresh start. They were working together, building something new, and trying to move past the shadow of the Dateline cameras.
However, looking back, some details feel uncomfortably familiar. Tonya reportedly signed over her home to help fund the foundation. More significantly, Bill was the beneficiary of her life insurance policy.
The Passing of Tonya Kyne
Tonya Kyne passed away in 2017. Unlike the women before her, her death wasn't a sudden "slip and fall" or a violent struggle. It followed a long, grueling battle with cancer.
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For many, this was the "normal" ending that finally broke the pattern of Bill Kyne's life. No police tape. No forensic teams dusting the headboard for fingerprints. Just a husband losing a wife to a terrible disease.
But even then, the true crime community—a group that doesn't let things go easily—pointed to the financial logistics. Bill had reportedly written a book about his experiences, and with Tonya’s passing, he once again found himself the recipient of insurance payouts and property.
Is it fair to judge a man for being the beneficiary of his wife's policy? Probably not. That's what spouses do. But when it's the third time, and the previous two involved a pool drowning and a strangulation, the world tends to look at you a little differently.
Why the Kyne Story Still Haunts People
The fascination with William Kyne third wife Tonya persists because of the sheer statistical improbability of Bill's life.
Think about it. Most people never deal with a house fire. Bill had a business burn down and a house burn down, collecting insurance both times. Most people never lose a spouse young. Bill lost three.
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- Wife 1 (Kristina): Drowning. Payout: $250k.
- Wife 2 (Diane): Strangulation. Payout: $750k.
- Wife 3 (Tonya): Cancer. Payout: Undisclosed, plus property.
The legal system found Bill Kyne "not guilty" by way of never charging him in two cases and seeing the son's conviction fall apart in the other. He remained a free man until his own death. Honestly, it’s a case study in how "reasonable doubt" works in the real world.
What We Can Learn From the Case
When you look at the life of Tonya Grass and her time with Bill Kyne, it serves as a reminder that the "truth" is often buried under layers of legal filings and personal narratives. To some, Tonya was a victim of a predatory man who moved from one insurance policy to the next. To others, she was the woman who gave Bill a second (or fourth) chance at a meaningful life.
If you’re researching this case for safety or legal curiosity, there are a few practical takeaways to keep in mind:
1. Transparency is Safety In any partnership where significant assets or life insurance policies are involved, keeping family members or third-party advisors in the loop is vital. Secrets are where tragedy often hides.
2. The Weight of a Record The "Kyne Pattern" is why background checks and public records matter. While everyone deserves a fresh start, a history of insurance payouts following tragedies is a red flag that shouldn't be ignored, even if no charges were filed.
3. Understanding Insurance Fraud vs. Misfortune Insurance companies are notoriously rigorous. The fact that Bill Kyne was paid out every single time suggests that, on paper, everything looked legitimate. It highlights the gap between what we "feel" is wrong and what can be proven in a court of law.
Bill Kyne eventually passed away, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions and three empty chairs at his dinner table. Tonya was the final chapter in a story that most people still can't quite wrap their heads around.