Their last trip together took them to the island of St. Croix in the Caribbean. "We firmly believe the departments negligence and lack of competency cost Jennifer the chance to be found," Drew wrote. Its possible that Kessler had intended to steal identities and was looking for women whom she physically resembled. Jenns purse, cell phone and iPod were nowhere to be found. Kessler had been known to work construction jobs. When I reflect back to that time, I feel numb.. Kesse's family said. On June 10, 2010, the FBI took over the case from the Orlando Police Department, and Jennifer Kesse remains on the FBI's . At the time she vanished, she was living in Orlando. A private investigation team for the family is on the case. I cant even imagine how horrific of a person you have to be to abduct someone or harm someone. Jennifer's car was missing, and her condo looked, according to family members, as if Jennifer had gotten ready and left for work. Deputies from the Orange County Sheriffs Department were called to the scene, but after deploying a dive team and cadaver dogs over a three-day search, the sheriff's office confirmed to Dateline they came up empty handed. 48 Hours correspondent Peter Van Sant spoke to Drew and Joyce Kesse, Jennifers parents, and the investigator they hired. During that presser they also announced that Jennifer Sybert was actually named Kimberly Kessler; she had been living under a fake name and using a fake Social Security number. In an update on Jan. 20, Jennifer's dad said her loved ones won't stop trying to figure out what happened. To submit a tip or to join the conversation, visit the Help Find Missing Jennifer Kesse Facebook page or www.jenniferkesse.com. The best they could tell is that they were shortsomewhere between 53 and 55. They told us it was an active case. The family said they are excited about what now might be possible under FDLE. A private investigation. The next day, Jan. 24, 2006, Kesse's parents got a call saying she hadn't shown up for work. Im not sure how much credibility this theory has, but its intriguing to consider, especially with the lack of solid evidence in the Kesse case. In that second, I knew something was wrong.. In fact, makeup on the counter and a wet shower seemed to indicate she'd just recently been there. which would lead into a deeply strange vanishing that remains totally unsolved. Both vehicles were reportedly wiped down inside before being abandoned. Over the years, a GoFundMe page has raised more than $100,000 to help bring them closure. They returned on January 22, after which she spent the night at his house and headed off to work on the morning of January 23. Future news of events, Zoom movie marathons, books, and streaming updates will be delivered first to our newsletter readers. Details of Jennifer Kesses DisappearanceThe disappearance of Jennifer Kesse has been exhaustively discussed in this sub, but here is a rundown of the basic facts of her case: Kesse, 24, returned from a vacation with her boyfriend on Sunday, January 22, 2006. Its notable that despite the fact that an unknown mans sweater was found in her laundry hamper, her condo was never treated as a possible crime scene. ', He urged people in the know to get in touch and said: 'If you know where Jennifer is and the information is real name your price, go ahead. We needed the files for answers, Logan said. To this day, Jennifer Kesses case remains unsolved and is one of the most mystifying high-profile missing-persons case in American history. Kesse had expressed uncertainty about the safety of her apartment building before she went missing. Michelle Parker was 33 years old when she went missing in November of 2011. Jennifer Joyce Kesse (born May 20, 1981) is an American woman from Orlando, Florida, who has been missing since January 23, 2006. Im forever grateful for that last conversation I had with Jenn, Joyce said. Well get it. Brent Swancer is an author and crypto expert living in Japan. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. Jenns brother Logan was scheduled to move to California to be with his girlfriend just a week after Jenn disappeared. It looked like they knocked a filing cabinet over, shuffled the papers and handed them to us.. She Was Never Seen Again. But a woman? Her family has been tirelessly searching for the Tampa Bay-area native for the last 17 years and said new help from state law enforcement is her "best. Jennifer Kesse. 7. There doesnt seem to be a clear motive in Kesses disappearance. She drove to work that morning from her boyfriends house in southern Florida. He was reportedly agitated and excused his lateness by claiming hed received a traffic ticket, but this was allegedly never verified. They hired a private investigator. Investigators believe that the person is between 53 and 55 tall and was wearing clothing that appeared to be similar to coveralls worn by painters or construction workers. In fact, she'd just moved. Jennifers co-workers would tell her parents that she had not come to work, after which they decided to go to her condo and check up on her. 1. Kesses parents sued the Orlando Police Department for a copy of their daughters case file. Jennifer Kesse, of Orlando, who went missing Jan. 24, 2006, at 24 years old. Jennifer Kesses father, Drew Kesse, said: 'We have great hope that this year were going to know, maybe not exactly what happened to Jennifer but where we need to go and what we need to do', as reported by My Sun Coast. The only thing police can determine for sure is that the suspect was between 53 and 55 inches tall. . We kept in touch and it just blossomed from there.. Police were informed within two hours. But now that I have kids, I have a different understanding of what it would be like, and its heartbreaking.. . The Monday after getting back was Jan. 23, 2006. Kesses family members told Eyewitness News that in 2022, they hired a new team and said that they were working on several leads in her disappearance. 6. Her bed was unmade and there was a wet towel and water droplets still covering the shower. The day after Jennifers disappearance, Campos and a coworker named Adam were talking about the case. By that evening, authorities had been contacted and her parents began distributing missing-person flyers with Jennifers photo. Our hearts continue to go out to the entire Kesse family, and our detectives will continue to investigate any new leads. Instead of moving, Logan traveled back and forth between Florida and California, and got his real estate license. However, it had been reported by some local news sources early in the case that Kessler was jealous of Cummings. Two days later, Jennifer's car is found at a nearby apartment complex. Sunday marked 15 years since she was last seen on Jan. 24, 2006. Something was there.. At a press conference, investigators said they had reason to believe Cummings was no longer alive, but they had not found her remains. The nightmare to not know. It had been a long day, coming back from the Caribbean, and we were both tired, Rob said. In speaking with Floridas Fourth Estate last year, Kesses father revealed a theory that his daughter may have been taken by human sex traffickers. A damp hand towel draped over the side of the sink. Kesse is one of three high-profile, unsolved missing person cases involving women who vanished from the Orlando area between 2006 and 2011. It was early that Tuesday morning when Jenn didnt show up for an important meeting at her job that her employer and co-workers became concerned because they knew it was very unlike her to miss work. As of this posing, the judge in the case has not made a ruling. Kesse was last seen at her Orlando condo near Mall at Millenia.. They believed shed been living out of her vehicle and parking at different locations around the area. At approximately 8 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, a resident of the Huntington on the Green condominium complex reported they found Jennifer Kesse's car in a visitor's spot in the parking lot. Rob told Dateline that Jenn had expressed to him that she felt uncomfortable at times and wasnt thrilled living alone. She showered, got dressed. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend when she simply vanished from her Orlando, Fla., condominium. But at first, I didnt think anything bad, like really bad, had happened to her. She never arrived. Drew and Joyce took legal action against the Orlando Police Department in order to gain access to Jenns case files. Difficult then, and still difficult now, 14 years later., I talked to her on the phone for the last time that day, Logan said. ORLANDO, Fla. - It has been 15 years since the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse and there are still few clues about what happened to her on the day she . Logan said he believes one of the workers from her apartment complex is to blame. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend . The next day, when they still couldnt locate her, her mother called police. On January 23, the day she returned to work after her vacation, a coworker reportedly claims he overheard a conversation between Campos and Jennifer in which Campos was allegedly upset she went on vacation with her boyfriend, only for Jennifer to tell him what a wonderful time shed had. If we know who he or she is, we can find out where Jennifer is.. Tuesday marks 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. Thailand's 'most beautiful transgender woman' and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; 'We are coming,' sheriff says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh's new mugshot revealed after double life sentence, Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland for 30 days for taking a bathroom selfie, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, but light rain makes brief return, From Carrie Underwood to The Arnold, downtown Columbus will be full of people this weekend, Racing Louisville scandal: Metro Council approves limits on non-disclosure agreements, Netanyahu rips 'anarchists' who staged mass protest outside salon with wife inside. Police searched the area with dogs, horses, and search parties. After the litigation, Orland Police relinquished 16,000 pages into the hands of the family who are now lead investigators. Family members and friends began the search immediately. When she uncharacteristically didnt show up for work, her employer called her parents and they immediately left their Tampa home and drove toward her apartment. In October, the CBS show 48 Hours Investigates dug into the case and where it stands. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Theories abound as to what happened, with many suggesting she was killed by a male coworker whose advances she had spurned. Inside, CBS says nothing seemed out-of-the-ordinary. Jennifer Kesse was 24-years-old when she was last seen in January 2006 after leaving her Orlando condo. The missing woman's parents, Joyce and Drew Kesse, have never given up searching for her and continually update their websiteFindjenniferkesse.comand Facebook page. She has never been located. Jenns disappearance wasnt the only heartbreak for Rob that year. But what we got was a mess. When Government Agencies Secretly Work in the Field of the Supernatural and the Occult, About That Time Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Supposedly Saw Aliens on the Moon. Seventeen heart-shaped balloons were left . This week, the Kesse family, now living back in Bradenton, are beginning their seventeenth year without Jennifer. In the months leading up to her disappearance, Jennifer Kesse tells her family how uncomfortable the construction workers had been making her feel. Over the years, his parents encouraged him to travel and to enjoy his 20s. It was January 24, 2006. The person has been described as the luckiest person of interest ever due to the fact that in every frame of the video (images taken every three seconds) their face is obscured from view by fence posts. ORLANDO, Fla. - Tuesday marked 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. But there was no evidence in that car, not any that was recorded in the police reports, private investigator Torretta told Dateline. Cummings (also referred to in some sources as Joleen Jensen) was last seen leaving her workplace, Tangles Hair Salon, in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Clothes on her bed. Privacy Policy. On every level, Jenns case has been a challenge, Drew told Dateline. A few friends told her that if the workers started to verbally harass her, to go to the manager, but thankfully it never escalated to that. Her parents made the two-hour drive from their home to Jennifers condo, where they found signs that shed recently showered. Kesslers general physical description could match that of the person seen walking away from Kesses vehicle. "As we read the files, the detectives on the scene say to the crime scene technicians, it . (Drew Kesse) In the files, investigators suspected a struggle on the hood of Kesse's car when they discovered the vehicle. Adam testified that he viewed an email between Kesse and Campos during which Campos reportedly was unhappy that she refused to date him. Jennifer Kesse Breaking News: Witness Statement Points To Someone At Work- Kesse Family and OPD Press Conference Scheduled Quote: Adam had been working for Central Florida Investments for eight years before being fired for asking his bosses to investigate the alleged harassment perpetrated against him by his supervisor, Johnny Campos, since the . I got married and had kids, I had to keep going.. It was as if she had just parked it there and walked off the face of the earth. Anyone with information on Jenns disappearance is asked to call the Kesse family Tip Line at 941-201-4009. A spokesperson sent the following statement: "The Orlando Police Department remains committed to finding the answers to the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. She Went To The Bathroom While Eating Breakfast At A Restaurant. And how little of the window we have to find Jenn.. Logan and several friends had stayed in Jenns condo while she was on vacation and one of his friends left his cell phone behind. Hes part of our family and always will be.. On November 8, 2019, for the first time in years, there was a second possible break in the case. The family said there was a seven-year gap in the case files where nothing was recorded. No confirmed blood, fingerprints, images, or other proof that she was at or in Kesses apartment, complex, parking lot, or vehicle. I saw this theory discussed in another thread a year or so ago, and it totally blew my mind. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. On October 5, 2020 Kessler was again in the news. Cummings is still considered a missing person, and she hasnt been seen or heard from since her disappearance. Joyce told Dateline that the hardest part is being in limbo. Jenn was spontaneous and adventurous, Rob said. Three years later, a former housekeeper reportedly told Wright the guy in the security camera image sort of looked like a guy named Chino, a former maintenance worker at Kesse's condo complex. And one night, we were out at a bar and met Jenn and her friends, Rob said. Detective Joel Wright, who was a lead investigator on the case, has said of this: I believe Jennifer got ready for work. Unfortunately, no. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. We feel like she got ready to go to work, Jenns mother, Joyce Kesse, told Dateline in a 2006 interview, just 100 days after her daughter was reported missing. The Kesse family told Dateline they wont ever stop searching for their daughter or for answers. They called Jenns brother, Logan, who was at the gym, and the three of them drove two hours from their home in Bradenton, Florida, to Jenns condo in Orlando. VIDEO: Jennifer Kesse: Investigation into Orlando womans disappearance turned over to FDLE, Jennifer Kesse: Investigation into Orlando womans disappearance turned over to FDLE, Reality star Honey Boo Boo inside speeding car involved in chase with deputies in Georgia, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies after brain aneurysm at 61, SEE: Brightline reaches maximum speed for first time, Florida bill guts local governments power to protect tenants, Local woman who allegedly killed terminally ill husband at hospital out on bond, records show. The investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse more than 16 years ago has been given to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a cold case review. Then she disappeared one day in January of 2006 and has never been found. "We paid the price, in full, upfront," father Drew Kesse wrote. He lived in Fort Lauderdale, and they would visit each other on the weekends. On the drive down, Drew called a building manager at her condominium to check for Jenns car. The tiniest bone. Despite more than a thousand tips, police have not been able to work out what happened to the missing woman. Im unsure if Kessler had any known connections to Orlando or the areas or places Kesse lived, worked, or frequented. Jennifer Kesse was 24 at the time of her disappearance and by all accounts was a successful young woman. I was just Jenns boyfriend. We knew right away that something was wrong, Drew Kesse told Dateline. Or, a Top Secret Human Experiment Gone Wild? She was always, you know, a big sister and I know for a long time, I was the annoying younger brother, but as we got older, we grew closer, just naturally, Logan told Dateline. For her disappearance and for the fact that its gone on this long without answers.. An upcoming episode of "48 Hours" on CBS will feature the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. That person is the key, Torretta said. 'Jennifer, we love you in a place where theres no space or time.'. 2023 Cox Media Group. When they returned to Robs place in Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday, January 22, 2006, Rob said neither of them were looking forward to getting back to reality. No one has seen or heard from her since. Jenns father Drew told Dateline the footage proved to be frustrating because the camera was programmed to take pictures every three seconds and unfortunately, in each frame, the suspects face was obstructed by a gate post. And I have the hope that Ill hear it again.. Her family has vowed to never give up their search to find her. Hair and makeup items strewn across the counter. Even as they continue to search for her, Jennifer Kesse's story is a complete mystery, and it remains to be seen what becomes of this all. . The case centers on Jennifer Kesse, who disappeared on January 24, 2006, when she didn't show up for work. And this was the last contact she was to have with anyone who knew her. When she went off to school at UCF, Logan visited on weekends just in time for the college parties. The next morning, her boyfriend grew concerned after she didnt call him or send him any text messages. There are no signs of her whereabouts and only a grainy surveillance photo of an unidentifiable person of interest.. Help Find Missing Jennifer Kesse Jenn stayed with me that night and decided to drive straight to work early the next morning.. Kesse's father says they reached an agreement with the police agency almost four years ago. They tried to contact Jenn, and around 11 a.m. when she still could not be reached, her employer -- who knew Jenns father -- decided to call her parents.
Mike confirmed to Dateline that many of the workers were allowed to stay in the empty condos in the complex which, according to family members, made Jenn uncomfortable. The agreement, he explained in an update online, meant the police would over a four-month period create and send a digital file of the case information to the family in exchange for $18,000. Wont stop looking for answers. They told detectives Jennifer had previously complained to them about building workers who made her uncomfortable. Since then, the best clue investigators have found is grainy surveillance video showing a man parking a car, then walking away from the Huntington on the Green apartment complex. The case generated media attention. It was about 10 p.m. Monday when they spoke, Rob told Dateline. Unfortunately, the surveillance camera was not video but rather snapshots taken every three seconds. Monday marks 16 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared. Van Sant says its believed they were day workers or perhaps even been undocumented workers who disappeared after Kesse vanished. You can watchthe full episode here. They won their case and have since hired a private investigator in hopes of cracking the case on their own. EARLY LIFE: Jennifer Joyce Kesse was born on May 20, 1981 to parents Drew and Joyce Kesse. On her wanted poster, Kessler is cited to be 53 55, the exact height range suggested for the person seen abandoning Kesses vehicle. Kesse says its a theory he thinks about because whoever took his daughter only took her and not a single item of her personal belongings. No one.". ORLANDO, Fla. It has been 15 years since the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse and there are still few clues about what happened to her on the day she vanished. 9. She was the oldest of two children, and is said to have been best friends with her little brother, Logan. We had a bit of a disagreement. Rob, along with Jenns parents and brother, were all ruled out as suspects right away, according to the familys legal team and private investigator, Mike Torretta. Is it possible she was employed by the construction company working on Kesses building? Jennifer Kesse and her boyfriend, who lived several hours away in south Florida and was cleared early on by authorities, would call each other on the drive to work each morning. And by lunchtime, he was worried. She wanted assurance that I loved her. The Nassau County sheriff filed an emergency petition requesting the ability to administer medical care and force feed Kessler, who had dropped from 196 to 74 pounds since she was jailed in 2018. The last person to speak to Jennifer was her boyfriend, in a call shortly before 10pm on the Monday night. 2. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Was Jennifer Kesse Found? But instead, he stayed. He also expressed more frustration with the Orlando Police Department. Her employer then alerted her family, who could not reach her at her home or on her cellphone. Jenns parents said it appeared she had gotten ready for work that morning and left, just like any other morning. Although a married man, other workers allege that Campos made it very clear that he desired a relationship with Jennifer but was rebuffed because not only did she have a boyfriend, she refused to date coworkers as a matter of policy. Rob was so supportive then, and continues to be supportive. Shannon joined the Eyewitness News team in 2013. A police search was launched after she failed to turn up for work as a finance manager at Central Florida Investments. Cookie Notice There simply isnt any physical or other direct evidence putting Kessler at the scene. On her unmade bed was a selection of work clothes. The parents of Jennifer Kesse say they are "closer than ever" to uncovering answers in the disappearance of their. While there isnt any evidence that Kessler and Kesse ever met, I do have a few questions Id like to have answered: Have investigators ever looked at Kessler as a possible person of interest in the Kesse case? I realize that this theory is probably a stretch, but I thought it was interesting enough to bring up. To me, 14 years ago with my Jenn seems like yesterday, Joyce said. When viewing surveillance videos, investigators spot an unidentified person parking Jennifer's car at 12pm on the day Jennifer went missing. More Controversy on the Roswell Affair: An Alien Accident? Three days later, Keeses vehicle was found in an apartment complex parking lot less than a mile from where she lived. The residence seemed to all be in rather perfect order, with nothing out of place, no signs of anything amiss. Drew Kesse has been vocal about what they feel have been missteps by Orlando police in the investigation. A police dog was able to trace a scent that led from the car back to Jennifers building, suggesting that the person who dropped off the car returned to the site of her abduction. There were no signs of struggle or forced entry. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Surveillance video showed somebody parking Kesse's car there, but the person's face was blocked by a fence post. From all appearances, Jennifer Kesse of Orlando, Florida was a happy, successful, well-adjusted 24-year-old woman with a bright future. Jennifer Joyce Kesse seemed to have everything going for her. They Never Told Her Family. Construction was ongoing, she had said she was afraid of some of the construction workers, and there were few other residents living in the building. She had complained of inappropriate remarks and catcalls from them, and it was also found that she had been approached by a manager where she worked, who she had turned away, but questioning of these potential suspects turned up no evidence of wrongdoing. If we can just find that, it might be the key we need to move forward and get to the bottom of where Jenn is and what happened to her.. A personal connection doesnt seem to exist between Kessler and Kesse. The Kesses said this very well may be the last resort for them. Every Friday, we send out an email with the scariest horror movies and TV shows streaming that weekend along with creepy news, updates from the horror movie pipeline, and links to the best scary content on the web. While Kessler had used stolen identities for years before her arrest, the identities she had used were reportedly taken from grave stones and were not from any other known living or missing people. When they reached their 20s, their bond grew and their social circles merged. ORLANDO, Fla. Seventeen years ago, Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando in a high-profile case that made national news. She wouldnt just up and leave.. 1 min read. 5. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. The family took over the investigation in 2017 after they successfully sued Orlando Police for Kesse's cold case files which they said were 'gathering dust', with no new information filed since 2010. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. Logan moved away from the area with his wife and children, but told Dateline he will never stop looking for his sister. In 2019, the family won their legal battle and received more than 14,000 pages of electronic files and hours of video from the Orlando Police Department. Theres really nothing Jenn wouldnt tell us.. And that is where the mystery starts.. There was nothing amiss at Jennifer Jenn Kesses condo in Orlando, Florida on the day she vanished 14 years ago. But when I see that baby -- now a teenager -- its a powerful and heart-wrenching reminder of how much time has passed. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Wright's theory was that Kesse was abducted. Even though FBI and NASA assisted in investigating the photos, they were unable to even determine the persons gender. As he explains, they would need authorities to help approach any potential suspects because trying to do it on their own would ruin a future prosecutor's case. It was all very odd, and police were notified, but they at first assumed that she had merely run off on her own and did not think that there was any solid evidence that something was amiss. Rob told Dateline that Jenn always contacted him in some way, by calling him or texting him, before she left for work but not that day. Timeshares are big business in Florida. Jennifer Kesse was first reported missing on January 24, 2006. When you opt in, not only do you get our curated list of the best horror streaming and stories, you support our work and help us keep the lights on. In July 2019, a judge found her incompetent to stand trial and remanded her to a state mental hospital for treatment and incarceration. A Crucial Discovery Kesse Family Two days after Jennifer Kesse went missing, her black Chevy Malibu was found in another condo complex parking lot approximately 1 mile away from where she lived. Shower was wet. Jenns family is urging the public to utilize any and all social media private messaging to contact their investigative team with tips and leads in the case. Kessler has used multiple aliases with the first names Jenn and Jennifer. Jennifer Kesses nickname was Jenn. Her family says they are now getting new leads in her disappearance. There was no blood, no DNA, no hair samples, nothing.. "We're fed up . If jealousy did indeed motivate Kessler to murder Cummings, it could be possible she encountered Kesse and became jealous of her for real or perceived reasons and decided to attack, whether or not she had a planned endgame.