For 14 years, Jenns family has not given up their search for her. It was long-distance, but we made it work, Rob told Dateline this week. Kesslers general physical description could match that of the person seen walking away from Kesses vehicle. Her disappearance continues to grab national attention. Under the deal, Drew and Joyce Kesse took over the investigation, which is no longer being run by Orlando PD detectives. Perhaps the womens physical similarities made Kesse a target. Creepy Catalog is owned by the Thought and Expression Company, a small, independent media company. Joyce said shell never give up hope that her daughter is out there somewhere, alive, needing to be rescued. She had seemingly simply evaporated into thin air. They told detectives Jennifer had previously complained to them about building workers who made her uncomfortable. When questioned about the vehicle, several residents confirmed it had been parked there for several days. Shed last seen her daughter on July 4, 2004 in Butler, Pennsylvaniaeight years before reporting her missing. The family said there was a seven-year gap in the case files where nothing was recorded. Immaculate apartment, except for the bathroom being a mess, of course, that was typical, Joyce said. I overslept, which is pretty normal, Jenn always got up earlier than I did anyway, and so she would always call and wake me up or at least text me, Rob said. In January of 2006 she had just purchased a condo in Orlando, Florida, and was working as a finance manager at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company in Ocoee making good money. 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. In January of 2006, Jennifer took a trip with Allen to St. Croix, a Caribbean Island in the Virgin Islands chain for a romantic getaway. Days after recent graduate Jennifer Kesse goes missing, her car is found abandoned near her home. It looked like they knocked a filing cabinet over, shuffled the papers and handed them to us.. Both Kessler (when she was younger and had lighter hair) and Cummings somewhat physically resemble Kesseblonde, attractive, pointier chin, etc. Jennifer Kesse, 24, went missing from her newly purchased condo in Orlando, Florida, on January 24, 2006. The Orange County Sheriff's Office is following up on a new tip in the Jennifer Kesse missing person case. In 2016, Jennifer would be officially pronounced dead, but her family fought this, and in the meantime fought the State of Florida for access to the case files, finally in in March of 2019 receiving more than 16,000 pages of documents and 67 hours of video and audiotape, but this has not led to any breakthroughs. "We firmly believe the departments negligence and lack of competency cost Jennifer the chance to be found," Drew wrote. You may unsubscribe at any time. Eventually she was indicted on a first-degree premeditated murder charge for the death of Cummings. Her Black Chevy Malibu was found abandoned one mile away from her home in Orlando. Surveillance images showed a person dropping off her car and walking away at around 12 noon on January 24, about four hours after Jennifer would have been abducted while leaving her apartment for work. In light of the mysterious surveillance footage, Jennifers car was thoroughly searched and analyzed for any trace of physical evidence of the phantom person from the tape, but only a latent print and an impression of a work boot could be turned up, with no further prints or DNA evidence that could be found, leading authorities to deduce that the vehicle had been thoroughly wiped down. She placed calls to her family, friends, and finally her boyfriendwho lived two hours awayat approximately 10PM. As the investigation began, Rob camped out on the couch at Jenns condo for weeks. Some brand new details and information was revealed during the episode and it wasn't just a rehash of old information. Do investigators know where Kessler was on the days leading up to and including the day Kesse went missing? Were truly starting to talk to the people we really need to talk to which leads us down many paths. After seeing Jenns story on the news, a resident of the Huntington on the Green condominiums, reported seeing a black Chevy Malibu that matched the description of the one Jenn owned. There simply isnt any physical or other direct evidence putting Kessler at the scene. She Was Never Seen Again. Inside, CBS says nothing seemed out-of-the-ordinary. 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. When you find that instant connection with someone, you find a way to make it work.. If she knew she would be five minutes late for work, she would call them thats just who she is.. Police release age-progressed photo of 24-year-old woman who went missing nine years ago, Prime suspect in unsolved murder of an 11-year-old boy breaks his silence more than two decades later and admits he saw the missing child moments before he was abducted, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Beaming Harry and Meghan enjoy date night at private members' club, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Founded in 2010, Thought Catalog is owned and operated by The Thought & Expression Company, Inc. For over a decade, we've been at the bleeding edge of media, pioneering an infrastructure for creatives to flourish both artistically and financially. Her disappearance remains a mystery. She chatted to her parents, brother, boyfriend and some friends on the phone at home that evening. The nightmare to not know. Jenns mother, Joyce, told Dateline she felt fortunate that their family was able to all speak to Jenn that day. 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. Its been 14 years and shes not back. 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. Shortly after she vanished, Kesse's car was discovered parked around a mile from her home. Jennifer Kesse, 24, went missing from her newly purchased Orlando, Florida, condo on January 24, 2006 Her family marked the 15th anniversary this month by announcing that they 'hope' to solving. 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. News 6 is Getting Results. Torretta spoke to her and said she told him she saw a man drive a pickup truck to the lake that Tuesday in 2006, take out what appeared to be a six to eight-foot piece of rolled-up carpet and dump it in the lake, watching it sink. But when I see that baby -- now a teenager -- its a powerful and heart-wrenching reminder of how much time has passed. The PI believes Kesse had left her condo and was locking the door when she was grabbed by the workers. The family says they did not want the case to be in the hands of Orlando police anymore, but moving the investigation to FDLE did not come easily and for six months they worked to convince the attorney generals office and other state partners to help them. Thats hell. This week marks 14 years since Jenn disappeared from their lives. Kesse was 24 when she went missing. Video surveillance showed an unidentified person parking the car and walking away from it. There are no signs of her whereabouts and only a grainy surveillance photo of an unidentifiable person of interest.. Help Find Missing Jennifer Kesse I wanted to just sit there and wait for her to come back. The community was supportive and the Kesse family treated me like a son. However, unwilling to accept the fate of previous years - where meaningful breakthroughs have long been absent - they have a new plan to find their missing daughter. Difficult then, and still difficult now, 14 years later., I talked to her on the phone for the last time that day, Logan said. Jennifer Kesse disappeared on Jan. 24, 2006. Her employer then alerted her family, who could not reach her at her home or on her cellphone. A reporter would later call the suspect the luckiest person of interest ever.. Until the day I die. Well find it somewhere.'. Jennifer Kesse's father says nothing was found during a search of an Orange County lake. Kesses family filed a lawsuit in 2018, asking the court to allow a private investigator to obtain the Orlando Police Departments records on the case. ORLANDO, Fla. - Tuesday marked 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. But because they are retired, they dont have the power to make an arrest. She was a project manager for a timeshare company. I had to stay and find my sister.. If stealing identities wasnt what Kessler was doing, some reports suggested shed lashed out at Cummings because she was jealous of her. It was not clear if the person was a man or a woman and no information came from the tape. When investigators reviewed the stores surveillance tapes, they saw a familiar face exit the vehicleit was Jennifer Sybert, the co-worker who was the last person to have seen Cummings. The family of a woman who went missing in Florida 15-years-ago this month hope to finally solve the case this year after raising more than $80,000 to pay for private investigations. Clothes on her bed. Jennifer Kesse was last seen leaving work in Orlando, Florida on January 23, 2006. 2. [TRENDING: Florida debuts new vaccine hotline | Merritt Island-bound plane found in ocean | Titusville man accused of killing mother]. Read: 9 things to know about the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. Anyone with information on Jenns disappearance is asked to call the Kesse family Tip Line at 941-201-4009. 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. Weve created a community powered by horror fans like you and we need you in it. A hand towel was found draped over the side of the sink in the bathroom, and a selection of her work clothes was laid out on her bed, suggesting Jennifer had showered, dressed, and left her home for work that morning. Nothing seemed out of place, but Kesse, her purse, phone, and vehicle were missing. Friday marks 14 years since Jennifer Kesse vanished. By that evening, authorities had been contacted and her parents began distributing missing-person flyers with Jennifers photo. You never think something like this could ever happen to someone you love.. 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. Hair and makeup items strewn across the counter. And that is where the mystery starts.. 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. Its not like her to not show up for work. Seventeen heart-shaped balloons were left . Instead of moving, Logan traveled back and forth between Florida and California, and got his real estate license. Her car was found a mile away. We knew right away that something was wrong, Drew Kesse told Dateline. 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. They sued the Orlando Police Department in 2018, asking for a copy of the case files. And thats not how it should be.. You dont., Its like Groundhog Day every day, yet, life moves on for everyone else, Joyce said. There were three snapshots of the person who dropped off her car, but in every snapshot, the persons face was obscured by bars from a gate outside the building. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Jenns family told Dateline their frustration with how local authorities handled her case grew over the years and in 2018, they decided to take the investigation into their own hands. Jennifer Kesse was first reported missing on January 24, 2006. Surveillance video showed somebody parking Kesse's car there, but the person's face was blocked by a fence post. Created Jan 10, 2018 4.7k Members 7 Online On November 8, 2019, for the first time in years, there was a second possible break in the case. Police found her car a few days later. I could never imagine what her parents were going through, Rob said. ", Clearwater High School students prepare for annual civil rights tour, Person killed after shooting outside Tampa credit union, 10 Weather: Windy Friday ahead of weekend cold front, Windy conditions ahead of chance of rain this weekend, Nothing found in lake after new tip about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, New tip in Jennifer Kesse's disappearance causes divers to search lake, Parents of Jennifer Kesse take over investigation into daughters disappearance. 1 min read. We need to continue the search to at least find the remnant piece of carpet, Investigator Torretta said. Bear with me as I lay out the main connection points and possibilities: The details of the Cummings disappearance are similar to those of the Kesse disappearance: a young woman and her vehicle go missing, the vehicle is later found abandoned in a parking lot, and surveillance cameras catch the person parking the vehicle (in Cummings case, positively identified as Kessler) parking and walking away. Sybert was charged with grand theft auto for taking Cummings vehicle and booked in jail. She worked as a financial analyst for Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company and had been promoted twice within a year. 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. Over the past 15 years, Orlando police and Kesses family have worked to exhaust every lead. She had slept in her bed, taken a shower (as indicated by a wet towel and shower) and left out clothes on the bed. Other commenters on this theory have pointed out that, in those shapeless clothes and with her hair back, her silhouette is reminiscent of what we can make out in the surveillance videos of the person who parked Kesses vehiclesmaller frame, gender-neutral clothing, and a possible bun or ponytail (instead of what some believe may be as a hat). Or, a Top Secret Human Experiment Gone Wild? 6. Its possible she planned to kill Kesse and Cummings to use their identities, but no proof of this exists. Her co-worker Jennifer Sybert was the last person known to have seen Cummings before she and her vehicle disappeared. On January 17, 2019, Kessler made an appearance in court for the death of Cummings. Kessler had been known to work construction jobs. We havent seen the states evidence yet and dont know Kesslers motive for killing Cummings (if shes guilty of what shes been accused of). In 2019, law enforcement divers searched Lake Fischer in unincorporated Orange County after the private eye identified a tip about somebody dumping a rolled-up carpet into the water several months after Kesse disappeared. Jennifer Kesse was 24-years-old when she was last seen in January 2006 after leaving her Orlando condo. 2010 The Thought & Expression Company, LLC. (Drew Kesse) In the files, investigators suspected a struggle on the hood of Kesse's car when they discovered the vehicle. When they tried dialing her, they got her voicemail. Her family has vowed to never give up their search to find her. 4 The Mystery of New York's Renegade Subway Psychic, Forget About What We Know About Roswell: It's What's Missing About the Case That We Need to Look For, Archeologists Discover Another Secret Corridor Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, UFO Whistleblowers: When Secrets are Revealed. 10 Tampa Bay reached out to the Orlando Police Department on Monday. . This week marks 17 years since the 24-year-old vanished in 2006 but there have been no arrests made. In an update on Jan. 20, Jennifer's dad said her loved ones won't stop trying to figure out what happened. She showered, got dressed. Rob was so supportive then, and continues to be supportive. Now, on the 15th anniversary of her disappearance, her parents Joyce and Drew claim they are 'moving forward' with the case and have 'great hope' to solve it. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. Wright would uncover a new lead in the case when he learned from another resident at the condo that the man on the surveillance footage resembled a man she knew from the complex, a former maintenance worker there known simply as Chino, who had also just happened to have done some repairs in Jennifer's condo one week before she disappeared. We had an incredible relationship. 16:19 EST 25 Jan 2021. 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. We only know that Kessler had been known to live in Oviedo and other areas around Orlando, where Kesse lived. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Journalism in 2010. Investigators interviewed a coworker of Jennifers named Johnny Campos but concluded he was not guilty. Her family reported her disappearance to police, but they initially thought shed left on her own. The unsolved disappearance of Jennifer Kesse Seig Lu January 19, 2021 7:42 pm Jennifer Kesse was 24 years old when she vanished in 2006 in Orlando. Wright interviewed Chino inside a prison in 2009. Police were informed within two hours. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend . A legal team and a handful of investigators, including Mike Torretta, have been helping them sift through the files for months. Police Found A Missing Womans Car Abandoned With The Door Open. The Disappearance of Joleen CummingsOn Monday, May 14, 2018, the mother of Joleen Cummings, 34, reported her missing. She was last seen leaving work at around 6:30PM. Im forever grateful for that last conversation I had with Jenn, Joyce said. Her 2004 Chevy Malibu was found two days later about a mile away from her condo. 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. Thats how it was with Jenn. The reason that some people suspect one or more of the construction workers is the fact that the sniffer dog had traced the person who dropped off her car right back to her building. One of the Strangest Mysteries in the History of NASA: Conspiracy or Complete Garbage? Police searched the area with dogs, horses, and search parties. Investigators also found surveillance video of Sybert dumping trash and a trash can in the Dumpster near the salon, and they searched the local landfill for evidence. He lived in Fort Lauderdale, and they would visit each other on the weekends. Signing up helps us (not Zuckerberg) stay in direct contact with you and create the best horror website possible. Her purse, keys, cell phone, and iPod, which family members said she always kept with her, were missing. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. It was just strange enough and had just enough possibility to catch my attention. The next day, when they still couldnt locate her, her mother called police. Rather frustratingly, the mysterious strangers face was obstructed by a combination of poor camera quality and a fence post in the video. There were still puddles of water in the shower. But no, she would not do that. Both Drew and Jenns mother, Joyce, tried to call their daughter, but their calls and texts also went unanswered. In fact, makeup on the counter and a wet shower seemed to indicate she'd just recently been there. On her wanted poster, Kessler is cited to be 53 55, the exact height range suggested for the person seen abandoning Kesses vehicle. We were there for my roommates trade show, and it was also just a fun single boys weekend, you know? By all accounts, the trip had gone really well. Joyce now measures the years her daughter has been missing to the milestones of that teenager. 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. Authorities began to investigate the multiple construction workers and day laborers who worked in the area of Jenns apartment complex, which was only half-finished when she moved in two months prior to her disappearance. The day before she disappeared, Kesse had left Allen's home to drive to work. 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. However, it is pretty clear that Kessler had some personality or psychological issues, and its possible she didnt need a logical motive to attack. Something wasnt right. On the drive down, Drew called a building manager at her condominium to check for Jenns car. Kesse believes there is someone out there with information about his daughters disappearance. Subscribe Today! In fact, she'd just moved. But there are a few places where things dont match up or facts that dont seem to align: Obviously the biggest disconnect is that Kessler knew and worked with Cummings. Police search miles of terrain and interrogate dozens of suspects, yet a decade later her disappearance remains one of Florida's most baffling crimes. You know that feeling, when you dont want to get off the phone because you enjoy talking to the person so much? Rob said. 'We will not cease until we have found her, for the good or the bad. On June 10, 2010, the FBI took over the case from the Orlando Police Department, and Jennifer Kesse remains on the FBI's . Jenns parents said it appeared she had gotten ready for work that morning and left, just like any other morning. We kept in touch and it just blossomed from there.. I wont stop looking for her, Logan said. I hold onto that memory, her voice, and her laugh. But instead, he stayed. However, it had been reported by some local news sources early in the case that Kessler was jealous of Cummings. 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. The comments below have not been moderated, By Or not that we know of anyway.. There was no question, Logan told Dateline. But I have this gut feeling that one of those workers knows something.. And made it as far as her car. Went outside of her condo locked the door on the way out. 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? Her purse, phone and keys were not inside. She was a college graduate of the University of Central Florida. On October 5, 2020 Kessler was again in the news. She left. There would be other ominous clues, such as witnesses saying that they had seen the missing womans car driving erratically or that there had been strange men lurking about her condo before her disappearance, but none of this has led anywhere. Investigators will interview people Kesses law enforcement team has already identified as possible suspects or people who may have valuable information. If we know who he or she is, we can find out where Jennifer is.. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. That said, it's also possible she posed as a construction worker to have access to the building or find a temporary place to stay (as several of the workers were said to have been squatting in the building).Let me know what you think about this theory. Eventually, investigators come to believe that Kesse got ready and left for work as usual on the morning of January 24, locking her apartment door behind her, and was abducted as she walked to or got into her car. Peter Van Sant and 48 HOURS investigate the disappearance of the 24-year-old. The hardest part is being in limbo. Drew Kesse has been vocal about what they feel have been missteps by Orlando police in the investigation. I know that as the boyfriend, Im prime suspect number one, Rob said. But no one treated me like that. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. But she didnt come back.