But when I woke up that day, there was nothing.. And she was in a committed relationship with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, who lived in Ft. Lauderdale. Family Of Woman Missing For 12 Years 'Fed Up' With Florida Cops Jennifer Kesse. In fact, she'd just moved. Family members and friends began the search immediately. In October, the CBS show 48 Hours Investigates dug into the case and where it stands. Everything looked normal, with her make-up laid out on a counter and a t-shirt on the floor, and even the shower was still wet, showing that she had left that morning. Drew and I are in our 60s. The Monday after getting back was Jan. 23, 2006. 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. Inside, CBS says nothing seemed out-of-the-ordinary. On left, Jennifer before her disappearance. Two days after Jennifer disappeared, someone who lived in an apartment complex a little over a mile from Jennifers condo noticed that a car parked outside their building resembled Jennifers 2004 black Chevy Malibu as had been shown on the news. 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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. Kesses last phone call was to her boyfriend on Jan. 23; she did not show up to work the next day. We had a hit, Drew said. But now that I have kids, I have a different understanding of what it would be like, and its heartbreaking.. 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. No one has seen or heard from her since. We were a close-knit family. Kesse's family said. Detective Joel Wright, who was a lead investigator on the case, has said of this: I believe Jennifer got ready for work. From January 2005 until January 2006, Rob and Jenn traveled back and forth between Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale to see each other, and also traveled together internationally as much as they could. Is there a chance they encountered one another in the days, weeks, or months leading up to Kesses disappearance? I could never imagine what her parents were going through, Rob said. 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. She complained to her parents of leering looks and catcalls and whistling, (which) made her feel very uncomfortable, the private investigator told Van Sant about the construction workers. The hardest part is being in limbo. 3. Kesse had expressed discomfort and even fear about the construction workers and others in her building, so she likely wouldnt have opened her door to one of them. 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. She had slept in her bed, taken a shower (as indicated by a wet towel and shower) and left out clothes on the bed. Both Kessler (when she was younger and had lighter hair) and Cummings somewhat physically resemble Kesseblonde, attractive, pointier chin, etc. On November 8, 2019, for the first time in years, there was a second possible break in the case. The Kesse family told Dateline they wont ever stop searching for their daughter or for answers. But I knew I had nothing to hide. It also seems highly unlikely that one or more of the workers could have pulled off an abduction and murder without at least some of the other workers finding out. Went outside of her condo locked the door on the way out. The condominiums are about a mile from where Jenn lived. As the investigation began, Rob camped out on the couch at Jenns condo for weeks. Always in contact with each other, Jenns father, Drew Kesse, told Dateline. It was odd that she hadnt called me back, Rob said. Jennifer Kesse - Disappeared 'We will not cease until we have found her, for the good or the bad. The only thing police can determine for sure is that the suspect was between 53 and 55 inches tall. ORLANDO, Fla. - Tuesday marked 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. On every level, Jenns case has been a challenge, Drew told Dateline. Her family says they are now getting new leads in her disappearance. Im forever grateful for that last conversation I had with Jenn, Joyce said. We needed the files for answers, Logan said. Thats how it was with Jenn. Difficult then, and still difficult now, 14 years later., I talked to her on the phone for the last time that day, Logan said. The family went to their daughter's new condo and said it appeared 'normal' - clean and with everything in place. Jennifer Kesse, 24, went missing from her newly purchased condo in Orlando, Florida, on January 24, 2006. There doesnt seem to be a clear motive in Kesses disappearance. Our newsletter keeps our core readers connected. They sued the Orlando Police Department in 2018, asking for a copy of the case files. The only things missing were her car, purse, keys, and cell phone, and by all appearances it seemed as if she had stepped out for work as usual, so why hadnt anyone heard from her and why hadnt she shown up to work? The next morning, her boyfriend grew concerned after she didnt call him or send him any text messages. You dont., Its like Groundhog Day every day, yet, life moves on for everyone else, Joyce said. Both Drew and Jenns mother, Joyce, tried to call their daughter, but their calls and texts also went unanswered. Drews investigative team began searching that area with their own private cadaver dogs and were alerted to something. 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. The parents of Jennifer Kesse say they are "closer than ever" to uncovering answers in the disappearance of their. Were truly starting to talk to the people we really need to talk to which leads us down many paths. The door had been locked and nothing was out of the ordinary for someone who had gotten ready for work that morning. If stealing identities wasnt what Kessler was doing, some reports suggested shed lashed out at Cummings because she was jealous of her. And this was the last contact she was to have with anyone who knew her. . She had a stable job working as a finance manager for Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company in Ocoee, Florida and was the proud new owner of a condo in nearby Orlando. The unsolved disappearance of Jennifer Kesse | Mysteriesrunsolved The PI believes Kesse had left her condo and was locking the door when she was grabbed by the workers. Jennifer Kesse disappearance: 17 years since she vanished | 11alive.com Her family has been tirelessly searching for the Tampa Bay-area native for. 1. This man was interviewed, and at the time he was in prison doing charges for statutory rape, but he adamantly denied having had anything to do with the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse, and further passed a polygraph test, so along with the poor quality footage, he was never pursued as a suspect. She Was Never Seen Again. According to CBS News, they had a disagreement on the phone with the long distance part of their relationship taking its toll. Kessler had been known to work construction jobs. She failed to call or text her boyfriend the following morning as was her usual routine. 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.. 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. If she knew she would be five minutes late for work, she would call them thats just who she is.. On her unmade bed was a selection of work clothes. But despite extensive searches, few clues to her alleged abduction have ever been found. Fundraiser by Drew Kesse : Help Us Find Jennifer Kesse - GoFundMe Unfortunately, the surveillance camera was not video but rather snapshots taken every three seconds. Despite our 16-year commitment, there are some cases that remain difficult to solve. 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. The 24-year-old intelligent, adventurous spirit, who always wore a smile, had a bright future ahead of her. Jennifer Kesse: Why Has This Missing-Persons Case Never Been Solved? 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. Her family reported her disappearance to police, but they initially thought shed left on her own. Published: 8:55 AM EST January 24, 2023 Updated: 6:13 PM EST January 24, 2023 ORLANDO, Fla. Where is Jennifer Kesse? En route, they called her building manager and asked him to check her apartment. A damp hand towel draped over the side of the sink. The next day, on Tuesday, January 24, she did not show up for work, and Allen did not hear anything from her, which was unusual as she was always texting him. Disappearance of Jennifer Kesse - Wikipedia 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. 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. The day before she disappeared, Kesse had left Allen's home to drive to work. Jennifer Kesse: Investigation into Orlando woman's disappearance turned 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. In November 2019, investigators spent days searching Lake Fischer after a new tip came forward. 2. 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. They talked about shipping the phone back to his friend. Jennifer Kesse: Found or Missing? Is Jennifer Kesse Alive or Dead? 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. 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. Jennifer Kesse, of Orlando, who went missing Jan. 24, 2006, at 24 years old. Her purse, keys, cell phone, and iPod, which family members said she always kept with her, were missing. ORLANDO, Fla Editor's Note:Jennifer Kesse's case was featured last year onCBS News' "48 Hours,"which contributed to this report. 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. By that evening, authorities had been contacted and her parents began distributing missing-person flyers with Jennifers photo. Its possible she planned to kill Kesse and Cummings to use their identities, but no proof of this exists. 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). I realize that this theory is probably a stretch, but I thought it was interesting enough to bring up. 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. According to private investigator Torretta, the person without a face is a person of interest and the main focus of his investigation. Thats hell. The Disappearance of Joleen CummingsOn Monday, May 14, 2018, the mother of Joleen Cummings, 34, reported her missing. I hold onto that memory, her voice, and her laugh. The Orlando Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Dateline. 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. Drew paused, softly laughed, remembering the one thing that he actually hadnt known about his daughter. Her car was found a mile away. The case centers on Jennifer Kesse, who disappeared on January 24, 2006, when she didn't show up for work. Two days later, her black Chevy Malibu was found at an apartment complex in a high-crime area of Orlando, about a mile from her condo. Logan moved away from the area with his wife and children, but told Dateline he will never stop looking for his sister. Family of Florida woman missing for 15-years say they are 'close' to Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. Both vehicles were reportedly wiped down inside before being abandoned. I cant even imagine how horrific of a person you have to be to abduct someone or harm someone. To me, 14 years ago with my Jenn seems like yesterday, Joyce said. Hair and makeup items strewn across the counter. 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. Subscribe Today! Her parents made the two-hour drive from their home to Jennifers condo, where they found signs that shed recently showered. I saw this theory discussed in another thread a year or so ago, and it totally blew my mind. Jenns disappearance wasnt the only heartbreak for Rob that year. Kesse was in love with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, with whom she'd been in a long-distance relationship for the last year. Will we ever know what really happened? It submerged our lives for so long. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. On June 10, 2010, the FBI took over the case from the Orlando Police Department, and Jennifer Kesse remains on the FBI's . Rob was so supportive then, and continues to be supportive. Law enforcement believes she is trying to starve herself to death, and theyve reported that she has fits of rage, including stripping naked and smearing feces and food around her cell. ORLANDO, Fla. Where is Jennifer Kesse? Something. CBS learned renovations were happening at the Orlando apartment complex where Kesse lived around the time of her disappearance. Kessler was known to drive a motorcycle and work construction jobs, two suggested possible traits of the person who may have been involved in Kesses disappearance. We had a bit of a disagreement. 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. News 6 is Getting Results. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. The next morning, when her boyfriend called her office, he was told that Jennifer had not arrived. At a press conference, investigators said they had reason to believe Cummings was no longer alive, but they had not found her remains. There was nothing amiss at Jennifer Jenn Kesses condo in Orlando, Florida on the day she vanished 14 years ago. Some brand new details and information was revealed during the episode and it wasn't just a rehash of old information. Kessler and Cummings had blue eyes, and Kesse had green eyes that were said to look blue depending on what she was wearing. Jennifer Kesse's family marks 16 years since she vanished - WTSP 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. And how little of the window we have to find Jenn.. "We firmly believe the departments negligence and lack of competency cost Jennifer the chance to be found," Drew wrote. Her employer then alerted her family, who could not reach her at her home or on her cellphone. Help Find Missing Jennifer Kesse Facebook page. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. A coworker named Adam said that a few days before Jennifer disappeared, Campos was upset she was dating her boyfriend rather than Campos. Tracy Ocasio was 27 years old when she disappeared in 2009. Or, a Top Secret Human Experiment Gone Wild? An upcoming episode of "48 Hours" on CBS will feature the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. Over the past 15 years, Orlando police and Kesses family have worked to exhaust every lead. Andrea Cavallier is a Digital Producer for Dateline NBC. In the years since Jenn vanished, Rob has gotten married and had two children. 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. A subreddit dedicated to discussion of missing person, Jennifer Kesse Rob tried to call Jenn as he rushed to work, but got her voicemail, which he thought was odd. From surveillance cameras, the authorities were able to see that someone, who was not Jennifer, had calmly driven her car and left it exactly where it was found at around noon on January 24. This post is really different from what I usually write up, and Im a little worried Ill get roasted for it, but Im eager to hear what you all think. That was something she had only told her mother.. At the time of her disappearance, Jennifers building was undergoing major renovations and many of the construction workers were undocumented immigrants who were actually living in unoccupied condos on the premises while working there. Wright was reassigned in 2010; and Florida formally declared Kesse dead in 2016, despite never finding her body. They told us, Oh, shes an adult, she had a fight with her boyfriend, shell be back, and they left, Drew said. This week marks 17 years since the 24-year-old vanished in 2006 but there have been no arrests made. 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. 7. But I'd imagine that, as women aren't very well-represented as construction laborers, people would remember hiring a woman. A legal team and a handful of investigators, including Mike Torretta, have been helping them sift through the files for months. Jenns brother Logan was scheduled to move to California to be with his girlfriend just a week after Jenn disappeared. which would lead into a deeply strange vanishing that remains totally unsolved. Over the course of the day, Jenn was in touch with her parents, her brother, Logan, and Rob. 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. Jennifer's car was missing, and her condo looked, according to family members, as if Jennifer had gotten ready and left for work. 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. 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. 1 min read. By Jenns luggage from her trip was still in the front hall, untouched. Wont stop looking for answers. Rather frustratingly, the mysterious strangers face was obstructed by a combination of poor camera quality and a fence post in the video. In an update on Jan. 20, Jennifer's dad said her loved ones won't stop trying to figure out what happened. In that second, I knew something was wrong.. 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. Questioning family, acquaintances, and her boyfriend didnt turn up much, but it was uncovered that Jennifer had been complaining of being harassed by construction workers near her condo in the days leading up to her mysterious disappearance. And by lunchtime, he was worried. It's been more than 15 years since she was last. Jenn and Rob met in January 2005 when Rob was in Orlando with his roommate for a trade show. Her bed was unmade and there was a wet towel and water droplets still covering the shower. Creepy Catalog is owned by the Thought and Expression Company, a small, independent media company. 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. 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. She always said she felt safe with me, so I feel emasculated that I wasnt there to protect her, to save her.. Nov 08, 2019 at 6:13 pm. Or not that we know of anyway.. 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. Cummings vehicle was found on Tuesday, May 16 in the parking lot of a Home Depot in Yulee, Florida, about 12 miles from her workplace. 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. Days after recent graduate Jennifer Kesse goes missing, her car is found abandoned near her home. 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. I got married and had kids, I had to keep going.. 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. 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. "We wont be put to the side by anyone. 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. But because they are retired, they dont have the power to make an arrest. The comments below have not been moderated, By On right, how Jennifer may look today. They hopped in the car with their son and drove to her condo. Its tedious work, its going to be long and hard but were at the point now where we can see where we can move ahead and we have moved ahead. Blow dryer out. Its believed that she was living in various areas and using aliases even before her mother last saw her in 2004. 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. Three days later, Keeses vehicle was found in an apartment complex parking lot less than a mile from where she lived.