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. It was not clear if the person was a man or a woman and no information came from the tape. Five months later, his father died. This week marks 14 years since Jenn disappeared from their lives. 'We will not cease until we have found her, for the good or the bad. Both Kessler (when she was younger and had lighter hair) and Cummings somewhat physically resemble Kesseblonde, attractive, pointier chin, etc. On June 10, 2010, the FBI took over the case from the Orlando Police Department, and Jennifer Kesse remains on the FBI's . Two days later, Jennifer's car is found at a nearby apartment complex. 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. 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. Theories abound as to what happened, with many suggesting she was killed by a male coworker whose advances she had spurned. Drew told Dateline that authorities from the Orange County Sheriffs Department and the Orlando Police Department arrived on the scene, but said they did not seem overly concerned because Jenn was an adult. Wright was reassigned in 2010; and Florida formally declared Kesse dead in 2016, despite never finding her body. The Kesse family organized volunteers to pass out fliers and spoke on local and national TV. Jennifer Kesse disappeared on Jan. 24, 2006. There simply isnt any physical or other direct evidence putting Kessler at the scene. 3. On January 24, the day of Jennifers disappearance, Campos didnt show up for work until noon. Hair and makeup items strewn across the counter. And to make sure I was in it for the long haul. 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. Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida. She was a project manager for a timeshare company. And police launched an investigation. Days after recent graduate Jennifer Kesse goes missing, her car is found abandoned near her home. "That four-month agreement has turned into three years and ten months and the department is still incapable of fulfilling their end of the agreement. Cummings (also referred to in some sources as Joleen Jensen) was last seen leaving her workplace, Tangles Hair Salon, in Fernandina Beach, Florida. 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 police search was launched after she failed to turn up for work as a finance manager at Central Florida Investments. And she was in a committed relationship with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, who lived in Ft. Lauderdale. ORLANDO, Fla Editor's Note:Jennifer Kesse's case was featured last year onCBS News' "48 Hours,"which contributed to this report. 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. Rob told Dateline that Jenn had expressed to him that she felt uncomfortable at times and wasnt thrilled living alone. Its been 14 years and shes not back. My mind just didnt go there. Wright interviewed Chino inside a prison in 2009. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. 2. Shortly after she vanished, Kesse's car was discovered parked around a mile from her home. But I'd imagine that, as women aren't very well-represented as construction laborers, people would remember hiring a woman. Video surveillance showed an unidentified person parking the car and walking away from it. For more information, please see our On January 23, 2006, Jennifer Kesse had just returned from a vacation with her boyfriend in the Virgin Islands. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. We had just returned from holiday -- which was so amazing -- but now we were both dreading going back to work, Rob said. A private investigation team for the family is on the case. We only haunt the willing. 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? 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. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. He had a meeting at 9 a.m., but when it was over, he tried to call Jenn again, this time to tell her about something that had happened in the meeting. Blow dryer out. She was the oldest of two children, and is said to have been best friends with her little brother, Logan. I hold onto that memory, her voice, and her laugh. At the time she vanished, she was living in Orlando. In October, the CBS show 48 Hours Investigates dug into the case and where it stands. Her family has been tirelessly searching for the Tampa Bay-area native for. But when I see that baby -- now a teenager -- its a powerful and heart-wrenching reminder of how much time has passed. Drew Kesse has been vocal about what they feel have been missteps by Orlando police in the investigation. 10 Tampa Bay reached out to the Orlando Police Department on Monday. Jenns purse, cell phone and iPod were nowhere to be found. The 24-year-old intelligent, adventurous spirit, who always wore a smile, had a bright future ahead of her. A couple hours later, after shed failed to appear for an important meeting at work, her employers contacted her parents, who hadnt heard from her, either. Three and four hours would pass, and wed still be talking.. At a press conference, investigators said they had reason to believe Cummings was no longer alive, but they had not found her remains. Her purse, keys, cell phone, and iPod, which family members said she always kept with her, were missing. 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. She drove to work that morning from her boyfriends house in southern Florida. 8. That person is the key, Torretta said. ORLANDO, Fla. Seventeen years ago, Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando in a high-profile case that made national news. Do investigators know where Kessler was on the days leading up to and including the day Kesse went missing? By all accounts, the trip had gone really well. Surveillance footage later revealed a suspect pulling into a parking space in her car around midday on January 24, waiting around 30 seconds, climbing out and walking away. The Kesse family told Dateline they wont ever stop searching for their daughter or for answers. In the years since Jenn vanished, Rob has gotten married and had two children. The then 24-year-old had recently been promoted at work. Jennifer Kesse was first reported missing on January 24, 2006. Kesse had expressed uncertainty about the safety of her apartment building before she went missing. In speaking with Floridas Fourth Estate last year, Kesses father revealed a theory that his daughter may have been taken by human sex traffickers. Despite more than a thousand tips, police have not been able to work out what happened to the missing woman. Kessler and Cummings had blue eyes, and Kesse had green eyes that were said to look blue depending on what she was wearing. Her 2004 Chevy Malibu was found two days later about a mile away from her condo. At the time she vanished, she was living in Orlando. 27.07 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Flames of Prophecy, 29.07 - MU Podcast - Contract with the Goddess, 29.06 - MU Podcast - Italian Disco Abductions, 27.06 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Secret Vaults of Time, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Queen's Ghost, Small Lake Monster, Space Caterpillar and More Mysterious News Briefly, A Haunted Book and the Most Haunted Bookshop There Is. 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. Its believed that she was living in various areas and using aliases even before her mother last saw her in 2004. He also expressed more frustration with the Orlando Police Department. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Eventually she was indicted on a first-degree premeditated murder charge for the death of Cummings. She didnt tell me about her shamrock tattoo, Drew said. There was nothing amiss at Jennifer Jenn Kesses condo in Orlando, Florida on the day she vanished 14 years ago. On her unmade bed was a selection of work clothes. Thats hell. Kesse believes there is someone out there with information about his daughters disappearance. And I wont stop until someone is held accountable. 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. VIDEO: Jennifer Kesse: Investigation into Orlando womans disappearance turned over to FDLE Jennifer Kesse: Investigation into Orlando womans disappearance turned over to FDLE. The comments below have not been moderated, By Drews investigative team began searching that area with their own private cadaver dogs and were alerted to something. We had a hit, Drew said. She had slept in her bed, taken a shower (as indicated by a wet towel and shower) and left out clothes on the bed. The car was in pristine condition, with no sign of a struggle or violence and nothing out of place, with the radio and expensive DVD player she had installed still there. There was no question, Logan told Dateline. Kesse's family said. Her disappearance remains a mystery. 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. 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. 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. If she knew she would be five minutes late for work, she would call them thats just who she is.. Logan moved away from the area with his wife and children, but told Dateline he will never stop looking for his sister. 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. Jennifer Kesse was last seen leaving work in Orlando, Florida on January 23, 2006. Then she disappeared one day in January of 2006 and has never been found. (And, as a commenter mentioned in my recent post about the missing/murdered Krnak family, most cases are built on circumstantial evidence.). THE devastated family of missing Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse insists new hope has been breathed into the heartbreaking attempt to find her. That baby is now 14 years old. Both vehicles were reportedly wiped down inside before being abandoned. Kesse appeared to have disappeared after leaving her home around 7.30am. He added: 'Were really put ourselves in a good position currently. Her parents went ahead and moved into her condo, so they could help with the investigation. Sometimes it doesnt feel like 14 years has passed. The day before she disappeared, Kesse had left Allen's home to drive to work. Clothes on her bed. How Might Kessler Be Related to the Kesse Case?While it might at first seem like a stretch, I think its conceivable Kimberly Kessler could be tied to the Jennifer Kesse case. There were intense efforts to enhance the footage, even enlisting the help of NASA, but the person could not be identified. Cummings is still considered a missing person, and she hasnt been seen or heard from since her disappearance. The Orlando Police Department originally investigated the case. ', 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. Two months prior to her disappearance, Jenn had purchased her first condo at Mosaic at Millenia Condominium in Orlando. 1. Then she disappeared one day in January of 2006 and has never been found. He was reportedly agitated and excused his lateness by claiming hed received a traffic ticket, but this was allegedly never verified. We were a close-knit family. Shower was wet. Jenns luggage from her trip was still in the front hall, untouched. Just normal relationship things. Investigators interviewed a coworker of Jennifers named Johnny Campos but concluded he was not guilty. Police search miles of terrain and interrogate dozens of suspects, yet a decade later her disappearance remains one of Florida's most baffling crimes. I personally have never really wavered on what I think happened, but of course the mind can be pulled into so many different directions because we have nothing concrete, Logan said. Three days later, Keeses vehicle was found in an apartment complex parking lot less than a mile from where she lived. On Friday, the sheriff's office said . If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. In fact, makeup on the counter and a wet shower seemed to indicate she'd just recently been there. Allen says it was the last time he ever heard from her. Immaculate apartment, except for the bathroom being a mess, of course, that was typical, Joyce said. "We firmly believe the departments negligence and lack of competency cost Jennifer the chance to be found," Drew wrote. Van Sant says its believed they were day workers or perhaps even been undocumented workers who disappeared after Kesse vanished. In an open letter to their daughter on the 15th anniversary of her disappearance, the Kesses said they remain 'relentless' in their pursuit of answers. The next day, when they still couldnt locate her, her mother called police. 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. On the drive down, Drew called a building manager at her condominium to check for Jenns car. They believed shed been living out of her vehicle and parking at different locations around the area. "So we will fight tooth and nail and yell from the mountain tops until someone hears us and FINALLY acts," Drew added. But at first, I didnt think anything bad, like really bad, had happened to her. Were truly starting to talk to the people we really need to talk to which leads us down many paths. It had been a long day, coming back from the Caribbean, and we were both tired, Rob said. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend when she simply vanished from her Orlando, Fla., condominium. Sunday marked 15 years since she was last seen on Jan. 24, 2006. 4. Over the years, a GoFundMe page has raised more than $100,000 to help bring them closure. Despite our 16-year commitment, there are some cases that remain difficult to solve. Read: 9 things to know about the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. Police interviewed an ex-boyfriend of Jennifers who was openly distraught over their breakup, wanted to get back together again, and was reportedly upset that shed just vacationed with a new beau. Adam testified that he viewed an email between Kesse and Campos during which Campos reportedly was unhappy that she refused to date him. And that is where the mystery starts.. I had to stay and find my sister.. 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. I didnt see a whole post about it, so I thought Id type one up and share the strange connections. Kesse was last seen at her Orlando condo near Mall at Millenia.. 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. 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. 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. The day Jennifer's car was found, search crews looked through the wooded area near Huntington on the Green. Wright then realized an anonymous tip had been reported right after Kesse vanished, also suggesting Chino might know something. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. After that, I believe she was abducted. If we know who he or she is, we can find out where Jennifer is.. She had seemingly simply evaporated into thin air. 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. Sure enough, it was Jennifers car. 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. which would lead into a deeply strange vanishing that remains totally unsolved. Nothing was done, no investigation, Jenns father Drew said. Her condo complex was undergoing a renovation, and many of the workers had been living in the empty condos. And thats not how it should be.. Incompetency at its best. Jennifer Kesse, meanwhile, was abducted after leaving her apartment on her way to work on the morning of Jan. 24, 2006. Its very difficult and slow fighting against the machine that is Orlando politics, but no one should be put through what is happening to us. [TRENDING: Florida debuts new vaccine hotline | Merritt Island-bound plane found in ocean | Titusville man accused of killing mother]. . We were there for my roommates trade show, and it was also just a fun single boys weekend, you know? 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. . Shed last seen her daughter on July 4, 2004 in Butler, Pennsylvaniaeight years before reporting her missing. Investigator Torretta discovered, deep in the files, a tip from a woman who, in 2006, said she witnessed something strange at Lake Fischer in Orange County on the day of Jenns disappearance. By subscribing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Statement. 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. When I reflect back to that time, I feel numb.. In July 2019, a judge found her incompetent to stand trial and remanded her to a state mental hospital for treatment and incarceration. 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. 9. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. 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. And I never thought it would be the last time.. During an ensuing investigation, it was discovered that Kessler had used at least 18 different aliases and had lived in at least 33 cities in 14 different states.