She was up for anything and willing to travel anywhere and try new things.. Future news of events, Zoom movie marathons, books, and streaming updates will be delivered first to our newsletter readers. Five months later, his father died. The next day, when they still couldnt locate her, her mother called police. In November 2019, investigators spent days searching Lake Fischer after a new tip came forward. I called and I called and for the first time since Jenn was a teenager, it went straight to voicemail, Drew said. Jennifer Kesse, 24, disappeared from Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 24, 2006. She placed calls to her family, friends, and finally her boyfriendwho lived two hours awayat approximately 10PM. 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. 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. Her employer then alerted her family, who could not reach her at her home or on her cellphone. That baby is now 14 years old. Was Jennifer Kesse Found? 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. We dont know anything. Police found her car a few days later. Both Drew and Jenns mother, Joyce, tried to call their daughter, but their calls and texts also went unanswered. The Orlando Police Department originally investigated the case. Van Sant says its believed they were day workers or perhaps even been undocumented workers who disappeared after Kesse vanished. Some brand new details and information was revealed during the episode and it wasn't just a rehash of old information. This week, the Kesse family, now living back in Bradenton, are beginning their seventeenth year without Jennifer. 5. Logan moved away from the area with his wife and children, but told Dateline he will never stop looking for his sister. They told detectives Jennifer had previously complained to them about building workers who made her uncomfortable. Kessler had been known to work construction jobs. You know that feeling, when you dont want to get off the phone because you enjoy talking to the person so much? Rob said. She didnt tell me about her shamrock tattoo, Drew said. She always said she felt safe with me, so I feel emasculated that I wasnt there to protect her, to save her.. Police arrested Sybert on Wednesday, May 16 at an Interstate 95 rest area in St. Johns County, Florida. More Controversy on the Roswell Affair: An Alien Accident? He said the family and private investigative team is ready to speak with any other law enforcement force. Is there a chance they encountered one another in the days, weeks, or months leading up to Kesses disappearance? The nightmare to not know. There was no question, Logan told Dateline. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. Her case is still open, and she has not been seen or heard from since 2006. Her family still had no answers, and their frustrations were mounting. 2010 The Thought & Expression Company, LLC. 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. You never think something like this could ever happen to someone you love.. By There was nothing amiss at Jennifer Jenn Kesses condo in Orlando, Florida on the day she vanished 14 years ago. Her purse, keys, cell phone, and iPod, which family members said she always kept with her, were missing. When viewing surveillance videos, investigators spot an unidentified person parking Jennifer's car at 12pm on the day Jennifer went missing. Created Jan 10, 2018 4.7k Members 7 Online A few days later, on January 26, 2006, came the first big break in the case. Or not that we know of anyway.. This week marks 14 years since Jenn disappeared from their lives. She had seemingly simply evaporated into thin air. Is it possible she was employed by the construction company working on Kesses building? 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 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. On June 10, 2010, the FBI took over the case from the Orlando Police Department, and Jennifer Kesse remains on the FBI's . 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. In fact, she'd just moved into a condo there. 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. Perhaps she would have been more likely to open her door or talk with a woman, especially if that woman expressed fear or asked or help. The family said they are excited about what now might be possible under FDLE. 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. It looked like they knocked a filing cabinet over, shuffled the papers and handed them to us.. 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. The residence seemed to all be in rather perfect order, with nothing out of place, no signs of anything amiss. Surveillance video captured someone driving her car . 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. Cookie Notice They gave two managers permission to go inside her condo to check for anything unusual. Given the scene of Jenns apartment, authorities began to think Jenn was abducted during her walk to her car or on her way to work. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. When they reached their 20s, their bond grew and their social circles merged. Jennifer is loved by us, her family, so many friends as well as strangers around our country and the world, the family wrote. I could never imagine what her parents were going through, Rob said. 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. Went outside of her condo locked the door on the way out. She chatted to her parents, brother, boyfriend and some friends on the phone at home that evening. 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. (Drew Kesse) In the files, investigators suspected a struggle on the hood of Kesse's car when they discovered the vehicle. There was no response. But everything was fine.. Difficult then, and still difficult now, 14 years later., I talked to her on the phone for the last time that day, Logan said. Shed last seen her daughter on July 4, 2004 in Butler, Pennsylvaniaeight years before reporting her missing. 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. 3. Surveillance video showed somebody parking Kesse's car there, but the person's face was blocked by a fence post. They'd actually just gotten back from a getaway to St. Croix about a week before she went missing. Its not like her to not show up for work. After that, I believe she was abducted. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. No one.". Tuesday marks 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. The Disappearance of Joleen CummingsOn Monday, May 14, 2018, the mother of Joleen Cummings, 34, reported her missing. The private investigator believes she may have been abducted by a construction worker. Her car was found a mile away. However, it had been reported by some local news sources early in the case that Kessler was jealous of Cummings. For more information, please see our 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. This week marks 17 years since the 24-year-old vanished in 2006 but there have been no arrests made. Both vehicles were reportedly wiped down inside before being abandoned. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. In the years since Jenn vanished, Rob has gotten married and had two children. But that day, Robs calls and texts to Jenn went unanswered. The only thing police can determine for sure is that the suspect was between 53 and 55 inches tall. 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. She Was Never Seen Again. As the investigation began, Rob camped out on the couch at Jenns condo for weeks. Shannon joined the Eyewitness News team in 2013. I didnt see a whole post about it, so I thought Id type one up and share the strange connections. Kesse believes there is someone out there with information about his daughters disappearance. But there was no evidence in that car, not any that was recorded in the police reports, private investigator Torretta told Dateline. Kessler spent a lot of time in many Florida cities, including Oviedo, which is basically a suburb of Orlando, where Kesse lived. The tiniest bone. 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. And I wont stop until someone is held accountable. The parents of Jennifer Kesse say they are "closer than ever" to uncovering answers in the disappearance of their. She locked her door. The Kesse family told Dateline that while they were at Jenns, workers were in the condo across the hall installing new carpet. 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? Read: 9 things to know about the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. Jenns purse, cell phone and iPod were nowhere to be found. I cant even imagine how horrific of a person you have to be to abduct someone or harm someone. She never arrived. Kesse had expressed uncertainty about the safety of her apartment building before she went missing. 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. By subscribing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Statement. 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. Peter Van Sant and 48 HOURS investigate the disappearance of the 24-year-old. Sybert was charged with grand theft auto for taking Cummings vehicle and booked in jail. Drew paused, softly laughed, remembering the one thing that he actually hadnt known about his daughter. 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. He also says that when Campos saw an email that Adam had sent to Jennifer in which Adam told her she looked nice today, Campos grew agitated and asked Adam if he was sexually interested in her. Jenns parents also stayed at the condo, for months, in an effort to make a statement that finding their daughter was the number one priority. I hold onto that memory, her voice, and her laugh. Detective Joel Wright, who was a lead investigator on the case, has said of this: I believe Jennifer got ready for work. (And, as a commenter mentioned in my recent post about the missing/murdered Krnak family, most cases are built on circumstantial evidence.). And to make sure I was in it for the long haul. In the months leading up to her disappearance, Jennifer Kesse tells her family how uncomfortable the construction workers had been making her feel. Her disappearance remains a mystery. Immaculate apartment, except for the bathroom being a mess, of course, that was typical, Joyce said. Over the years, a GoFundMe page has raised more than $100,000 to help bring them closure. It was about 10 p.m. Monday when they spoke, Rob told Dateline. and our The hardest part is being in limbo. Kesse was last seen at her Orlando condo near Mall at Millenia. One of Jenns friends found out she was pregnant just after Jenn vanished. Jennifer Kesse was first reported missing on January 24, 2006. In fact, she'd just moved. This has taken everything out of us, emotionally and financially, Drew Kesse said. And I never thought it would be the last time.. And by lunchtime, he was worried. Her black Chevy Malibu was gone. Days after recent graduate Jennifer Kesse goes missing, her car is found abandoned near her home. But instead, he stayed. But nothing -- absolutely nothing -- was being done.. After another day had passed with still no sign of her, Jennifer Kesse was listed as officially missing, and the following day her abandoned car was located in the parking lot of the Huntington on the Green apartment complex at Americana and Texas, less than a mile from her residence, where residents claimed it had been parked there for several days. 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. . They hopped in the car with their son and drove to her condo. Jennifer had repeatedly told her family that many of the workers repeatedly sexually harassed and catcalled her. On her unmade bed was a selection of work clothes. Investigators found Kesses car at Huntington on the Green Condominiums, about a mile from her home. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. Yesterday, there was a post on the Unresolved Mysteries sub about the most out-there theories that we were reticent to share and this one came to mind. Her parents made the two-hour drive from their home to Jennifers condo, where they found signs that shed recently showered. He added that Jenn was always very supportive of his sport and came to every game. If we know who he or she is, we can find out where Jennifer is.. He was reportedly agitated and excused his lateness by claiming hed received a traffic ticket, but this was allegedly never verified. Jennifer Kesse was last seen leaving work in Orlando, Florida on January 23, 2006. They told us it was an active case. 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. When you find that instant connection with someone, you find a way to make it work.. An upcoming episode of "48 Hours" on CBS will feature the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. 8. There were still puddles of water in the shower. Creepy Catalog is owned by the Thought and Expression Company, a small, independent media company. 1. 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. On right, how Jennifer may look today. As of right now, there is no law enforcement working on my daughters case. Its possible that Kessler had intended to steal identities and was looking for women whom she physically resembled. They Never Told Her Family. 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!' In July 2019, a judge found her incompetent to stand trial and remanded her to a state mental hospital for treatment and incarceration. Its all me -- my family. Blow dryer out. We needed the files for answers, Logan said. In October, the CBS show 48 Hours Investigates dug into the case and where it stands. In the meantime, her bank account remained untouched and police were unable to successfully ping her cell phone. Police Found A Missing Womans Car Abandoned With The Door Open. The only evidence was surveillance footage obtained by Orlando Police that showed an unidentified person walking in the parking lot at the same time Jennifers car was left in the lot -- 12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2006. There were intense efforts to enhance the footage, even enlisting the help of NASA, but the person could not be identified. We had a bit of a disagreement. Jenns brother Logan was scheduled to move to California to be with his girlfriend just a week after Jenn disappeared. Three days later, Keeses vehicle was found in an apartment complex parking lot less than a mile from where she lived. Nov 08, 2019 at 6:13 pm. Inside, CBS says nothing seemed out-of-the-ordinary. Nothing was done, no investigation, Jenns father Drew said. 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. Kesse is one of three high-profile, unsolved missing person cases involving women who vanished from the Orlando area between 2006 and 2011. There was no blood, no DNA, no hair samples, nothing.. Investigators interviewed a coworker of Jennifers named Johnny Campos but concluded he was not guilty. Jennifer Joyce Kesse seemed to have everything going for her. It's been more than 15 years since she was last. 10 Tampa Bay reached out to the Orlando Police Department on Monday. That evening, she left her office around 6pm and wished her boss a good evening. Our newsletter keeps our core readers connected. And police launched an investigation. We only haunt the willing. 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. We had just returned from holiday -- which was so amazing -- but now we were both dreading going back to work, Rob said. The family said there was a seven-year gap in the case files where nothing was recorded. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. But no one treated me like that. Her co-worker Jennifer Sybert was the last person known to have seen Cummings before she and her vehicle disappeared. Jenns parents said it appeared she had gotten ready for work that morning and left, just like any other morning. Jennifer Kesse was 24-years-old when she was last seen in January 2006 after leaving her Orlando condo. In an update on Jan. 20, Jennifer's dad said her loved ones won't stop trying to figure out what happened. 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. Friday marks 14 years since Jennifer Kesse vanished. Two months prior to her disappearance, Jenn had purchased her first condo at Mosaic at Millenia Condominium in Orlando. We havent seen the states evidence yet and dont know Kesslers motive for killing Cummings (if shes guilty of what shes been accused of). Jennifer's car was missing, and her condo looked, according to family members, as if Jennifer had gotten ready and left for work. Jennifer Kesse, 24, went missing from her newly purchased condo in Orlando, Florida, on January 24, 2006. But despite extensive searches, few clues to her alleged abduction have ever been found. 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. Her family has vowed to never give up their search to find her. ResourcesKesses Charley Project profile: http://charleyproject.org/case/jennifer-joyce-kesse, Wikipedia page about Kesses disappearance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Jennifer_Kesse, True Crime Society blog on Kimberly Kessler (with photos, press releases of alias and location information, and more): https://truecrimesociety.com/2019/08/16/the-bizarre-case-of-kimberly-kessler/, Recent news story about Kimberly Kessler: https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/kimberly-kessler-down-79-pounds-has-outburst-during-court-hearing/V7ZS36M26NE3VGVSTHM5BL24D4/, Initial post where I saw this theory mentioned: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/cyrugq/the_bizarre_case_of_kimberly_kessler/, http://charleyproject.org/case/jennifer-joyce-kesse, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Jennifer_Kesse, https://truecrimesociety.com/2019/08/16/the-bizarre-case-of-kimberly-kessler/, https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/kimberly-kessler-down-79-pounds-has-outburst-during-court-hearing/V7ZS36M26NE3VGVSTHM5BL24D4/, https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/cyrugq/the_bizarre_case_of_kimberly_kessler/. 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. Clothes on her bed. Kesse's family said. She was the oldest of two children, and is said to have been best friends with her little brother, Logan. Logan, an avid soccer player, began to hang out with Jenns guy friends, who also played soccer. Privacy Policy. In fact, makeup on the counter and a wet shower seemed to indicate she'd just recently been there. Wright interviewed Chino inside a prison in 2009. A reporter would later call the suspect the luckiest person of interest ever.. No clues were ultimately found. The Kesse family organized volunteers to pass out fliers and spoke on local and national TV. EARLY LIFE: Jennifer Joyce Kesse was born on May 20, 1981 to parents Drew and Joyce Kesse. "We paid the price, in full, upfront," father Drew Kesse wrote. They made fliers and distributed them around the area, pleading for answers. ORLANDO, Fla. - Tuesday marked 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. I was just Jenns boyfriend. Perhaps the womens physical similarities made Kesse a target. She drove the two and a half hours directly to her job in Ocoee, Florida, where she worked a full day. It was January 24, 2006. ORLANDO, Fla Editor's Note:Jennifer Kesse's case was featured last year onCBS News' "48 Hours,"which contributed to this report.