Tuesday marks 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. 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. Prison photos of Kessler since her arrest show her in prison-issue jumpsuits and with her hair parted down the center and pulled back tightly in a ponytail or bun. Something. 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. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. The next day, Jan. 24, 2006, Kesse's parents got a call saying she hadn't shown up for work. Logan moved away from the area with his wife and children, but told Dateline he will never stop looking for his sister. 7. She stayed at his home that night, drove from there to work the next day, and was seen leaving work that Monday around 6 p.m. She was last confirmed to be alive and in her Orlando, Florida, apartment at about 10 p.m. on the night of January 23, 2006 when she spoke with her boyfriend on the phone. As the investigation began, Rob camped out on the couch at Jenns condo for weeks. 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. He also expressed more frustration with the Orlando Police Department. ORLANDO, Fla. Seventeen years ago, Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando in a high-profile case that made national news. Nothing seemed out of place, but Kesse, her purse, phone, and vehicle were missing. They told us, Oh, shes an adult, she had a fight with her boyfriend, shell be back, and they left, Drew said. He called her, but his call went to voicemail. Anyone who may know something is asked to call the familys tip line, 941-201-4009. 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. Her employer then alerted her family, who could not reach her at her home or on her cellphone. Her parents went ahead and moved into her condo, so they could help with the investigation. But there was no evidence in that car, not any that was recorded in the police reports, private investigator Torretta told Dateline. Im unsure if Kessler had any known connections to Orlando or the areas or places Kesse lived, worked, or frequented. On the drive down, Drew called a building manager at her condominium to check for Jenns car. On Friday, the sheriff's office said . The nightmare to not know. He was reportedly agitated and excused his lateness by claiming hed received a traffic ticket, but this was allegedly never verified. Kesse was in love with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, with whom she'd been in a long-distance relationship for the last year. This week marks 17 years since the 24-year-old vanished in 2006 but there have been no arrests made. 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. Were truly starting to talk to the people we really need to talk to which leads us down many paths. 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. Jennifer Kesse was first reported missing on January 24, 2006. The day after Jennifers disappearance, Campos and a coworker named Adam were talking about the case. Family members and friends began the search immediately. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend . Drew and Joyce took legal action against the Orlando Police Department in order to gain access to Jenns case files. On June 10, 2010, the FBI took over the case from the Orlando Police Department, and Jennifer Kesse remains on the FBI's . There was nothing amiss at Jennifer Jenn Kesses condo in Orlando, Florida on the day she vanished 14 years ago. Over the course of the day, Jenn was in touch with her parents, her brother, Logan, and Rob. 2023 Cox Media Group. By subscribing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Statement. We just want to know where she is, what happened to her, before its too late for us.. 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. She had complained of inappropriate remarks and catcalls from them, and it was also found that she had been approached by a manager where she worked, who she had turned away, but questioning of these potential suspects turned up no evidence of wrongdoing. I didnt see a whole post about it, so I thought Id type one up and share the strange connections. In the meantime, her bank account remained untouched and police were unable to successfully ping her cell phone. He added: 'Were really put ourselves in a good position currently. Our hearts continue to go out to the entire Kesse family, and our detectives will continue to investigate any new leads. One of the Strangest Mysteries in the History of NASA: Conspiracy or Complete Garbage? It was a double whammy, losing Jenn and then losing my father, Rob told Dateline. The next morning, when her boyfriend called her office, he was told that Jennifer had not arrived. I got married and had kids, I had to keep going.. Jennifer Kesse, 24, disappeared from Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 24, 2006. 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. Jennifer's case was recently profiled on the Oxygen series Up & Vanished series. Privacy Policy. Her bed was unmade and there was a wet towel and water droplets still covering the shower. 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. If she knew she would be five minutes late for work, she would call them thats just who she is.. There are no signs of her whereabouts and only a grainy surveillance photo of an unidentifiable person of interest.. Help Find Missing Jennifer Kesse 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. Thats how it was with Jenn. The Kesse family told Dateline they wont ever stop searching for their daughter or for answers. Rob was so supportive then, and continues to be supportive. The day before she disappeared, Kesse had left Allen's home to drive to work. Jennifer Kesses father, Drew Kesse, said: 'We have great hope that this year were going to know, maybe not exactly what happened to Jennifer but where we need to go and what we need to do', as reported by My Sun Coast. Jennifer Kesse was first reported missing on January 24, 2006. Orlando police said a person of interest was caught on surveillance video driving Kesses car, but was never found. Nothing was done, no investigation, Jenns father Drew said. But instead, he stayed. The only thing police can determine for sure is that the suspect was between 53 and 55 inches tall. Kesse was last seen at her Orlando condo near Mall at Millenia.. There was no blood, no DNA, no hair samples, nothing.. At the time she vanished, she was living in Orlando. Detectives checked for activity on her ATM card and pinged her cell phone. 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. 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. 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. Her disappearance remains a mystery. When you opt in, not only do you get our curated list of the best horror streaming and stories, you support our work and help us keep the lights on. When you find that instant connection with someone, you find a way to make it work.. Detective Joel Wright, who was a lead investigator on the case, has said of this: I believe Jennifer got ready for work. 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.. "We paid the price, in full, upfront," father Drew Kesse wrote. ", 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. It was not clear if the person was a man or a woman and no information came from the tape. And that is where the mystery starts.. We knew right away that something was wrong, Drew Kesse told Dateline. THE devastated family of missing Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse insists new hope has been breathed into the heartbreaking attempt to find her. 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. They told detectives Jennifer had previously complained to them about building workers who made her uncomfortable. Hair and makeup items strewn across the counter. There were a few times, Jenn told me, that the workers would just stop and stare at her, Joyce told Dateline. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. 3. She left. 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. 1 min read. According to CBS News, they had a disagreement on the phone with the long distance part of their relationship taking its toll. Monday marks 16 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared. Jennifers co-workers would tell her parents that she had not come to work, after which they decided to go to her condo and check up on her. Police Found A Missing Womans Car Abandoned With The Door Open. It looked like they knocked a filing cabinet over, shuffled the papers and handed them to us.. Since our agreement to produce the documents in this matter, we have worked closely with their counsel and have turned over thousands of pages of documents and hours of recordings for their independent team to review and investigate. 9. Investigators interviewed a coworker of Jennifers named Johnny Campos but concluded he was not guilty. 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Joyce told Dateline that the hardest part is being in limbo. In an update on Jan. 20, Jennifer's dad said her loved ones won't stop trying to figure out what happened. 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. ORLANDO, Fla. Where is Jennifer Kesse? There simply isnt any physical or other direct evidence putting Kessler at the scene. Timeshares are big business in Florida. 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. If shes not alive, we just want some kind of proof that shes not with us anymore. In November 2019, investigators spent days searching Lake Fischer after a new tip came forward. But because they are retired, they dont have the power to make an arrest. 1. It was alleged that at one point after their breakup he drank himself senseless for two weeks and was inconsolable.. 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. To this day, Jennifer Kesses case remains unsolved and is one of the most mystifying high-profile missing-persons case in American history. En route, they called her building manager and asked him to check her apartment. She was in very good spirits at the time, having thoroughly enjoyed her vacation and telling her mother that she was on a cloud. That evening she would come home from work and talk to her boyfriend on the phone for a time before heading to bed, and this seems to be the last time anyone ever spoke to her. To submit a tip or to join the conversation, visit the Help Find Missing Jennifer Kesse Facebook page or www.jenniferkesse.com. Rob tried to call Jenn as he rushed to work, but got her voicemail, which he thought was odd. Is there a chance they encountered one another in the days, weeks, or months leading up to Kesses disappearance? The door had been locked and nothing was out of the ordinary for someone who had gotten ready for work that morning. Jenn stayed with me that night and decided to drive straight to work early the next morning.. Brent Swancer is an author and crypto expert living in Japan. It was about 10 p.m. Monday when they spoke, Rob told Dateline. The comments below have not been moderated, By Drew and I are in our 60s. But I'd imagine that, as women aren't very well-represented as construction laborers, people would remember hiring a woman. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. However, it is pretty clear that Kessler had some personality or psychological issues, and its possible she didnt need a logical motive to attack. 'Jennifer, we love you in a place where theres no space or time.'. Published: 8:55 AM EST January 24, 2023 Updated: 6:13 PM EST January 24, 2023 ORLANDO, Fla. Where is Jennifer Kesse? As of right now, there is no law enforcement working on my daughters case. Kesse says its a theory he thinks about because whoever took his daughter only took her and not a single item of her personal belongings. The condominiums are about a mile from where Jenn lived. EARLY LIFE: Jennifer Joyce Kesse was born on May 20, 1981 to parents Drew and Joyce Kesse. Both Kessler (when she was younger and had lighter hair) and Cummings somewhat physically resemble Kesseblonde, attractive, pointier chin, etc. . Jennifer is loved by us, her family, so many friends as well as strangers around our country and the world, the family wrote. When she uncharacteristically didnt show up for work, her employer called her parents and they immediately left their Tampa home and drove toward her apartment. In speaking with Floridas Fourth Estate last year, Kesses father revealed a theory that his daughter may have been taken by human sex traffickers. This week marks 14 years since Jenn disappeared from their lives. On every level, Jenns case has been a challenge, Drew told Dateline. Jenns parents said it appeared she had gotten ready for work that morning and left, just like any other morning. Police search miles of terrain and interrogate dozens of suspects, yet a decade later her disappearance remains one of Florida's most baffling crimes. 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. 16:19 EST 25 Jan 2021. They hired a private investigator. Rob told Dateline he talked to Jenn multiple times a day, sometimes for hours at a time. After the litigation, Orland Police relinquished 16,000 pages into the hands of the family who are now lead investigators. But at first, I didnt think anything bad, like really bad, had happened to her. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. 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. 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 . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. In October, the CBS show 48 Hours Investigates dug into the case and where it stands. ORLANDO, Fla. 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. He lived in Fort Lauderdale, and they would visit each other on the weekends. Her family still had no answers, and their frustrations were mounting. Jenns luggage from her trip was still in the front hall, untouched. The Disappearance of Joleen CummingsOn Monday, May 14, 2018, the mother of Joleen Cummings, 34, reported her missing. Jennifer's car was missing, and her condo looked, according to family members, as if Jennifer had gotten ready and left for work. Wright was reassigned in 2010; and Florida formally declared Kesse dead in 2016, despite never finding her body. We only know that Kessler had been known to live in Oviedo and other areas around Orlando, where Kesse lived. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. But no one treated me like that. But after a thorough interrogation, police decided he had nothing to do with her disappearance. Kesse appeared to have disappeared after leaving her home around 7.30am. 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. A damp hand towel draped over the side of the sink. Her disappearance continues to grab national attention. 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. After this, they said they arent sure there is anything left they can do. They believed shed been living out of her vehicle and parking at different locations around the area. 4. Read: 9 things to know about the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. Her family has vowed to never give up their search to find her. The best they could tell is that they were shortsomewhere between 53 and 55. Later that evening, the last person to speak on the phone with Jenn was her boyfriend. Wright interviewed Chino inside a prison in 2009. 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. We need to continue the search to at least find the remnant piece of carpet, Investigator Torretta said. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. No one.". 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. Drews investigative team began searching that area with their own private cadaver dogs and were alerted to something. But now that I have kids, I have a different understanding of what it would be like, and its heartbreaking.. 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. According to private investigator Torretta, the person without a face is a person of interest and the main focus of his investigation. Its possible that Kessler had intended to steal identities and was looking for women whom she physically resembled. VIDEO: Jennifer Kesse: Investigation into Orlando womans disappearance turned over to FDLE Jennifer Kesse: Investigation into Orlando womans disappearance turned over to FDLE. ORLANDO, Fla. - Tuesday marked 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. I had to stay and find my sister.. 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. I was just Jenns boyfriend. The missing woman's parents, Joyce and Drew Kesse, have never given up searching for her and continually update their websiteFindjenniferkesse.comand Facebook page. They hopped in the car with their son and drove to her condo. 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? 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. It also means retesting evidence the Kesses say has not ever been retested. Kessler spent a lot of time in many Florida cities, including Oviedo, which is basically a suburb of Orlando, where Kesse lived. 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. Clothes on her bed. From all appearances, Jennifer Kesse of Orlando, Florida was a happy, successful, well-adjusted 24-year-old woman with a bright future. You can watchthe full episode here. It was as if she had just parked it there and walked off the face of the earth. Shed last seen her daughter on July 4, 2004 in Butler, Pennsylvaniaeight years before reporting her missing. On her wanted poster, Kessler is cited to be 53 55, the exact height range suggested for the person seen abandoning Kesses vehicle. If we know who he or she is, we can find out where Jennifer is.. Hes part of our family and always will be.. Her 2004 Chevy Malibu was found two days later about a mile away from her condo. 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. Campos allegedly told Adam that shes likely eaten up by alligators already.. By all accounts, the trip had gone really well. They talked about shipping the phone back to his friend. Police found her car a few days later. Some brand new details and information was revealed during the episode and it wasn't just a rehash of old information. But despite extensive searches, few clues to her alleged abduction have ever been found. Kesslers general physical description could match that of the person seen walking away from Kesses vehicle. It was long-distance, but we made it work, Rob told Dateline this week. Weve created a community powered by horror fans like you and we need you in it. Immaculate apartment, except for the bathroom being a mess, of course, that was typical, Joyce said. Or not that we know of anyway.. When they reached their 20s, their bond grew and their social circles merged. On right, how Jennifer may look today. , updated Do investigators know where Kessler was on the days leading up to and including the day Kesse went missing? The then 24-year-old had recently been promoted at work. Wright's theory was that Kesse was abducted. Her Black Chevy Malibu was found abandoned one mile away from her home in Orlando. 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. He said the family and private investigative team is ready to speak with any other law enforcement force. She was up for anything and willing to travel anywhere and try new things.. We had a hit, Drew said. We kept in touch and it just blossomed from there.. 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 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. She Was Never Seen Again. A personal connection doesnt seem to exist between Kessler and Kesse. Drew paused, softly laughed, remembering the one thing that he actually hadnt known about his daughter. If we (the Kesses) did that, wed be in jail.". Something wasnt right. Deputies from the Orange County Sheriffs Department were called to the scene, but after deploying a dive team and cadaver dogs over a three-day search, the sheriff's office confirmed to Dateline they came up empty handed. Five months later, his father died. 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 said they are excited about what now might be possible under FDLE. They'd actually just gotten back from a getaway to St. Croix about a week before she went missing. Authorities arrived and confirmed the car was Jenns. 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.