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The 24-year-old has been missing for 15 years after vanishing one morning while heading out to work. Ashley says, at first, she didn't reach out to police. Surveillance video caught an unidentified person getting out of her car after she went missing. Jennifer Kesse missing cold case remains unsolved 10 years after disappearance - Orlando Sentinel http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/._jennifer.html I saw it on Disappeared recently. Kevin Dean and Gary Winter are the editors. This person has never been found, but has been identified as a person of interest in her investigation. Colleen: He was apologetic. Back in 2008, the Kesses told "48 Hours" that while the condo appeared to be in order, they did notice that Jennifer's purse, keys and cellphone were missing. A week before she was last seen, Kessehad also visited the Virgin Islands with her boyfriend. SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The family of missing woman Jennifer Kesse marked the start of another year with no answers. One of the people he interviewed on audiotape was a former housekeeper at Jennifer's complex. The dust also appears to show fingers being dragged along the hood. They also couldn't count on getting any reliable forensic evidence from Jennifer's condo. The cops thought they had a further break when they learned that surveillance footage had captured an individual driving Jennifers car into the parking lot. "I had one this morning from someone claiming they know who did this. Jennifer disappeared in the morning from her condominium at the Mosaic at Millenia in Orlando and has never been heard from again. Ashley: He had the opportunity to tell me and he didn't. Peter Van Sant [2008] What do we know was going on around Jennifer's condominium at that time? In 2009, Detective Wright decided to take a fresh look at the case. Louis Bolden: People just wanted to help them. He says when he reviewed the files, he was amazed at what police didn't do and who they didn't speak with. [Takes a deep breath with tears in her eyes]. Jennifers boyfriend, Rob Allen, had a solid alibi. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. Sgt. "She will remain 24 forever," Jennifer's father, Drew Kesse, told The Huffington Post. She evenbought a condo in the months leading up to her disappearance. Peter Van Sant: Based on your experience is there a possibility what this person threw in that pond was her body? Roger Brennan: [2008] We printed out pictures and then we brought them out here. Jennifer Kesse has been missing for 15 years, and there are still little indications as to what happened to her on the day she vanished. He was interviewed about Jennifer but denied having any involvement in her disappearance. When asked about Jennifer Kesse, Chino quickly reiterated that he was innocent. Jennifer spoke on the phone to her parents and boyfriend in her Orlando apartment before disappearing without a trace, never to be seen again. And Chino is 5'9" -- taller than the figure's height estimated by police. Chino: I even did a lie detector test. Logan Kesse [2008]: It didn't feel right. You saw all the workers at that complex. The phantom figure walked away in the direction of Jennifer's complex. This is precisely the case with the Jennifer Kesse disappearance. Two days after she disappeared, her car was found abandoned in a nearby apartment complex. Contact the . Jennifer Kesse has not been seen since 2006. And the forensic examination produced just a little as well a latent print and a small DNA fiber. "The Orlando Police Department they worked it very hard," said Louis Bolden, an investigative reporter for WKMG in Orlando, who has covered the case since Jennifer Kesse went missing. Jennifer Kesse, 24, disappeared from Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 24, 2006. The surveillance footage does tell us that there was about 30 seconds of time when the person was inside the car. We've seen it time after time again with long term Missing persons cases. WORKER: Everybody getting along fine, regular conversation. As the desperate hours went by, Sergeant Roger Brennan and his team of investigators searched the streets of Orlando looking for Jennifer Kesse. This week on Reasonable Doubt, the team takes on the Raul and Cathy Sarinana were sentenced to death for abusing Would love your thoughts, please comment. The average height for an American white man is 5'9 and a half. Several items were located inside the vehicle her cellphone, charger sandals and shoes Nothing appears to be disturbed in the vehicle at all. We had a guard house. "It is Jennifers best opportunity to be found now, 17 years later. And in fact, weeks later he did. Despite being more than 200 miles away when Jennifer disappeared, Rob was suddenly a person of interest. Then, two days after her disappearance, police found Jennifer's car. But, by early evening, when there was still no sign of Jennifer, police officially declared her missing. Today marks six months since Orlando's Jennifer Kesse was reported missing, after she did not show up for work. Based on this evidence, police investigators believed that she had left her home and, There was no sign of a struggle at her home, and no evidence that anyone other than Kesse had been in the condo on the morning of January 24. . Joel Wright: At that point I thought the investigation was kicking into gear. In January 2006, Jennifer Kesse's family and friends say she was on top of the world. Det. Tami: There was creepy things like my underwear drawer was tossed one time the shower was wet. Drew Kesse: And we just wish that one person that knows something in Orlando would just finally say it. The distinct lack of evidence and leads in the investigation means no one is sure what happened to Kesse, even12 years afterher disappearance. As the hours went by, their panic became unbearable. What was concerning about this was the area it was located is not an area frequented by Jennifer. Sgt. By that evening, though, with friends and family members distributing fliers, the Orlando Police Department organized extensive search parties to look for her and her vehicle, to no avail. After years went by with no breaks in the case, Jennifer's parents sued the Orlando Police Department to get Jennifer's case file and won. Clockwise from top left, Ashley, Peter Van Sant, Colleen and Tami. It's very difficult to review this case, as there, The FBi has been murdering people for years since their, Clearly its hard for some people to understand that although, What is taking so long? - www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com She was very aware of her surroundings. 1. "I have had five this week - its the time of year with it being the date of her disappearance but it never stops. Over the past 17 years, we have spent over $700,000 but we cant look at that. Jennifer Joyce Kesse was born on May 20, 1981 to parents Drew and Joyce Kesse. The next morning, though, Jennifer waivered from her routine. I mean, we probably have at least three times more in boxes of this. Sgt. Rob Allen: We did the long distance, but after the initial date we started spending virtually every weekend together. Sometime later, a study of photographs of the hood of the car concluded that the dust on the vehicle had been disturbed and appeared to indicate that an individual had been slammed into the car hood. Lauren McCarthy: She was always on the radar with everybody. Police say they did not believe Jennifer's case met the criteria for declaring her missing. Joel Wright: I put just the name Chino into a leads tracking system and one tip did come up. Ashley: I remember him being fun and friendly, talkative. Drew Kesse: It was never secured by Orlando Police. Colleen says she complained to the leasing office manager. "We got a phone call," said Joyce, "'Was Jennifer OK?'". In the hours that followed, they all came to Jennifers condo and noticed that although her car was missing, nothing else was out of the ordinary. But there were no big headlines and Torretta presses on. Cell tower data was analyzed, and it indicated Jennifer was out of her apartment and not at home. The disappearance of Jennifer Kesse 23 photos But, by early evening, when there was still no sign of Jennifer, police officially declared her missing. Dylan Eason and Isaiah Churchwell were convicted of murdering Cynthia William "Patrick" Alexander remains in prison for murder. she locks the door. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Jennifer was last heard from alive after she spoke on the phone with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, on the evening of January 23, 2006. On Monday, January 23, on her way into work as a project manager for a time-share company, Jennifer called her mom. Chino was a name Detective Wright had not heard before. Jennifer Joyce Kesse has been missing since January 2006. In December 2018, Joyce and Drew Kesse sued the Orlando Police Department for Jennifer's case files. Please enter valid email address to continue. Drew Kesse, who in the past has been vocal about what he feels are missteps by investigators, thanked the new team for their tireless efforts. That's a really hard question to ask somebody that's sitting on the couch next to you. Sgt. We asked the lawyers, 'Where's all the detectives work? And it came back that not a single thing had been written. Something doesnt, No , the murder happened in Ohio . But now, 16 years later, her parents, who have been . She was just really happy. "They are feeding off the work my guys have done for the past few years. Detective Joel Wright was one of the original investigators. I can understand why they would feel that maybe an agency like ours has not delivered on what they would expect for an agency to do. And I think she got up for work as she normally would. The rest of the home looked like a maid had been there . Det. Anyone? Who knows what would've happened if this heinous crime hadn't been committed? Joel Wright [2008] We know there was quite a bit of a renovation going on inside her complex. Kesse's family says they are now convinced the image of the black Chevrolet . Tami: From the very beginning there were some uneasy things that I kind of brushed off that were red flags. That's where the mystery starts. Sgt. We know that the police, at least according to Drew Kesse, didn't interview the non-english speaking construction workers. And then at 10 p.m., she talked to Rob. Joyce Kesse: Her travel bag. Tami: He was pleasuring himself in the corner of my patio. (Florida Department of Law Enforcement). Lauren McCarthy: She was extremely safety conscious. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. [TRENDING: Roller coaster ride of temperatures in Central Florida with new front | Attorney general reviewing complaints against Volusia hot tub company | Ask Trooper Steve: Why does Florida not have a front, rear license plate? This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. For the Kesse family, Jennifer has not aged in their eyes since the day that she vanished. Louis Bolden: You could go to any part of town, and everyone knew Jennifer Kesse's name and they knew her face. Chino: I don't have to answer any questions, but that's for sure. Whats more, Chino was already in police custody, serving time for a statutory rape charge. The canvassing started then and then it got more intense as the days went on and we eventually had horses and helicopters and everything else up in the air looking around. They feared that time was running out. At this point in time and after countless attempts to get authorities to do what is needed to find Jennifer or not, decisively, we believe we have now positioned her case with authorities that are willing, able, and wanting to find Jennifer even after 17 years, outside of the Orlando Police Department, the family wrote. Nathan Gibson. Peter Van Sant: What did you see the first time you walked in? The navigation of the cases needs needed seasoned professionals, so we are humbled by their continued work and commitment to finding Jennifer, the family said. OK, I'm going to work. But a woman -- who wants to be called Ashley had a different opinion of Chino. it was like she walked in the night before and just dropped her suitcase right where it was. 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. You unfortunately take things for granted. They held up signs, just as they had done the day Jennifer went missing, with the desperate hope that someone passing by knew something. Orlando police . She graduated with honors from the University of Central Florida and landed a. And that's what I'm doing. Det. Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield, Ohio, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. Louis Bolden: If you had told me then, in 14 years we would still be looking for Jennifer Kesse, I would not have believed it. They have now received everything and we are moving forward, although the sad part is that we have discovered that over the last 10 to 12 years, no investigations have looked at Jennifers case. July 10, 2021 / 11:06 PM Jennifer Kesse was deemed dead by the state of Florida in 2016. The daily pain endured by the Kesse family is rooted in the events of Jan. 24, 2006. He passed. And despite evidence that she was at her condo that morning, police pursued a theory that Jennifer may have been abducted the night before. With personal items laid out, her room suggested that Jennifer had showered, dressed, and left for work. We know that it is the public that in most cases solves or helps Missing people be found. Drew Kesse: So, at this point in time, the only people that are truly investigating what happened to Jennifer is us and our team. The parents of Jennifer Kesse say they are "closer than ever" to uncovering answers in the disappearance of their. Complicating the investigation many of the workers disappeared before police could talk to them. Jennifer Kesse, then 24, vanished from her new condo in Orlando, Florida on January 24, 2006. Joel Wright [2008]: We've done quite a bit of measuring and work with the camera angles. But Torretta struck out when he tried to find those workers who he believes lived in the vacant apartment across from Jennifer. Advertisement. She is assumed to be dead, but a body has not been recovered, and nobody has been charged with her murder. It looks like a man. Many of these workers were non-English speakers, so due to the language barrier, the investigators had quite a bit of trouble interrogating them. A Crime Line tip had been received in the first week of the investigation. To this day, Jennifer Kesse has not been found, dead or alive, and the people who love her have fought tirelessly for answers, a fight that included receiving over 16 thousand pages of police records on the investigation, and these pages held more clues which has only fed the fire of this mystery. of negligence in the investigation. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance in Orlando, 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. On Jan. 24,. He's hoping to find new clues as to who could have abducted Jennifer Kesse. Evidence photos obtained by Fox News suggest a. It's been nearly 15 years since Jennifer Kesse was last seen. All they could theorize is that the 24-year-old had been abducted at some point after shehad left herapartment, but before shehad made it to work. Michael Torretta: She's locking the door and never sees it comin'. As time went by, the Kesses felt abandoned by the Orlando Police Department. Dirty and wet clothes were laid out on the floor, and it was clear that Kesse had showered and left the building without anything out of the ordinary happening. Det. The tip came from people who lived across the street from Jennifer's condo complex, they reported to him that they believe they saw Jennifer's car on Tuesday morning driving erratically out of the . FDLE, in conjunction with Orlando Police, essentially restarted the investigation into the Orlando womans 2006 disappearance. Colleen: When I would come home from work, there would be a large group of men outside drinking. Lauren McCarthy [at the 2008 gathering]: There's just no other place I could be today. It's OK. The case centers on Jennifer Kesse, who disappeared on January 24, 2006, when she didn't show up for work. They want the police department's files?" Jennifer Kesse's father says nothing was found during a search of an Orange County lake. Peter Van Sant [2008]: What does that image tell you of that individual in front of the gate? Jennifer had complained about construction workers who had been living and working near her condo and had recently made her feel uncomfortable. Because of the number of valuables left in Jennifers car, it was deduced that her disappearance was not a robbery gone wrong. . Michael Torretta is a private investigator who works for the Kesses. And he says there is nothing in the files indicating that police ever spoke to them. ", Drew made a dark prediction about her fate, telling The U.S. Sun: "We doubt very much that Jennifer is still alive. Chino was identified as a maintenance worker who had lived and worked in the same condo complex as Jennifer. The last information known about her whereabouts, wassheleftwork at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company the night before she went missing, and had made several calls to family members that night. Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia. It didnt take this long. . Because there were posters There were billboards. Chief Orlando Rolon: After the number of years that we have spent trying to solve Jennifer's disappearance, I think it was time to also honor the wishes of the family. There were a number of suspects on the detectives radar. Rob Allen: You have that initial hope, like, OK, we found the car, it's only going to be a matter of time before we find Jennifer. Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. It -- it wasn't a great feeling. Kevin Harris was an aspiring hip-hop artist when he was gunned down. Perhaps, one of these individuals had abducted her. And we've come up with a height between 5'3" and 5'5". Peter Van Sant: You opened the door and saw that? "You have keys to all the apartments. You're all in. Louis Bolden | WKMG investigative reporter: To meet the Kesses is to love the Kesses. In the years since her disappearance, her family and law enforcement have. Her family's pursuit to discover what happened to her has led them to the bottom of lakes and from Mexico to Russia, according to Fox News. Det. They spoke around 10 p.m. 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. Drew thinks it will be a "miracle" if his beloved daughter is found alive - yet with the help of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and his own team of private investigators, he remains hopeful. The U.S. Sun has reached out to Orlando Police for comment. " she was in love. We were very frantic. It soon became clear to her family and co-workers that something was wrong. Peter Van Sant: What's intriguing based on your investigation is the men that were in the apartment across from Jennifer's were putting down carpet that day. Follow the links to read about more shocking crimes investigated on 48 Hours on ID. He said they were uncooperative. Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. THE devastated family of missing Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse insists new hope has been breathed into the heartbreaking attempt to find her. This meant there were. Joyce Kesse: I think that my heart stopped Sheer panic. Det. When they came up with no new leads, he made the unprecedented decision to finally release the files to the Kesses. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices.