Shortly after she vanished, Kesse's car was discovered parked around a mile from her home. Dylan Eason and Isaiah Churchwell were convicted of murdering Cynthia William "Patrick" Alexander remains in prison for murder. Rob had no idea that it would be the last time he would ever hear her voice. Friday marks 14 years since Jennifer Kesse vanished. Today marks six months since Orlando's Jennifer Kesse was reported missing, after she did not show up for work. You unfortunately take things for granted. Peter Van Sant: How often would you socialize with him? 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. Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. That Friday, January 27th, the Kesse family was made aware of the video footage from HOTG of Jennifer's car as well as the driver who, at this . 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. Jennifer Kesse, a UCF graduate, was abducted from Orlando, Florida in 2006. 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. Jennifer Joyce Kesse (born May 20, 1981) is an American woman from Orlando, Florida, who has been missing since January 23, 2006. Colleen: He was apologetic. THE devastated family of missing Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse insists new hope has been breathed into the heartbreaking attempt to find her. One of the first things he did was go back to the scene of the crime and speak to people who lived at Jennifer's complex. Then, two days after her disappearance, police found Jennifer's car. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. About three years after the abduction, a former housekeeper at Jennifers condo complex said they recognized the individual in the surveillance footage as a man called Chino. Peter Van Sant: Now you were the maintenance man there. Det. Kesse went missing in 2006, and despite widespread media attention and extensive searches by police and the FBI, there has been no information regarding where she is or who might have been responsible. Jennifer Kesse, 24, disappeared from Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 24, 2006. Jennifer Kesse, 24, went missing from her newly purchased Orlando, Florida, condo on January 24, 2006 . She was declared dead by the State of Florida. Two days later, there was a breakthrough in the case when her black Chevy Malibu was located in the parking lot of a condo approximately one mile from her home. But he learned Chino used to live in another building at Jennifer's condo complex and was a former maintenance worker there. She evenbought a condo in the months leading up to her disappearance. This week will mark 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her Orlando area apartment complex on Jan 24. Jennifer Kesse has not been seen since 2006. Ashley: He came over to my condo quite a bit. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. 48 Hours on ID airs at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery. Get to work!". Joyce Kesse: Jenn shared every detail about the trip. When Jennifer didn't come home after 48 hours, the police began investigating her whereabouts in earnest. Joyce Kesse: Her travel bag. She had a great job. In 2018, Orlando Rolon became the Orlando police chief. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. There is a $100,000 prize for anyone who finds her. She did look familiar. Lauren McCarthy and Jennifer were best friends since childhood. I love her. Joel Wright: [2008]: When that car was found, we jumped all over it. Joel Wright: It told me that he passed the polygraph. 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. Sgt. Chino: Believe me, if I did know anyone that was involved in that, the Kesse family would be knowing as well. Check out this great listen on Audible.com. Though her car was later found, the 24-year-old woman has yet to be found. Kesse's family said. Because of the number of valuables left in Jennifers car, it was deduced that her disappearance was not a robbery gone wrong. 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. 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. Police say they did not believe Jennifer's case met the criteria for declaring her missing. Peter Van Sant: You opened the door and saw that? She was the oldest of two children, and is said to have been best friends with her little brother, Logan. 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. She had newly purchased a condominium with her own money no small feat for someone who was just 24. Rob Allen: My best friend said to me after the trip, he's like, "Oh you're in love and you just don't want to admit it.". Joel Wright [2008]: Now the clothing looks to be maybe someone who is a painter or some type of worker. Jennifer Kesse had recently purchased her own condo at the Mosaic at Millenia Condominium in Orlando, Florida and just received a promotion at work. In 2008, Detective Wright and Sergeant Brennan analyzed the surveillance tape with "48 Hours.". Joel Wright: Chino was very cooperative. She had just returned from a 5-day trip to St. Croix with her long-distance boyfriend of one year. As time went by, the Kesses felt abandoned by the Orlando Police Department. We want closure. Rob Allen: You've got the bug. As he continued his investigation, Torretta learned that 10 months after Jennifer disappeared, a person was seen dumping a rolled-up piece of carpet into a lake not far from her condo. Unfortunately, no. While the Orlando Police Dept. Chino [talking to a woman in his home]: Mi amor. Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her Florida condo on January 23, 2006. But she says he fled in a white van. And he says there is nothing in the files indicating that police ever spoke to them. And that was part of the development of him as a person of interest. Det. 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. Peter Van Sant: So, these are just some of your daughter's case files? The surveillance footage does tell us that there was about 30 seconds of time when the person was inside the car. She then failed to turn up for work. And despite telling Detective Wright years ago he knew nothing about Jennifer's disappearance, the Kesses wondered if Chino was being truthful. But to the Kesses' frustration, the person caught on that camera could not be identified. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend . But there was still no sign of Jennifer, and at the time, the police concluded that there was no evidence of a struggle. "She had just bought her first condo with her own money," said Jennifer's father, Drew Kesse. Joyce Kesse: We asked them for several years to make her case cold because there's more resources available for cold cases. And it just ate away at me. Jennifer Kesse's father spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun ahead of the anniversary of his daughter's disappearance. 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. Jennifer was last heard from alive after she spoke on the phone with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, on the evening of January 23, 2006. ORLANDO, Fla., None There's a new push on Wednesday to solve the 6-year-old mystery behind the disappearance of Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse. Two days later, her car was found at Huntington on the Green condominiums at Texas Avenue and Americana Boulevard, about a mile away from her complex, Mosaic at Millenia. In many of these instances, the person involved may well have seemed to just vanish from the surface of the Earth, leaving behind almost no evidence of what happened to them. Jennifer Kesse, of Orlando, who went missing Jan. 24, 2006, at 24 years old. Roger Brennan [2008]: We're going through canvases of areas that she would travel or that she might be at. Drew Kesse: It was never secured by Orlando Police. You saw all the workers at that complex. 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? Jennifer's car had been seen the morning she disappeared. As the hours went by, their panic became unbearable. 1. Det. (Drew Kesse) ORLANDO, Fla. - The family of Jennifer Kesse says they have the best opportunity to find the. There was a belief that James Hataway, now in prison on a different abduction, could have been the suspect; he's about 5-10 (height) and the suspect on video is probably not much taller than 5-5, so ultimately little came of that. 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. Theories abound as to what happened, with many suggesting she was killed by a male coworker whose advances she had spurned. Joel Wright: There were an unbelievable amount of man hours went into this case. "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. In 2018 they sued to get the Kesse investigative file, and a judge ruled in their favor in 2019. It was only on January 26 that a tenant of a nearby complex saw Jennifers story on the news and informed authorities that her car was abandoned in front of their apartment the day she went missing. But when police checked security cameras, it looked like they finally caught a big break. Jennifer Kesse, age 24, was a young woman who had a full life to look forward to with everything going for her. Lauren McCarthy: [emotional] seeing that tape of Jennifer's car that was probably the worst moment. Det. By the time they took it seriously, we had 14 people in the condo. I had never seen anything of this magnitude. A couple said they saw it swerving out of her apartment complex at around 7:40 a.m. Det. It looks like a man. On Jan. 24,. Louis Bolden: Technology then was not what technology is now. I have a meeting. The Kesses said this is their best shot at finding answers. It was so out of character for Jennifer to not respond, her friends and family rushed to her condo. Peter Van Sant: What did you see the first time you walked in? Cell tower data was analyzed, and it indicated Jennifer was out of her apartment and not at home. She was reported missing on January 24, 2006. ", Drew made a dark prediction about her fate, telling The U.S. Sun: "We doubt very much that Jennifer is still alive. Her face was everywhere. A private investigation team for . With personal items laid out, her room suggested that Jennifer had showered, dressed, and left for work. I'm not with you " and a little insecurity. By the gait And someone with pretty big feet for his height is the information we've been getting. They sued the Orlando Police Department to get Jennifer's case files. And they just look.". Was Jennifer Kesse Found? It will be a miracle if she is, we just arent willing to say Oh well and leave it.". Based on interviews with people who lived at the complex, he believes that up to 10 construction workers were living in an empty apartment just across from Jennifer's. I stood in a courtroom alone while a judge declared her deceased. But now, 16 years later, her parents, who have been . There were a number of suspects on the detectives radar. 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. "OK, call the hospitals again. Wright also re-interviewed another maintenance worker who had done repairs with Chino in Jennifer's condo. He said they were uncooperative. It soon became clear to her family and co-workers that something was wrong. FDLE, in conjunction with Orlando Police, essentially restarted the investigation into the Orlando womans 2006 disappearance. Sgt. Jennifer is a strong, fun loving, career minded and responsible young lady if she was running late to work she would have called which is why we all became concerned immediately. She moved into the complex just weeks after Jennifer disappeared. Sgt. They're just good people. Perhaps, one of these individuals had abducted her. It was as if someone had abducted her while she was leaving for work. . And just please think of Jennifer . Background Jennifer Kesse was born on May 20, 1981, in New Jersey to parents Drew Kesse and Joyce Gilmour. Sgt. It's not about us. Lauren McCarthy: For me, every milestone that I've had without her has been like a tug of war with my emotions. CBS 48 Hours first premiered on the network back on January 19, 1988. Drew Kesse: In my mind, it was "that person took my daughter. "We assumed things were happening but when we received the files, there was nothing written in the last 12 years. This meant there werenoclues pertainingto what had happened to the victim. He was interviewed about Jennifer but denied having any involvement in her disappearance. Chino agreed to take a lie detector test. And despite evidence that she was at her condo that morning, police pursued a theory that Jennifer may have been abducted the night before. Lauren McCarthy: She was the type of person who would call her mom or her dad or me when she was simply walking from Target in the parking lot and it was dark out. Jennifer Joyce Kesse was born on May 20, 1981 to parents Drew and Joyce Kesse. 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. They want the police department's files?" She says they never talked about Jennifer's disappearance. It will take time, talent, money, and luck; however, we welcome the renewed effort," they said. Roger Brennan | Orlando Police Department [2008]: The most frustrating thing's not knowing where Jennifer's at Not knowing where to look next We can sit around and discuss different ideas and different theories, but not having a concrete, solid avenue to go down to bring resolution to the family is the most frustrating part of this case right now. Orlando Police originally investigated the case but the family quickly lost faith and demanded action. DETECTIVE WRIGHT: how did you get into the condo? Peter Van Sant: There's no list of names of who was staying in which apartment? Surveillance video caught an unidentified person getting out of her car after she went missing. There were no signs of a struggle. David Tronnes murder his wife Shanti Cooper? The daily pain endured by the Kesse family is rooted in the events of Jan. 24, 2006. Roger Brennan [2008]: It didn't appear that it was a robbery. Brennan shared evidence photos. According to the Kesse family, this information has never been confirmed. Joel Wright: I knew that Chino had been arrested for a sex crime. On Thursday Morning the 26th, police found Jennifer's car abandoned in an apartment complex not far from where she lived. Michael Torretta: Yes. They kept suggesting that she must have had a fight with her boyfriend and would be back. Joel Wright: At that point I thought the investigation was kicking into gear. Kesse was enjoying her job and had recently been on holiday with her boyfriend, seemingly having no personal problems that would force her into disappearing. Jennifer Joyce Kesse has been missing since January 2006. She got ready for work and left. Anyone with information or who would like to donate to search efforts may do so at Findjenniferkesse.com. Originally the person's height was estimated to be between 5'3 and 5'5. But now, 16 years later, her parents, who have been searching for her relentlessly, believe they're closer than ever to getting answers.Anyone with information on Jennifer Kesse's disappearance is asked to call the Kesse family Tip Line at 941-201-4009.Cualquier persona que tenga informacin sobre la desaparicin de Jennifer Kesse debe . of negligence in the investigation. We, her family Drew, Joyce, and Logan, and friends believe she was taken the morning of Tuesday, January 24, 2006, from in or around her Orlando, Florida home. But upon further investigation, police realized the cell tower data was misinterpreted, and she actually wasn't out that night. Jennifer Kesse, of Orlando, who went missing Jan. 24, 2006, at 24 years old. Three days later, Keese's vehicle was found in an apartment complex parking lot less than a mile from where she lived. Drew Kesse: Yes. WORKER: Everybody getting along fine, regular conversation. Michael Torretta: She's locking the door and never sees it comin'. "I have had five this week - its the time of year with it being the date of her disappearance but it never stops. Its positive in that respect, we have met the new detective and are able to move forward. Jennifer Kesse Was Just 24 When She Went Missing. Kesse disappeared Jan. 24, 2006, after leaving her condo at the Mosaic at Millenia complex for work at Westgate Resorts. That's where the mystery starts. DETECTIVE WRIGHT [2009 audio tape]: Nobody mad about anything? Ashley: I sat on it for a little bit. And the name Chino came up again -- that maintenance worker at Jennifer's complex. | Become a News 6 Insider]. Ashley says she never was suspicious of Chino until one day nine months after Jennifer vanished, when Chino suddenly disappeared and moved out of the complex in the middle of the night. When we asked about Jennifer Kesse, Chino quickly reiterated that he was innocent. No one has heard from her since. A A. Jennifer Kesse went missing nine years ago Saturday from her Orlando condominium, and now the police department has released an age-progressed photo of what the young woman would look like today, asking that it be circulated on social media. Jennifer Kesse was deemed dead by the state of Florida in 2016. But despite extensive searches, few clues to her alleged abduction have ever been found. Lauren McCarthy [at the 2008 gathering]: There's just no other place I could be today. 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. But she says no one ever followed up with her. Det. She carried pepper spray with her all the time. Orlando, Florida - Home of Mickey Mouse and sunny beach vacations, a city that 60 million people flock to every year whether it's for the theme parks or just the sun and heat that South Florida is known for. The effort our investigators have put forward to get us to this point has been incredible. When her parents arrived at the condo, they discovered nothing was out of place. And then, Tami says she caught a "peeping Tom" a man she believes was a worker at the complex. That's a really hard question to ask somebody that's sitting on the couch next to you. Michael Torretta: I think it's important because it paints a picture that I don't believe I would have gotten from the 16,000 documents. Lauren McCarthy: She was always on the radar with everybody. Joyce Kesse: I refuse to let her be forgotten until she is found. Didn't appear that it was a car theft. The case centers on Jennifer Kesse, who disappeared on January 24, 2006, when she didn't show up for work. Residents at the complex stated the car had been parked in the lot for several days. This meant there were. Jennifer Kesse's family has undergone years of investigation and is nowhere near giving up until their daughter is found. The weekend before Jennifer vanished, she had gone on a vacation with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, to Saint Croix, Virgin Islands. Joel Wright [2008]: We didn't find any fingerprints on the steering wheel. Surveillance video showed someone walking near the car, and has been sought as a person of interest. Rob ringed her up himself, reasoning that shed been preoccupied with a meeting that she had previously mentioned, but his call went straight to voicemail. Tipsters may also call the crime line anonymously at 800-423-8477. She graduated in 2003 and immediately received several job offers, and she decided to take a position at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company in Ocoee, Orange County, Florida. Rob Allen: We did the long distance, but after the initial date we started spending virtually every weekend together. Contact the . 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. ! Kesse wrote at the time. It's been nearly 15 years since Jennifer Kesse was last seen. Roger Brennan [2008]: The Orange County Sheriff's office received a call about Jennifer's vehicle being in the Huntington on the Green condominiums approximately 1.1 miles away from her condominium. Influencivenews; . Kesse was just 24-years-old when she went missing on January 24, 2006. The parents of Jennifer Kesse say they are "closer than ever" to uncovering answers in the disappearance of their. "I think right now we are in the best position in 17 years because the FDLE wants the case, they know what they are doing, it's a cold case division specifically looking at the case," he said. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<, Read: 9 things to know about the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. Jennifer Kesse, age 24, missing since 1/24/06. The tip was anonymous and suggested Chino may have been involved in Jennifer's disappearance, but it's unclear if police had looked into it or talked to Chino at all. (Drew Kesse) ORLANDO, Fla. - Drew Kesse, whose daughter Jennifer Kesse has been missing since Jan. 24,. This person has never been found, but has been identified as a person of interest in her investigation. The surveillance video took a photo every 3 seconds and each time, the person's face was obstructed by a fence post. The former University of Central Florida student had graduated in 2003, and had only recently started her new job as a finance manager. And they kept saying, "Nope, her case is extremely active. The 24-year-old has been missing for 15 years after vanishing one morning while heading out to work. It didn't appear that is was a carjacking. The rest of the home looked like a maid had been there . 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. And in fact, weeks later he did. It was like being hit with a ton of bricks. Her family has been tirelessly searching for the Tampa Bay-area native for the last 17 years and said new help from state law enforcement is her "best opportunity. Rob Allen, left, walks with an Orlando detective at the site where Jennifer Kesse's car was found. The FBI took over Jennifers case in mid-2010, putting her on their Most Wanted/Missing List, where she still remains. 2. Colleen: We were a gated community. That person could have taken the time to wipe down the steering wheel and the rearview mirror or what have you. Louis Bolden: People just wanted to help them. Fifteen years have passed since Jennifer Kesse vanished -- years of anguish for her family and friends, but they are determined to keep Jennifer's story alive. On Sunday, January 22, 2006, Jennifer returned from a vacation to St. Croix with her boyfriend Rob Allen. Michael Torretta: We all have kids that this could've happened to and as parents we need to help out each other. . When questioned about the vehicle, several residents confirmed it had been parked there for several days. Drew Kesse: She just said, you know "there's a lot of workers here and they tend to like just stop when I'm walking by or going to my car. But, by early evening, when there was still no sign of Jennifer, police officially declared her missing.