Det. Colleen says she complained to the leasing office manager. Come home soon, the post said. In January 2006, Jennifer Kesse's family and friends say she was on top of the world. That's where the mystery starts. Det. January 24, 2006, Jennifer didn't show up for work. Joel Wright: Unfortunately, the witnesses couldn't say which way the car went once it got out onto the surface road. His murder remains an unsolved mystery, but many believe someone close to him may have become jealous of his success. 1. Logan Kesse [2008]: [emotional] It's your sister, it's your family, it's your blood. And I said, "are you kidding me?". And in fact, weeks later he did. The case centers on Jennifer Kesse, who disappeared on January 24, 2006, when she didn't show up for work. And that's not all he learned. ORLANDO, Fla. - On a January evening in 2006, Jennifer Kesse chatted on the phone with her parents and boyfriend from inside her Orlando home before disappearing without a trace, stumping investigators and the young woman's family who have searched relentlessly for her from Florida to Mexico and Russia. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. CBS show 48 Hours lead to renewed interest in the case. Her face was everywhere. The same ones whom Jennifer had complained about to her friends and family, saying how on several occasions, they catcalled and harassed her. SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The family of missing woman Jennifer Kesse marked the start of another year with no answers. When we asked about Jennifer Kesse, Chino quickly reiterated that he was innocent. A Crime Line tip had been received in the first week of the investigation. Michael Torretta: We all have kids that this could've happened to and as parents we need to help out each other. Peter Van Sant: You were there at the same time as Jennifer Kesse. The next morning, her boyfriend became concerned when she failed to call or text him; unusually for Jennifer, her cellphone went straight to voicemail. Roger Brennan [2008]: It didn't appear that it was a robbery. Over the past 17 years, we have spent over $700,000 but we cant look at that. But, by early evening, when there was still no sign of Jennifer, police officially declared her missing. Clockwise from top left, Ashley, Peter Van Sant, Colleen and Tami. But it did. I have nothing to hide. Tronnes said she slipped and fell into the bathtub in a tragic accident, but detectives say he murdered her when she threatened to cut off the cash flow for his housing renovations. In 2008, Detective Wright and Sergeant Brennan analyzed the surveillance tape with "48 Hours.". Based on this evidence, police investigators believed that she had left her home and was abducted, either on the walk to her car, or while she was traveling to work. So, of course, every one of its episodes goes above and beyond to provide us with every bit of factual information surrounding a case to help us form our own opinions, and its episode entitled Where Is Jennifer Kesse? is no different. Jennifer Kesse had recently purchased her own condo at the Mosaic at Millenia Condominium in Orlando, Florida and just received a promotion at work. We had a guard house. 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. You know aliens didn't abduct her. But for the friends and family of 24 year old Jennifer Kesse, this city would become a symbo She was declared dead by the State of Florida. Joyce Kesse: As you can imagine we were basket cases. 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. 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. Michael Torretta: What I'm thinking is Jennifer comes out. Peter Van Sant: You had nothing to do with her disappearance? It will be nine years this winter on the Kesse disappearance, and there haven't been any great leads yet. The disappearance of Jennifer Kesse has been exhaustively discussed in this sub, but here is a rundown of the basic facts of her case: . Unfortunately, no. Peter Van Sant: So, these are just some of your daughter's case files? As time went by, the Kesses felt abandoned by the Orlando Police Department. Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. Drew added: We just werent willing to let Orlando deal with Jennifer anymore so we were able to have a meeting with the powers that be in the state, as well as law enforcement and the police department, and everyone thought it would be best if the Florida Department of Law Enforcement became involved. Updated October 14, 201813 items. She was on a cloud. Kevin Dean and Gary Winter are the editors. Now we have some of our own questions we'd like to ask. It looks like a man. what are the chances of that happening? Of course, she has her back to the apartment behind her. I just think of Jennifer all the time. 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. 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 kno. Kesse's family said. So, makeup, curling iron all that stuff all over the vanity wet shower, wet towel. Chino: I even did a lie detector test. THE devastated family of missing Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse insists new hope has been breathed into the heartbreaking attempt to find her. Orlando Police Department via the Kesse family. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. We have had things to do with the case needing to be worked on for about a year now, its just been about getting it to the right people who have the ability, knowledge, desire and experience to do it right. Her family sued the Orlando Police Department for her case file and won. Rob Allen: You've got the bug. Then, in an attempt to get more clues, her car was photographed and taken in for a thorough forensic examination. Residents at the complex stated the car had been parked in the lot for several days. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. She's dragged into the other apartment. She spoke with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, on the phone around 10 pm that night. Ashley: I remember him being fun and friendly, talkative. Det. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<, Read: 9 things to know about the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. Her ex, recently upset and wishing to get back together with her, was cleared. Shortly after she vanished, Kesse's car was discovered parked around a mile from her home. It's about Jennifer. 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. Sgt. Rob Allen: Because someone must have seen something. Peter Van Sant: Hey, how are ya? But she's a little bit of a bathroom pig in the morning. Several items were located inside the vehicle her cellphone, charger sandals and shoes Nothing appears to be disturbed in the vehicle at all. Chino: I met Jennifer Kesse. Rob Allen, left, walks with an Orlando detective at the site where Jennifer Kesse's car was found. Jennifer spoke on the phone to her parents and boyfriend in her Orlando apartment before disappearing without a trace, never to be seen again. DETECTIVE WRIGHT: is there any reason why somebody would would say that was you? And I think she got up for work as she normally would. 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. She moved into the complex just weeks after Jennifer disappeared. "We assumed things were happening but when we received the files, there was nothing written in the last 12 years. Tami: There was creepy things like my underwear drawer was tossed one time the shower was wet. We immediately started asking everybody walking around if they had seen anything. I'm Peter Van Sant with CBS News. Sad case, missing for over 11 years now. That person could have taken the time to wipe down the steering wheel and the rearview mirror or what have you. Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel/TNS/Alamy Live News. there was footprints in my closet. Jennifer disappeared in the morning from her condominium at the Mosaic at Millenia in Orlando and has never been heard from again. 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. Colleen: He was apologetic. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. All calls were simply being sent straight to her voicemail, suggesting that the phone had been turned off. It's been nearly 15 years since Jennifer Kesse was last seen. 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. Jennifer Kesse was deemed dead by the state of Florida in 2016. Jennifer Kesse, age 24, was a young woman who had a full life to look forward to with everything going for her. By the time they took it seriously, we had 14 people in the condo. When Jennifer didn't come home after 48 hours, the police began investigating her whereabouts in earnest. Jennifer Kesse was 24 at the time of her disappearance and by all accounts was a successful young woman. 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 . Drew Kesse: We have to find her as quickly as possible because the more time that passes the less chance we have and the worse it's going to be. Lauren McCarthy [at the 2008 gathering]: There's just no other place I could be today. Joel Wright [2008] We know there was quite a bit of a renovation going on inside her complex. She's locking the door and never sees it comin She probably was attacked immediately upon exiting. In 2008, Sgt. 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. Lauren McCarthy: She was extremely safety conscious. She was reported missing on January 24, 2006. Michael Torretta is the Kesses' private investigator. At approximately 8 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, a resident of the Huntington on the Green condominium complex reported they found Jennifer Kesse's car in a visitor's spot in the parking lot. ", Peter Van Sant: Do you believe anyone realistically has been working this case in recent years?". There were no signs of a struggle. ! Kesse wrote at the time. At around noon on the day Jennifer went missing, the person drove into the parking lot, sat in the car for about 30 seconds and then walked away. Joyce Kesse: I think that my heart stopped Sheer panic. Didn't appear that it was a car theft. We are with a good crew at state level now, I have known them for many, many years - I have been requesting it for many years - and finally we are in the right hands.. The woman had not been questioned back in 2006: DETECTIVE WRIGHT [2009 audio tape]: Do you remember a person by the name of Jennifer Kesse that turned up missing? 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. With personal items laid out, her room suggested that Jennifer had showered, dressed, and left for work. She had no problem with me. She had just gotten promoted," her mother Joyce Kesse told "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. But there were no big headlines and Torretta presses on. It's actually a complex that's been known where stolen cars were -- would be recovered from. 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. Before we left, Chino even agreed to talk with the Kesse team. it was like she walked in the night before and just dropped her suitcase right where it was. The Kesses said this is their best shot at finding answers. She and her boyfriend, Rob Allen had been together for over a year, and even though it was long-distance, they were making it work. Rob had no idea that it would be the last time he would ever hear her voice. The housekeeper said the phantom figure's walk, clothing and hair style resembled a man she knew from the complex named Chino, but she could not be sure it was him. Orlando Police release age progression photo of #JenniferKesse in hopes of getting new leads http . Jennifer Kesse, a UCF graduate, was abducted from Orlando, Florida in 2006. Read: Jennifer Kesse: Family and FDLE continue efforts to find answers. And now with the case files in their possession, they are more determined than ever to keep their daughter's story alive. As the hours went by, their panic became unbearable. But to the Kesses' frustration, the person caught on that camera could not be identified. It was so out of character for Jennifer to not respond, her friends and family rushed to her condo. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance in Orlando, Florida. Det. Peter Van Sant: Do you know of anyone who might have been involved in Jennifer Kesse's disappearance? 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. Jennifer had complained about construction workers who had been living and working near her condo and had recently made her feel uncomfortable. - www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Did he know more than he had admitted? Tipsters may also call the crime line anonymously at 800-423-8477. Joel Wright: [2008]: When that car was found, we jumped all over it. If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, please visit the "Find Jennifer Kesse" Facebook page. NEWS REPORT: For the past two days dive crews have been out on the water. . Det. 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. He passed. Drew Kesse: He pulls into a parking spot next to the pool area backs out to even straighten himself in there, sits in there for 32 seconds gets out, walks away, never looks back. The surveillance video took a photo every 3 seconds and each time, the person's face was obstructed by a fence post. Joyce Kesse: I refuse to let her be forgotten until she is found. Jennifer Joyce Kesse was born on May 20, 1981 to parents Drew and Joyce Kesse. Jennifer is definitely the most loyal person I've ever been friends with or probably ever known. The car had been wiped down and the only things missing were Jennifers cell phone, iPod, keys, purse, briefcase, and the clothes she was wearing. Cell tower data was analyzed, and it indicated Jennifer was out of her apartment and not at home. ORLANDO, Fla. The family of Jennifer Kesse says they have the best opportunity to find the missing woman now, 17 years after she disappeared from her Orlando condo complex. Joel Wright: I put just the name Chino into a leads tracking system and one tip did come up. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. Joel Wright [2008]: Now the clothing looks to be maybe someone who is a painter or some type of worker. Get todays headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. of negligence in the investigation. Her car was found a few days later nearby but despite reward offers topping $100,000, Kesse has never been found. A couple said they saw it swerving out of her apartment complex at around 7:40 a.m. Det. He said they were uncooperative. No one has seen or heard from her since. Jennifer spoke on the phone to her parents and boyfriend in her apartment before disappearing without a trace, never to be seen again. Then in 2010, Detective Wright was moved off the case. Chino agreed to take a lie detector test. Drew Kesse: In my mind, it was "that person took my daughter. She was the oldest of two children, and is said to have been best friends with her little brother, Logan. They are looking to solve the case themselves. Michael Torretta: That was one of the most shocking parts of this investigation. Even though Rob lived in Fort Lauderdale, about 3 hours from Jennifer's condo in Orlando. Herboyfriend had also tried to contact Kessethat morning, as they often spoke at thattime, but was unable to get in contact with her. In 2019, local police came out with a dive team, but no carpet was found. But now, 16 years later, her parents, who have been . And despite evidence that she was at her condo that morning, police pursued a theory that Jennifer may have been abducted the night before. DET. by the walk. Det. 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. Joel Wright | Orlando Police Department: It appeared that somebody was fighting over control of the car. The Kesse family released an update on their GoFundMe page to mark 17 years since they last heard from Jennifer, who was 24 at the time of her disappearance. There's nothing in there that indicates that there were problems at the Mosaic. This meant there were. 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. After years of working for the Kesses, private detective Michael Torretta says he has a new theory as to what he thinks could have happened to Jennifer. Roger Brennan [2008]: There was some vacuuming samples taken from each section of the vehicle that were subsequently sent off to the lab for evaluation. (Florida Department of Law Enforcement). Detective Wright then interviewed the building manager at Jennifer's condo to find out if there were any issues between Jennifer and Chino -- or anyone else: DETECTIVE WRIGHT [2009 audio tape]: Are you aware of anybody that might've had a problem with Jennifer that worked there or lived there? ", Drew made a dark prediction about her fate, telling The U.S. Sun: "We doubt very much that Jennifer is still alive.

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