It all suggests that whatever happened likely occurred after she had left her home that morning. She says they never talked about Jennifer's disappearance. JENNIFER KESSE - THE NUMBER ONE SUSPECT? He stated he believes Jennifer woke up and got ready for work and likely made it down the stairs and probably made it to her car when she was abducted. The 24-year-old vanished without a trace and no one's been arrested. I shed light on unsolved mysteries and shocking crimes. 48 Hours on ID is in Orlando, Florida, to investigate the abduction and presumed murder of Jennifer Kesse, who disappeared without a trace while making her way to work in 2006. Lauren McCarthy: [emotional] seeing that tape of Jennifer's car that was probably the worst moment. My heart is here. Her case remains unsolved. Any defense attorney would have a field day with those two alternate suspects. When he showed the woman the security camera photo of the unidentified person, she told him it resembled a man she knew from the complex known as Chino because of his hair, clothing and the way he walked. Kesse disappeared Jan. 24, 2006, after leaving her condo at the Mosaic at Millenia complex for work at Westgate Resorts. Ashley says, at first, she didn't reach out to police. Joel Wright: There were an unbelievable amount of man hours went into this case. By the gait And someone with pretty big feet for his height is the information we've been getting. She just lit up the room, Joyce Kesse told FOX News. She was at her residence at Mosaic Apartments in the vicinity of the 3700 block of Conroy Road in Orlando, Florida at the time. "Until we can find that carpet and see what's in it, we need to follow up on that particular lead.". Then, two days after her disappearance, police found Jennifer's car. In January 2006, 24-year old Jennifer Kesse had everything going for her. Bloodhounds tracked Kesse's scent from her vehicle back to her own residence. 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. And they just look.". Michael Torretta: It's impossible to find those individuals. Jennifer Joyce Kesse Kesse, circa 2006; Kesse's car; Unidentified suspect Missing Since 01/24/2006 Missing From Orlando, Florida Classification Endangered Missing Sex Female Race White Date of Birth 05/20/1981 (41) Age 24 years old Height and Weight 5'8, 125 pounds Clothing/Jewelry Description Possibly a three-stone diamond necklace. Long distance was taking a toll on their relationship. Her case remains unsolved. Thursday, January 26, 2006 a resident of Huntington on the Green the condominium complex notified Orlando police of a vehicle parked in the visitor parking spot. She's locking the door and never sees it comin She probably was attacked immediately upon exiting. "There was makeup all over her counter The T-shirt that she had worn to bed was on the floor. Monday evening, January 23, 2006 ,at around 10 p.m., Jennifer Kesse spoke to Rob Allen on the phone. I mean, we probably have at least three times more in boxes of this. Lauren McCarthy: The searches were massive. They stood on street corners while they held up missing signs and handed out fliers with Jennifer's photo. Joel Wright [2008] We know there was quite a bit of a renovation going on inside her complex. **Ben and Chino** **Highlights from discussion with Logan, Jennifer's brother about the day Jennifer was identified as missing (Tues, Jan 24, 2006) . Photograph of Chino https://i.imgur.com/aUzfETn.png, Close up of Chino https://i.imgur.com/7cRZaSb.png. Rob had no idea that it would be the last time he would ever hear her voice. Surveillance footage shows an unknown individual parking Kesses vehicle at the apartment complex around noon on January 24. When he showed her that security camera photo of the unidentified suspect, she gave him a possible new lead. She's dragged into the other apartment. Detective Wright also found an anonymous Crime Line tip that was reported during the first week of the investigation that suggested Chino might have been involved in Jennifer's disappearance. The worker was able to pick Chino out right away. And you could sense that, and you can feel that . Sgt. find us on -. That witness, who spoke anonymously to the news outlet, said she believes she saw the black Chevy Malibu swerving near the exit to Kesses condominium on the morning of January 24, 2006. Roger Brennan [2008]: This is the interior of Jennifer's car as we found it. Det. When we asked about Jennifer Kesse, Chino quickly reiterated that he was innocent. The photos look suspicious and show what appears to be a hand mark going across the hood, Torretta told the news outlet. Last updated October 8, 2015; picture added. She worked as a financial analyst for Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company and had recently purchased a condo. "She was on a cloud." Ashley: I always wanted to ask him. One of the people he spoke to was a former housekeeper at Jennifer's condo complex. Roger Brennan [2008]: We didn't come up with any solid leads of anybody who saw Jennifer, saw anybody park her vehicle here. It was updated on July 10, 2021.]. Det. Chino was a maintenance worker at the Mosaic when Jennifer went missing. Detective Joel Wright was still trying to solve this confounding mystery. The Kesses are dedicated to finding the truth about what happened to their daughter on the morning of January 24, 2006. Chino: I met Jennifer Kesse. On the two-year anniversary of Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, her family and friends gathered on a street corner and held up signs, just as they had done the day Jennifer went missing. I have a meeting. Her co-workers notified her family after she did not show up for work, and her parents let themselves into her apartment. In fact, some of them had done work in her condo one week before she disappeared. Now, Drew and Joyce Kesse hope they will solve their missing daughter's case. Michael Torretta: This is something that is haunting me. Wright was able to speak with Ben and he admitted that both he and Chino worked in Jennifers condo the week before Jennifer went on her vacation. SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The family of missing woman Jennifer Kesse marked the start of another year with no answers. We had a guard house. He passed. 885. Roger Brennan: [2008] We printed out pictures and then we brought them out here. Louis Bolden: People just wanted to help them. On Jan. 24,. Det. He says when he reviewed the files, he was amazed at what police didn't do and who they didn't speak with. And he says there is nothing in the files indicating that police ever spoke to them. Complicating the investigation many of the workers disappeared before police could talk to them. Jennifer Kesse was a year into her long-distance relationship with her boyfriend Rob Allen. They want the police department's files?" In January 2006, Jennifer Kesse's family and friends say she was on top of the world. I do not recognize that person. Colleen: He was apologetic. Peter Van Sant: Why is what the woman at the Mosaic told you important? Jennifer Kesse was deemed dead by the state of Florida in 2016. "We're a broken family," her father Drew Kesse said. Under the agreement, the Orlando Police Department would no longer lead the investigation. Campos was remanded to Lake County jail on bond, and after his wife posted the required $500 and a brief appearance on the 18th returned to work on the first day Jennifer Kesse was off; likely learning about her departure then. Lauren McCarthy: She was extremely safety conscious. Sometime between Monday, January 23, and Tuesday, January 24, 2006, 24-year-old Jennifer Joyce Kesse vanished from her Orlando, Florida, home and was never seen again. 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. Jennifer Joyce Kesse was a woman who disappeared from her apartment complex in Orlando, Florida. But, still, no one knew where Jennifer was. In order to find out who Chino was, Joel returned to the complex and shown one of the remaining workers a photograph and asked which one was Chino. Kesses father, Drew Kesse, added, Whenever workers entered her apartment for painting and repairs, Jen was always on the phone with us. It's OK. Joyce Kesse: As you can imagine we were basket cases. 1 min read. 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? The Kesses hope that the revelation about the apparent struggle on the hood of their daughters car may lead to new tips about the case. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. 1-407-246-3982. Michael Torretta: I want to do my best and bring Jennifer Kesse home to them one day. In January 2006, 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her condo in Orlando, Florida. The shower was wet in the corners," Joyce Kesse said. Colleen: I don't recall formally meeting her. Now we have some of our own questions we'd like to ask. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer Kesse's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. In 2003, she obtained a degree in the field of financing from the University of Central Florida. Chino was then asked about the pictures -- the ones that the housekeeper said may have looked like him: DETECTIVE WRIGHT [2009 audio tape]: you know the photos that you looked at earlier the guy walking by the gate? Chino. She is 5'8 and weighs 130lbs. Some brand new details and information was revealed during the episode and it wasn't just a rehash of old information. Later that night when there was still no sign of her, police officially declared Jennifer missing. It was so out of character for Jennifer to not respond, her friends and family rushed to her condo. Joel Wright: Some of the people who were working on the property left. This person holds the key to solving the case, Mike Torretta, a private investigator hired by Kesses family, told FOX News in its new true-crime podcast about the case, House of Broken Dreams: the Jennifer Kesse story.. She also was recently promoted at. He is not considered to be a suspect in her case, as he has an alibi. Joel Wright [2008]: We didn't find any fingerprints on the steering wheel. In fact, they said it looked like she had just been there. But Torretta struck out when he tried to find those workers who he believes lived in the vacant apartment across from Jennifer. Wright discovered that Chino was known to be working with the head of maintenance ''Ben'' the worker that Logan had an argument with the morning Jennifer disappeared. At the time she disappeared, Kesses building was being converted from apartments to condos, and construction workers were at the property frequently. Monday marks 16 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared. December 17th, 2019. Frustrated with the Orlando Police Department's handling . The Poison Pen: Who Wrote the Circleville Letters? On March 18, 2009, Wright interviewed Chino in prison and asked him about that time he worked in Jennifer's condo. After all the interviews and reviewing the case file, Torretta says he now has a new theory as to what could have happened to Jennifer Kesse. Peter Van Sant: You had nothing to do with her disappearance? The only known suspect in the disappearance is the individual that was recorded parking her vehicle. Det. Joel Wright [2008]: We've done quite a bit of measuring and work with the camera angles. She deserved that. More from Medium Yasmin Scherrer Student Possibly Becomes Victim of Santa Rosa Hitchhiker. Shortly after she vanished, Kesse's car was discovered parked around a mile from her home. The family of amissing Florida woman who vanished nearly 15 years agohopes new clues may finally lead to answers about what happened to her,FOX News reports. When the Kesses who lived two hours away arrived at Jennifer's condo, nothing seemed to be out of place. Roger Brennan [2008]: It didn't appear that it was a robbery. Whatever happened to Jennifer, happened fast., No tip is too small, unimportant, or insignificant. It -- it wasn't a great feeling. Im a writer, author, wife, and animal lover. And that's not all he learned. Joyce Kesse: We all along have felt that she was abducted in the morning. And no tip is too late. Investigators have been unable to tell whether they are male or female. Of course, she has her back to the apartment behind her. "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. By sundown, many of Jennifer Kesse's family and friends gathered at her condo and started to search for her. Kesses parents said their daughter did not feel comfortable around building maintenance workers. / CBS News, [This story first aired on October 24, 2020. A couple said they saw it swerving out of her apartment complex at around 7:40 a.m. Det. Detective Joel Wright was one of the original investigators. That afternoon Jennifer's brother, Logan, began to question some of the construction workers at the complex. The rest of the home looked like a maid had been there . Drew Kesse: I think they wanted to open the trunk in front of him to see his reaction if, in case Jennifer was in there. Very strong willed and very sure of herself she knew what track she was gonna take and she knew how to get there. 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. Her parents have never stopped searching. We immediately started asking everybody walking around if they had seen anything. In an unexpected move, detectives summoned boyfriend Rob Allen to meet them at Jennifer's car. Here is a related episode. She had a great job. by the walk. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. The case centers on Jennifer Kesse, who disappeared on January 24, 2006, when she didnt show up for work. Again, the case stalled. Who knows what would've happened if this heinous crime hadn't been committed? Michael Torretta: What I'm thinking is Jennifer comes out. When Logan knocked on the window, they ignored him completely and did not respond to him at all. Pennsy Woman Shoots Parents in the Head, Dismembers Them With Electric Chainsaw: DA. After Chino's name came up multiple times, the Kesse team was anxious to talk to him. Chief Orlando Rolon: The family wants closure. That's a really hard question to ask somebody that's sitting on the couch next to you. "I want to do my best and bring Jennifer Kesse home to them one day," he said. She might not have had a chance to fight back, Torretta told FOX News. In 2009, Detective Wright decided to take a fresh look at the case. In December of 2018, the Kesses sued the Orlando Police Department for a copy of Jennifer's case files. Det. That's where the mystery starts. Previous publications in Jennifer's case can be . DETECTIVE WRIGHT: is there any reason why somebody would would say that was you? But when police checked security cameras, it looked like they finally caught a big break. As many of you following blinkoncrime.com are aware, S. Christina Stoy spent several weeks investigating Jennifer Kesse's disappearance in January of 2006. Jennifer Kesse a 24 year old finance manager was abducted while leaving for work on the morning of January 24, 2006. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. Joel Wright [2008]: Possibly wiped it. And whenever I would have to walk past them, you know there would be a little bit of comments or just a lot of uncomfortable stares. Jennifer's car was missing, and her condo looked, according to family members, as if Jennifer had gotten ready and left for work. Authorities announced they were looking for a person of interest in Kesse's disappearance after reviewing surveillance tapes in the area where her car was found. UPDATE: New details about about Jennifer Kesse from the Up & Vanished episode. Det. She graduated from University of Central Florida in 2003 and earned a degree in finance. There was no signs that a struggle had taken place in or around the car, and its valuable DVD player had not been stolen. She received numerous job offers and took a job at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company in Ococee, Florida. And despite telling Detective Wright years ago he knew nothing about Jennifer's disappearance, the Kesses wondered if Chino was being truthful. The Kesses told police that Jennifer had complained to them about the workers at the building who occasionally made her feel uncomfortable. A couple said they saw it swerving out of her apartment complex at around 7:40 a.m. Det. But Who Did It? DREW KESSE: We don't have her. It is extremely uncharacteristic of Kesse to miss work, be out of touch with her family, or leave her cellular phone turned off; it has been turned off since her disappearance. Sgt. After months of legal wrangling, in March 2019, they all reached a settlement. "Jen shared every detail about the trip," Joyce Kesse said. When they came up with no new leads, he made the unprecedented decision to finally release the files to the Kesses. And that's the end. They were also allowed to live in vacant units, according to police records. Wright stated the FBI gave Chino a polygraph and he passed with flying colors. Joel Wright: [2008]: When that car was found, we jumped all over it. Then Torretta spoke to a woman who did not want to appear on camera. Joyce Kesse [2008]: God love Jennifer. She moved into the complex just weeks after Jennifer disappeared. Kesse is a 2003 graduate of the University of Central Florida; her degree is in finance. Brennan shared evidence photos. Just letting us know what she wanted to be done in her unit. And that's what I'm doing. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend . 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. Then in 2010, Detective Wright was moved off the case. 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. It wasn't hard to find Chino. 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. On the morning of Jan. 24, 2006, Jennifer Kesse, of Orlando, Fla., failed to report to her job as a finance manager at a well-known timeshare company. 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. He's hoping to find new clues as to who could have abducted Jennifer Kesse. " she was in love. Former Orlando PD police detective Joel Wright was interviewed for the program. Peter Van Sant: Now you were the maintenance man there. Newly released photos in the Jennifer Kesse disappearance may indicate a struggle took place on her car, and her family is hoping these new clues will bring in leads in her case. One week before Jennifer Kesse disappeared, she took a weekend trip to St. Croix with her boyfriend Rob Allen. Her family sued the Orlando Police Department for her case file and won. As of 2023, no arrests have been made and Kes Joel Wright: I put just the name Chino into a leads tracking system and one tip did come up. Louis Bolden: The community just rallied. Peter Van Sant [2008] What do we know was going on around Jennifer's condominium at that time? Jennifer's case was recently profiled on the Oxygen series Up & Vanished series. When they arrived at the condo in the early afternoon, a building manager opened Jennifer's locked apartment. Det. Shed stay on the phone in the doorway of her condo until they had left.. You're all in. Police think Jennifer Kesse was abducted from her Orlando condominium near the Mall at Millenia Jan. 24, 2006. Cell tower data was analyzed, and it indicated Jennifer was out of her apartment and not at home. Drew Kesse: And we just wish that one person that knows something in Orlando would just finally say it. what are the chances of that happening? Peter Van Sant spoke with several women who lived at the same condo complex as Jennifer Kesse. The next morning was when Jennifer didn't show up for work and didn't answer her phone. It's busy, locks the door of her condo. Chino was already in custody for a statutory rape charge at the time. In fact, Chino had done work in Jennifer's condo just one week before she disappeared. We are so grateful for those who have come, Posted by Find Jennifer Kesse onMonday, November 11, 2019. The 24-year-old has been missing for 15 years after vanishing one . Louis Bolden: At the time, we thought, "They want what? To this day, the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse remains unsolved and there's no official suspect in the case. But she says once workers started living in empty apartments around the complex, she felt uneasy. Jennifer's car had been seen the morning she disappeared. Jennifer had a creepy co-worker who was apparently obsessed with her, and she had an ex-boyfriend who was drinking at a bar not far from her apartment on the night that she was last seen. Investigators found the car on the morning of January 26th and were also able to retrieve security footage from the complex. Jul 9, 2009. "She needs to come home to her family.". 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. Ashley: I remember him being fun and friendly, talkative. She graduated with a degree in finance in 2003 before starting a . Later that afternoon, Jennifer also called her brother and her father. DET. Peter Van Sant and 48 HOURS investigate the disappearance of the 24-year-old. At first, the Kesses say police infuriated them by not taking their daughter's disappearance seriously. 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. Joel Wright | Orlando Police Department: It. She was very aware of her surroundings. The woman claimed that Chino often approached her in the parking lot late at night when she returned from work and made her feel uncomfortable. For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Rob Allen: When the police officer asked me to follow with him and to look at the inside of the car and the inside of the trunk, my stomach was churning as far as, "What could you find, you know?". Although they admit the circumstances of her disappearance were unusual, and there are numerous theories as to what might have happened, authorities have never identified a suspect in the case. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. They immediately knew something was wrong when they were told Jennifer was a no call/no show to work that day. 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. She had no problem with me. Chino [talking to a woman in his home]: Mi amor. Joyce Kesse: I refuse to let her be forgotten until she is found. Investigators then went to check the security cameras at Jennifer's condo complex, but there weren't any -- just a security guard who was supposed to log names and license numbers of visitors. Kesse vanished from her Orlando condo on January 23rd. Please enter valid email address to continue. Jennifer Kesse, who had lived and worked in the same condominium complex as Chino, had been identified as the maintenance worker. "That was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life," Drew Kesse said. Didn't appear that it was a car theft. We need her. Jennifer's car had been seen the morning she disappeared. Jennifer graduated from Vivian Gaither High School in Tampa before attending the University of Central Florida, where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Det. While observing the front of the victims vehicle, these detectives observed what appeared to have been someone being pushed across the head of the vehicle, Orlando Police Department Detective Julius Gause wrote in a report obtained by the news outlet. A damp towel was on the floor near the shower, the unit was locked and her mobile phone, iPod, purse, and briefcase were not in the condo. But to the Kesses' frustration, the person caught on that camera could not be identified. "She had just bought her first condo with her own money," said Jennifer's father, Drew Kesse. They are looking to solve the case themselves. Det. Jennifer Kesse is a caucasian female with sandy blonde hair and green eyes. Rob Allen: That's just not something that even came in my mind. I didn't like it. Unknown to investigators or the Kesse family at the time, at around noon on January 23rd an unknown person parked Jennifer's car at an apartment complex about a mile east of her condo building. And the name Chino came up again -- that maintenance worker at Jennifer's complex. The 1982 disappearance of Pennsylvania toddler Nicole Lynn Bryner, The Twisted Unsolved Tale of the Johnny Gosch Disappearance: Part 1. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The hole in our heart is forever there until we have an answer. If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, please visit the "Find Jennifer Kesse" Facebook page. The family of a missing Florida woman who vanished nearly 15 years ago hopes new clues may finally lead to answers about what happened to her, FOX News reports. She had quite recently moved into a condominium in Orlando, Florida, that she bought all alone. Sgt. Jennifer Kesse was 24 at the time of her disappearance and by all accounts was a successful young woman. "This is something that is haunting me," private investigator Michael Torretta said. The Kesses have dedicated their lives and weathered enormous financial hardship to finding the truth of what happened to their beautiful 24-year old daughter on that January morning in 2006. She carried pepper spray with her all the time. And we've come up with a height between 5'3" and 5'5". "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. He's been brought up lately because he was mentioned in a couple podcasts and a 48 hrs special and Oxygen special as well. "Everything was normal." Jennifers new home was in a rough part of Orlando, Florida, but the area was being revitalized. Then she disappeared one day in January of 2006 and has never been found. Peter Van Sant: How often would you socialize with him? In January 2006, 24-year old Jennifer Kesse had everything going for her. It has not been proven that any of them were involved in her disappearance, however. It could be a crucial detail. Logan Kesse [2008]: It didn't feel right. They held up signs, just as they had done the day Jennifer went missing, with the desperate hope that someone passing by knew something. As we all know, Jennifer was unhappy with the workers in her complex as they made her feel uncomfortable. So I think they were scared. 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. But he told me there was really nothing that he personally could do. Doomsday death & deception: Nancy Grace investigates Cult Mom Lori Vallow. What was concerning about this was the area it was located is not an area frequented by Jennifer. So, makeup, curling iron all that stuff all over the vanity wet shower, wet towel. 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.". We wanna find the person responsible for her disappearance. You don't recognize this figure? PUBLISHED 11:00 AM ET Jan. 26, 2020. I have nothing to hide. Is it the kidnapper? I think it's a win-win for all. The tip came from people who lived across the street from Jennifers condo complex, they reported to him that they believe they saw Jennifers car on Tuesday morning driving erratically out of the complex sometime after 7:30 am. Det. A friend interviewed in the program stated that Jennifer did not like them doing maintenance in her condo and preferred them to do it when she was gone. Peter Van Sant: And what did that tell you? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Search dogs picked up a scent trail leading from her parked car back to her condo, suggesting the suspect might have returned to her condominium's parking lot after abandoning the car. The long distance was taking a toll on their relationship. We dont care when. Joyce Kesse: Police kept insisting that Jennifer went out in the middle of the night And we're like, "you don't understand that is not how our daughter's brain works.". Peter Van Sant: You were there at the same time as Jennifer Kesse. Help S33 E52 42min TV-14 A young woman vanishes from her Florida condo - security footage captures a phantom figure calmly parking her car. First published on October 24, 2020 / 10:14 PM. First published on October 24, 2020 / 11:01 PM. Get to work!". But the Kesses refused to give up on Jennifer. Drew Kesse: In my mind, it was "that person took my daughter. It was like being hit with a ton of bricks. Colleen: When I would come home from work, there would be a large group of men outside drinking. She has never been heard from again. Joel Wright: At that point I thought the investigation was kicking into gear. She got ready for work and left. Yes I see the resemblance. The surveillance footage does tell us that there was about 30 seconds of time when the person was inside the car. And in fact, weeks later he did. At the time of her disappearance, she was employed as a finance manager in Ocoee, Florida, She lived by herself in the Mosaic . Peter Van Sant: So, these are just some of your daughter's case files? But she says he fled in a white van. She had been living on her own for only a few months prior to her disappearance and there were few other residents in the complex, which was under construction. Drew Kesse [2008]: A wrong has been done and a person has been taken against her will and that's my daughter and she needs to come home to her family. " she was in love. She had just gotten promoted," her mother Joyce Kesse told "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. Joel Wright stated he believes the abduction took place in the morning due to a tip he received on Thursday, the day Jennifers car was found. Sgt. Peter Van Sant: The last time police officially questioned Chino was back in 2009. July 10, 2021 / 11:06 PM DETECTIVE WRIGHT: how did you get into the condo? NEWS REPORT: For the past two days dive crews have been out on the water. In all, the Orlando Police Department handed over more than 16,000 pages of documents and 67 hours of video and audio to the Kesses. A police search was launched after she failed to turn up for work as a finance manager. there was footprints in my closet. We hope that by showing the public these photos, someone will come forward with information theyve been holding onto for all these years.. This was the first time Wright had ever heard of Chino. In January 2006, Jennifer Kesse's family and friends say she was on top of the world. It is believed Kesse got up and left for work at approximately 8:00 a.m. the next morning, but she never arrived there. "My best friend said to me after the trip, 'Oh, you're in love and you just don't want to admit it,'" Allen said. Security footage recorded a person parking Kesse's car and walking away; the person could not be identified due to poor camera quality and the absence of any visible distinguishing physical features. The surveillance video took a photo every 3 seconds and each time, the person's face was obstructed by a fence post. As time went by, the Kesses felt abandoned by the Orlando Police Department. Devonna Walker, A Black Woman, Was Murdered And Called A N*gger By White Man, And Charges Still. In honor of her birthday, Jennifer's parents are encouraging people to celebrate life Saturday by giving blood at their local blood banks. Logan Kesse [2008]: [emotional] It's your sister, it's your family, it's your blood. Chino: I don't have to answer any questions, but that's for sure. Joel Wright | Orlando Police Department: It appeared that somebody was fighting over control of the car. Lauren McCarthy: Jennifer is super funny, super witty person. The case received local and national press attention. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. Drew Kesse: But police were very quick to shut us down on certain things. "You have that initial hope like we found the car, it's only going to be a matter of time before we find Jennifer," said Jennifer's boyfriend, Rob Allen. She had just moved into a condo in Orlando, Florida, that she purchased on her own. "I believe Jennifer got ready for work. Joel Wright: Unfortunately, the witnesses couldn't say which way the car went once it got out onto the surface road. Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her Florida condo on January 23, 2006. Nothing appeared to be out of place there, but Kesse was missing, as were her purse, her cellular phone and her black four-door 2004 Chevrolet Malibu with the Florida license plate number H90KYC. And they kept saying, "Nope, her case is extremely active. Drew Kesse: We were probably on the road within 5 minutes. And how fast can we find that person?". You saw all the workers at that complex. Michael Torretta: She's locking the door and never sees it comin'. The only thing police can determine for sure is that the suspect was between 5'3" and 5'5 inches tall . Michael Torretta: That was one of the most shocking parts of this investigation. OK, call the police again.". Rob Allen: She was a little emotional saying, oh, you know, that "you don't love me. Produced by Chris Young Ritzen, Tamara Weitzman and Gabriella Demirdjian. He thinks it was one or more of these workers who abducted her on January 24, 2006. In 2008, on the second anniversary of Jennifer's disappearance, family and friends gathered on a street corner in Orlando. snowchoco10 He was the one who vacated in November or something? She additionally was as of late advanced at her specific employment where she filled in as a task supervisor for a period share organization. The 24-year-old woman was last heard from. Tami: There was creepy things like my underwear drawer was tossed one time the shower was wet. Peter Van Sant: You opened the door and saw that? There has also not been any activity on her credit cards or E-Pass. She showered, got dressed. 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. Jennifer Kesse was 24 years old when she vanished in 2006 in Orlando. In fact, everywhere they looked, everything seemed normal. Updated 4 times since October 12, 2004. Jennifer Kesse was reported missing after she didn't show up to work on the morning of Jan. 24, 2006, according to WKMG. We want closure. And also had people of different heights walk by. Jennifer's parents (Drew & Joyce Kesse) who lived 2 hours away, received a phone call from their daughters work. One theory is that Kesse may have been attacked by a construction worker at her condo. Jennifer is described as a 24-year-old woman with sandy blonde hair, green eyes, standing at 5'7" to 5'8" tall and weighing around 130 pounds. The Car. Around noon on the day Jennifer disappeared, one of the cameras captured a person driving Jennifer's car. She was declared dead by the State of Florida. Peter Van Sant [2008]: What do you believe happened? Although he wasn't in charge during the initial investigation, he sympathizes with the Kesses. Jennifer's mother Joyce Kesse said, "She was just really happy.". He also observed that Chino was involved in other crimes, and it appears that he might be involved in her case or responsible . She had a great job. "The hole in our heart is forever there until we have an answer," Joyce Kesse said. OK, I'm going to work. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority while she was a student. There were no signs of a struggle. She had just moved into a condo in Orlando, Florida, that she purchased on her own. Jennifer Kesse was a beautiful, hard-working, 24-year-old woman in 2006. It looks like a man. I stood in a courtroom alone while a judge declared her deceased. This Wednesday, you can watch WFTV's in-depth. Chief Orlando Rolon: I can understand why they're frustrated. Despite being more than 200 miles away when Jennifer disappeared, Rob was suddenly a person of interest. Joel Wright: However, the logs that we went through didn't appear to be complete. Drew Kesse: It was never secured by Orlando Police. The team spent two days searching, but they did not find anything. Colleen: We were a gated community. In 2016, it had been 10 years since Jennifer went missing. But under the agreement, the Orlando Police Department would no longer lead the investigation. Roger Brennan [at the parking lot]: This is the camera that caught the person that parked Jennifer's vehicle here. It didn't appear that is was a carjacking. Roger Brennan [at the parking lot in 2008] Apparently this video, when it films, captures every two to three seconds as it's filming, so that's why you only see the subject on one side of the gate and then the opposite side of the gate and he's blocked by the posts on either side of the gate. And just please think of Jennifer . Torretta told FOX News that he suspects Kesse was attacked from behind while she was locking her front door and potentially forced into a vacant unit on the same floor. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Although Rob lived about 3 hours away in Fort Lauderdale, the two of them would see each other every weekend. 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. That is how we knew something horrendous had happened," Joyce Kesse said. Unconcluded Podcast Retweeted Find Jennifer Kesse @FindJennKesse SATURDAY | @48hours TRY IT FREE Where is Jennifer Kesse? I'm a writer, author, wife, and animal lover. If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, please visit the "Find Jennifer Kesse"Facebook page. Joyce Kesse: It's very, very hard to move forward. She did look familiar. Did you ever meet her? They had no better luck with the forensics inside Jennifer's car. Drew Kesse: Chino should expect to hear from us. Michael Torretta: That's why it's very interesting to me. Getting along fine? Prior to her disappearance, Kesse had expressed concern that her apartment complex was unsafe. Chino needs to be spoken to again. He says it could have been one or more of these workers who abducted her. Peter Van Sant: What did you see the first time you walked in? Jennifer's disappearance was discussed with him, but he denied any involvement. This tip was especially interesting to him because on the day Jennifer went missing, there were workers laying down carpet in the apartment across the hall from Jennifer's condo. And that was part of the development of him as a person of interest. I just wish the police were careful Lauren McCarthy [at the 2008 gathering]: There's just no other place I could be today. More than 15 years after Jennifer Kesse vanished, her parents Drew and Joyce Kesse are leading the investigation into their daughter's case. Joel Wright: It told me that he passed the polygraph. In January 2006, 24-year old Jennifer Kesse had everything going for her. By the time they took it seriously, we had 14 people in the condo. 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Wade, Best treadmills for your for your home gym in 2023, plus deals, Philadelphia Flyers' Ivan Provorov refuses to wear LGBTQ+ Pride Night jersey, Rapper Flo Rida awarded $83M in fight with energy drink maker, Schools struggle to provide meals for kids as inflation sends food costs soaring, Why a medical exam may be required for life insurance, 3 times to increase your life insurance coverage, Home gym guide: The best deals on athleisure and home gym essentials, Orlando Police Department via the Kesse family, Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel/ NS/Alamy Live News. The surveillance video took a photo every 3 seconds and each time, the person's face was obstructed by a fence post. Jennifer Kesse, 24, worked as a finance manager at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company in Ocoee. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A disturbing piece of information that i haven't read anywhere is that one of the reasons Jennifer was uncomfortable with the workers is because they would come to her apartment and do a half ass job. A photograph of the person is posted with this case summary. Drew Kesse: That was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. Jennifer was born in New Jersey and graduated high school in Tampa, Florida. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He believes the abduction took place at approximately 7:30 am. Ratings: +122,588 / 8,504 / -2,599. ennifer Kesse was a successful, hard-working, bubbly, family oriented 24 year old when she vanished January 24th, 2006. Joel Wright: Chino was very cooperative. Peter Van Sant: Where were you the morning of January 24th, 2006? But that evening Jennifer spoke with Rob. I called the crime line back then and told them and they took my statement. We dont care how and, frankly, we dont care who. Detective Wright learned Chino used to live in another building at Jennifer Kesse's condo complex and was a former maintenance worker there. Jennifer has a shamrock tattoo on her lower back and a four-leaf clover on her left hip at the panty line, she has a birthmark on her middle finger on the second joint down and a non-raised strawberry birthmark on her rib area. But I would never rule someone out just because they passed a polygraph. I would say 75 percent of the time somebody was there . On the two-year anniversary of Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, her family and friends gathered on a street corner and held up signs, just as they had done the day Jennifer went missing. ORLANDO, Fla. Jennifer Kesse is one of three women who disappeared from the Orlando area between 2006 and 2011 and whose cases remain unsolved. It's just difficult not having her, you know, she's like my other half so [wipe away tears] I just miss talking to her. 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