Seventeen years ago, Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando in a high-profile case that made national news. 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. Sgt. Det. 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. Today marks six months since Orlando's Jennifer Kesse was reported missing, after she did not show up for work. There are thousands of people who disappear under mysterious circumstances all around the world. So I think they were scared. Produced by Chris Young Ritzen, Tamara Weitzman and Gabriella Demirdjian. Advertisement. Jennifer received three promotions in The same ones whom Jennifer had complained about to her friends and family, saying how on several occasions, they catcalled and harassed her. "It is Jennifer's best opportunity to be found . Peter Van Sant [2008]: What do you believe happened? Jennifer attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando, was in the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. OK, call the police again.". Michael Torretta: What I'm thinking is Jennifer comes out. Michael Torretta is the Kesses' private investigator. 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. 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. Wright also re-interviewed another maintenance worker who had done repairs with Chino in Jennifer's condo. Now her uncle, Bill Gilmour, describes the restless nights since then and his emotional journey to find peace, in a new book "Aftermath of Jennifer Kesse's Abduction: An Uncle's Inspiring Journey and Other Stories of Hope." Joining Nancy Grace Today: Despite being more than 200 miles away when Jennifer disappeared, Rob was suddenly a person of interest. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance in Orlando, Florida. Her parents have never stopped distributing thousands of flyers and begging anyone with information to come forward. Very strong willed and very sure of herself she knew what track she was gonna take and she knew how to get there. In 2008, on the second anniversary of Jennifer's disappearance, family and friends gathered on a street corner in Orlando. The daily pain endured by the Kesse family is rooted in the events of Jan. 24, 2006. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Perhaps, one of these individuals had abducted her. It looks like a man. There's a lot of information that could have been developed that I believe wasn't in the most critical hours of this investigation. January 24, 2006, Jennifer didn't show up for work. 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. Chino was a name Detective Wright had not heard before. Sgt. When he showed her that security camera photo of the unidentified suspect, she gave him a possible new lead. And I said, "are you kidding me?". She had just returned from a 5-day trip to St. Croix with her long-distance boyfriend of one year. 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. What do you think happened?" 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. In the years since her disappearance, her family and law enforcement have continued to search for clues to her whereabouts. At every turn, the detectives kept coming up empty and the case was going cold. Peter Van Sant [2008] What do we know was going on around Jennifer's condominium at that time? ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. This week will mark 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her Orlando area apartment complex on Jan 24. Now, nearly 15 years later, evidence photos obtained by Fox News suggest a violent . And it just ate away at me. I think it's a win-win for all. Friday marks 14 years since Jennifer Kesse vanished. 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. They want the police department's files?" 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. The rest of the home looked like a maid had been there . She was the oldest of two children, and is said to have been best friends with her little brother, Logan. In January 2006, Jennifer Kesse's family and friends say she was on top of the world. Peter Van Sant: Why is what the woman at the Mosaic told you important? Check out this great listen on Audible.com. The average height for an American white man is 5'9 and a half. But for the friends and family of 24 yea. A private investigation team for . At the time Allen lived in Fort Lauderdale, three hours away from Orlando where Jennifer lived. Residents at the complex stated the car had been parked in the lot for several days. Det. DREW KESSE: We don't have her. - Lytt til S3 Ep113: Jennifer Kesse: The Man Behind the Fence (Part 2) fra Crime Weekly direkte p mobilen din, surfetavlen eller nettleseren - ingen nedlastinger ndvendig. She was known for her bubbly personality and her very loyal and helpful nature. Her Car Was Recovered Barely A Mile From Her Home - But No Trace Of Her Has Ever Been Found, The last information known about her whereabouts, wasshe, It soon became clear to her family and co-workers that, When her parents arrived at the condo, they discovered nothing was out of place. Drew Kesse: We have film of the car being dropped off . 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. I have a meeting. 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. Nathan Gibson. Updated October 14, 201813 items. 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. Christie joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021. So, makeup, curling iron all that stuff all over the vanity wet shower, wet towel. what are the chances of that happening? Fed up, the Kesses then made a dramatic move. Michael Torretta: That was one of the most shocking parts of this investigation. We were hopeful that someone would recognize just the gait or just the general appearance or the stature or maybe the hairstyle or some aspect of this individual but that didn't happen. She always texted or called Rob before leaving for work, but she did neither that day, which was extremely strange. 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. Sgt. Jennifer Kesse's father spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun ahead of the anniversary of his daughter's disappearance. Michael Torretta is a private investigator who works for the Kesses. She was just really happy. 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 . Kesse's family said. It's about Jennifer. Rob Allen: We did the long distance, but after the initial date we started spending virtually every weekend together. This person has never been found, but has been identified as a person of interest in her investigation. Background Jennifer Kesse was born on May 20, 1981, in New Jersey to parents Drew Kesse and Joyce Gilmour. Last year Drew Kesse accused the Orlando Police Dept. The Kesses said this is their best shot at finding answers. And despite evidence that she was at her condo that morning, police pursued a theory that Jennifer may have been abducted the night before. " she was in love. A week before she was last seen, Kessehad also visited the Virgin Islands with her boyfriend. The surveillance footage does tell us that there was about 30 seconds of time when the person was inside the car. But, by early evening, when there was still no sign of Jennifer, police officially declared her missing. Even the FBI, who was called in to help, could only determine that they stood between 53 and 55. And that's not all he learned. One of the people he interviewed on audiotape was a former housekeeper at Jennifer's complex. While the car was taken by a forensics team, there was little evidence to be found in her vehicle. Surveillance video showed someone walking near the car, and has been sought as a person of interest. Jennifer Kesse, of Orlando, who went missing Jan. 24, 2006, at 24 years old. Because of the number of valuables left in Jennifers car, it was deduced that her disappearance was not a robbery gone wrong. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The investigation and the hunt for what happened to Jennifer continues today. Drew Kesse: In my mind, it was "that person took my daughter. And that was part of the development of him as a person of interest. Lauren McCarthy | Jennifer's best friend: Can I just have a second? Contact the . Drew Kesse: And we just wish that one person that knows something in Orlando would just finally say it. FDLE, in conjunction with Orlando Police, essentially restarted the investigation into the Orlando womans 2006 disappearance. They are looking to solve the case themselves. Rob Allen: That's just not something that even came in my mind. Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. Michael Torretta: This is something that is haunting me. It was as if someone had abducted her while she was leaving for work. Louis Bolden: People just wanted to help them. Joel Wright: At that point I thought the investigation was kicking into gear. The dust also appears to show fingers being dragged along the hood. They feared that time was running out. Kevin Harris was an aspiring hip-hop artist when he was gunned down. The Kesses are offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to Jennifer's whereabouts. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. Because there were posters There were billboards. The parents of Jennifer Kesse say they are "closer than ever" to uncovering answers in the disappearance of their. 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. He was familiar with the case. Tami filed a police report and to this day she says they have never found the "peeping Tom" or the white van he was driving. In January of 2006 she had just purchased a condo in Orlando, . THE devastated family of missing Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse insists new hope has been breathed into the heartbreaking attempt to find her. You know aliens didn't abduct her. What was concerning about this was the area it was located is not an area frequented by Jennifer. It was updated on July 10, 2021.]. We asked the lawyers, 'Where's all the detectives work? And it came back that not a single thing had been written. 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. And then is abducted by those individuals across the way. This meant there were. Though her car was later found, the 24-year-old woman has yet to be found. Her parents also continue to pursue leads, hoping to one day either find her or her remains. And then also anger, just anger because the-the person was so casual something really bad obviously happened and they were just so casually dropping this car off like they were, you know, getting home from work. (Featured Image Credit: CBS News / 48 Hours). But a woman -- who wants to be called Ashley had a different opinion of Chino. 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. Chino needs to be spoken to again. At first, the Kesses say police infuriated them by not taking their daughter's disappearance seriously. Peter Van Sant: So, these are just some of your daughter's case files? Michael Torretta: I'm looking through these 16,000 documents for something that might have been missed by the Orlando PD, the FDLE, maybe even the FBI who have had parts in this investigation. It didnt take this long. Rob had no idea that it would be the last time he would ever hear her voice. Background: Jennifer Joyce Kesse was a finance graduate. Jennifer Kesse was deemed dead by the state of Florida in 2016. The 24-year-old has been missing for 15 years after vanishing one morning while heading out to work. Jennifer spoke on the phone to her parents and boyfriend in her Orlando apartment before disappearing without a trace, never to be seen again. I'm Peter Van Sant with CBS News. 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. She evenbought a condo in the months leading up to her disappearance. Lauren McCarthy: She was always on the radar with everybody. And we've come up with a height between 5'3" and 5'5". In 2018 they sued to get the Kesse investigative file, and a judge ruled in their favor in 2019. Come home soon, the post said. Anyone with information or who would like to donate to search efforts may do so at Findjenniferkesse.com. Detective Joel Wright was one of the original investigators. Kesse was last seen at her workplace, Central Florida Investments, on Jan. 23, 2006. Det. When police opened the trunk, Jennifer wasn't there. Get todays headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. TRANSLATOR [2009 audio tape]: Yes, she remembers the case. Chino was identified as a maintenance worker who had lived and worked in the same condo complex as Jennifer. She had no problem with me. Joel Wright [2008]: We've done quite a bit of measuring and work with the camera angles. Something doesnt, No , the murder happened in Ohio . Peter Van Sant [2008]: What does that image tell you of that individual in front of the gate? Getting along fine? The distinct lack of evidence and leads in the investigation means no one is sure what happened to Kesse, even12 years afterher disappearance. In fact, Chino had done work in Jennifer's condo just one week before she disappeared. 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 . 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. That night she talked to family, friends and her boyfriend as well. (Drew Kesse) ORLANDO, Fla. - Drew Kesse, whose daughter Jennifer Kesse has been missing since Jan. 24,. It's actually a complex that's been known where stolen cars were -- would be recovered from. Then finding out that the lead detective on Jennifers case did not write a single report or any document since 2010, 12 years!! Ashley: I sat on it for a little bit. of negligence in the investigation. Kesse and her boyfriend, Robert Allen . Det. If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse, report a tip to the Orlando Police Department. The next morning, though, Jennifer waivered from her routine. Colleen says she complained to the leasing office manager. It wasn't hard to find Chino. Curious to know all the specific details of this one yourself? In 2019, local police came out with a dive team, but no carpet was found. At the time of her disappearance, Jennifer Kesse was 5 feet 8 and 135 pounds. Jennifer Kesse Disappears. . It's OK. Sgt. Detective Joel Wright was still trying to solve this confounding mystery. And her manager, who had made his intentions of wanting a relationship with her clear, was eventually ruled out as a suspect as well. As usual, when Jennifer left at around 6 p.m., she called her father while driving home. Sgt. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Joel Wright: Unfortunately, the witnesses couldn't say which way the car went once it got out onto the surface road. All this did was shut more doors than it opened, mainly because her bank account keycard has not been used since the day she vanished from the face of the earth with no indication whatsoever. There were hundreds of people that came out. 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. Her car was found a few days later nearby but despite reward offers topping $100,000, Kesse has never been found. He's hoping to find new clues as to who could have abducted Jennifer Kesse. 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. Then Torretta spoke to a woman who did not want to appear on camera. On the morning of January 24, 2006, Jennifer, 24, left her apartment and headed to work -- but she never made it there. In 2008, Sgt. Then she disappeared one day in January of 2006 and has never been found. Her father Drews push to have the case looked at by state officials was given the green light last month. Kesse was last seen at her Orlando condo near Mall at. I didn't like it. 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. Read More: Where Are Jennifer Kesses Parents Now? Orlando Police originally investigated the case but the family quickly lost faith and demanded action. Less than 10% of white American men are shorter than 5'7. Michael Torretta: When you talk about challenging investigations, this is the one. Related On Thursday Morning the 26th, police found Jennifer's car abandoned in an apartment complex not far from where she lived. | Become a News 6 Insider]. 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. 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? We firmly believe the departments negligence and lack of competency cost Jennifer the chance to be found.. Drew Kesse: Joyce used to complain to me, she's like, "call them. Joyce Kesse: I refuse to let her be forgotten until she is found. Sgt. 48 Hours on ID airs at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery. OK, I'm going to work. But she says once workers started living in empty apartments around the complex, she felt uneasy. "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. Anyone? 2. DETECTIVE WRIGHT [2009 audio tape]: Nobody mad about anything? David Tronnes murder his wife Shanti Cooper? 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. But when they did, no leads were discovered. Joel Wright [2008]: It's difficult to tell. 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. 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. - www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com 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. Lauren McCarthy: The reasons she bought the place that she did was because it was a gated community with a guard. Dylan Eason and Isaiah Churchwell were convicted of murdering Cynthia William "Patrick" Alexander remains in prison for murder. Chino agreed to take a lie detector test. . Two days after she disappeared, her car was found abandoned in a nearby apartment complex. This meant there werenoclues pertainingto what had happened to the victim. 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. Now we have some of our own questions we'd like to ask. Jennifers parents called the police immediately, but because of her age, they initially held off on any investigation. However, the family has said as recently as 2022 that they are still working to get the complete unredacted file from the city. Jennifer Kesse has been missing for 17 years: Her family hasn't stopped the search Claire Farrow 1/23/2023 Like Comments Where is Jennifer Kesse? Joel Wright: However, the logs that we went through didn't appear to be complete. I had never heard of that happening. Det. And in fact, weeks later he did. And now with the case files in their possession, they are more determined than ever to keep their daughter's story alive. Theories abound as to what happened, with many suggesting she was killed by a male coworker whose advances she had spurned. Drew Kesse: So, to me, they don't have DNA. Over the past 17 years, we have spent over $700,000 but we cant look at that. Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. Louis Bolden: Technology then was not what technology is now. Her family has been tirelessly. 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. And they just look.". 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.