The dust also appears to show fingers being dragged along the hood. And that's not all he learned. They feared that time was running out. Lauren McCarthy [at the 2008 gathering]: There's just no other place I could be today. 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. She was declared dead by the State of Florida. I do not recognize that person. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse, report a tip to the Orlando Police Department. Joel Wright [2008]: Possibly wiped it. Peter Van Sant: Now you were the maintenance man there. Joel Wright: At that point I thought the investigation was kicking into gear. "I have had five this week - its the time of year with it being the date of her disappearance but it never stops. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. She was just really happy. 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. We've seen it time after time again with long term Missing persons cases. She deserved that. A search of her condo revealed nothing unusual, but her phone, keys, and purse were missing. Michael Torretta: When you talk about challenging investigations, this is the one. Drew Kesse: Chino should expect to hear from us. Didn't appear that it was a car theft. Chief Rolon gave his investigators six months to work the case. 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. Joyce Kesse: It's very, very hard to move forward. In 2019, local police came out with a dive team, but no carpet was found. 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse was last seen in Orlando, Florida on January 24, 2006. And despite telling Detective Wright years ago he knew nothing about Jennifer's disappearance, the Kesses wondered if Chino was being truthful. The police concluded that Jennifer had left for work as normal, but she was attacked and abducted as she went to get in her car. Sgt. The Investigation In February 2006, investigators found Jennifer Kesse's black. Joyce Kesse: The workers made her feel uncomfortable. But to the Kesses' frustration, the person caught on that camera could not be identified. There were a number of suspects on the detectives radar. Over the past 17 years, we have spent over $700,000 but we cant look at that. Cell tower data was analyzed, and it indicated Jennifer was out of her apartment and not at home. She had newly purchased a condominium with her own money no small feat for someone who was just 24. In fact, she'd just moved. By the gait And someone with pretty big feet for his height is the information we've been getting. On the morning of January 24, 2006, Jennifer, 24, left her apartment and headed to work -- but she never made it there. Jennifer Kesse, 24, went missing from her newly purchased Orlando, Florida, condo on January 24, 2006 . Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. 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. As the desperate hours went by, Sergeant Roger Brennan and his team of investigators searched the streets of Orlando looking for Jennifer Kesse. 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. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Her friends and family initiated a search, and the police declared her officially missing that evening. Related 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.". Jennifer Kesse was first reported missing on January 24, 2006. Peter Van Sant: Do you know of anyone who might have been involved in Jennifer Kesse's disappearance? 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. No one has seen or heard from her since. Det. Private Investigator Michael Torretta says he has gone through the more than 16,000-page case file at least three times. Jennifer Kesse was deemed dead by the state of Florida in 2016. Det. I stood in a courtroom alone while a judge declared her deceased. The Kesses are offering $15,000 as a reward for valuable information on where Jennifer could be at this time. Jennifer Joyce Kesse seemed to have everything going for her. Drew Kesse: So, to me, they don't have DNA. According to the Kesse family, this information has never been confirmed. Chino: I even did a lie detector test. (Featured Image Credit: CBS News / 48 Hours). That's where the mystery starts. The 24-year-old has been missing for 15 years after vanishing one morning while heading out to work. I can understand why they would feel that maybe an agency like ours has not delivered on what they would expect for an agency to do. Lauren McCarthy: The reasons she bought the place that she did was because it was a gated community with a guard. Many of these workers were non-English speakers, so due to the language barrier, the investigators had quite a bit of trouble interrogating them. Drew Kesse: It was never secured by Orlando Police. 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. 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. Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel/TNS/Alamy Live News. Its positive in that respect, we have met the new detective and are able to move forward. Orlando Police originally investigated the case but the family quickly lost faith and demanded action. This week marks 17 years since the 24-year-old vanished in 2006 but there have been no arrests made. 2023 Cox Media Group. Jennifer Kesse had recently purchased her own condo at the Mosaic at Millenia Condominium in Orlando, Florida and just received a promotion at work. And that's what I'm doing. He passed. Wright also re-interviewed another maintenance worker who had done repairs with Chino in Jennifer's condo. One of the people he interviewed on audiotape was a former housekeeper at Jennifer's complex. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Lauren McCarthy and Jennifer were best friends since childhood. Her family sued the Orlando Police Department for her case file and won. Then, in an attempt to get more clues, her car was photographed and taken in for a thorough forensic examination. Peter Van Sant: How often would you socialize with him? The surveillance video took a photo every 3 seconds and each time, the person's face was obstructed by a fence post. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Rob Allen: Because someone must have seen something. Investigators think she was trying to find a mail box when . 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. Sgt. They said they recognized the clothing and persons gait. As usual, when Jennifer left at around 6 p.m., she called her father while driving home. 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. 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. Drew Kesse: We were probably on the road within 5 minutes. I called the crime line back then and told them and they took my statement. Now imagine, over that time, fighting for unredacted copies with the citys lawyers and trying to have our private investigators find Jennifer from all those files. by the walk. Louis Bolden: People just wanted to help them. Shortly after she vanished, Kesse's car was discovered parked around a mile from her home. Originally the person's height was estimated to be between 5'3 and 5'5. Peter Van Sant [2008]: What do you believe happened? TRANSLATOR [2009 audio tape]: Yes, she remembers the case. She's locking the door and never sees it comin She probably was attacked immediately upon exiting. DETECTIVE WRIGHT: is there any reason why somebody would would say that was you? Michael Torretta is the Kesses' private investigator. Rob Allen: You've got the bug. Jennifer went missing in Orlando, Fla. on Jan. 23, 2006. Kesse was last seen at her Orlando condo near Mall at. But she's a little bit of a bathroom pig in the morning. And they said, "Well you ruined the crime scene." Michael Torretta: There's never been one quarterback on this case. We firmly believe the departments negligence and lack of competency cost Jennifer the chance to be found.. Drew Kesse: I'm like, "Come on! Peter Van Sant [2008]: Did you sense somebody knew something? In 2016, she was declared dead by the state of Florida. Who knows what would've happened if this heinous crime hadn't been committed? It's not about us. Background Jennifer Kesse was born on May 20, 1981, in New Jersey to parents Drew Kesse and Joyce Gilmour. Then in 2010, Detective Wright was moved off the case. 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. In fact, Chino had done work in Jennifer's condo just one week before she disappeared. | Become a News 6 Insider]. 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? Read more: Full details on the Jennifer Kesse disappearance Jennifer's loved ones hope this report will convince someone to take the courageous step of coming forward with information that could solve this heartbreaking mystery. All they could theorize is that the 24-year-old had been abducted at some point after shehad left herapartment, but before shehad made it to work. 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. Jennifer Kesse was last seen leaving work in Orlando, Florida on January 23, 2006. - www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Joyce Kesse: I think that my heart stopped Sheer panic. Joyce Kesse: Jenn shared every detail about the trip. On Jan. 24,. Michael Torretta: She's locking the door and never sees it comin'. So, makeup, curling iron all that stuff all over the vanity wet shower, wet towel. Jennifer spoke on the phone to her parents and boyfriend in her apartment before disappearing without a trace, never to be seen again. Michael Torretta: Yes. Logan Kesse [2008]: [emotional] It's your sister, it's your family, it's your blood. At every turn, the detectives kept coming up empty and the case was going cold. When Jennifer didn't come home after 48 hours, the police began investigating her whereabouts in earnest. He is pictured with her above, Jennifer vanished when she was 24 back in 2006, Kesse's father Drew is hopeful of new leads on the 17th anniversary of her mysterious disappearance, Surveillance video of an unidentified person getting out of Jennifer Kesse's car after she vanished is seen above. [TRENDING: Roller coaster ride of temperatures in Central Florida with new front | Attorney general reviewing complaints against Volusia hot tub company | Ask Trooper Steve: Why does Florida not have a front, rear license plate? 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. In 2009, Detective Wright decided to take a fresh look at the case. She had a great job. There were no signs of a struggle. But there was still no sign of Jennifer, and at the time, the police concluded that there was no evidence of a struggle. Det. In 2008, Sgt. Drew Kesse: In my mind, it was "that person took my daughter. But he told me there was really nothing that he personally could do. Born on May 20, 1981, to Drew and Joyce Kesse, Jennifer Kesse was a graduate of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, from where she obtained a finance degree in 2003. From all appearances, Jennifer Kesse of Orlando, Florida was a happy, successful, well-adjusted 24-year-old woman with a bright future. OK, I'm going to work. She had shoulder-length sandy blonde hair and green eyes. Jennifer attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando, was in the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. And also had people of different heights walk by. When they came up with no new leads, he made the unprecedented decision to finally release the files to the Kesses. Produced by Chris Young Ritzen, Tamara Weitzman and Gabriella Demirdjian. 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. You know, getting married and having children and becoming a grownup and just living life; just having her life, you know. It looks like a man. And that's the end. There is a $100,000 prize for anyone who finds her. Joel Wright: Unfortunately, the witnesses couldn't say which way the car went once it got out onto the surface road. And her manager, who had made his intentions of wanting a relationship with her clear, was eventually ruled out as a suspect as well. In December 2018, Joyce and Drew Kesse sued the Orlando Police Department for Jennifer's case files. 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. But she says no one ever followed up with her. Jennifer had complained about construction workers who had been living and working near her condo and had recently made her feel uncomfortable. In 2016, it had been 10 years since Jennifer went missing. So, I did. 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. "It is Jennifers best opportunity to be found now, 17 years later. Even though Rob lived in Fort Lauderdale, about 3 hours from Jennifer's condo in Orlando. There were hundreds of people that came out. Lauren McCarthy: For me, every milestone that I've had without her has been like a tug of war with my emotions. There's a lot of information that could have been developed that I believe wasn't in the most critical hours of this investigation. Surveillance video showed someone walking near the car, and has been sought as a person of interest. To this date, Jennifer is considered to be missing and endangered by the Orlando Police Department, the FBI, the Orange County Police, and several other agencies. David Tronnes murder his wife Shanti Cooper? In 2009, Detective Wright interviewed him and asked him about working in Jennifer's condo: DETECTIVE WRIGHT [2009 audio tape]: when you did the work in her unit, uh was she present while you were doing it. So, I'm heading now to his last known address where I'm hoping we can find him. The average height for an American white man is 5'9 and a half. Joel Wright: She did look at the photo and said, "That looks like Chino.". Train derailment in Springfield, Ohio as residents ordered to shelter in place, Rape survivor 'sobbed seeing Gabby Petito bodycam vid after same cop did nothing', Mom 'stabs 3 of her kids to death and wounds 2 others in unsupervised visit', Daughter of murdered couple linked to Delphi case reveals paranoia, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Jennifer Kesse's father spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun ahead of the anniversary of his daughter's disappearance. Drew Kesse: And we just wish that one person that knows something in Orlando would just finally say it. Kevin Harris was an aspiring hip-hop artist when he was gunned downoutside his recording studio in Los Angeles. Det. It was updated on July 10, 2021.]. It's about Jennifer. Tami: From the very beginning there were some uneasy things that I kind of brushed off that were red flags. Again, the case stalled. Jennifer is definitely the most loyal person I've ever been friends with or probably ever known. I don't hear helicopters in the air.". She was the oldest of two children, and is said to have been best friends with her little brother, Logan. Peter Van Sant: Why is what the woman at the Mosaic told you important? of negligence in the investigation. She was a beautiful person. If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, please visit the "Find Jennifer Kesse" Facebook page. And Chino is 5'9" -- taller than the figure's height estimated by police. We need to see what's inside that carpet. A couple said they saw it swerving out of her apartment complex at around 7:40 a.m. Det. January 18, 2012 at 5:12 pm EST. 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. Louis Bolden: Technology then was not what technology is now. When he showed her that security camera photo of the unidentified suspect, she gave him a possible new lead. Tami: There was creepy things like my underwear drawer was tossed one time the shower was wet. We know that the police, at least according to Drew Kesse, didn't interview the non-english speaking construction workers. At the time of her disappearance, Jennifer worked as a finance manager at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company in Ocoee. This meant there were. They have now received everything and we are moving forward, although the sad part is that we have discovered that over the last 10 to 12 years, no investigations have looked at Jennifers case. 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. 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. They want the police department's files?" Joel Wright [2008]: We didn't find any fingerprints on the steering wheel. 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. FDLE, in conjunction with Orlando Police, essentially restarted the investigation into the Orlando womans 2006 disappearance. Her face was everywhere. But, still, no one knew where Jennifer was. He said they were uncooperative. Joel Wright: However, the logs that we went through didn't appear to be complete. Start to work. And the name Chino came up again -- that maintenance worker at Jennifer's complex. In January 2006, Jennifer Kesse's family and friends say she was on top of the world. Long distance was taking a toll on their relationship. 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. Of course, she has her back to the apartment behind her. Jennifer Kesse, age 24, was a young woman who had a full life to look forward to with everything going for her. "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. The U.S. Sun has reached out to Orlando Police for comment. Roger Brennan: [2008] We printed out pictures and then we brought them out here. Whats more, Chino was already in police custody, serving time for a statutory rape charge. Jennifer Joyce Kesse was born on May 20, 1981 to parents Drew and Joyce Kesse. When she didnt show up for work on January 24, 2006, without calling in to explain - despite having an important meeting -fellow employees contacted her parents to express their concern. Missing Person / By craftncrime / April 2, 2021. In 2018, Orlando Rolon became the Orlando police chief. And we've come up with a height between 5'3" and 5'5". It will be a miracle if she is, we just arent willing to say Oh well and leave it.". Kesse disappeared Jan. 24, 2006, after leaving her condo at the Mosaic at Millenia complex for work at Westgate Resorts. We immediately started asking everybody walking around if they had seen anything. She is assumed to be dead, but a body has not been recovered, and nobody has been charged with her murder. 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. Get to work!". Her parents have never stopped distributing thousands of flyers and begging anyone with information to come forward. Surveillance video caught an unidentified person getting out of her car after she went missing. The next morning, though, Jennifer waivered from her routine. But there were no big headlines and Torretta presses on. what are the chances of that happening? Jennifer Joyce Kesse (born May 20, 1981) is an American woman from Orlando, Florida, who has been missing since January 23, 2006. "They are feeding off the work my guys have done for the past few years. 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 agreed to take a lie detector test. Jennifer Kesse missing cold case remains unsolved 10 years after disappearance - Orlando Sentinel http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/._jennifer.html I saw it on Disappeared recently. Chief Orlando Rolon: The family wants closure. The effort our investigators have put forward to get us to this point has been incredible. With personal items laid out, her room suggested that Jennifer had showered, dressed, and left for work. Michael Torretta: That's why it's very interesting to me. Joel Wright [2008] We know there was quite a bit of a renovation going on inside her complex. The Kesses said this is their best shot at finding answers. 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. Peter Van Sant: What did you see the first time you walked in? 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. 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. Her Chevy Malibu car was found a mile away in what police suspect was an abduction. When police opened the trunk, Jennifer wasn't there. 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. Jennifer Kesse Was Just 24 When She Went Missing. "It is Jennifer's best opportunity to be found . Joyce Kesse: I refuse to let her be forgotten until she is found. Jennifer Kesse, of Orlando, who went missing Jan. 24, 2006, at 24 years old. Michael Torretta: This is something that is haunting me.