She had a great job. When asked about Jennifer Kesse, Chino quickly reiterated that he was innocent. I'm Peter Van Sant with CBS News. It wasn't a great feeling. Chino: I met Jennifer Kesse. Lauren McCarthy: For me, every milestone that I've had without her has been like a tug of war with my emotions. Ashley says, at first, she didn't reach out to police. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend when she simply vanished from. what are the chances of that happening? Sgt. Jennifer Kesse was a beautiful, intelligent, and independent 24-year-old with everything going for her. They stood on street corners while they held up missing signs and handed out fliers with Jennifer's photo. Peter Van Sant [2008]: Do you think the car was cleaned by someone? A Crime Line tip had been received in the first week of the investigation. That's a really hard question to ask somebody that's sitting on the couch next to you. OK, I'm going to work. Missing: Jennifer Kesse | Orlando, FL | Uncovered Then Torretta spoke to a woman who did not want to appear on camera. Of course, she has her back to the apartment behind her. Did he know more than he had admitted? She also was recently promoted at her job where she worked as a project manager for a time-share company. Drew Kesse: In my mind, it was "that person took my daughter. Michael Torretta: She's locking the door and never sees it comin'. It does not explain the logistics of two vehicles. "I want to do my best and bring Jennifer Kesse home to them one day," he said. Subscriptions. Despite being more than 200 miles away when Jennifer disappeared, Rob was suddenly a person of interest. We had a guard house. "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. But when detectives opened the trunk of the car, Jennifer wasn't there. Now we have some of our own questions we'd like to ask. 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. Under the agreement, the Orlando Police Department would no longer lead the investigation. Drew Kesse: So, to me, they don't have DNA. July 10, 2021 / 10:00 PM Almost three years after Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, Detective Wright decided to take a fresh look at the case and interviewed people on audiotape. And despite evidence that she was at her. 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. By the gait And someone with pretty big feet for his height is the information we've been getting. To report information about the case, visit theFind Jennifer Kesse Facebook page. But according to Torretta, the police files don't list everyone who was questioned. So here is my unpopular theory! What was concerning about this was the area it was located is not an area frequented by Jennifer. But, when police tried to identify the phantom figure, they hit a roadblock. / CBS News, [This story first aired on October 24, 2020. The Mysterious Vanishing of Jennifer Kesse The DNA testing they did on the car was inconclusive, but the car did lead to a very important clue. he had dark hair My theory: the suspect appeared to be a painter or an upholsterer of some kind. 48 HOURS: "Where is Jennifer Kesse?" Sponsors in this Episode: Native Deodorant (nativedeodorant.com promo code 'UNCONCLUDED . He was dressed very much like someone involved in heavy and messy indoor work such as moving and renovations. He was familiar with the case. In fact, some of them had done work in her condo one week before she disappeared. 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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. Peter Van Sant: Do you know of anyone who might have been involved in Jennifer Kesse's disappearance? Colleen, who asked to only use her first name, moved into the complex two years before Jennifer disappeared believing it was a safe place to live. And, how fast can we find that person?'" 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. Why take a chance with witnesses? The surveillance video took a photo every 3 seconds and each time, the person's face was obstructed by a fence post. 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 Kesse's parents refused to give up. Rob Allen: You have that initial hope, like, OK, we found the car, it's only going to be a matter of time before we find Jennifer. 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. But he told me there was really nothing that he personally could do. "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. Michael Torretta: When you talk about challenging investigations, this is the one. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Logan Kesse [2008]: [emotional] It's your sister, it's your family, it's your blood. Logan Kesse [2008]: It didn't feel right. 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. Keeping Jennifer's name and story in the public eye is. The case so . It does not explain why someone would think longer ahead so that when they do not show up to work on the morning of her abduction, it would certainly be noticed by other co-workers, and have a good explanation when people mention this absence to police. After Jennifer was reported missing, her family went to her apartment and it appeared as though she had gotten ready for work in the morning, and left. 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. 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: That was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. Sgt. And then, Tami says she caught a "peeping Tom" a man she believes was a worker at the complex. In 2008, on the second anniversary of Jennifer's disappearance, family and friends gathered on a street corner in Orlando. Jennifer Kesse disappearance: Newly released police photos suggest Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. They kept suggesting that she must have had a fight with her boyfriend and would be back. And despite telling Detective Wright years ago he knew nothing about Jennifer's disappearance, the Kesses wondered if Chino was being truthful. Joel Wright | Orlando Police Department: It appeared that somebody was fighting over control of the car. Explore the latest news & podcasts. 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. Later that afternoon, Jennifer also called her brother and her father. If it was a worker living in one of the vacant apartments, tracking those workers down is going to be a challenge. Joel Wright: Chino was very cooperative. Six months after Jennifer Kesse disappeared, Detective Joel Wright became the lead investigator and developed a theory of what happened to her on January 24, 2006. 'We have the best opportunity to find Jennifer,' Kesse family says in Jennifer's father, Drew, thought after seeing the footage. Peter Van Sant: You had nothing to do with her disappearance? Peter Van Sant: And what did that tell you? Torretta believes that one or more of the construction workers may have taken her by surprise the morning she vanished. The detective based his theory that Jennifer Kesse was abducted in her car that morning based on her vehicle being seen driven erratically out of the Mosaic at Millenia complex. You're all in. It explains how the workers knew she arrived back on the night of January 23rd from her vacation. Now, Drew and Joyce Kesse hope they will solve their missing daughter's case. On March 18, 2009, Wright interviewed Chino in prison and asked him about that time he worked in Jennifer's condo. In the days leading up to her disappearance, Jennifer went on a vacation with her boyfriend, arriving back in Orlando the day she was last seen and going straight to work instead of stopping by her apartment. Det. And that's what I'm doing. She just lit up the room, Joyce Kesse told FOX News. The abductor simply walked back to Mosaic at Millenia after dropping off her car at HOTG. If he committed another crime later, he would not make the same mistake again. Drew Kesse: It was never secured by Orlando Police. Louis Bolden: You could go to any part of town, and everyone knew Jennifer Kesse's name and they knew her face. Her face was everywhere. Ashley: I always wanted to ask him. By the time they took it seriously, we had 14 people in the condo. Complicating the investigation many of the workers disappeared before police could talk to them. Wouldn't they have known there were many empty units? But, when police tried to identify the phantom figure, they hit a roadblock. One theory is that Kesse may have been attacked by a construction worker at her condo. It seemed like she almost disappeared out of thin air. "I believe Jennifer got ready for work. The rest of the home looked like a maid had been there . Joel Wright [2008]: We didn't find any fingerprints on the steering wheel. 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. Drew and Joyce Kesse said they will never stop looking for their daughter and have launched aGoFundMe pageto help with the investigation. It's busy, locks the door of her condo. Colleen says she complained to the leasing office manager. There were no signs of forced entry. CHINO: Everything was normal. At first, the Kesses say police infuriated them by not taking their daughter's disappearance seriously. The long distance was taking a toll on their relationship. DREW KESSE: We don't have her. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. The case centers on Jennifer Kesse, who disappeared on January 24, 2006, when she didnt show up for work. And now with the case files in their possession, they are more determined than ever to keep their daughter's story alive. . Joel Wright: Some of the people who were working on the property left. After many months of legal wrangling, a settlement was reached, and OPD agreed to hand over files. And Chino is 5'9" -- taller than the figure's height estimated by police. Doreen Schechter is the producer editor. Michael Torretta is a private investigator who works for the Kesses. I didn't like it. Repost: My theory on Jennifer Kesse : r/UnresolvedMysteries - Reddit That's where the mystery starts. 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?". The condo complex where Jennifer lived was going through a renovation, and many of the construction workers were also living in the empty apartments at the complex while they were doing the renovation. Peter Van Sant: Now you were the maintenance man there. Back in 2008, the Kesses told "48 Hours" that while the condo appeared to be in order, they did notice that Jennifer's purse, keys and cellphone were missing. When she didn't show up for work on January 24, 2006, her friends and family immediately knew that something was terribly wrong. Con's: There are many. It explains the lack of concern about other's noticing your presence. When investigators arrived, they found a DVD player in the back seat, so it didn't appear that the motive for taking the car was robbery or a carjacking. And then there's the fact that it appeared like Jennifer had gotten ready for work the next morning. Family of Florida woman missing for 15-years say they are 'close' to In this type of stranger spontaneous abduction, this is extremely important. 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. This adds credence to my theory - Hispanics tend to be shorter in stature. The young abductor did not thoroughly vet the place he left the car. "The hole in our heart is forever there until we have an answer. It is surprising that the police investigation never came up with the right person from Mosaic. 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. Actress Donna Benedicto has been accepted into the Performers Peer Group of the prestigious Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the organization that presents the Emmy Awards. The Kesse family . It's been more than 14 years since she was last seen. JOEL WRIGHT [at the 2008 gathering]: Maybe the right person will see us. 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. He was definitely male. Chino also told him, "I don't have any idea what happened to her." They had no better luck with the forensics inside Jennifer's car. Joel Wright [2008]: We've done quite a bit of measuring and work with the camera angles. 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. Then, two days after her disappearance, police found Jennifer's car. Jennifer's mother Joyce Kesse said, "She was just really happy.". But it did. "48 Hours" agreed not to use his full name. One week before Jennifer Kesse disappeared, she took a weekend trip to St. Croix with her boyfriend Rob Allen. If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, please visit the "Find Jennifer Kesse" Facebook page. 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. by the walk. And how fast can we find that person?". Jennifer Kesse was a healthy, happy young woman who'd recently been promoted at work and had just been on an island vacation with her boyfriend. Rob had no idea that it would be the last time he would ever hear her voice. Continue with Recommended Cookies. If Jennifer Kesse stopped for car trouble, why did police not find anything wrong with her car? It's not about us. 0:15. There's nothing in there that indicates that there were problems at the Mosaic. But that evening Jennifer spoke with Rob. But then there comes the argument that ex couldn't possibly have done this and covered it up so well while drunk. The Girl Who Disappeared Without A Trace | by KD Writes | Wonder 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. The Unknown theory, stranger abduction outside of Mosaic at Millenia. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. reported by "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. When Tami, who also asked to only use her first name, moved into the complex years later, she believed workers often entered her apartment when she wasn't home. She moved into the complex just weeks after Jennifer disappeared. Joel Wright: It told me that he passed the polygraph. MU Podcasts. We want closure. Colleen: I don't recall formally meeting her. In December of 2018, the Kesses sued the Orlando Police Department for a copy of Jennifer's case files. Peter Van Sant [2008]: What does that image tell you of that individual in front of the gate? "That was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life," Drew Kesse said. I'm just projecting my own experience onto Jennifer, but people make unusual decisions sometimes. She was on a cloud. She would never not give a call if something was going on," said her best friend, Lauren McCarthy. We need to see what's inside that carpet. There were hundreds of people that came out. . 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. It does not explain why someone who planned an abduction did not take the time to choose a better spot to leave her car than a place that has a sign in the pool area clearly stating surveillance cameras are in use. The person captured on video parking Kesses vehicle has never been identified, but he is believed to be a male who wore workmans clothes. If Jennifer Kesse does not stop to get coffee or something else, how did this stranger gain access to her vehicle while she was driving to work? "Her cell phone that she had since she was 16 years old went to voicemail for the first time. We dont care how and, frankly, we dont care who. 24-year-old vanishes, leaving little clues - NBC News 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. And whenever I would have to walk past them, there would be a little bit of comments or just a lot of uncomfortable stares. Peter Van Sant: Hey, how are ya? They spoke around 10 p.m. The Kesses are now working with a private investigator to comb through every bit of information with fresh eyes with the hope that it may lead them to Jennifer. It does not explain why the car was moved. Police say they did not believe Jennifer's case met the criteria for declaring her missing. Shortly after she vanished, Kesse's car was discovered parked around a mile from her home. Tami: From the very beginning there were some uneasy things that I kind of brushed off that were red flags. We dont care when. Detective Joel Wright was one of the original investigators. It's something that you watch on TV. Torretta says he knew he had to get this tip checked out. Chino was a name Detective Wright had not heard before. 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. Jennifer Kesse, 24, disappeared from Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 24, 2006. Joel Wright: At that point I thought the investigation was kicking into gear. And we've come up with a height between 5'3" and 5'5". The phantom figure walked away in the direction of Jennifer's complex. The disappearance of Jennifer Kesse - CBS News Disappearance of Jennifer Kesse - Wikipedia Disappearance of Jennifer Kesse Jennifer Joyce Kesse (born May 20, 1981) is an American woman from Orlando, Florida, who has been missing since January 23, 2006. Very strong willed and very sure of herself she knew what track she was gonna take and she knew how to get there. And in fact, weeks later he did. But I remember hearing a couple of things that have piqued my interest. The only peice of evidence ever uncovered was Security Camera footage of the likely suspect parking her car. I just think of Jennifer all the time. Det. She had no problem with me. The team spent two days searching, but they did not find anything. Unconcluded is a real-time investigative true crime series focused on the 2006 disappearance of Jennifer Kesse (Orlando, FL). 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? She showered, got dressed. And I think she got up for work as she normally would. He's hoping to find new clues as to who could have abducted Jennifer Kesse. Michael Torretta: That's why it's very interesting to me. How Did Jennifer Kesse Disappear From the Face of the Earth? Rob Allen: Because someone must have seen something. Det. Although Rob lived about 3 hours away in Fort Lauderdale, the two of them would see each other every weekend. Chino was one of the workers who did some repairs in Jennifer's condo one week before she disappeared. Det. to be broadcast Saturday, Oct. 24 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. it was like she walked in the night before and just dropped her suitcase right where it was. There's no lease. A new witness has also been found. Chino: I don't have to answer any questions, but that's for sure.
