Michael Torretta is a private investigator who works for the Kesses. Getting along fine? She got ready for work and left. Peter Van Sant: So, these are just some of your daughter's case files? Residents at the complex stated the car had been parked in the lot for several days. Michael Torretta is the Kesses' private investigator. Did you ever meet her? Later that night when there was still no sign of her, police officially declared Jennifer missing. 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. JOEL WRIGHT [at the 2008 gathering]: Maybe the right person will see us. 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. DREW KESSE: We don't have her. Jennifer's mother Joyce Kesse said, "She was just really happy.". "She was in love," her mother Joyce said. The Kesses have dedicated more than 15 years of their lives to finding the truth about what happened to their daughter on the morning of January 24, 2006. Jennifer Kesse was a successful young woman with a good job and a loving boyfriend . She was already so successful that she had recently purchased a condominium no small feat for someone in their early twenties. And despite evidence that she was at her condo that morning, police pursued a theory that Jennifer may have been abducted the night before. Louis Bolden: Technology then was not what technology is now. It has not been proven that any of them were involved in her disappearance, however. Jennifer Joyce Kesse is an American woman from Orlando, Florida, who has been missing since January 23, 2006. Rob Allen: You've got the bug. For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Previous publications in Jennifer's case can be . 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. They stood on street corners while they held up missing signs and handed out fliers with Jennifer's photo. . Photographs of the car are posted with this case summary. I vaguely remember it. But she's a little bit of a bathroom pig in the morning. Joyce Kesse: We all along have felt that she was abducted in the morning. Peter Van Sant: What did you see the first time you walked in? Peter Van Sant spoke with several women who lived at the same condo complex as Jennifer Kesse. 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. Chino: Believe me, if I did know anyone that was involved in that, the Kesse family would be knowing as well. 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. When the Kesses who lived two hours away arrived at Jennifer's condo, nothing seemed to be out of place. 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. ", Peter Van Sant: Do you believe anyone realistically has been working this case in recent years?". Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. That afternoon Jennifer's brother, Logan, began to question some of the construction workers at the complex. "Everything was normal." At the time she vanished, she was living in Orlando. **Ben and Chino** **Highlights from discussion with Logan, Jennifer's brother about the day Jennifer was identified as missing (Tues, Jan 24, 2006) . She had quite recently moved into a condominium in Orlando, Florida, that she bought all alone. Chino wasnt interviewed until Joel considered him a suspect in 2008. Then in 2010, Detective Wright was moved off the case. There was no signs that a struggle had taken place in or around the car, and its valuable DVD player had not been stolen. And now with the case files in their possession, they are more determined than ever to keep their daughter's story alive. The 24-year-old woman was last heard from. Rob had no idea that it would be the last time he would ever hear her voice. 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. CHINO: Everything was normal. She graduated from Vivian Gaither High School in Tampa, Florida. She was declared dead by the State of Florida. Privacy Policy. One of the people he interviewed on audiotape was a former housekeeper at Jennifer's complex. Jennifer is definitely the most loyal person I've ever been friends with or probably ever known. And it just ate away at me. Using Jennifer's apartment as their headquarters, they began their own media blitz. She was just really happy. DETECTIVE WRIGHT: is there any reason why somebody would would say that was you? Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. Some brand new details and information was revealed during the episode and it wasn't just a rehash of old information. Brennan shared evidence photos. Fifteen years have passed since Jennifer Kesse vanished -- years of anguish for her family and friends, but they are determined to keep Jennifer's story alive. And then, Tami says she caught a "peeping Tom" a man she believes was a worker at the complex. "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. Lauren McCarthy: The reasons she bought the place that she did was because it was a gated community with a guard. There's nothing in there that indicates that there were problems at the Mosaic. "The hole in our heart is forever there until we have an answer," Joyce Kesse said. Chino: I even did a lie detector test. From all appearances, Jennifer Kesse of Orlando, Florida was a happy, successful, well-adjusted 24-year-old woman with a bright future. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Roger Brennan [2008]: It didn't appear that it was a robbery. The harassment of the Kesses began in August 2007, when a . 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. He says when he reviewed the files, he was amazed at what police didn't do and who they didn't speak with. In 2008, Detective Wright and Sergeant Brennan analyzed the surveillance tape with "48 Hours.". Colleen: He was apologetic. "I want to do my best and bring Jennifer Kesse home to them one day," he said. You don't recognize this figure? We wanna find the person responsible for her disappearance. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Roger Brennan [2008]: This is the interior of Jennifer's car as we found it. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. Lauren McCarthy: Jennifer is super funny, super witty person. 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. Joel Wright [2008]: We didn't find any fingerprints on the steering wheel. This is going to be a long post. And Chino is 5'9" -- taller than the figure's height estimated by police. His height was estimated between 5-foot-3 inches and 5-foot-5 inches tall. "48 Hours" agreed not to use his full name. Michael Torretta: That was one of the most shocking parts of this investigation. TRANSLATOR [2009 audio tape]: Yes, she remembers the case. Ashley: I remember him being fun and friendly, talkative. by Sarah Jae Leiber Oct. 21, 2020. At the time she disappeared, Kesses building was being converted from apartments to condos, and construction workers were at the property frequently. Theories abound as to what happened, with many suggesting she was killed by a male coworker whose advances she had spurned. Tami: He was pleasuring himself in the corner of my patio. Joyce Kesse: As you can imagine we were basket cases. We, The Kesse Family, wish to reach out this Holiday Season to wish all of you who visit Jennifer's social media a safe and joyous Holiday. They were immediately worried. The 24-year-old has been missing for 15 years after vanishing one . Peter Van Sant: Why is what the woman at the Mosaic told you important? Later that afternoon, Jennifer also called her brother and her father. In January 2006, 24-year old Jennifer Kesse had everything going for her. Jennifer Kesse was reported missing after she didn't show up to work on the morning of Jan. 24, 2006, according to WKMG. Chino. 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. 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? So, what does everyone think of the new details? Sgt. In fact, they said it looked like she had just been there. Start to work. We miss her every day.. She spoke with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, on the phone around 10 pm that night. . what are the chances of that happening? You saw all the workers at that complex. Based on interviews with people who lived at the condo complex, he believes that up to 10 construction workers were living in an empty apartment just across from Jennifer's. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. So, I'm heading now to his last known address where I'm hoping we can find him. Air Date: Jul 10, 2021 Three days after Kesse's disappearance, her car was found in the parking lot of the Huntington on the Green apartment complex at Americana and Texas, less than a mile from her residence. 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. As many of you following blinkoncrime.com are aware, S. Christina Stoy spent several weeks investigating Jennifer Kesse's disappearance in January of 2006. 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. Joel Wright [2008]: Possibly wiped it. "She had just bought her first condo with her own money," said Jennifer's father, Drew Kesse. Orlando police determined this vehicle was Jennifer Kesse's. Jennifer's mother Joyce described Jennifer's habits when getting in a car, In January 2006, 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse disappeared from her condo in Orlando, Florida. [Takes a deep breath with tears in her eyes]. But the Kesses refused to give up on Jennifer. Peter Van Sant: Do you know of anyone who might have been involved in Jennifer Kesse's disappearance? Joel Wright: [2008]: When that car was found, we jumped all over it. 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. At the time of her disappearance, she was employed as a finance manager in Ocoee, Florida, She lived by herself in the Mosaic . "I believe Jennifer got ready for work. She carried pepper spray with her all the time. Det. Kesse worked at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company as a finance manager and had graduated from the University of Central Florida with honors. 12. She graduated with honours in 2003 with a degree in finance. Roger Brennan: [2008] We printed out pictures and then we brought them out here. Bloodhounds tracked Kesse's scent from her vehicle back to her own residence. It -- it wasn't a great feeling. Lauren McCarthy [at the 2008 gathering]: There's just no other place I could be today. In 2008, Sgt. "Until we can find that carpet and see what's in it, we need to follow up on that particular lead.". I just think of Jennifer all the time. 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. 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. 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?". It's OK. When they arrived at the condo in the early afternoon, a building manager opened Jennifer's locked apartment. Kesse and her boyfriend, Robert Allen, had recently vacationed in . Drew Kesse: But police were very quick to shut us down on certain things. Unconcluded Podcast Retweeted Find Jennifer Kesse @FindJennKesse SATURDAY | @48hours I just wish the police were careful Jennifer attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando, was in the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. One of the people he spoke to was a former housekeeper at Jennifer's condo complex. January 19, 2021 7:42 pm. Chino was a maintenance worker at the Mosaic when Jennifer went missing. Then, two days after her disappearance, police found Jennifer's car. Her parents have never stopped searching. Surveillance footage shows an unknown individual parking Kesses vehicle at the apartment complex around noon on January 24. Louis Bolden: At the time, we thought, "They want what? More from Medium Yasmin Scherrer Student Possibly Becomes Victim of Santa Rosa Hitchhiker. Peter Van Sant and 48 HOURS investigate the disappearance of the 24-year-old. Kesse's family said FDLE's cold case unit will take over and essentially restart the investigation into the Orlando woman's 2006 . Kesse, circa 2006; Kesse's car; Unidentified suspect. It was so out of character for Jennifer to not respond, her friends and family rushed to her condo. I'm Peter Van Sant with CBS News. Around noon on the day Jennifer disappeared, one of the cameras captured a person driving Jennifer's car. Sgt. She's dragged into the other apartment. 11. December 17th, 2019. I'm a writer, author, wife, and animal lover. Lauren McCarthy: [emotional] seeing that tape of Jennifer's car that was probably the worst moment. 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. She says they never talked about Jennifer's disappearance. Several items were located inside the vehicle her cellphone, charger sandals and shoes Nothing appears to be disturbed in the vehicle at all. Michael Torretta: This is something that is haunting me. Joyce Kesse: Her travel bag. Inside sources reveal brand new bombshell information. And he says there is nothing in the files indicating that police ever spoke to them. They immediately moved into Jennifer's condo to be close to the investigation. Sgt. 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. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. A photograph of the person is posted with this case summary. "You have keys to all the apartments. 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. She's locking the door and never sees it comin She probably was attacked immediately upon exiting. Chino said Jennifer let him inside her condo. Drew Kesse: That was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. "That was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life," Drew Kesse said. Police say they did not believe Jennifer's case met the criteria for declaring her missing. Jennifer Kesse is a caucasian female with sandy blonde hair and green eyes. It all suggests that whatever happened likely occurred after she had left her home that morning. Chino was already in custody for a statutory rape charge at the time. Detective Joel Wright was one of the original investigators. 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. On March 18, 2009, Wright interviewed Chino in prison and asked him about that time he worked in Jennifer's condo. Tami: There was creepy things like my underwear drawer was tossed one time the shower was wet. Drew Kesse: So, at this point in time, the only people that are truly investigating what happened to Jennifer is us and our team. Jennifer did that, and the workers argued with her saying that you cant do that because it would ruin the paint. 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. Roger Brennan [2008]: As we were driving around the area around her complex, we were trying to identify different areas that her vehicle may have been seen. 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. The next morning was when Jennifer didn't show up for work and didn't answer her phone. 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. Even though Rob lived in Fort Lauderdale, about 3 hours from Jennifer's condo in Orlando. We hope that by showing the public these photos, someone will come forward with information theyve been holding onto for all these years.. The 24-year-old vanished without a trace and no one's been arrested. Some brand new details and information was revealed during the episode and it wasn't just a rehash of old information. At the time, Jennifer Kesse was a 24 year old finance manager for a timeshare company. Doomsday death & deception: Nancy Grace investigates Cult Mom Lori Vallow. Michael Torretta: I want to do my best and bring Jennifer Kesse home to them one day. Now we have some of our own questions we'd like to ask. At the time of her disappearance, Jennifer worked as a finance manager at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company in Ocoee. Louis Bolden: If you had told me then, in 14 years we would still be looking for Jennifer Kesse, I would not have believed it. July 10, 2021 / 11:06 PM Det. Det. DETECTIVE WRIGHT [2009 audio tape]: Nobody mad about anything? They kept suggesting that she must have had a fight with her boyfriend and would be back. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Joel Wright [2008] We know there was quite a bit of a renovation going on inside her complex. She did look familiar. Frustrated with the Orlando Police Department's handling . 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. 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