For those unfamiliar, Jennifer Kesse went missing in 2006 from Orlando Florida. In 2008, Sgt. According to Torretta, "It's impossible to find those individuals. In 2008, Detective Wright and Sergeant Brennan analyzed the surveillance tape with "48 Hours.". Unconcluded is a real-time investigative true crime series focused on the 2006 disappearance of Jennifer Kesse (Orlando, FL). Now, Drew and Joyce Kesse hope they will solve their missing daughter's case. She was born on May 20, 1981, to her parents, Drew and Joyce Kesse in New Jersey. She received numerous job offers and took a job at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company in Ococee, Florida. Joyce Kesse: It's very, very hard to move forward. It explains the haphazard way the 2004 Chevy Malibu Jennifer Kesse drove was left at Huntington on the Green. Peter Van Sant spoke with several women who lived at the same condo complex as Jennifer Kesse. 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. But, when police tried to identify the phantom figure, they hit a roadblock. Jennifer had shared with family and friends that the workers made her uneasy. But the person could not be identified because the surveillance video captured a photo every three seconds and each time the figure's face was obstructed by a fence post. "Jen shared every detail about the trip," Joyce Kesse said. "This is something that is haunting me," Torretta says. Peter Van Sant: Based on your experience is there a possibility what this person threw in that pond was her body? What Happened to Jennifer Kesse? - Medium Did this phantom figure abduct Jennifer Kesse? - CBS News In January 2006, 24-year old Jennifer Kesse had everything going for her. "Jennifer would never not show up for work. In an unexpected move, detectives summoned boyfriend Rob Allen to meet them at Jennifer's car. Two days later, Jennifer's car is found at a nearby apartment complex. Jennifer Joyce Kesse seemed to have everything going for her. Chief Orlando Rolon: The family wants closure. When police opened the trunk, Jennifer wasn't there. . In 2019, local police came out with a dive team, but no carpet was found. This gets back to the route Jennifer Kesse would take to get to work in Ocoee, FL. Keeping Jennifer's name and story in the public eye is. But why care about moving the car because an abductor like that does not lay any sort of claim to a particular location since most everyone tends to agree, that whether the abductor was from Mosaic at Millenia or elsewhere, the reason to move the car is to fool the police into looking elsewhere from a particular location where the abduction itself took place. And there is nothing unique about it. And now with the case files in their possession, they are more determined than ever to keep their daughter's story alive. "I always told the Kesses what I'd like to do with this investigation is put a puzzle together, one piece at a time," said Mike Torretta, the Kesses' private investigator. "That's why it's very interesting to me," Torretta says. It was updated on July 10, 2021.]. Joel Wright [2008]: We didn't find any fingerprints on the steering wheel. Nothing had been stolen from the car and there was no evidence of a struggle. That was the last time he would ever speak to Jennifer again. Chino needs to be spoken to again. 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. Her parents did notice, however, that Jennifer's phone, keys and purse were missing. Then Torretta spoke to a woman who did not want to appear on camera. And despite evidence that she was at her condo that morning, police pursued a theory that Jennifer may have been abducted the night before. A single stranger abductor saw an opportunity and took it. You unfortunately take things for granted. It explains the logistics of two vehicles. The Case of Jennifer Kesse- 17 Years of Disappearance 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. I think it's a win-win for all. Louis Bolden | WKMG investigative reporter: To meet the Kesses is to love the Kesses. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. But somehow they all woke up one day and said: We need to make Jennifer Kesse disappear. Jennifer had shared with family and friends that the workers made her uneasy. It explains why none of Jennifer Kesse's items were left on the ground near her car indicative of a struggle. By the gait And someone with pretty big feet for his height is the information we've been getting. Jennifer Kesse, a 24-year-old woman, thriving in her career, happy in her relationship, and surrounded by loving family and friends, went missing between the night of January 23rd and the. Sgt. But I remember hearing a couple of things that have piqued my interest. After months of legal wrangling, in March 2019, they all reached a settlement. Rob had no idea that it would be the last time he would ever hear her voice. 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And the HOTG video shows someone who seemed to have trouble being able to park her car around noon on January 24, 2006. Peter Van Sant and 48 HOURS investigate the disappearance of the 24-year-old, raise new theories and go inside her parents' search for answers in "Where is Jennifer Kesse?" NEWS REPORT: For the past two days dive crews have been out on the water. But she's a little bit of a bathroom pig in the morning. Rob Allen: That's just not something that even came in my mind. 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. 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. Chino: I even did a lie detector test. If Jennifer Kesse stopped for car trouble, why did police not find anything wrong with her car? We miss her every day.. Workers that live there would certainly be aware of her presence and her car parked in its numbered spot. However, the suspects face was obscured in all frames captured by the footage . Jennifer Kesse was last heard from at around 10 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2006. One of the most popular theories is that Kesse was abducted by a construction worker, who may have been working for her condominium complex. Didn't appear that it was a car theft. Rob Allen, left, walks with an Orlando detective at the site where Jennifer Kesse's car was found. And if the dog scent is correct, then the abductor also had a long walk back to the Mosaic at Millenia area. It does not explain HOW the abduction occurred. The DNA testing they did on the car was inconclusive, but the car did lead to a very important clue. After that, I believe she was abducted," he said. That's where the mystery starts. Sunday marked 15 years since she . It -- it wasn't a great feeling. Lauren McCarthy: She was extremely safety conscious. More than 15 years after Jennifer Kesse vanished, her parents Drew and Joyce Kesse are leading the investigation into their daughter's case. If foul play was involved, there were no obvious suspects. No blood evidence. It's another challenge in the Kesse family's search for Jennifer, but Drew Kesse says they will never stop looking. Jennifer Kesse failed to report to work on Jan. 24, 2006. 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. Brennan shared evidence photos. "Her cell phone that she had since she was 16 years old went to voicemail for the first time. The Kesses told police that Jennifer had complained to them about the workers at the building who occasionally made her feel uncomfortable. Ashley says, at first, she didn't reach out to police. They sued the Orlando Police Department to get Jennifer's case files. Peter Van Sant: How often would you socialize with him? And that was part of the development of him as a person of interest. But most importantly, it does not explain how no one recognized this person from the HOTG surveillance video. It's OK. When police searched the lake, nothing was found. Because Jennifer appeared to have slept in her bed and got ready for work, the . Chino was a name Detective Wright had not heard before. Peter Van Sant: Now you were the maintenance man 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. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. If it was a worker who lived at Mosaic, why did they choose abduction near or at her car instead of the condo unit itself? ", Peter Van Sant: Do you believe anyone realistically has been working this case in recent years?". We immediately started asking everybody walking around if they had seen anything. Ashley: I always wanted to ask him. Con's: It does not explain why Jennifer Kesse's car is parked at Huntington on the Green. Det. "I want to do my best and bring Jennifer Kesse home to them one day," he said. Drew Kesse: We were probably on the road within 5 minutes. Drew Kesse: Joyce used to complain to me, she's like, "call them. 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. I also want to point out that nothing about Jennifer's ex suggests that he was involved in any way. You're all in. 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? And we know she did not arrive back the first time from her vacation until the NIGHT of January 23rd, 2006, after most of the laborers who did not live at Mosaic would have gone home for the day. Police say they did not believe Jennifer's case met the criteria for declaring her missing. Maybe the ex was really intoxicated and thought that visiting his ex was a good idea and he showed up to Jennifer's apartment right when she was questioning her and her boyfriends relationship. JOYCE KESSE: Where is she? "There was makeup all over her counter The T-shirt that she had worn to bed was on the floor. So I think they were scared. It was so out of character for Jennifer to not respond, her friends and family rushed to her condo. She might not have had a chance to fight back, Torretta told FOX News. Joel Wright: She did look at the photo and said, "That looks like Chino.". DET. Drew Kesse: Yes. A new witness has also been found. 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. The Kesses are offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to Jennifer's whereabouts. Jennifer's father, Drew, thought after seeing the footage. The young abductor did not thoroughly vet the place he left the car. Kesses parents said their daughter did not feel comfortable around building maintenance workers. Michael Torretta: She's locking the door and never sees it comin'. Start to work. Or this person felt they had to correct their parking position when they parked Jennifer Kesse's car. 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 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. It explains how the workers knew she arrived back on the night of January 23rd from her vacation. 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.. 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. The reason I won't let it go is because of my own personal experience. We had a guard house. But he did move to AZ not long after. Sgt. We just want an answer.". Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. First published on October 23, 2020 / 8:20 AM. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. He believes that one or more of the construction workers living in a vacant unit across from Jennifer may have taken her by surprise as she left for work that morning. But, by early evening, when there was still no sign of Jennifer, police officially declared her missing. 9 things to know about the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse Det. Doreen Schechter is the producer editor. There have been no arrests, no named suspects, and a grainy image of a person parking her car remains the most important clue as to who may have abducted Jennifer. They immediately moved into Jennifer's condo to be close to the investigation. Peter Van Sant: And what did that tell you? We hope that by showing the public these photos, someone will come forward with information theyve been holding onto for all these years.. They also couldn't count on getting any reliable forensic evidence from Jennifer's condo. And that's not all he learned. Detective Joel Wright was one of the original investigators. In 2016, after 10 years had passed since Jennifer disappeared, she was declared dead by the state of Florida. Joel Wright | Orlando Police Department: It appeared that somebody was fighting over control of the car. 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. Logan Kesse [2008]: It didn't feel right. Produced by Chris Young Ritzen, Tamara Weitzman and Gabriella Demirdjian. But he told me there was really nothing that he personally could do. The only peice of evidence ever uncovered was Security Camera footage of the likely suspect parking her car. He was definitely male. Jennifer Kesse's parents refused to give up. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. But she says he fled in a white van. Sgt. As far as I know, Huntington on the Green is the opposite direction she would turn towards when leaving Mosaic at Millenia to go to work. Very strong willed and very sure of herself she knew what track she was gonna take and she knew how to get there. Jennifer Kesse is a beautiful 24-year-old financial analyst with a constant smile. Anyone? Joyce Kesse: A lot of your day laborers are, um, not here, uh, legally. He said they were uncooperative. It's not about us. Please note that I am not acting like Donald Trump right now, merely deducing what I can from the video and the facts of the case. ORLANDO, Fla. - It has been 15 years since the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse and there are still few clues about what happened to her on the day she vanished. JOEL WRIGHT [at the 2008 gathering]: Maybe the right person will see us. Unfortunately the witnesses could not say which direction her car went once it got to the road that runs by her complex. Scan this QR code to download the app now, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUwhUPGXeUE. 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 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. Det. And as more time went by, the Kesses grew frustrated with the Orlando Police Department's investigation. Pro's: It explains why the abduction was so well-planned without witnesses. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. So, makeup, curling iron all that stuff all over the vanity wet shower, wet towel. "I was just praying that, you know, her phone had died, or she was going to walk in, and everything was going to be fine.". 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. But, when police tried to identify the phantom figure, they hit a roadblock. The seat was pushed back further than Jennifer would have had the seat, and Jennifer was a taller girl to begin with at 5'8". Jennifer Kesse was a beautiful, intelligent, and independent 24-year-old with everything going for her. In fact, Chino had done work in Jennifer's condo just one week before she disappeared. He was dressed very much like someone involved in heavy and messy indoor work such as moving and renovations. MU Plus+ Podcasts. She was declared dead by the State of Florida. CHINO: Everything was normal. Jennifer Kesse, 24, disappeared from Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 24, 2006. Despite being more than 200 miles away when Jennifer disappeared, Rob was suddenly a person of interest. Here is a related episode. Frustrated by the lack of results, the Kesses filed a civil complaint and took the Orlando Police Department to court in order to get the case files on Jennifer's disappearance. Peter Van Sant [2008]: What does that image tell you of that individual in front of the gate? "48 Hours" agreed not to use his full name. In my opinion, leaving fingerprints, possible DNA, or eyewitnesses who may see you dropping the car off far outweighs trying to fool police into the idea the abduction did not happen at Mosaic at Millenia by moving the car. I didn't like it.". Why take a chance with witnesses? He was serving time in a Florida prison for statutory rape of a teenage girl a crime he committed two years after Jennifer disappeared. It's been more than 14 years since she was last seen. Drew Kesse: In my mind, it was "that person took my daughter. The abduction did not take place at Mosaic. On Tuesday, January 24, 2006, Jennifer Kesse's parents received a call that Jennifer didn't show up for work. Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Joyce Kesse: Her travel bag. First published on October 24, 2020 / 10:14 PM. And then is abducted by those individuals across the way. 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. Missing: Jennifer Kesse | Orlando, FL | Uncovered A couple said they saw it swerving out of her apartment complex at around 7:40 a.m. Det. Magnus: One of your theories is that she may have been taken by somebody who'd been watching her, stalking . That same morning a man/woman dropped Jennifer's car off at an apartment complex within walking distance of Jennifer's own after seemingly wiping the car of all finger prints. Peter Van Sant: Why is what the woman at the Mosaic told you important? What do you think happened?" Unless Jennifer Kesse's car went in the opposite direction when she left for work on the morning of January 24, 2006, then this abductor really did a lot of walking or bus travel that day, especially in order to get to the location where he/she encountered Jennifer Kesse. Parents of Jennifer Kesse take over investigation in hopes of solving Just letting us know what she wanted to be done in her unit. Chino agreed to take a lie detector test.