FL JENNIFER JOYCE KESSE: Missing from Orlando, FL - 24 Jan 2006 - Age 24

Jennifer Joyce Kesse
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Kesse, circa 2006; Kesse's car; Unidentified suspect

Missing Since: 01/24/2006
Missing From: Orlando, Florida
Classification: Endangered Missing
Sex: Female
Race: White
Date of Birth: 05/20/1981 (38)
Age: 24 years old
Height and Weight: 5'8, 125 pounds
Clothing/Jewelry Description: Possibly a three-stone diamond necklace.

Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Blonde hair, green eyes. Kesse wears clear contact lenses and her eyebrows are dark-colored. She has skin tags on the outside of her left hand, a birthmark on the middle finger of her left hand, a non-raised faded strawberry birthmark on her ribs, a cleft in her chin, a quarter-sized tattoo of a shamrock on the left side of her buttock, and surgical scars on the inside of her left elbow. Kesse's nickname is Jenn. Depending on her clothing, her eyes may appear to be blue.

Details of Disappearance
Kesse was last contacted via cellular phone at approximately 10:00 p.m. on January 24, 2006. She was at her residence at Mosaic Apartments in the vicinity of the 3700 block of Conroy Road in Orlando, Florida at the time. She has never been heard from again.

It is believed Kesse got up and left for work at approximately 8:00 a.m. the next morning, but she never arrived there. She was employed as a financial analyst at a timeshare in Ocoee, Florida at the time of her disappearance. Her co-workers notified her family after she did not show up for work, and her parents let themselves into her apartment.

Nothing appeared to be out of place there, but Kesse was missing, as were her purse, her cellular phone and her black four-door 2004 Chevrolet Malibu with the Florida license plate number H90KYC. Photographs of the car are posted with this case summary.

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. Residents at the complex stated the car had been parked in the lot for several days.

Bloodhounds tracked Kesse's scent from her vehicle back to her own residence. There was no signs that a struggle had taken place in or around the car, and its valuable DVD player had not been stolen.

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. An unidentified person, approximately 5'3 to 5'5, tall, was seen parking Kesse's car, getting out and walking away.

Investigators have been unable to tell whether the individual is male or female. This individual is the prime suspect in Kesse's disappearance. A photograph of the person is posted with this case summary. He or she was wearing clothes similar to what a painter or manual worker would wear.

Prior to her disappearance, Kesse had expressed concern that her apartment complex was unsafe. She had been living on her own for only a few months prior to her disappearance and there were few other residents in the complex, which was under construction.

Kesse stated she was frightened of some of the construction workers. It has not been proven that any of them were involved in her disappearance, however. She had a good relationship with her boyfriend and vacationed with him in the Virgin Islands the month she went missing. He is not considered to be a suspect in her case, as he has an alibi.

It is extremely uncharacteristic of Kesse to miss work, be out of touch with her family, or leave her cellular phone turned off; it has been turned off since her disappearance. There has also not been any activity on her credit cards or E-Pass.

Kesse is a 2003 graduate of the University of Central Florida; her degree is in finance. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority while she was a student. Her case remains unsolved.

Investigating Agency
Orlando Police Department
321-235-5300
407-246-2962

Source Information
NamUs
Find Jennifer Kesse
WESH TV
WFTV 9
The Orlando Sentinel
Local 6
Tampa Bay's 10 News
Winter Garden Police Department
CBS News
F

 
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Jennifer Kesse disappearance: Family says it's 'close' to answers in 15-year-old cold case​

The parents of Jennifer Kesse say they are "closer than ever" to uncovering answers in the disappearance of their daughter, who vanished 15 years ago from Central Florida, in a case that has long baffled investigators.

"We may have answers this year," said the woman's father, Drew Kesse, noting that new information received in recent weeks has prompted him to expand his team of private detectives leading the investigation.

"We're making a lot of headway and we're closer than ever to bringing Jennifer home," he said.



The Kesse family sued the Orlando Police Department in 2018 for all the records to date in their daughter’s case. Frustrated by the police handling of the investigation, the Kesses demanded the files be released to them in a legal battle that was unprecedented in a missing person case. An agreement was reached, and the Kesses in turn received some 16,000 pages of records, which Fox News examines in its true crime podcast, "House of Broken Dreams: the Jennifer Kesse story."

The podcast, which debuted Nov. 12, received more than one million downloads in its first month. After the podcast's release, Drew Kesse said he and his team received credible new information in the case. Kesse declined to elaborate on details given the sensitive nature of the investigation.

"Everyday there are active interviews and actions being taken to find the people responsible for taking Jennifer or the people with the information to piece it all together," said Kesse. "It's painstaking work."
I hope they’re right! Justice for Jennifer!
 
The blog below states she is/was 5'8" correct?

However, the FBI analysis stated the POI was approximately 5'3" - 5'5"?

Does this sound "off" to anyone else?

It does. I think female at 5'3. Could be male. Could be a person dropping the vehicle for the person who did kill her.
 

Jennifer Kesse disappearance: Orlando Police botched case, says father of Florida woman missing since 2006​

It's now been 16 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared from Orlando. The 24-year-old vanished without a trace and no one's been arrested.

Frustrated with the Orlando Police Department's handling of the case, Drew Kesse, Jennifer's father, sued to get access to every file tied to her case. In a new interview with FOX 35 News, Drew Kesse says the department botched the investigation from the moment an officer was sent out when calls were first made about her disappearance in January 2006.

"We went up to the condo, and they sent an officer out, officer came in, looked around for about 30 seconds, and said, ‘She probably had a fight with her boyfriend. She’ll be back,’ and he walked out."

The Kesse family and Orlando Police reached an agreement outside of court. Drew Kesse says the department took years to redact and hand over Jennifer's case files instead of the four months the family and OPD agreed on.

"Dealing with the government is very hard. Snail's pace." Kesse explained.

On top of taking years instead of months, Kesse says what OPD handed over was in complete disarray.

"When we received the files, it was like someone just threw 16,000 pages on the floor, and picked them up again and scanned them."

"We had to hire someone to go through them and categorize it and organize it properly, so we can go in and query the database."

Kesse told Fox 35 the process was lengthy and expensive, and in the meantime, he's hired a team of private detectives to keep the search going.

"So we’re trying to play catchup, and now we have the ability because Orlando does not have to find Jennifer. Again, that was the number 1 thing in the contract, Orlando Police is no longer responsible for finding Jennifer Kesse. We’re good with that."
 

Jennifer Kesse: Investigation into Orlando woman’s disappearance turned over to FDLE​

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.

Kesse’s family said FDLE’s cold case unit will take over and essentially restart the investigation into the Orlando woman’s 2006 disappearance from the beginning and work with OPD.

Investigators will interview people Kesse’s law enforcement team has already identified as possible suspects or people who may have valuable information. But because they are retired, they don’t have the power to make an arrest.

It also means retesting evidence the Kesses say has not ever been retested. The family said they are excited about what now might be possible under FDLE.
 

Jennifer Kesse disappearance: Orlando Police botched case, says father of Florida woman missing since 2006​

It's now been 16 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared from Orlando. The 24-year-old vanished without a trace and no one's been arrested.

Frustrated with the Orlando Police Department's handling of the case, Drew Kesse, Jennifer's father, sued to get access to every file tied to her case. In a new interview with FOX 35 News, Drew Kesse says the department botched the investigation from the moment an officer was sent out when calls were first made about her disappearance in January 2006.

"We went up to the condo, and they sent an officer out, officer came in, looked around for about 30 seconds, and said, ‘She probably had a fight with her boyfriend. She’ll be back,’ and he walked out."

The Kesse family and Orlando Police reached an agreement outside of court. Drew Kesse says the department took years to redact and hand over Jennifer's case files instead of the four months the family and OPD agreed on.

"Dealing with the government is very hard. Snail's pace." Kesse explained.

On top of taking years instead of months, Kesse says what OPD handed over was in complete disarray.

"When we received the files, it was like someone just threw 16,000 pages on the floor, and picked them up again and scanned them."

"We had to hire someone to go through them and categorize it and organize it properly, so we can go in and query the database."

Kesse told Fox 35 the process was lengthy and expensive, and in the meantime, he's hired a team of private detectives to keep the search going.

"So we’re trying to play catchup, and now we have the ability because Orlando does not have to find Jennifer. Again, that was the number 1 thing in the contract, Orlando Police is no longer responsible for finding Jennifer Kesse. We’re good with that."
That's a great way to not work on an investigation. I don't understand the department responsible to investigate this. It's what you're SUPPOSED to do!!! You just throw it to the side?. The video of the man walking past the gate has stuck with me.
 

Jennifer Kesse disappearance: 17 years later, family says they have new leads in Orlando cold case​

It has been 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. The 24-year-old vanished without a trace in January 2006 – and no one's been arrested.

Her family tells FOX 35 they have new leads in the case. Drew Kesse – Jennifer's father – says the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is working on the case with the family’s investigators.

After spending over $80,000 on case files from the Orlando Police Department, Kesse says they’re getting new leads. Orlando police initially investigated the case, but the family was not happy with how it was handled.
 

By Audrey Conklin Fox News
Published September 24, 2023 8:00am EDT

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jennifer Kesse's family is holding out hope potential DNA evidence might some day help investigators solve her 2006 disappearance.

Kesse vanished from her Orlando, Florida, condo Jan. 24, 2006, when she was 24 years old. She had placed several outfit choices on her bed that morning for work before leaving her new condo located within a complex called Mosaic at Millenia, her uncle Bill Gilmour told Fox News Digital at CrimeCon 2023.

Authorities located her vehicle, a black 2006 Chevy Malibu, at a different residential complex called Huntington on the Green about a mile away from Mosaic at Millenia on Jan. 26, 2006, after a neighbor reported seeing her missing car on television.

The Orlando Police Department (OPD) apparently claimed "that there wasn't … any evidence or nothing of consequence with [her] car," said Gilmour, who recently published a book, "Aftermath of Jennifer Kesse's Abduction: An Uncle's Quest for Understanding & Inspiring Life Lessons."

"But after my sister and brother sued them and got the records from the OPD and had their own team comb through the records — some 15-18,000 records — it said that they collected DNA in the car, which they originally said that they did not," Gilmour explained.

The records obtained as a result of the Kesse family's lawsuit against OPD also included images of Kesse's vehicle, which had dust from the ongoing construction at her condo complex.

The images showed "signs of a struggle" against the hood of her car, he said.

"We were never aware of that either. So it's just, it's just disheartening," Gilmour explained of his family's frustrations with OPD.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement took over the case in November, and the change could allow for new testing of potential DNA evidence from Kesse's car that her family hopes still exists today. Though law enforcement has never confirmed that information to the family directly.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

More at link. ~Summer
 

By Audrey Conklin Fox News
Published September 24, 2023 8:00am EDT

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jennifer Kesse's family is holding out hope potential DNA evidence might some day help investigators solve her 2006 disappearance.

Kesse vanished from her Orlando, Florida, condo Jan. 24, 2006, when she was 24 years old. She had placed several outfit choices on her bed that morning for work before leaving her new condo located within a complex called Mosaic at Millenia, her uncle Bill Gilmour told Fox News Digital at CrimeCon 2023.

Authorities located her vehicle, a black 2006 Chevy Malibu, at a different residential complex called Huntington on the Green about a mile away from Mosaic at Millenia on Jan. 26, 2006, after a neighbor reported seeing her missing car on television.

The Orlando Police Department (OPD) apparently claimed "that there wasn't … any evidence or nothing of consequence with [her] car," said Gilmour, who recently published a book, "Aftermath of Jennifer Kesse's Abduction: An Uncle's Quest for Understanding & Inspiring Life Lessons."

"But after my sister and brother sued them and got the records from the OPD and had their own team comb through the records — some 15-18,000 records — it said that they collected DNA in the car, which they originally said that they did not," Gilmour explained.

The records obtained as a result of the Kesse family's lawsuit against OPD also included images of Kesse's vehicle, which had dust from the ongoing construction at her condo complex.

The images showed "signs of a struggle" against the hood of her car, he said.

"We were never aware of that either. So it's just, it's just disheartening," Gilmour explained of his family's frustrations with OPD.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement took over the case in November, and the change could allow for new testing of potential DNA evidence from Kesse's car that her family hopes still exists today. Though law enforcement has never confirmed that information to the family directly.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

More at link. ~Summer
So we can assume that the car is still in police custody?
 

Desperate family, law enforcement continue search for Orlando woman who went missing 18 years ago​

It has been 18 years since Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse went missing.

Since then, her family has pushed for answers from the community, as well as Orlando police.

The 24-year-old went missing in 2006 and was never found. Her parents claim there was a 10-year stretch where no one in law enforcement worked to find their daughter. They've been working with others to get answers.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement began looking into the cold case in November 2022. Kesse's family hopes something comes of this new case review.

"With FDLE having the case for over 14 months, they've taken that physical evidence and put it back through for DNA and anything they can pull out of it. It is our understanding that was done and we hope that's done." Drew Kesse, Jennifer's father, said.

The Kesse family says if anyone has any information or tips about Jennifer's disappearance, give them a call.

Her website can be found by clicking here.
 

Woman claiming to have information on Jennifer Kesse allegedly threatens to 'blow up' FDLE building​

A woman is accused of threatening to bomb an office of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after claiming a local agent was phony.

She was contacted after she claimed to have information in the Jennifer Kesse disappearance case.

"It seems the dates trigger something within people," Drew Kesse, Jennifer's father, said.

It's been 18 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared. Now, a woman who state investigators were told might have information in that case, is facing several charges.

“She's 45 years old, she's never been arrested before in her life," Nicole Russell-Sambrato's lawyer told the judge at her initial court appearance.

Russell-Sambrato is accused of calling a local FDLE agent and leaving a voicemail message threatening the agency.

The report quotes her saying, "I am threatening to blow up the state building with my car," and detailing that she would "fill it with gallons of gasoline and drive it into (garbled) building and blow them up."

The document says a local cop in the state of New York went to her home, where she told him she was trying to provide information in the Jennifer Kesse case but believed the investigator was fake.

A local FDLE agent called Sambrato when he was told she might have information.
It was the day after the 18-year anniversary had passed of Kesse's disappearance.

Sambrato told him his investigation was a "cover-up," according to the arrest paperwork.

"People are constantly contacting us saying they know exactly what happened," Drew Kesse said.

The Kesse's have been through so much, including a lengthy number of people claiming to have valuable information, but leading nowhere.

"It has never stopped. We had someone reach out on the 24, contact us and say, 'Of course I know who that is in the picture,' and 'I know who did it,' and 'Just reach out to me and I'll tell you,'" Drew Kesse said.

"We do have concerns about her mental health status," a prosecutor said.

In court, Sambrato's attorney promised she would stay on her prescribed medication and continue her mental health treatment.

A statement from FDLE reads in part:

"We will not tolerate anyone threatening the safety of our members and will work with prosecutors to make sure these bad actors receive the consequences."

"Jennifer's case has stuck with people around the world, thankfully, but sometimes it comes out in not the best of ways," Drew Kesse said.
 

Woman claiming to have information on Jennifer Kesse allegedly threatens to 'blow up' FDLE building​

A woman is accused of threatening to bomb an office of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after claiming a local agent was phony.

She was contacted after she claimed to have information in the Jennifer Kesse disappearance case.

"It seems the dates trigger something within people," Drew Kesse, Jennifer's father, said.

It's been 18 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared. Now, a woman who state investigators were told might have information in that case, is facing several charges.

“She's 45 years old, she's never been arrested before in her life," Nicole Russell-Sambrato's lawyer told the judge at her initial court appearance.

Russell-Sambrato is accused of calling a local FDLE agent and leaving a voicemail message threatening the agency.

The report quotes her saying, "I am threatening to blow up the state building with my car," and detailing that she would "fill it with gallons of gasoline and drive it into (garbled) building and blow them up."

The document says a local cop in the state of New York went to her home, where she told him she was trying to provide information in the Jennifer Kesse case but believed the investigator was fake.

A local FDLE agent called Sambrato when he was told she might have information.
It was the day after the 18-year anniversary had passed of Kesse's disappearance.

Sambrato told him his investigation was a "cover-up," according to the arrest paperwork.

"People are constantly contacting us saying they know exactly what happened," Drew Kesse said.

The Kesse's have been through so much, including a lengthy number of people claiming to have valuable information, but leading nowhere.

"It has never stopped. We had someone reach out on the 24, contact us and say, 'Of course I know who that is in the picture,' and 'I know who did it,' and 'Just reach out to me and I'll tell you,'" Drew Kesse said.

"We do have concerns about her mental health status," a prosecutor said.

In court, Sambrato's attorney promised she would stay on her prescribed medication and continue her mental health treatment.

A statement from FDLE reads in part:

"We will not tolerate anyone threatening the safety of our members and will work with prosecutors to make sure these bad actors receive the consequences."

"Jennifer's case has stuck with people around the world, thankfully, but sometimes it comes out in not the best of ways," Drew Kesse said.
If this person holds the new tip that they were talking about a couple of months ago, I don’t have much faith in it.
 

Jennifer Kesse’s parents still searching for their daughter 19 years later​

The parents of Jennifer Kesse, who has been missing for nearly 20 years, took to social media to mark the anniversary of her disappearance.

‘I don’t know if there’s a worse crime:’ Father of Jennifer Kesse searching for answers 19 years later​

Friday marks the 19th anniversary of when 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse went missing in Orlando. Her family continues their desperate search for her.

ABC7 spoke with Jennifer’s father Drew Kesse for an update on the search.

VIDEO AT LINK

‘Time does not heal all wounds:’ 19 years later, family of Jennifer Kesse says FDLE still working case​

The family of Jennifer Kesse posted a letter on its online accounts to mark the 19th year of her disappearance this week, saying they were still searching for clues and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was still working the case.

“How can a missing person’s case with such awareness not produce even a direction 19 years later is inconceivable, yet very true and we, Jennifer’s family and friends, live with that very real fact day in and day out,” the letter on Facebook attributed to Kesse’s parents, Drew and Joyce Kesse, said.

“Everything that needs to be said has been said and done for years,” they continued. “And to repeat it would be redundant and only cause a more broken heart than we already have. NO, time does not heal all wounds. But we still stay strong and fight the fight that needs to be fought for Jennifer’s sake.”

The Kesses also thanked the people who still reached with leads, their private legal team and investigators, and FDLE.

“To FDLE, we support you in your efforts to bring Jennifer home. We know you are working hard on her case, hopefully soon it will reap rewards. Be safe in your duties,” the letter concluded.
 

FDLE offers new contact in search for missing Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse​

There is a new way for people to share information to help find an Orlando woman who has been missing for over 19 years.

Channel 9 has been following the case of Jennifer Kesse’s disappearance since 2006.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the lead agency reviewing the case.

Information on Kesse can be sent to the email: OROCColdCaseTips@fdle.state.fl.us.
 
DM article dated 31 Mar 2025.


Nineteen years after Jennifer Kesse disappeared, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched a new tip line, hoping to generate fresh leads in the long-unsolved case.

Jennifer's father, Drew Kesse, remains hopeful that even the smallest piece of information could be the key to finding his daughter.

'We have been fielding leads for 19 years, to be quite honest with you. And we still get them on a weekly basis. It's absolutely incredible,' Kesse told Fox 35 Orlando.

The FDLE's initiative aims to direct information straight to law enforcement rather than the family.

'It took nineteen years, but I think it's a smart deal to give people the opportunity to speak up in any way, shape, manner or form right to the authorities.' he added.

Jennifer vanished on January 24, 2006, after returning from a trip with her boyfriend. She was last seen at her Orlando condo.

When she failed to show up for work the next day, her family grew alarmed.

Inside her condo, everything appeared normal - her pajamas were on the floor, a damp towel lay by the shower, and her hair tools were out.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched a new tip line, hoping to generate fresh leads in the long-unsolved case of Jennifer Kesse

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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched a new tip line, hoping to generate fresh leads in the long-unsolved case of Jennifer Kesse
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Have you seen Jennifer? Police release age-progressed photo of 24-year-old woman who went missing nine years ago

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But her car, phone, purse, and keys were gone.

Two days later, her car was found abandoned a mile away at another condo complex.

Surveillance footage captured an unidentified individual parking it and walking away, but their face was obscured by fencing.

Despite efforts to enhance the footage with the involvement of NASA, the person - believed to be a man around 5'3' to 5'5' with large feet and workman's clothes - has never been identified.

Over the past 19 years, 14,000 tips have been submitted, rewards have been offered, and numerous people have been questioned, yet no solid evidence has emerged.

'It's just unfathomable that we don't even have any direction,' Drew previously told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.

He remains convinced that someone knows what happened.

Jennifer Kesse's father Drew Kesse (pictured together) hopes that, after 19 years, the family will finally get the truth about what happened to her

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Jennifer Kesse's father Drew Kesse (pictured together) hopes that, after 19 years, the family will finally get the truth about what happened to her
Jennifer's dad fears she was abducted and immediately trafficked out of the US by someone she didn't know

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Jennifer's dad fears she was abducted and immediately trafficked out of the US by someone she didn't know
'More than one person knows what happened,' he said, urging them to come forward.

The Kesse family has long criticized the initial police response.

'The first police officer looked round her apartment and said 'oh she probably had a fight with her boyfriend, she'll be back' and walked out. And that's when we lost Jennifer.'

At the time, Florida law didn't require immediate searches for missing adults, prompting the passage of the Jennifer Kesse and Tiffany Sessions Missing Persons Act in 2008.

Frustrated with the investigation, the family sued to access case records in 2018. They uncovered overlooked evidence, including signs of a possible struggle on Jennifer's car that were never tested for DNA.

'So we lost a lead there too,' he said. 'There was a lot of things that were not done as it wasn't taken seriously.

The family has spent over $700,000 searching for answers.

In 2022, FDLE took over the case, reigniting hope. Investigators have spoken to over 60 people in the past year, followed dozens of leads, and submitted evidence for new DNA testing.

Surveillance footage captured a person of interest leaving Jennifer's car at another condo complex on the day she disappeared

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Surveillance footage captured a person of interest leaving Jennifer's car at another condo complex on the day she disappeared
CCTV shows person of interest in Jennifer Kesse disappearance



Grainy footage shows a figure who cops want to speak to

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Grainy footage shows a figure who cops want to speak to
Jennifer¿s dad is hopeful a new team of investigators and a chilling piece of surveillance footage will finally hold the key to bringing his daughter home

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Jennifer¿s dad is hopeful a new team of investigators and a chilling piece of surveillance footage will finally hold the key to bringing his daughter home
'They have put full energy into trying to find out what happened to Jennifer,' he said. 'It seems as though now, after 19 years, it's Jennifer's time.'

Theories about her disappearance have pointed to construction workers at her condo complex, some of whom made Jennifer uncomfortable.

A set of keys had also been stolen around the time she vanished. Her father believes she was abducted and likely trafficked.

'I think it was a job for someone - probably to pay off a debt of some sort - and they came, did the job and then left. I don't think she is in the country and I don't think she was in the country very quickly,' he said.

'I don't think it was about Jennifer but they wanted a beautiful white woman with blue eyes and blond hair.'

After years of searching, he has come to terms with the belief that Jennifer is no longer alive, though her mother still holds hope.

'I believe Jennifer will have fought at some point - we taught her to fight - and I think she took her chances...I think she's no longer with us.'

Time is running out, he fears. 'The sad thing is people might be dead by this time. We've had detectives who have worked on the case who have passed away,' Drew Kesse said.

The Kesse family has spent 19 years and around $700,000 desperately searching for the missing 24-year-old



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The Kesse family has spent 19 years and around $700,000 desperately searching for the missing 24-year-old
When Jennifer¿s car was found back in 2006, investigators noticed signs of what appeared to be a struggle on the hood of the vehicle (pictured)

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When Jennifer¿s car was found back in 2006, investigators noticed signs of what appeared to be a struggle on the hood of the vehicle (pictured)
The Mosaic at Millenia condo complex in Orlando where Jennifer lived. Inside her condo, everything appeared to be as it should be on the morning of her disappearance

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The Mosaic at Millenia condo complex in Orlando where Jennifer lived. Inside her condo, everything appeared to be as it should be on the morning of her disappearance
'People we wanted to talk to who have passed away. That person [who took Jennifer] might no longer be here, they might have passed or might be in another country. Obviously the longer things go on, the less chances you have.'

Jennifer was declared legally dead in 2016, and her family recently parted with her car, having exhausted all possible forensic testing.

For Kesse, the hardest part has been realizing that 'life goes on' while his daughter remains missing.

'We're strong people. We don't have a choice, well we do have a choice. We can go around the corner and cry but we choose to be proactive and to try to find our daughter to this day.

Kesse is determined that he'll never stop looking for Jennifer.

'We're never going to give up trying and doing everything we can. My biggest hope is that we can bring Jennifer home before Joyce and I pass. I was 48 when this started and I'm 68 now. I don't want to leave this for her brother,' Kesse said.

'I don't want to go to my grave not knowing where my daughter is.


'I don't expect her to be alive. I don't expect her to come back home to daddy. I do expect her to be found and identified.'

Information on Kesse can be sent to the email: OROCColdCaseTips@fdle.state.fl.us
 
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Jennifer Kesse's family receives new hope in missing person case​

Drew Kesse and his wife received new information from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement regarding their missing daughter, Jennifer Kesse, who vanished from her Orlando condo nearly 20 years ago.

"It's great news to us. It's great news. It's better than sitting here saying, well, what are they doing? Are they doing the right things because they never done the right things before," Drew Kesse said.


Her father said the lead FDLE agent on the case in Orlando provided some key information.

"The people of interest list has shrunk considerably. They are definitely on a trail of something they are telling us. Secondly, Jennifer's case is no longer considered cold," Drew Kesse said.

He also mentioned that FDLE found evidence that was never tested.

"Overall, things are moving forward. I heard it in their voice. They're excited and they truly believe that they're finally doing the right thing for Jennifer," Drew Kesse said.

He expressed confidence that the Orlando office is fully committed to working on Jennifer's case.

"I think Jennifer does have the best opportunity of being found right now, for good or bad. Personally, I don't think Jennifer coming home alive, but we need to find Jennifer period," he said.


Tuesday marked Jennifer's 44th birthday, and the family, currently in Utah, plans to celebrate at a local restaurant.

"We'll raise a glass, have some cake, and celebrate Jennifer. Jennifer is not put in a corner or in a closet with us. Jennifer is very much part of our lives," Drew Kesse said.

Drew Kesse also expressed gratitude to the public for their support over the last 19 years, encouraging them to continue providing clues.

"We don't quit. We'll never quit and we'll do whatever it takes to find Jennifer. Period," he said.

FDLE took over the case in 2022, and on its social media pages, agents have listed Jennifer as "MISSING BUT NOT FORGOTTEN." Investigators emphasize that even the smallest piece of information can help with the investigation.
 

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