As the hours went by, their panic became unbearable. "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. It explains the haphazard way the 2004 Chevy Malibu Jennifer Kesse drove was left at Huntington on the Green. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Peter Van Sant: The last time police officially questioned Chino was back in 2009. The case centers on Jennifer Kesse, who disappeared on January 24, 2006, when she didnt show up for work. Workers that live there would certainly be aware of her presence and her car parked in its numbered spot. there was footprints in my closet. I love her. Peter Van Sant: You had nothing to do with her disappearance? Det. "She was on a cloud." . They had no better luck with the forensics inside Jennifer's car. reported by "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. Clockwise from top left, Ashley, Peter Van Sant, Colleen and Tami. You saw all the workers at that complex. From all appearances, Jennifer Kesse of Orlando, Florida was a happy, successful, well-adjusted 24-year-old woman with a bright future. Torretta told FOX News that he suspects Kesse was attacked from behind while she was locking her front door and potentially forced into a vacant unit on the same floor. More than 15 years after Jennifer Kesse vanished, her parents Drew and Joyce Kesse are leading the investigation into their daughter's case. She deserved that. Magnus: One of your theories is that she may have been taken by somebody who'd been watching her, stalking . Didn't appear that it was a car theft. Peter Van Sant: What's intriguing based on your investigation is the men that were in the apartment across from Jennifer's were putting down carpet that day. When we asked about Jennifer Kesse, Chino quickly reiterated that he was innocent. It explains the oddities concerning where Jennifer Kesse's car was found at Huntington on the Green. 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. Did you ever meet her? And, how fast can we find that person?'" I stood in a courtroom alone while a judge declared her deceased. She graduated with honours in 2003 with a degree in finance. Peter Van Sant [2008] What do we know was going on around Jennifer's condominium at that time? The canvassing started then and then it got more intense as the days went on and we eventually had horses and helicopters and everything else up in the air looking around. On March 18, 2009, Wright interviewed Chino in prison and asked him about that time he worked in Jennifer's condo. Kesse worked at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company as a finance manager and had graduated from the University of Central Florida with honors. And they just look,''" Drew Kesse recalled. Jennifer Kesse was very close with her entire family, but she was a true Daddy's girl. Sgt. He was wearing a backwards baseball cap, a plain white T-shirt and what appeared to be coveralls or overalls of some kind. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Colleen: We were a gated community. Kesse was last seen at her Orlando condo near Mall at Millenia. He also learned that 10 months after Kesse disappeared, a person was seen dumping a rolled-up piece of carpet into a lake not far from her condo. Lauren McCarthy: She was always on the radar with everybody. What was concerning about this was the area it was located is not an area frequented by Jennifer. He was serving time in a Florida prison for statutory rape of a teenage girl a crime he committed two years after Jennifer disappeared. And now with the case files in their possession, they are more determined than ever to keep their daughter's story alive. Lauren McCarthy | Jennifer's best friend: Can I just have a second? Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The phantom figure walked away in the direction of Jennifer's complex. She spoke by phone with her boyfriend, Rob Allen, who lived in Ft. Lauderdale - three hours away from Orlando where . Louis Bolden | WKMG investigative reporter: To meet the Kesses is to love the Kesses. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Then in 2010, Detective Wright was moved off the case. She was a successful 24-year-old finance manager working for Westgate Resorts, who had a supportive family and loving boyfriend. 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. "I want to do my best and bring Jennifer Kesse home to them one day," he said. Joel Wright: Chino was very cooperative. But it was anything but fine. Kesses parents said their daughter did not feel comfortable around building maintenance workers. I had an ex boyfriend once who would not let the relationship go. One of the most popular theories is that Kesse was abducted by a construction worker, who may have been working for her condominium complex. Michael Torretta is a private investigator who works for the Kesses. Anyone withinformation about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, is asked to visit the "Find Jennifer Kesse" Facebook page. The suspect was short and slight. Jennifer Joyce Kesse seemed to have everything going for her. She showered, got dressed. Chino [talking to a woman in his home]: Mi amor. Drew Kesse: Chino should expect to hear from us. Peter Van Sant: Where were you the morning of January 24th, 2006? That was the last time he would ever speak to Jennifer again. Chino also told him, "I don't have any idea what happened to her." 3. In 2018, Orlando Rolon became the Orlando police chief. In December 2018, Joyce and Drew Kesse sued the Orlando Police Department for Jennifer's case files. It does not explain the logistics associated with two vehicles unless the co-worker parked at Mosaic or nearby before they abducted her or took the bus to Mosaic. Joyce Kesse: I think that my heart stopped Sheer panic. It's actually a complex that's been known where stolen cars were -- would be recovered from. Sgt. These things don't happen to you," said her boyfriend, Rob Allen. As he continued his investigation, Torretta learned that 10 months after Jennifer disappeared, a person was seen dumping a rolled-up piece of carpet into a lake not far from her condo. If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, please visit the "Find Jennifer Kesse" Facebook page. 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? Updated on: July 7, 2021 / 12:11 PM He said they were uncooperative. So I think they were scared. Michael Torretta: It's impossible to find those individuals. And I think she got up for work as she normally would. At the time she disappeared, Kesses building was being converted from apartments to condos, and construction workers were at the property frequently. We try to answer these questions and start to put together a theory of the events as our Tracy Ocasio investigation continues. I'm Peter Van Sant with CBS News. She was not depressed, and she did not abuse alcohol nor do drugs. Det. In fact, everywhere they looked, everything seemed normal. Michael Torretta: I want to do my best and bring Jennifer Kesse home to them one day. Joel Wright: At that point I thought the investigation was kicking into gear. Rob Allen: She was a little emotional saying, oh, you know, that "you don't love me. Start to work. he had dark hair My theory: the suspect appeared to be a painter or an upholsterer of some kind. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. by Sarah Jae Leiber Oct. 21, 2020 Jennifer Kesse was. "The hole in our heart is forever there until we have an answer. She did look familiar. Obviously we don't know if this was Jennifer's sweater, but ex seems like the type to shop at banana republic. "This is something that is haunting me," private investigator Michael Torretta said. If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse's disappearance, please visit the "Find Jennifer Kesse"Facebook page. It looked as though two people were fighting over the steering wheel.. After Chino's name came up multiple times, the Kesse team was anxious to talk to him. Ashley: I sat on it for a little bit. First published on October 24, 2020 / 11:01 PM. The story of Jennifer Kesse has been featured on 48 hours mysteries, there are documentaries about her and countless news outlets have covered Jennifer's mys. A new witness has also been found. The broadcast includes new theories on what may have happened to Kesse and the family's own investigation into the search for their daughter. The Kesses have taken on the investigation themselves after being frustrated with the lack of results from law enforcement. Scan this QR code to download the app now, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUwhUPGXeUE. 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. She just lit up the room, Joyce Kesse told FOX News. Those closest to Jennifer would confirm that, not . 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. After that, I believe she was abducted," he said. Logan Kesse [2008]: [emotional] It's your sister, it's your family, it's your blood. Explore the latest news & podcasts. Jennifer Kesse was last heard from at around 10 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2006. And that's not all he learned. Continue with Recommended Cookies. If the abductor was on foot, why were they then so concerned with putting the car over a mile away in the opposite direction and then walking back to whatever street corner or coffee shop parking lot they first encountered Jennifer Kesse, who was presumably on her way to work? But the call did not go well. The disappearance of Jennifer Kesse 23 photos But, by early evening, when there was still no sign of Jennifer, police officially declared her missing. You unfortunately take things for granted. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An upcoming episode of "48 Hours" on CBS will feature the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. Drew Kesse: That was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. Theories. She was very aware of her surroundings. Det. This has been backed up by the FBI who also are down and checked out the figures. It's not about us. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. But it is highly unpopular. We dont care how and, frankly, we dont care who. Or this person felt they had to correct their parking position when they parked Jennifer Kesse's car. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer' Kesse's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. Sgt. While observing the front of the victims vehicle, these detectives observed what appeared to have been someone being pushed across the head of the vehicle, Orlando Police Department Detective Julius Gause wrote in a report obtained by the news outlet. I just think of Jennifer all the time. And much like the co-worker theory, it does not explain why others who worked at Mosaic would not have been suspicious of one of their own workers if they are not involved. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. Drew Kesse: It was never secured by Orlando Police. MU Podcasts. Con's: It does not explain why Jennifer Kesse's car is parked at Huntington on the Green. And in fact, weeks later he did. The photos look suspicious and show what appears to be a hand mark going across the hood, Torretta told the news outlet. It does not explain the logistics of two vehicles. We miss her every day.. Sgt. Michael Torretta: What I'm thinking is Jennifer comes out. Peter Van Sant: Now you were the maintenance man there. If the car is not a part of the abduction itself, you do not make it a part of it unless it is necessary. Michael Torretta: We all have kids that this could've happened to and as parents we need to help out each other. Chino with "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. But when detectives opened the trunk of the car, Jennifer wasn't there. That day, Chino took a polygraph test and he passed. But, still, no one knew where Jennifer was. It's another challenge in the Kesse family's search for Jennifer, but Drew Kesse says they will never stop looking. by the walk. DREW KESSE: We don't have her. Manage Settings That is how we knew something horrendous had happened," Joyce Kesse said. And I said, "are you kidding me?". 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?". . Joel Wright: Unfortunately, the witnesses couldn't say which way the car went once it got out onto the surface road. As the desperate hours went by, Sergeant Roger Brennan and his team of investigators searched the streets of Orlando looking for Jennifer Kesse. 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. JENNIFER KESSE - EPISODE 3: CHINO (MINDSHOCK TRUE CRIME)Examining the most prominent Person of Interest in the Jennifer Kesse disappearance, condo worker "Ch. Drew and Joyce Kesse said they will never stop looking for their daughter and have launched aGoFundMe pageto help with the investigation. Peter Van Sant [2008]: Do you think the car was cleaned by someone? Detective Joel Wright was still trying to solve this confounding mystery. I have a meeting. Sunday marked 15 years since she . I didn't like it. Jennifer Kesse failed to report to work on Jan. 24, 2006. Peter Van Sant: What did you see the first time you walked in? Michael Torretta: Yes. 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. They're just good people. We hope that by showing the public these photos, someone will come forward with information theyve been holding onto for all these years.. Louis Bolden: At the time, we thought, "They want what? Michael Torretta: There's never been one quarterback on this case. Ashley: I remember him being fun and friendly, talkative. And Chino is 5'9" -- taller than the figure's height estimated by police. But he did move to AZ not long after. It looked like someone was thrown down on the top of the hood arms spread out and then dragged back almost like off the hood to the point where you can almost see fingers scribbling down the hood, Drew Kesse told FOX News. Everything You Need to Know About the WICKED Movie, TALKING IT OUT Virtual Film Festival to Open Next Week, Donna Benedicto Admitted Into The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. But it did. It wasn't a great feeling. Link contains a photo of Jennifer, an age progression photo, a photo of the person who dropped off her car, and information about the case. Pro's: It explains why there were no witnesses. Peter Van Sant [2008]: What do you believe happened? Unfortunately the witnesses could not say which direction her car went once it got to the road that runs by her complex. Joel Wright: Some of the people who were working on the property left. A pair of work shoes she had spoken to her mom about were gone, along with her cellphone, the friend's work phone, her briefcase (which was often left in her car), and her car.
