Jennifer Kesse cold case active again after 19 years with new evidence
The disappearance of Jennifer Kesse from her Orlando condo complex nearly two decades ago has remained a haunting mystery for her family and investigators. Jennifer, 24, vanished without a trace on the morning of Jan. 24, 2006, leaving her family desperate for answers.
Her father, Drew Kesse, recalls the moment he received a call from Jennifer’s workplace, informing him that she had missed a morning meeting and was nowhere to be found. Concerned, he tried calling her, but her phone went straight to voicemail, signaling that something was terribly wrong.
Upon arriving at Jennifer’s apartment, her parents found her belongings laid out on the bed but no sign of their daughter. A call to the Orlando Police Department led to a dismissive response, with authorities suggesting that Jennifer had simply had a fight with her boyfriend and would return. Unfortunately, that was the last chance to find her.
Years passed with little progress in the search for Jennifer, prompting her family to file a lawsuit against the City of Orlando, the Orlando Police Department, and the mayor’s office for their mishandling of the case. The lawsuit resulted in the release of 16,000 pages of investigative materials, which Drew Kesse used to assemble a team of law enforcement experts to continue the search for his daughter.
In November 2022, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement took over the case and recently informed Kesse of new DNA evidence that could potentially lead to a breakthrough. With a list of persons of interest provided by Kesse’s team, investigators are narrowing down their focus and reclassifying the case as active.
The use of new technology, including enhanced security footage and artificial intelligence, has provided hope for identifying a person of interest seen parking Jennifer’s car and walking away. Witnesses reported seeing Jennifer in a struggle with a man in her vehicle, and evidence suggested a possible altercation at her condo complex.
Despite the challenges and setbacks in the search for Jennifer, her family remains determined to uncover the truth and bring her home. The passage of “The Jennifer Kesse and Tiffany Sessions Missing Persons Act” in the Florida House of Representatives signifies a commitment to reforming how missing persons cases are handled, ensuring that families like the Kesses receive the support and attention they deserve.
As they continue to work with authorities and await any new information that may shed light on Jennifer’s disappearance, the Kesse family remains hopeful that justice will prevail and they will finally have closure. The search for Jennifer Kesse is a reminder of the enduring strength and resilience of families in the face of tragedy.
