Jennifer Kesse chilly case lively once more after 19 years with new proof

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Practically 20 years after a Florida woman vanished from her residence constructing with out a hint, authorities have introduced a brand new break that might breathe new life right into a previously chilly case.

Jennifer Kesse, 24, vanished from her Orlando condo complex after leaving for work on the morning of Jan. 24, 2006, stumping each state and federal investigators as authorities raced to catch her abductor.

"About an hour and a half into the workday, I obtained a name from her work," Drew Kesse, Jennifer’s father, instructed Fox Information Digital. "They usually stated, ‘Hey, Jennifer had a gathering this morning, it’s not like her to indicate up. Are you aware the place she is?’"

MISSING FLORIDA WOMAN JENNIFER KESSE'S FATHER HOPES FOR ANSWERS 18 YEARS AFTER

Jennifer Kesse smiles in an undated household photograph. (Courtesy of the Kesse Household )

Kesse instantly tried to succeed in his daughter – counting on a household rule that they might at all times reply one another's calls – however her cellphone went straight to voicemail.

"I knew one thing was incorrect instantly," Kesse stated.

Kesse and his spouse, Joyce, shortly made the two-hour drive from their dwelling in Tampa to Orlando, the place they discovered their daughter’s residence empty with a number of outfit decisions laid out on the mattress.

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Jennifer Kesse and her father, Drew, open presents in an undated household photograph. (Courtesy of the Kesse Household )

The mother and father instantly known as the Orlando Police Division to report Jennifer lacking.

"They seemed round her residence, shrugged their shoulders and stated, ‘She had a struggle together with her boyfriend most likely, she’ll be again,’" Kesse stated. "They walked out. And that was Jennifer’s final probability."

Greater than a decade later, the household filed a lawsuit in opposition to the Metropolis of Orlando, OPD and the mayor’s workplace, citing a botched investigation into Kesse's disappearance and requesting paperwork pertaining to the search.

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Jennifer Kesse has been lacking since she was final seen at her Orlando residential complicated on Jan. 24, 2006. (FDLE/ Fox Information)

OPD, the Metropolis of Orlando and the mayor's workplace didn't instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.

The lawsuit resulted within the first profitable request for data involving an ongoing case, with town handing over 16,000 pages of supplies concerned within the investigation. Drew Kesse compiled a group of 13 members of legislation enforcement – together with former U.S. Secret Service and FBI brokers – to proceed advancing the seek for his daughter.

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In November 2022, the Florida Division of Legislation Enforcement (FDLE) took over the case , with any leads into Kesse’s disappearance ultimately working chilly.

Till final month, when Kesse obtained a name from FDLE telling him that investigators had obtained new DNA proof and, utilizing a listing compiled by Kesse’s group, narrowed down their individuals of curiosity.

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Jennifer Kesse smiles alongside her mom, Joyce. (Courtesy of the Kesse household )

"[FDLE] stated that they now not think about Jennifer’s case chilly," Kesse stated. "It's lively. They're on what they should do they usually actually imagine that they're getting someplace."

FDLE declined Fox Information Digital’s request for remark, citing the continued investigation.

Kesse credit the break in the case to his personal group of investigators and new expertise eradicating earlier roadblocks pertaining to proof.

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An FBI handout photograph reveals an individual of curiosity within the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. (FBI )

The group requested NASA to reinforce safety footage revealing Jennifer’s automobile was faraway from her residence complicated on the day of her disappearance, reemerging three days later at a separate apartment parking zone one mile down the street, with the motive force’s face obscured by a close-by gate the place the car was discovered.

"We have now movie of that [car] being parked," Kesse instructed Fox Information Digital. "An individual stays in it for 32 seconds, will get out and walks away."

Kesse hopes using artificial intelligence will lead investigators to establish the individual of curiosity.

Moreover, two witnesses beforehand reported seeing Jennifer and a person preventing whereas within the entrance seat of her black Chevy Malibu. Information obtained by the household additionally indicated the hood of Jennifer’s car was lined with mud from ongoing building at her apartment complicated and indicated indicators of a battle.

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"An unidentified individual of curiosity and doable suspect was photographed parking Jennifer Kesse’s car and strolling away. The unidentified individual was roughly 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-5 and was sporting white garments much like a painter or a guide employee," a missing persons flyer from the FDLE says. "Previous to Kesse’s disappearance, she had complained about some building staff that have been engaged on her residence complicated and have been making her uneasy."

For now, the household is anxiously awaiting any new data that might doubtlessly reveal what occurred to Jennifer.

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"I wish to know the place Jennifer is," Kesse stated. "Lifeless or alive."

Anybody with details about Jennifer’s disappearance is inspired to contact FDLE’s Orlando workplace at (407) 245-0888 or OROCColdCaseTips@fdle.state.fl.us .

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In mild of Jennifer’s disappearance, the Florida Home of Representatives unanimously handed "The Jennifer Kesse and Tiffany Periods Lacking Individuals Act," essentially reforming how missing persons reports are investigated in Florida by requiring legislation enforcement companies to enact written insurance policies for dealing with such instances.

"Till authorities lastly put [Jennifer’s disappearance] collectively, hopefully very quickly, we’ll preserve working," Kesse instructed Fox Information Digital. "We preserve shifting ahead with the authorities, hopefully to carry her dwelling sometime."

Fox Information Digital's Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.

Julia Bonavita is a U.S. Author for Fox Information Digital and a Fox Flight Staff drone pilot. You'll be able to comply with her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and ship story tricks to julia.bonavita@fox.com.