Jennifer Kesse

Infobox Person
name = Jennifer Kesse


caption = Undated photo of Jennifer Kesse
birth_name = Jennifer Joyce Kesse
birth_date = May 20, 1981
birth_place = Orlando, FL
nationality = American
known_for = Missing person
height = height|ft=5|in=8
parents = Drew and Joyce Kesse

Jennifer Joyce Kesse (born May 20, 1981) is a woman who lived in Orlando, Florida, and has been missing since January 24, 2006.

A graduate of Vivian Gaither High School in Tampa, Kesse attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando, graduating in 2003 with a degree in finance. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority; her former sorority sisters have led many searches to find Kesse.

When she disappeared, Kesse had relocated permanently to Orlando. She was working at Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company in nearby Ocoee and recently bought a condominium, where she was believed to be last seen. She was expected to come into work on January 24, but never showed up. On January 26, Orlando police found her Chevy Malibu in an apartment complex about one mile from her residence.

Orlando police have released few clues publicly in the case, but have photos of [http://jenniferkesse.com/person-of-interest.htm a "person of interest"] with whom they would like to speak. The person is seen in frames from a security video at the complex where Kesse's car was found. The frames were taken the day Kesse was reported missing. The FBI was called in to help determine the person's size and gender, but could only say the person was someone who was about 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-5.

Police also said at a February 21 news conference that they believe someone other than Kesse drove her car to the complex where it was found. They have not called the "person of interest" a suspect, but only say he or she is someone who was in the area when the car was dropped off.

The reward for information leading to her recovery was $115,000. An anonymous donor, however, set a deadline of March 19, 2006 for $100,000 of the reward, which would only have been given for the safe return of Kesse. The $15,000 remains available through [http://www.cfcrimeline.com/ Central Florida Crimeline.]

The missing woman has received national press attention in the United States, first by news reports in her home state of Florida, then by national exposure on "Good Morning America" on February 8. Over 1,000 people helped in a search party which first met at the Mall at Millenia southwest of downtown. On February 13, Greta Van Susteren, on her FOX News show, interviewed Kesse's parents with John Walsh from "America's Most Wanted". As a result of the exposure, Kesse's story is now on the [http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/brief.cfm?id=37544 America's Most Wanted website] , which broadcast the case in mid-February 2006.

In August of 2007, it was reported that her photo (which had been extensively distributed) was being used on dating websites.

On April 3, 2008, the Orlando Police Department released two new photos: one showing Jennifer Kesse's four-leaf clover tattoo (which is on her left hip just below her bikini line, about the size of a quarter) and a brown purse that she was believed to be carrying when she was abducted.

On Friday, May 2, 2008, The Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed Senate Bill 502 - "The Jennifer Kesse and Tiffany Sessions Missing Persons Act". It is now on the way to the Governor's desk for his signature. This Act was the direct result of the Kesse and Sessions Families working with Florida lawmakers to ensure that the missing persons laws in Florida are enhanced.

On Tuesday, July 1, 2008, the television series "48 Hours Mystery" had a special episode featuring Jennifer Kesse's case. The episode was entitled "Vanished".

Jennifer Kesse is still considered missing and endangered by Orlando Police, FBI, Orange County, Florida Police, FDLE, NCIC and NCMA. The person of interest has now been made into a prime suspect with the release of video captured the day of Jennifer's disappearance of that person driving her car, parking it, getting out and walking away, never looking back. The car was parked in the Huntington on The Green condominiums visitor's parking lot. On Friday, August 16, 2008, it was reported that the Orlando Police Department has now assigned a full-time detective to Jennifer Kesse's case.

Full details can be found at [http://www.findjenniferkesse.com FindJenniferKesse.com] . There is still a $10,000 reward from the family on the identity and whereabouts of the Prime Suspect as well as a $15,000 reward from Crimeline in Orlando for information leading to Jennifer's whereabouts. The Kesse Family tip line, which the Family owns and retrieves tips from daily, is 407-722-2162 and the Crimeline number is 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).

ee also

* Cold case (an unsolved criminal case)

External links

* [http://jenniferkesse.com Website put together by friends and family]
* [http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/brief.cfm?id=37544 Jennifer Kesse Missing Persons Profile On "America's Most Wanted"]