ORLANDO, Fla. — Tuesday marks 19 years since Jennifer Kesse vanished from her Orlando condo near Universal Studios, leaving her family searching for answers that have yet to come.
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Jennifer, then 24 years old, was last seen on January 23, 2006. Her disappearance has remained one of Central Florida’s most perplexing mysteries, but her family has never given up hope of finding her.
Jennifer’s father, Drew Kesse, vividly remembers the day it all began.
“She had a meeting that morning and did not make it,” Drew told WFTV. “I called Jennifer, and it went straight to voicemail after one ring. I knew something was wrong.”
Her car was found two days later, abandoned a mile from her condo at Mosaic at Millenia. Surveillance video showed a person of interest near the vehicle, but their identity remains unknown.
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“When we met the police at Jennifer’s condo, the officer said, ‘She probably had a fight with her boyfriend,’ and walked out,” Drew recalled. “That’s when Jennifer lost, and this all began.”
Over the years, the Kesse family has followed countless tips and leads, some offering glimmers of hope, only to end in heartbreak.
“They said, ‘We got her. She’s in Mexico,’” Drew said, recounting a call from law enforcement years ago. “An hour later, they said, ‘It wasn’t her.’ I said, ‘Okay.’”
Despite the ups and downs, Drew and his wife, Joyce, remain hopeful.
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“Give me that much of her. Just tell me the DNA matches. I don’t want to pass and not find my daughter,” Drew said. “I’ll go through all the ‘no’s’ to get to the ‘yes.’”
Jennifer’s case is now being handled by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), which the Kesse family believes is giving her case the attention it deserved from the beginning.
“We still get leads every week,” Drew said. “The general public solves cases. They’ve been there for Jennifer and our family, and we hope they don’t stop. We’re humbled and very gracious.”
If you have any information about Jennifer Kesse’s disappearance, contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the Orlando Police Department.
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