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How Did Jennifer Kesse Disappear From the Face of the Earth?
Jennifer Kesse was a beautiful, hard-working, 24-year-old woman in 2006. She was already so successful that she had recently purchased a condominium — no small feat for someone in their early twenties. Jennifer’s new home was in a rough part of Orlando, Florida, but the area was being revitalized.
Jennifer’s parents, Drew and Joyce Kesse, were uneasy about their daughter living in such a sketchy area, but they had taught Jennifer to be hypervigilant and to always take safety precautions. Yet, despite taking safety seriously, Jennifer disappeared and almost 14 years later, her whereabouts and what happened to her remain a mystery.
Safety First
Most parents give their kids safety tips. Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t get into the car of someone you don’t know. Lock your doors when you get in the car. Keep your doors and windows locked when you’re home alone.
However, Drew and Joyce Kesse took things a step further in advising their two children, daughter Jennifer and son Logan, and for good reason. The couple had been robbed at gunpoint years earlier when they still lived in New Jersey.
So, Jennifer had gotten into the habit of taking extra precautions to protect herself, such as carrying her keys so that they protruded from between her fingers in case she needed to stab a would-be attacker. She phoned home frequently and always — always — answered the phone when her mom or dad called. She checked in with family and friends every night before going to bed.
The new condominium complex where Jennifer lived was unfinished, so it was common for construction workers to be milling about. They often had to come in and out of Jennifer’s condo, which made her more than a little bit nervous. She left her door unlocked during the day while she was at work. When she came home on her lunch break, she would keep the front door open while she made a phone call, so someone could always hear what was going on in the background.
