He had never heard of the Kesse case until his wife told him about it. Unconcluded is the latest in a series of true-crime podcasts that have exploded onto the podcast scene, drawing millions of listeners and spawningparallel investigations into often decades-old criminal cases. The comments keep going on," he said. previously reported that no signs of a struggle were evident. Two days after Jennifer Kesse went missing, her black Chevy Malibu was found in another condo complex parking lot approximately 1 mile away from where she lived. Her familys pursuit to discover what happened to her has led them to the bottom of lakes and from Mexico to Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. Gurd also runs a Facebook group discussion page where people from all over the world discuss and debate the Kesse case all day, every day. Monday marks 16 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared. It looked as though two people were fighting over the steering wheel.". 81 2017, 5:20 PM. I mean, anyone in our shoes I cant imagine a family not trying to seek answers for their child.. Her black Chevy Malibu was found abandoned one mile away from her home. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer' Kesse's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. Kesse was last seen at her Orlando condo near Mall at Millenia. Is it the kidnapper? Her black Chevy Malibu was found abandoned one mile away from her home. January 25, 2018OPD Announces Enhanced Focus in Jennifer Kesse Disappearance CaseCity of OrlandoGovernment Website. "She vanished. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. No, other than her statements.". "The 'citizen detectives,' they want to be involved and try to help.". Jennifer Kesse was first reported missing on January 24, 2006. "What this podcast is doing is allowing people to be engaged. "They are definitely raising awareness again in a big way and the thoughts and people who have been sidelined seem to be finally coming out to speak. Kesses family says they are now convinced the image of the black Chevrolet sedan could hold the key to solving her disappearance. Jennifer Kesse has been missing for 17 years: Her family hasn't stopped the search Her family has renewed hope after investigators with the FDLE joined the search. One of the first and most popular, Serial, began in 2014 with a look into the 1999 murder of an 18-year-old Baltimore high school student. An OPD spokesperson said Sprague looks into every lead she receives from Gurd and has weekly conversations with Kesse's parents, Drew and Joyce. We really havent seen the general public involved in this type of cold case exploration before these podcasts, he said. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The two are up-front about their qualifications or lack thereof. Follow him on Twitter at: @MrRJervis. What Happened Before Jennifer Kesse Vanished? Copyright 2017 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Jennifer Kesse was first reported missing on January 24, 2006. "It's really about getting the community back involved.". Kesse was reported missing on Jan. 24, 2006, after failing to show up to her job as a financial analyst. Drew Kesse believes, the markings on the hood, show signs of Kesse was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. and from Mexico to Russia, according to Fox News. Seventeen heart-shaped balloons were left at the Mosaic at Millenia complex where Kesse was last seen on January 24, 2006. UPDATES: Get news alerts and updates in the free FOX 13 News app. When questioned about the vehicle, several residents confirmed it had been parked there for several days. "We want everyone in the world to help.". I don't claim to be. We dont plan on stopping anytime soon, Gurd said. Tuesday marked 17 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando. Seventeen years ago, Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando in a high-profile case that made national news. 3. Gurd said if the woman is telling the truth, it would mean Kesse, not just her car, was at Huntington on the Green. It also gives them freedom to address possible leads not typically presented in traditional media. "A real-time investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse," is how Gurd describes it in his bi-monthly podcast. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. Drew Kesse believes, the markings on the hood, show signs of a violent struggle. "We never want it to be a business we're not out to make money.". His Facebook page at one point had more than 10,000 followers, but he shut it down when his family began receiving death threats, extortion claims and other sordid proposals, he said. Jennifer Kesse before her disappearance, left, and how she may look today, at right. "The car was moving erratically," the witness told Fox News. He said they're not his podcasts, they're everyone's. "It's really about the awareness, is really the point of the podcast, is the awareness. People who didnt know about Jennifer Kesse two months ago do now. Its been learn as we go, he said. Kudos to 'Unconcluded' thus far.". The episodes explore the case, interviewing family and witnesses and correcting misinformation along the way. Today, its garnering more than 300,000 a month and growing and has led to a half-dozen credible leads. At approximately 8 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, a resident of the Huntington on the Green condominium complex reported they found Jennifer Kesse's car in a visitor's spot in the parking lot. It was an instant cultural phenomenon, becoming the fastest podcast to reach 5 million downloads in iTunes history. Gurd hopes and believes that eventually his podcast will reach someone key to the investigation who doesn't know Kesse is missing, didn't think a tip was important enough to report it to police or was previously afraid to come forward. Gurd and Jamison have produced six episodes and five bonus commentary featurettes so far in the podcast. WebA young woman vanishes from her Florida condo security footage captures a phantom figure calmly parking her car. 2. "The woman we talked to believes she saw Jennifer on Jan. 24, which was the day before she ended up being in the news," Gurd said. At the time she vanished, she was living in Orlando. ORLANDO The disappearance of 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse has vexed investigators, friends and family members since she vanished from her Orlando condo more than 11 years ago. Jervis is a national correspondent for USA TODAY. Jennifer Kesse was reported missing after she didnt show up to work on the morning of January 24, 2006. Monday marks 16 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared. Hes garnering a bigger and bigger audience every single week, and thats what she needs.. The hosts of the "Unconcluded" podcast are investigating leads in the case of missing Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse. Drew Kesse says a part of the settlement required the police department to hand over all of the files over a four-month period. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. The determined parents have since admitted they dont expect to find their daughter alive but insist they need answers to find any sense of closure. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. Her black Chevy Malibu was found abandoned one mile away from her home. Speaking into a basic USB microphone attached to his laptop, Gurd discusses with his partner ideas, suggestions, and potential leads in the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse. Jennifer Kesse's family was back in court Thursday after suing the Orlando Police Department in an attempt to obtain records of their missing daughter's case. A young woman vanishes from her Florida condo security footage captures a phantom figure calmly parking her car. Jennifer needs to come home, he said. "I think the biggest revelation that we've come across is, and this is something I was completely not expecting when we started this, is how much information that's out there about her case is just completely wrong.". Since that day in 2006, he has been contactedby scores of people and private investigators offering to help solve the case, only to be led down wrong paths or given misleading tips. The podcast has also pointed out deficiencies in the investigation headed by Orlando Police. Drew Kesse said he trusts that the woman believes she saw his daughter, but doubts she's correct. "We need people to realize that she's a human being.". Jennifer Kesse, 24, disappeared from Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 24, 2006. "It costs way more than anybody would think to do the investigations and travel," Gurd said. They spent the last 18 months pouring over every detail with a fine-tooth comb with their private investigator. January 24, 202115 years since Jennifer Kesse went missing, the familys investigating what happened to her and hope to have answers this yearABC 7 / WWSB / My Sun CoastNews Outlet. Her 2004 Chevy Malibu was found two days later about a mile away from her condo. When detectives reviewed surveillance video from the complex where Jennifer' Kesse's car was discovered, they saw a person parking her car. Anyone with information on this case can call the Orlando Police Department at 321-235-5300 if they wish to speak to a detective, or the Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS, if they wish to remain anonymous. Jennifer Kesse before her disappearance, left, and how she may look today, at right. Jennifer Kesse was last seen leaving work in Orlando, Florida on January 23, 2006. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. January 24, 202115 years since Jennifer Kesse went missing, the familys investigating what happened to her and hope to have answers this yearABC 7 / WWSB / My Sun CoastNews Outlet. More Videos The 24-year-old simply vanished and no one has ever been arrested. Shortly after she vanished, Kesse's car was discovered parked around a mile from her home. The 24-year-old simply vanished and no one has ever been arrested. The case so intrigued Shaun Gurd, a Tampa-area elementary teacher who heard about it from his wife, that he recently decided to start a podcast, along with friend Scott Jamison, looking into the details of the disappearance. But that lead has never led to any arrests, USA Todayreportedin 2017. 2. Kesse was last seen at her Orlando condo near Mall at Millenia. But he plans to continue broadcasting clues and theories in the Jennifer Kesse case for as long as it takes, he said. January 25, 2018OPD Announces Enhanced Focus in Jennifer Kesse Disappearance CaseCity of OrlandoGovernment Website. WebJennifer Joyce Kesse (born May 20, 1981) is an American woman from Orlando, Florida, who has been missing since January 23, 2006. Police later found her car parked at another condominium complex a mile away and grainy surveillance video captured the image of a person leaving the car and walking way. Margie Dempsey Bogus, who lives in Connecticut, said the collective approach helps spread the message of the Kesse case. Jennifer Kesse's family was back in court Thursday after suing the Orlando Police Department in an attempt to obtain records of their missing daughter's case. Another clue in the case involves a CCTV video of an individual exiting Kesse'scar before it was recovered by authorities. Jennifer Kesse was reported missing after she didnt show up to work on the morning of Jan. 24, 2006, according to WKMG. With fingertips and all, Drew Kesse said. Gurd says their approach helps grow their audience and most importantly keep people talking about the long-missing woman. Jennifer Kesse was reported missing after she didnt show up to work on the morning of January 24, 2006. An anonymous witness told Fox News she saw Kesses sedan swerving in traffic near an exit by the condo where she lived on the morning she was reported missing. 2. They tell their listeners they're "not police, reporters or investigators." Erik von Ancken anchors and reports for WKMG-TV News 6 (CBS) in Orlando and is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist in the prestigious and coveted "On-Camera Talent" categories for both anchoring and reporting. Orlando Police spokeswoman Michelle Guido said detectives on the case have vetted more than 150 tips on the Jennifer Kesse case that have come in through the Crimeline number and have been in nearly weekly contact with the family. Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield, Ohio, At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, Grizzlies star Ja Morant to miss at least 2 games after alleged gun incident, How Paul Murdaugh testified "from the grave" to help convict his father, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Promising drug could provide alternative to statins, new study finds, Iran to allow more inspections at nuclear sites, U.N. says, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead. Gurd, a fifth-grade teacher in Tampa, and his partner Scott Jamison, a college athletics teacher in Gainesville, regularly meet in Orlando to investigate potential leads, Gurd said. They say they don't make a profit from the operation, though they do have a page on a website where listeners can donate to their cause. "We don't want to air something on the podcast that's going to add to the misinformation that's already out there," Gurd said. Monday marks 16 years since Jennifer Kesse disappeared. Erik joined the News 6 News Team in 2003 days after the tragic loss of space shuttle Columbia. It allows us to have some emotions behind it," Gurd said. ", "They are finding and speaking to people the police haven't," Drew Kesse said. In 2018, the family sued the Orlando Police Department in order to obtain the records pertaining to the case, the Orlando Sentinelreported. In three months, "Unconcluded" has averaged about 175,000 unique downloads per month and nearly 1,400 people are members of a Facebook discussion page about the podcast. Investigators found evidence suggesting she showered and got ready for work that morning, and police believe she left her condo about 8 a.m., they said. Seventeen heart-shaped balloons were left at the Mosaic at Millenia complex where Kesse was last seen on January 24, 2006. After the Tennessee jewelry store worker episode, police officials instructed dispatchers to route any callers wishing to speak to a detective on the Jennifer Kesse, or any other missing persons, casedirectly to the investigator in charge, she said. Jennifer Kesse was reported missing after she didnt show up to work on the morning of Jan. 24, 2006, according toWKMG. But he wants closure in the case, in any form that may take. "You can kind of form a community around it," he said. We're talking with people, we're not talking at people. There are about 150 different photos of the car overall, where we only saw three or four of the car up until that point, Kesse said. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. "This person holds the key to solving the case, Torretta said. "After 11 years, it's very difficult for her not to be an object," he said. When you see your podcast passing Katie Courics, its pretty interesting, Gurd, 35, said. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. When questioned about the vehicle, several residents confirmed it had been parked there for several days. 3. CBS News previously reported that no signs of a struggle were evident. Is it the kidnapper? Herfamilys pursuit to discover what happened to her has led them to thebottom of lakes and from Mexico to Russia, according to Fox News. Jennifer Kesse was reported missing after she didnt show up to work on the morning of January 24, 2006. At the time she vanished, she was living in Orlando. Google searches taught him how to edit audio and submit the episodes to iTunes. For example, in a recent episode, Gurd interviewed a Tennessee woman who swears she saw Kesse inside a jewelry shop in the year after her disappearance with a man who she thinks was trafficking her. More than a decade later, Drew Kesse said investigators know little else. Kesse was a graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa. Though the story has listeners across the county transfixed, Drew Kesse said he hopes people remember his daughter as a person. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Shortly after she vanished, Kesse's car was discovered parked around a mile from her home. Jennifer Kesse, 24, disappeared from Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 24, 2006. And no oneknows where she is.". Jennifer Kesse's parents plead for information on the 10th anniversary of her disappearance. Its unclear if the purported marks in the hood of Kesses car wereoverlooked by investigators following the initial police report. More Videos They can be found at unconcluded.com and on popular audio platforms such as iTunes, Spotify and iHeart Radio. "As Shaun and Scott offer their information, we, as listeners, get to come here and all interact and offer suggestions," she said. Gurd and Jamison forward the information they discover to law enforcement, and don't have plans to stop anytime soon. "When you put your heads together, ideas come up. In Gurd's most recent podcast, Episode 7, he played a phone interview with a woman who he and his partner believe lived at Huntington at the time when Kesse's car was abandoned. How is that?". "There is a huge true crime community out there," Jamison said. So far, Gurd and Jamison haveproduced six episodes and several other smaller broadcasts. Thats been a success in our book.. 81 2017, 5:20 PM. Her familys pursuit to discover what happened to her has led them to the bottom of lakes and from Mexico to Jennifer Kesse before her disappearance, left, and how she may look today, at right. Her Black Chevy Malibu was found abandoned one mile away from her home in Orlando. 81 2017, 5:20 PM. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. In April, hebought a $100 USB microphone from Amazon.com that connects directly to his laptop, downloaded audio software and started the podcast from the guestroom of his home. If you look really close, it almost looks like someone was slammed down over the front hood, drivers side like onto the hood, and then almost pulled off of it. January 25, 2018OPD Announces Enhanced Focus in Jennifer Kesse Disappearance CaseCity of OrlandoGovernment Website. disappeared almost 15 years ago, but her father now says that new images of her abandoned Chevrolet Malibu indicate that she may have been attacked before going missing. "I'm not going to solve this case. (Orlando Sentinel/Orlando Sentinel). Two days later, her black Chevy Malibu was found at an apartment complex in a high-crime area of Orlando, about a mile from her condo. ", "I think it's going to possibly go viral if he [Gurd] can hit home in one more episode or side bar," Drew Kesse said. They try to make sure all of the information and sources discussed in their podcast are credible. Gurd said his wife briefly worked with Kesse's mother. he said. Others followed, including In the Dark, which explored the 1989 abduction and murder of an 11-year-old boy, and Undisclosed, which investigates wrongful convictions, along with a slew of others with names like True Crime Garage and Someone Knows Something. "Absolutely, awareness is truly the most important thing in a missing persons case.". The fact that Gurd lived just an hours drive from Orlando and he hadnt heard of Kesses case motivated him to start the podcast and raise awareness, he said. Kesse was reported missing Jan. 24, 2006 when she didn't show up for work at Westgate Resorts in Ocoee. "The term 'homemade podcast' doesn't offend me," Jamison said. "In this particular case, we found a lot of information she gave to be credible. Is it the kidnapper? Two days later, her black Chevy Malibu was found at an apartment complex in a high-crime area of Orlando, about a mile from her condo. Seventeen years ago, Jennifer Kesse disappeared in Orlando in a high-profile case that made national news. The grainy video shows a man parking Kesse's car at Huntington and walking away. ORLANDO The disappearance of 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse has vexed investigators, friends and family members since she vanished from her Orlando condo more than 11 years ago. Gurd and Jamison who have families and full-time jobs began working on the podcast earlier this year, buying a microphone on the internet and teaching themselves audio production techniques. The "engaging, smart and inquisitive" University of Central Florida graduate had just purchased her Mosaic at Millenia condo and was already making a higher salary than her father just two and a half years out of college, her father, Drew Kesse said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. That's the goal," Gurd said. When Tampa fifth-grade teacher Shaun Gurd first learned of the 11-year-old Orlando missing persons case of Jennifer Kesse, he grew obsessed with cracking the case. When questioned about the vehicle, several residents confirmed it had been parked there for several days. Jennifer Kesse has been missing for 17 years: Her family hasn't stopped the search Her family has renewed hope after investigators with the FDLE joined the search. Drew Kesse said the discussions can only help the seemingly stagnant case that's caused his family agony for 11 years. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. in a cold case involving a 24-year-old Florida business executive, who vanished in 2006, may indicate that a violent struggle unfolded before her disappearance, according to the womans family. When it launched earlier this year, the podcast, Unconcluded, drew around 15,000 downloads. Also making people aware that it's still unsolved, 11 years later.". I will take her any way I can get her., Anyone with information related to Kesses disappearance is urged to contact the Orlando Police Department at 321-235-5300 or the Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.