ORLANDO, Fla. -- A new lead may help police find missing Orlando woman Jennifer Kesse. Police searched through a huge hole they dug in an empty field near Kesse's apartment (images | video), where she disappeared three years ago.

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SEE THE SEARCH: View Images | Raw Video
KESSE'S FATHER: Interview With Drew Kesse On Search

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The field is on John Young Parkway and Millenia Boulevard (see map). It's just a stone's throw away from Kesse's old apartment, The Mosaic at Millenia (see map showing both locations).

All day, Orlando police investigators, using unmarked cars, kept a low profile as they dug for clues in one of the country's most publicized missing person's cases. They confirmed it was the search for clues in Jennifer Kesse's disappearance.

"It's very difficult to go through," said Jennifer's father, Drew, in a phone interview with Eyewitness News from his home in Bradenton (listen to full interview).

Drew Kesse told Eyewitness News the field is one area that has really bothered him. A lake on the property was half-filled with dirt and then graded over shortly after his daughter vanished.

"It's just so easy. Something could have been thrown in there and so much dirt came over the property," he said.

Last week, a private company contacted Drew and volunteered to search. It had several cadaver dogs hit on something in the field and sonar equipment detected something, too. That's why Orlando police showed up Monday to dig. But after hours of digging and using police dogs, they came up with nothing.

"We're glad that they brought it to our attention like they did," said Sgt. Barbara Jones, Orlando Police Department. "We haven't found anything at this location to move the investigation forward."

It was bittersweet news for the Kesse family. They seek closure while struggling to hold out hope Jennifer is somehow still alive.

"Someday it has to be, we're going to find Jennifer, someday," Drew said.

Drew also told Eyewitness News the private company has agreed to search other areas, too, but so far nothing has been scheduled. Even though police came up with nothing, they are still more than willing to follow any leads that come in.

Kesse was 25 years old when she disappeared from her Mosaic Millenia condo in Orlando in January 2006. Police later found her car at an apartment complex a mile from her home. Surveillance video captured someone walking away from the car, but investigators have been unable to identify that person.