Orange County

Jennifer Kesse: Investigation into Orlando woman’s disappearance turned over to FDLE

ORLANDO, Fla. — The investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse more than 16 years ago has been given to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a cold case review.

Kesse’s family said FDLE’s cold case unit will take over and essentially restart the investigation into the Orlando woman’s 2006 disappearance from the beginning and work with OPD.

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Investigators will interview people Kesse’s law enforcement team has already identified as possible suspects or people who may have valuable information. But because they are retired, they don’t have the power to make an arrest.

It also means retesting evidence the Kesses say has not ever been retested. The family said they are excited about what now might be possible under FDLE.

WATCH: ‘The Search: Jennifer Kesse’

Drew Kesse has been vocal about what they feel have been missteps by Orlando police in the investigation.

The family says they did not want the case to be in the hands of Orlando police anymore, but moving the investigation to FDLE did not come easily and for six months they worked to convince the attorney general’s office and other state partners to help them.

The Kesses said this very well may be the last resort for them. After this, they said they aren’t sure there is anything left they can do.

Read: 9 things to know about the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse

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Shannon Butler

Shannon Butler, WFTV.com

Shannon joined the Eyewitness News team in 2013.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.

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