The Jennifer Kesse Case: Six Years of Fears, Tears and Degrees Heat Up The Hunt
Last evening, 6 Years ago at 10:40 PM, Jennifer Kesse’s cell phone battery was removed.
Experts from the newly formed SMART panel concur it was likely removed by the person or persons responsible for her disappearance.
As chronicled in an expose last week by www.blinkoncrime.com, current leads are pointing to further investigation of Jennifer’s professional associations and colleagues at Central Florida Investments.
On November 15, 2005, Jennifer’s promotion to Manager of Mortgage Process Engineering was announced.
Kesse Family Photo
While there is no known indication her responsibilities included corporate real estate acquisition and divestitures, www.blinkoncrime.com’s investigation into her disappearance has uncovered a very notable corporate transaction worthy of a Made-off* award.
Is this the meeting Jennifer missed that prompted the call by a colleague to her Mother Joyce?
The very morning Jennifer disappeared, under the direction of CFI’s CEO- David Siegel- the company sold an undeveloped parcel of commercial land for 4.7million dollars on GrandNational Drive . The financing agreement was finalized on January 24th and the sales contracts were signed two days later.
Joyce , Don & Associates agreed to pay interest-only installments of 10% on the 4.2million balance monthly until the third year anniversary; at which time a balloon payment for the entire remaining amount was due and payable. That is like the zeppelin of balloons in commercial real estate without so much as a plat plan or wetland study.
Who agreed to fund the acquisition for JD&A? Central Florida Investments.
Why CFI would to carry that amount of debt with no “win” on the balance sheet at the start of the decline in home sales leading to lack of funds for time shares, I have no idea. Why CFI would agree to such a proposal without appropriate due diligence is the next head scratcher. As the new process improvement specialist- did this come under Jennifer Kesse’s review?
Joy, Don & Associates was the latest brainchild of Osmond Decoteau, and Donna Rachael Daniels.
The short version: After the dirty duo bought up 2 remaining parcels on International Drive they did not have funds for, Decoteau & Daniels were indicted in 2008 for wire fraud. Both were accused of bilking investors, landowners and residents of over $20million dollars for properties in Brooklyn, California and Florida.
What started out as the slum-lord version of ponzi worked so well the Trinidad native decided to migrate South and rip off wealthier folks in a warmer climate. Makes sense if the villagers are crossing the Brooklyn bridge with torches and you have been unsuccessful in selling it thus far.
Decoteau is currently in Federal prison awaiting an order for the govt to forcibly medicate him to be competent to stand trial.
Bernie Madoff walks past his cell and mutters “underachieving slacker” under his breathe on his way to Canasta in the rec lounge.
Daniels is free on a $500K bond and is believed to be cooperating with prosecutors. An unsuccessful hand-written bankruptcy filing was dismissed. Deconteau set up his family members to buy the property at a loss under the now defunct Ambeeka Holding Corp.
In the end CFI got the property back by default.
Members of Decoteau’s extended family also own a timeshare in Westgate’s Sand Lake Resort; the sale of which was processed during Jennifer’s tenure at CFI.
NOT THE VALET
Just about the same time Jenn’s enrapt co-worker Johnny Campos arrives at the CFI offices in Ocoee, the mystery suspect , the only named suspect in her disappearance to date, is parking her car next to the pool at the Huntington On The Green apartments.
He pulls in, quickly reverses and straightens the wheel, waits about 32 seconds and makes his way past 3 separately angled security cameras making no attempt to hide his appearance.
Theories abound about his attire. Cook, painter, security patrol, bike runner or messenger.
New leads acquired in Jennifer’s case by www.blinkoncrime.com have presented a new possibility.
Is the video a break or a bumper? We are talking cricket-speak.
While it is not known if she was alone or with a friend, Jennifer visited the Cricketers Arms 2 month prior to her disappearance.
Could the man parking Jennifer’s car at noon on January 24th, 2006 be wearing a cricket uniform?
Cricket is a major fave among the younger Euro-set in Orlando as well as the pub named in their honor- The Cricketers Arms. In 2006 “Cricketers” was located on Industrial Drive and recently re-opened on W. Sand Lake Rd, adjacent to the Sand Lake Resorts owned by Westgate.
Additional cricket garb:
Images by Klaasend
Contributing Editors Jacqueline Beaufort, Jason Mateos
* Made-off. Get it, like made off with cash? Nobody laughed when I said he was born into it. Not remotely funny, but the irony is there. I am referring to irony as in, the bars that keep him in prison, locked up.
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Osmond Decoteau COURT DOCUMENTS.
http://freecourtdockets.com/Dockets/USA-v-Decoteau-1-08-cr-00736-New-York-Eastern-Federal-District-Court-Docket-Page-1-78659-78659.htm
going 1 at a time
cfi history http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1998-03-11/business/9803110618_1_leventhal-siegel-farwell
Siegel:
a behavioral pattern? (case below included a promotion for access & proximity)
http://caselaw.findlaw (insert dot) com/us-11th-circuit/1496604.html
http://www.lawyersandsettlements (insert dot) com/articles/florida-employment-labor-law/florida-employment-labor-law-5-13454.html
sorry am having to break apart urls to get them to post. drove me crazy this morning .
another fired one on p3, the CFO at the time of first divorce:
http://www.bizjournals ((insert dot instead of this paren) com/orlando/stories/1997/11/03/story8.html?page=3
more: http://www.orlandosentinel (insert dot) com /topic/economy-business-finance/tourism-leisure-industry/hotel-accommodation-industry/david-siegel-PEBSL000161.topic
what was Juandreca’s complaint about:
http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/florida/flmdce/6:2009cv00167/222743/11/0.pdf?1270856489
http://courtlistener.com/ca11/4auP/juandreca-powell-v-westgate-resorts-inc/
like that, perfect
B
url broken apart:
http://westorlandonews (insert doy dot)
com/2010/06/14/americans-with-a-british-accent/
article mentions a dating site associated with Cricketer Pub to meet Brits
Rose as long as they are not the first few lines you should not have a problem posting links.
B
Blink if you read the url story on Siegel divorce 1 from his biz partner you will see he was so desperate then to get new loans he instructed his lawyer to give her anything to get his settlement with her done that day. imo the motivation to sell on paper to Joy (imo not a real sale but a sham) was to move debt related to that property off his books and have the property loan owed by Joy to CFI shown instead as an asset on cfi books. probably to qualify for more debt & another loan based on cfi history. . imo no transaction in that building happened without his direction.
It is correct, his signature is required and was on the paperwork. The property was clear and unemcumbered or he would have had to pay that off as part of the transaction and there nothing to pay off.
At most, he could present a $500K liquid bump and $6600 per month cash stream.
I DO AGREE that having a 4.7million bump would perhaps be music to a family attorneys ears and invite further interrogatories so I can see the lapse in judgement.
That said, that is a fat lapse in judgement from a team that has a record for savvy land purchases, sales and developments- I have seen the portfolio. Remember- he also got it back and is now asking $5.7 million.
In a public company, I would LOVE to see how the annual report from 2006 presents this.
B
hi Blink totally Juandreck’s was the only one that would post. i tried over & over with every other one, one at a time. they all went poof. I quoted and snipped nothing when trying others. just my off day.
TY for radar comment: beaming us up.
2 questions–Blink do you know why all of Jenn’s co-workers are not with CFI any longer?
Does ‘Adam Frank’ now have counsel and is he afraid for his life?
CFI has gone through some major real estate backlash, Siegel’s Las Vegas venture, you name it- not that uncommon for management to move around.
In Mr. Frank’s comments to me, he told me that he absolutely felt threatened by Mr. Campos and he told the FBI that, as well as anyone that would listen. His account has been known since 2009, so no, but I made the decision to withhold his name for that reason.
B
2007
snip
Siegel, 72, enjoys life on the edge. A onetime deputy sheriff, TV repairman and gas station owner, he has built Westgate into one of the nation’s largest privately held timeshare developers.
snip
Siegel’s messy private life nearly did him in. During 1997 divorce proceedings, he says, Bettie, his wife of 27 years and 50% owner of his business, refused to authorize loans needed to keep operations going unless Siegel signed over $200 million. Siegel says he relented, on the condition that he keep 100% ownership of Central Florida Investments (CFI), whose holdings included Westgate, as well as his Bill Mack sand sculpture called “Harmony,” his stamp collection and, yes, his Rollerblades.
In the midst of the contretemps Siegel fired Alan Rainey, his chief financial officer. Rainey sued for his severance, and says he was fired for giving unflattering testimony in a deposition. Soon after the divorce settlement CFI’s chief, Ronald Leventhal, who was married to the sister of Siegel’s first wife, quit to start a rival outfit and was later joined by Rainey and two dozen of Westgate’s managers. Siegel later sued his onetime executives, claiming they gave him misleading information about Westgate’s financials. As a result, he says, his divorce settlement–which he tried, unsuccessfully, to undo–was based on an inflated valuation of his business. Siegel and Leventhal settled; the case involving him and Rainey is ongoing. “The projections were not inflated,” Rainey says. “Look at the empire he’s built.”
A very good article.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/1015/096.html
Siegel later sues Leventhal for starting his own business.
Leventhal is now involved in many business types including online gambling lessons ?
http://www.blackwoode.com/bios/index
A very greasy group who sues each other all the time.. lol
did jenn have any direct business contact wih siegal? just curious.i am trying to sort this out ,how do the cricketeers fit in? is the love triangle a motive alibi? why would jenn need to be missing from the meeting,why that day?who benefits,was there a question as to if the deal would go down on that day,was this deal hinge-ing on something ,a downpayment?(when was the first payment due?) did the joyce&co, have the money,for this purchase . would someone at cfi get kickback money on that deal and thats why they ok’d it,then how does johnny fit in? hmm,thinking out loud.wouldnt the drop off guy be wih the alligators too?
Hopefully, LE is circulating fliers of pictured man to all local cricket clubs, referencing date, time, location & asking for this man to step forward, with an accompanying letter asking about events in the day in question.
just read a transcript from jvmitchell,with detective; dna was found ,but too small to use at that point, but he says with scientific advances it might prove useful with time, ——sounds like maybe they had to “grow it” .maybe its useful now,6 years later.
Jennifer went missing on a Tuesday, no? Cricket in FL is played on a Saturday, and when you train you dont where cricket whites…. so I don’t see why the valet would of been wearing cricket whites midweek? There would be no rhyme nor reason for that. The likeness of the attire is just a coincidence in my humble opinion – a bakers uniform is just as likely.
FYI – Those shoes you’ve pictured arent cricket shoes. THese are cricket shoes http://www.cjicricket.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=111_132&products_id=681.
If the valet were a cricketer, and was wearing skate shoes like those pictured, then they would most likely be a casual player of ring-in. Any cricket player whose played more than 2 games in their life knows that you need sprigs.
Keep in mind we are likely talking about a younger fellow, and may be dual purposing footwear. The shoes pictured are absolutely cricket shoes from 2006. I agree he might fall under casual player.
B
I’ll leave the company ‘books’ to others who are knowledgeable in that field.
I’m wondering aloud about who the POI gave the car keys to?
Surely the instructions weren’t ‘throw them away’ so where were they left?
The cricket angle is a new one and quite possible.
Is cricket played on a Tuesday in that area?
The speed of events on the Monday night is scary stuff indeed.
At close to 10pm we are told Jennifer is tucked up in bed.
A mere 40 minutes later the power source for her cell is being removed. I think I know what that action signals.
Then, some 13 hours later her car is dropped off at HOTG.
Thirteen hours is a very long time. What was going on?
David’s daughter is Stacy Siegel who founded the once popular, “Everything but Water” bathing suit store that flourished in Orlando but has since dropped out of site. He used to be at Bennigan’s on International Drive almost every night prior to his rise to big bucks when Bennigans first opened in 1980. Not sure if this helps anyone, but this is just what I know.
What is Mr. Franks explanation for not being more vocal when Jennifer first went missing?
“I needed my job and he told me that he knew people in Miami- I took that as a threat. If he was a killer, say he did hurt somebody- why wouldn’t he do that to me?”
B
@ susanm
“… hmm,thinking out loud.wouldnt the drop off guy be wih the alligators too?”
I was thinking that very thing!
He would *have* to have seen that grainy footage of himself dropping off Jen’s car, at *some* point.
If he was truly caught unaware, and was just doing someone a favor, I’d think he’d either have gone to the police (which we KNOW he didn’t do)—or—have confronted this ‘acquaintance’ and demand to know what the heck he had involved him in, and why!
At that point, either the abductor was sufficiently satisfied that he could keep the man’s mouth shut (threats of disclosing his involvement in an investment fraud scandal, perhaps???)—OR—(just *maybe*) he silenced this witness in a more permanent way.
It would certainly explain why he never came forward…
just read siegel is 80 plus.
does david a siegel have any adult sons in the cfi business?
in that orlando office?
http://westgateresorts.com/about/executive-team/
do these pics all look alike or what?
I can tell you exactly how I was treated ages 21-30 in offices by their look alike clones in pre-correct days
Campos’ repartee & personal comments were the norm, even mild.
the culture came from the top & I bet it was pervasive.
#18 – That’s a threat if I ever heard one.
Moving on, did Jenn’s boyfriend ever play cricket? Was he a fan? Could this uniform been used as a disguise to take attention away from the person in the uniform? I know odd question, but could the uniform been stolen or purchased just for this purpose. I find it hard to believe that this person who moved the car did not know there were cameras on the property.
More of a football fan.
I think he may have known about the cameras, but if he had no knowledge that was Jenn’s car, he had no concern.
B
Why is it always “follow the money?”
At one point – someone from the company or the company itself posted a sizable reward for information on Jen’s disappearance – if my memory serves me correctly.
Blink and you confirm if I’m right on that and if it was an individual and if so who?
Was onto something illegal and vocal about it?
Rose: I do not know about his first wife..or second wife. I am sure kids exist. who is the vice president ? is that a son ?
His third wife is mentioned in a article by forbes in 2007, so do the math and these kids are 18 and under.
“Siegel and his third wife, Jacqueline, a former Mrs. Florida who is three decades his junior, and their seven children, all under age 11″
omg, my head is spinning from the walkabout my computer took last night and the new info on here today.
was just looking @ rose’s link for westgate executive team… there is a barry seigel?
last night, i found a barry sPeigel…. typo? he is one of the contact people and CEO for a little company for a little company called Amerimax Investment, LLC which was established in 2007…. the other contact is…. our buddy, Osmond Decouteau.
now i have to remember how to get back into my manta account.. anyone else a memmber?
http://www.manta.com/c/mm5mgsr/amerimax-investments-llc
only 2 employees btw
http://www.manta.com/c/mm5mgsr/amerimax-investments-llc
Here is something interesting about a Barry “Spiegal” and Osmond DeCoteau. Maybe a misspelling?
just found barry spiegel ( with a P ) on FB – different guy, and he is listed as CEO of amerimax. but osmond is still connected to that business.
Just a combo of search terms, its all good susanm
B
@ sdb lololol omg we think alike! is that good or bad?
Reward was offered by David Seigel for Jenn’s safe return in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
here’s a link for the ’07 reward
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3213935&page=1
Thanks ucf, I just want to point out that the reward was for her SAFE RETURN only.
B
#22. Thanks for your thoughts Blink. So the car
deliverer for lack of better term could be just a “stooge” doing a favor unknowingly. Interesting.
This is an incredable piece of work regarding this crooked company. Poor Jennifer. Chose the wrong company for her work.
Did she accidentally stumble across this scheme after returning from her vacation? What kind of experience would she have had to make her suspicion crooked activities?
Did the two investigators that turned in zero work get wind of this and earn a payoff or a threat of death?
Makes one question if other people, who worked for this company, may have gone missing.
This proves conclusivly that the original investigative net was too circumscribed. There may be an underworld element to this as well.
Jennifer could have been lured to a place for a meeting and found herself in a trap.
Wow, it’s hard to believe all of this information has been out there for SIX years. I am sickened to think those two detectives and countless others who reviewed this case couldn’t unearth anything. I hope LE can make something happen now that you and your team have been able to bring this much information forward. The new investigative team and their fresh eyes should be working 24/7 to solve this case – not only for the Kesses but anyone else whose case was a blank paper and empty folder. My prayers for all of these families who are missing loved ones. Blink, you and your team have done a fabulous job researching this case – right down to the Cricket shoes.
I read in the HLN transcript posted on the earlier thread that there was some type of trail from where her car was parked, back to her condo complex. Does this mean that tracking dogs went from the car toward the condo?
Imo, there is no credible canine evidence in this case. I know a few scenarios have been reported, but I have reviewed that information and there is absolutely no way to call it credible.
B
for pocture benefit (the white suit) on YouTube: (all the folks in white after the first set in black–fast forward)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MKha_Z6F_4&feature=youtube_gdata_player
big outfit in Orlando:
has womens’ self-defense–maybe Jennifer took a self def class?
http://www.internationalmartialartsuniversity.com/
lots & lots of Clermont establishments
http://m.yp.com/clermont-fl/martial-arts-instruction
I’m from Central Florida & I have been to Cricketer Arms quite a few times when it was located on I-Drive. I never saw a single cricket player there. It’s the name of the bar but it was more so a fun place with good beer & Irish food and live music – not really a meeting place for cricket players that I ever saw. The uniforms do seem similar to the person in that surveillance photo. I have seen a few cricket games being played around Central Florida but I’m not even sure if people are wearing the “traditional” uniforms.
The “whites” as they call them do trend to specific “clubs”, and the sponsored teams all wear colors now.
B
Was the man’s sweater in the hamper white? A photograph of the sweater might jog someone’s memory or it might be recognized in existing photos of the owner. Is there any logical investigative reason not to ask the public if someone may be able to connect that sweater with one of Jennifer’s associates?
Also, while I’m at it, if Jen were lured away in the evening then why return to her condo and set up the morning routine scenario? Why would the perp care when it was thought that she went missing? Why make it look like she went missing during the morning and then not go to work until noon and blow a good alibi? He may have returned to retrieve items that connected him to her such as a gift and/or perhaps a sweater he loaned her on a cool day/evening and did not think to check her hamper while searching.
Was not white.
B
Blink, do you have a short version of her job duties (ie– preparing closing documents, reviewing closing documents, making wire transfers, preparing applications)?
She was a manager, in short, her duties revolved around efficiencies and proficciencies in all aspects of the mtg processing, payment processing “best practices”.
B
This stuff is scary:
http://www.berylsworld.com/newsletter/newsletter_0114.cfm
Not sure how this Ponzi-ish organization relates to Jennifer’s case, but may deserve its own separate investigation. Very strange.
I posted that yesterday, I don’t think anyone has any clue how prolific Osmond Decoteau, Donna Daniels and co-horts were.
B
Blink, do you know if they wore colors in 2006? If so, which team wore this color?
Ok… I’m gonna have to break down and admit… I have no idea what cricket is… what a cricket player is…. I am honestly clueless.. Other than that… this work is amazing! While I respect LE it must be a slap in the face for another team to pull together and “solve” a case after 6 years!
oh and…
(sorry blink.. I wont ask about wm3 again =) ) LOL
Bam
Blink says in reference to Jenn’s last cell ping: “Experts from the newly formed SMART panel concur it was likely removed by the person or persons responsible for her disappearance.”
Can I assume that they also believe her to have met with grave danger by this exact moment as well?
Since you are confirming a last ping outside her condo area (location withheld) at 10:40 p.m., do these cell phone records also confirm whether or not there was ANY activity at all within those 43 minutes? What about the land line records? Could an associate have called and asked her to retrieve something from work? For as exhausted as she probably was, a work-related “emergency” request would probably be the only effective lure.
Why would LE withhold this *outside* ping activity all these years?
For now, I have published all I can on the cell information.
B
Blink,
Any idea if Jennifer made it known at work the possibility of her moving to be with Rob?
Also, do you know if she had contacted or was going to contact someone in the real estate business regarding her condo just to see what was what, if she decided to sell?
To my knowledge Jenn was not looking to move, she was hopeful Rob would make that decision to move to Orlando. She was only in her condo for 8 weeks.
B
Sorry my comments from yesterday were so short and didn’t make sense – my one post got cut into two for some reason and didn’t make it to the page. I will say I am shocked that it took 6 years to get to this. Blink, if we could clone you we might actually have a highly functioning investigative department in Central Florida! I think with all of the information coming forth, there will be a conclusion.
Same people?
http://www.playground-magazine.com/2009/03/queen-of-versailles/
Omg, lol, yes. Who would actually answer those interview questions like that?
Be back in a but I have decided I am very underdressed to be covering this case.
B
Did Campos benefit from the above mentioned transaction in any way? Or any job title changes, promotions, etc. closely after Jen’s disappearance? Is it also possible the reason he flipped out that morning was b/c he thought she would be gone longer? I think I have to read this stream of events one more time.
I actually think it is quite possible that Jenn went wherever she went willingly at first, this is why she bothered to wear her pumps etc. I feel she had Travis’ cell phone with her when she left either in her car awaiting to take to fed ex or what ever but it was on her or in her car.(The person responsible for her demise would not know this cell phone was not hers as an extra etc, so disposed of it along with her other phone) IMO… Whomever she left with or met was someone she knew enough that she did not feel threatened. It may have been an imprompto visit or planned, either way she did not tell her fiance about it for a reason. I feel that the car was either detailed or cleaned etc by possibly a person who did not know why or what but did it as they were possibly paid to, and told where to drop the car, but..If this is the case where are the keys, they would have had instructions on where to leave them for someone to pick up later. This infers that the person dropping off the car never had contact with that person again physically. Possibly never had contact at all unless they were paid in cash by hand could this person work for a detail company? Just wondering. Finding this person would definately be a big plus in this case. Of course if they knew there was foul play involved they would certainly not volunteer themselves up very easily.
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-11th-circuit/1496604.html
Rose, I tried to repost this for you. Understand – behavior starts at the top and trickles down or is tolerated. Also saw the dating site associated with the bar.