Snapped: Women Who Murder - Kimberly Kessler

Episode Date: January 19, 2025

When a mother goes missing on her birthday, detectives focus on a co-worker with a shocking past.Season 31, Episode 11Originally aired: Sep 25, 2022Watch full episodes of Snapped for FREE on the Oxygen app: https://oxygentv.app.link/WatchSnappedPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Grinch is back again to ruin your Christmas season with Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast. Listen as his celebrity guests try to persuade the Grinch that there's more to love about the holiday season. Follow Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. Grown-ups, enjoy bonus content of Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast exclusively on Wondery Plus. They say Hollywood is where dreams are made. A seductive city where many flock to get rich, be adored, and capture America's heart. But when the spotlight turns off, fame, fortune, and lives can disappear in an instant.

Follow Hollywood and Crime, The Cotton Club Murder on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. When a devoted mother disappears, loved ones fear the worst. No matter where Joanne was at, she would always answer her phone. I just felt like something bad had happened and that she wouldn't be back. A woman with a history of choosing the wrong man. She didn't always pick the best guys. I don't know why. She could always do so much better. I got text messages from other people saying he's bad news.

Crosses a stranger with a secret past. She went by around 17 different aliases. She had several driver's licenses in different states. We just didn't know what we had at that point. Who is this lady? You know, she can hold off. She can be the most darned vulnerable person ever and snap. The search uncovers an overwhelming amount of lies and unspeakable violence.

And you say, holy crap, you know, something really serious happened in here. She was extremely jealous. She was very controlling. She was at times very violent. This is a weird, evil woman. The quaint charm of Fernandina Beach, Florida makes it a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike. Fernandina Beach is located on Amelia Island. It's in the very northeastern corner of Florida, just above Jacksonville.

It's a little island. Everybody knows everybody. And so it's a great place to grow up and raise a family. But on May 14th, 2018, a feeling of dread settles over the beach town when Ann Johnson calls the local sheriff's office to report her 34-year-old daughter, Jolene Cummings, missing. We originally got a call from Ann Johnson and she said the last time somebody spoke to Jolene was May 12th and a couple days later no one had still heard from her. Ann says she began to worry on Sunday, May 13th when Jolene failed to pick up her two

sons after their week-long visit with their father. The kid's father contacted her mother, Ann Johnson, said, you know where Jolene's at? She's supposed to pick the kids up. And they didn't know where she was. What's more, the Sunday of May 13th was a very special day for Jolene and her kids. Her mother told me it was Jolene's birthday.

And also, this is Mother's Day. Jolene's mother reported that she had not been able to reach her buffon. It was a big concern that she couldn't be found because she does have kids. She loves her kids. So certainly you want to try to find them as soon as possible. I just felt like something bad had happened

and that she wouldn't be back. Born on May 13th, 1984, Jolene Jensen was a small-town girl who loved her family fiercely. It was just Jolene and her mom and her stepdad. They had a good relationship. They were always together having family dinners. Joyful and energetic, Jolene drew people in. Jolene had a large circle of friends. Everybody loved Jolene. After graduating high school, Jolene left for cosmetology school, but she knew she would never be gone for long.

Jolene was very much a small town girl. She wanted to own a salon. So the small town is the best for that. After a few years away and a failed relationship that left her a single mother, Jolene moved back to her hometown. Jolene was very excited to be a mom. She didn't always pick the best guys. I don't know why. She could always do so much better. She worked at Tangle's Hair Salon in front of the beach.

The salon we worked at was a very family-friendly place. We had fun there. Everybody got along, had lunches together. She was the light of the salon. Jolene used this time to build toward her dreams. She advertised herself a lot on social media, and she built a very good clientele. I never knew a day that she wasn't booked.

Jolene's career was taking off, and when she met Jason Cummings, her personal life quickly followed suit. After the birth of their first son in 2013, they married, and Jolene gave birth to another boy in 2015. She was so obsessed with those babies that nothing else mattered. Those kids came first. Although Jolene was overjoyed to grow her family, her marriage to Jason soon began to

fray. They didn't have a very good relationship in the end, but she kept trying. She loved him. And she always put her men and her kids before anything. The two separated in 2017. She wasn't real talkative about Jason. She was focused on her kids.

They would go visit their father, but her kids always lived with Jolene. Soon after the separation, she began dating someone new. But after her past failed relationships, Jolene wanted to keep this one to herself. With Min, she was a very private girl. failed relationships, Jolene wanted to keep this one to herself. With Min she was a very private girl. I knew she was dating a new guy and at times when I would see her she was very excited.

It was new. It was butterflies. Jolene was enjoying motherhood, a flourishing career and a growing romance. It seemed all of the pieces of her life were falling into place. Until May 14th, 2018, when the reliable mother is nowhere to be found. Everyone was just panicking. We didn't know what could have happened. We still held on to the hope that she was okay somewhere. Everyone was just panicking. We didn't know what could have happened. We still held on to the hope that she was okay somewhere,

but it was like deep down we knew better. Local authorities start their search by contacting the first person to notice Jolene's absence, her estranged husband, Jason Cummings. Jolene was going through a divorce with her husband, Jason Cummings, and the final custody had not been determined. A custody dispute can be a huge motivator to possibly do violence. I wanted to meet with him in person. Jason agrees to come to the sheriff's office the next day for an interview, and investigators continue to call more of Jolene's family and friends. Jason agrees to come to the sheriff's office the next day for an interview,

and investigators continue to call more of Jolene's family and friends. Through contacting people who know her and doing interviews with them, the last place that we could determine that Jolene was seen was at her place of employment, at Tangle's Hair Salon on the 12th of May. We talked to the salon owner. We got the names of the people who were working that day. She had Jolene Cummings, who had been with her for several years, and Morgan, who had been there

for approximately 10 years. And she had a newer employee who had only been there for a couple of months, and her name was Jennifer Seiber. The salon owner says Jolene and Jennifer closed the salon on Saturday, May 12th, around 5 p.m. Well, we knew the type of vehicle that Jolene drove was not anywhere near the salon, and the salon had a camera, but it was not working.

We did attempt to ping her cell phone, and the cell phone was either not working or it had been turned off. We checked her bank records. We checked social media accounts. None of those had had any activity since the last day that she had worked, which was on May 12th.

We know that after that, nobody had seen her, so the focus of our timeline was basically between the 12th and the 14th. Investigators immediately release a description of Jolene and her vehicle to the local news and reach out to her co-worker, Jennifer. We asked if Jolene mentioned anything about going anywhere. Jennifer went into a long explanation about why she could not be involved in a law enforcement investigation. She stated that she had an ex-boyfriend who was a computer expert and he was a stalker and if her name was listed anywhere he would track her down. I said I just just need to know, did you work with Jolene on Saturday? And if she discussed any upcoming plans?

Jennifer stated that her and Jolene were not close, that Jolene was active normally, and that she didn't mention any upcoming plans for the weekend. With concern for Jolene mounting, detectives dig deeper into her history. If somebody's reported missing, we're going to look for recent police reports. I had discovered a previous police report

on the 9th of May. There had been a domestic situation. Jason G. had come over and asked to spend the night. When she told him he could not spend the night. He got upset. Detectives then arranged to meet Jolene's stepfather at her home to conduct a wellness check and what they find is concerning.

That afternoon on Monday the 14th, we noticed that the residence was secured, but once entering in the house looked a little bit in disarray. There are some cabinet doors that were loose, some holes in the walls. We actually reached out to an officer who had responded there and he advised that that was typical for that house Coming up Detectives suspect that Jolene's disappearance could be connected to her complicated love life We did discover that sometimes Jolene may not have made the best decisions with the guys that she chose to date

that sometimes Jolene may not have made the best decisions with the guys that she chose to date. We would call him, he'd hang up. We'd go to his house, he's not there. It seemed like he's trying to avoid us. May 15th, 2018. It's been three days since 34-year-old mother Jolene Cummings was last seen. No one knew what had happened, but we had a feeling something bad had happened. After finding her house in disarray, investigators start looking into the men in Jolene's life, beginning with her estranged husband, Jason Cummings.

Jolene was going through a divorce with her husband. If somebody reported missing and going through a separation or divorce, the person involved with that is going to be one of the first people we look at. Three days after Jolene's disappearance, Jason sits down with detectives for an interview. He admits that he and Jolene had arguments, but denies any physical altercations. I wasn't afraid of a woman. My dad would kick my ass up all the way down this earth And that's my kid's mom, to be honest with you. But what I do take seriously is my family. He gave alibi of being with some friends at a specific location all weekend.

I asked him for permission to search and download his cellular phone. I didn't find anything of evidentiary value on the cell phone. He also gave written consent for a search of his vehicle. We actually had a crime scene unit go out and examine it and take photos of it, but we saw nothing inside the vehicle of a suspicious nature.

... Before the interview is over, Jason Cummings has a question about the other man in Jolene's life. I was just, I just want to know a little bit more about his boyfriend. Can you please, I've been a search walker. Can you please tell me about this guy? She has a guy she's been seeing and we're looking into that.

I'm trying to locate him for an interview. I got text messages from other people saying he's bad news. But you never physically say that. I've never met him. I never said. Detectives find Jason Cummings has never been charged nor convicted of any crimes against Jolene. So they release him while they work to confirm his alibi. At that point in time, we began to look for Jolene's boyfriend, Jason G., whose name and information I had discovered in a domestic incident.

There was no physical violence documented, but it was documented that he had gotten angry and damaged the cabinets in the home. When we tried to contact Jason G, we would call him, he'd hang up. We'd go to his house, he's not there. It seemed like he's trying to avoid us. He had a active warrant for violation of probation, and we knew that he was dodging that, but still the more he dodged us, he certainly was becoming more of a suspect. Investigators concentrate more resources on locating Jason. We were also looking at his background,

any relatives, any friends, any locations that he frequented. Jason G. was eventually found in Hillier, Florida. He had a relative that lived there. Law enforcement went to the relative's house. He was hiding under some boxes in the bedroom. Authorities arrest Jason G. on an outstanding warrant and bring him in for an interview. Jason G. had some criminal history and some brushes with the law. and bring him in for an interview. He was missing? Yeah. Can we go just kind of back to the beginning, how you guys got together, where you met?

That's a little over a year ago. She had like one more little day together. We all went out to party. And we just got together and just played. I saw her senior was in line, we got in an argument. And she always accused me of messing around on us. I went over there to see what was in the house. Just you?

There was some cabinets broken. There was some holes and stuff. Did that happen that night? No. And what about the, what about there was some holes in the door where somebody pushed it? I don't think that was the long time ago. Detectives pressed Jason G for his whereabouts

on the day Jolene went missing. It was that way because it was like 357, I think. For detectives, this information raises a red flag. It's the same day Jolene was last seen and only an hour before the salon closed. I don't have a phone on me, but yeah. I'm sure you can get it to the phone company, but yeah. You don't have it? No, sir. The whereabouts of Jason's phone fuels only more suspicion.

I told you the reason I was f***ing high, I got a woman. I feel like I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going your phone. Are you putting that thing in your phone trying to find you?

I told you, the reason I was f----- on the hat, I got a woman for a violation of probation. I didn't want her to go to jail. I didn't have nothing to do with Jolene. I'm not, I'm not bi on what you're telling me. I don't even believe in nothing I say, but I'm telling you the truth, man. I had nothing to do with Jolene.

You've been missing. I love her. He's knowing he's going to sit in jail for a little while. He's obviously angry with law enforcement, but when it comes to Jolene, you know, his demeanor did change. He seemed legitimately concerned that she was missing. Investigators need to confirm Jason's alibi. But first, they head to the last place Jolene was spotted, the salon. We had no other indication she was anywhere else. Nobody's seen her after work. I know one of them seen her after work. to the last place Jolene was spotted, the salon. We had no other indication she was anywhere else.

Nobody's seen her after work, and no one had seen her leave work. We didn't know what time or if Jolene Cummings actually walked out of the hair salon. Coming up, a potential witness refuses to cooperate with police. She calls her owner, says, hey, I'm quitting. You come out with my check, I can't be involved in any police activity.

And new evidence sends investigators on a hunt for a mysterious suspect. Once the vehicle is parked, a minute or so later you could see someone exit the driver's side. I'm Jake Warren and in our first season of Finding, I set out on a very personal quest to find the woman who saved my mom's life. You can listen to Finding Natasha right now exclusively on Wondery+. In season two, I found myself caught up in a new journey to help someone I've never even met. But a couple of years ago, I came across a social media post by a person named Loti. It read in part, Three years ago today that I attempted to jump off this bridge. But this wasn't my time

to go. A gentleman named Andy saved my life. I still haven't found him. This is a story that I came across purely by chance, but it instantly moved me. And it's taken me to a place where I've had to consider some deeper issues around mental health. This is season two of Finding. And this time, if all goes to plan, we'll be Finding Andy.

You can listen to Finding Andy and Finding Natasha exclusively and ad free on Wondery Plus. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. He was hip hop's biggest mogul, the man who redefined fame, fortune and the music industry. The first male rapper to be honored on the Hollywood Walk Cafe, Sean Diddy Cone. honored on the Hollywood walk of. Did he built an empire and live the life most people only dream about everybody no no party like a did he party so yeah. But just as quickly as his empire rose it came crashing

down. They're announcing the unsealing of a 3 count indictment charging Sean combs with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, interstate transportation for prostitution. I was f***ed up. I hit rock bottom. But I made no excuses. I'm disgusted. I'm so sorry. Until you're wearing an orange jumpsuit, it's not real.

Now it's real. From his meteoric rise to his shocking fall from grace, law and crime this is the rise and fall of getting listen to the rise and fall of getting exclusively with one 3 plus. May 15th 2018. 34 year-old mother of 3 joleen Cummings has been missing for more than 48 hours. Up until now the investigation has centered on joleen's former Jolene Cummings has been missing for more than 48 hours. Up until now, the investigation has centered on Jolene's former spouse, Jason Cummings, and her boyfriend, Jason G.

Both men say they were visiting friends and family the weekend of Jolene's disappearance. Jason Cummings gave us all of his phones and we could check and see where he was at. And so we could eliminate him as being any person of interest or even a suspect. Despite having a criminal record, detectives are also able to clear Jason G. Jason G gave an alibi that he was at some friend's house in Jacksonville. We sent detectives to talk to the friends in Jacksonville who confirmed that he was there.

Jason G's father confirmed that he was the one who transported him. With their leads dwindling, authorities decide to circle back to the location where Jolene was last seen, the salon. One of our detectives went to the hair salon. And while he's in there speaking to the owner of the hair salon, Jennifer Seibert comes to the shop. Only Jennifer Seibert and Jolene Cummings were working that day.

So Jennifer was the last person that we know seen her. The owner of the shop actually told Jennifer, hey, there's a detective in here that wants to speak to you. However, Jennifer makes it clear once again that she doesn't want to get involved. She decided she didn't want to have any part of the police as she leaves. She said, hey, I'm quitting. You come out on my check, I can't be involved in any police activity, which is a concern.

I thought it was very unusual, but there are certainly people who don't like law enforcement and don't want contact with law enforcement. As detectives prepare to look deeper into Jennifer's background, they receive their biggest tip yet. Well, after we put the flyer out for Jolene's vehicle, we did receive a call from an individual who thought he'd seen that vehicle in a Home Depot parking lot. When we responded, we verified that it was Delaney's car.

When we searched the vehicle, we did not see any kind of blood or anything of evidentiary value. Once we found her vehicle, it gave us a place to start and to work backwards from there. So what we did was we looked for surveillance video. When investigators pull video surveillance from a nearby bank, they make a startling discovery. Early in the morning, the 13th at about 117, you could see the vehicle being driven into the Home Depot

parking lot. A minute or so later, you could see someone exit the driver's side. The grainy footage makes it impossible to identify the driver, but investigators can see the figure walk to a nearby gas station. One of the videos was from a gate gas station. It was a very clear video showing the female wearing all black enter into the store. Once she enters into the gas station and walks up near the counter, the surveillance is even clearer. And judging off the driver's license picture I have,

I'm like, that's Jennifer Seigert. With this new revelation, on Wednesday, May 16th, investigators return to Jolene's place of work for a closer look. The salon had been closed since Jolene Cummings' disappearance due to the fact that the salons normally closed Sunday, Monday.

On Tuesday, when the owner showed up to open up the business, she had no employees there to cut hair. The salon being closed was pretty important in that nobody had cleaned anything. Nothing had been disturbed. When the crime scene unit applies luminol, a chemical that reacts with blood,

hidden horrors are revealed. Just lit up, and you say, holy crap, you know, something really serious happened in here. That was really the moment when I said, I'm working a homicide investigation. And our number one priority at that point in time is to find Jennifer Cyber. at that point in time is to find Jennifer Cyber.

Detectives send samples of the blood evidence for DNA testing. While they wait for results, they release a bolo for Jennifer's vehicle and ping her phone. Location data places her somewhere in neighboring St. John's County. St. John's County, which is a couple counties south of Nassau, she had given a false address to her employer. Instruction were given to check any area where somebody needed to stay or sleep in their car.

We were informed, hey, she's a transient sometimes, she's living out of her vehicle. So I went to a rest area. I was not expecting to find her vehicle. But when I looked to my left and saw her black Kia between two semis, I knew it was her. I made a phone call to another detective. I told him, hey, her vehicle's here. Several detectives quickly responded to St. John's County,

including myself. We approached, and it appeared that there was someone sleeping in the vehicle. At that point in time, I gave the person verbal commands to step out of the vehicle with their hands visible. Jennifer Seibert exited the front door of the vehicle. hands visible. Jennifer Seiber exited the front door of the vehicle. She had a nasty cut on her face.

Her story was she was riding her bicycle and she ran into a tree. But that's not what she would have looked like if she'd hit a tree. Looks like she'd been in a fight. We asked her, have you ever been in Jolene's vehicle? She said no, never have. At that point in time, I knew she was lying. I then confronted her and said, I don't believe you. At that time she said, well if you don't believe me, maybe I need an attorney.

Investigators placed Jennifer under arrest and transport her to the St. John's County Jail. Jennifer under arrest and transport her to the St. John's County Jail. We originally charged Jennifer Seiber with grand theft of Jolene's vehicle. We need to continue gathering evidence, looking for any clues, certainly looking to see if we can find Jolene somewhere. They start by canvassing the area around the salon for more surveillance footage. We did discover a camera for the alleyway behind tangles where the dumpsters are located. In that video you can see Jennifer Seibert exiting the rear of the business with large garbage bags

and throwing them into the dumpster behind the business. For several hours after Tangles was closed on the 12th of May. Footage further shows a truck emptying the dumpster on May 14th, just two hours after Jolene was reported missing. We contacted the company that services the dumpsters, and they were able to give us a general area of where

that particular truck dumped. We asked them to isolate that area so that we could later search it. Authorities obtain a search warrant for Jennifer's car. We found a bag in there with combs and scissors. The screw that attaches two pieces of scissors together, there was a little bit of a darker color substance in there. It could have been rust, it could have been anything.

It was something we need to have analyzed. We did that and it did come back as positive for not just blood, but Jolene's blood. I did believe at that point that we had located the murder weapon. positive for not just blood, but Jolene's blood. I did believe at that point that we had located the murder weapon. Detectives also discover a record of purchases made by Jennifer at Walmart around 9 p.m. on May 12th, the last day Jolene was seen alive. The detective went to Walmart and obtained video surveillance. She bought ammonia, large trash bags, gloves, and a carving knife. Detectives re-examined the hours of surveillance footage

and quickly realized that after Jennifer purchased the items at Walmart, she returned to the salon. Over an hour later, she emerges and continues her trips to the dumpster. What really floored me was the electric knife. When I saw that, I'm thinking she cut Jolene up, stuffed her in those black trash bags, and threw away like garbage. Coming up, a shocking confession with a twist no one sees coming. I am 50 years old. I have been running from the FBI for over 25 years. At the time I had no idea if this was true or not true.

All of a sudden, there's this information with a little girl named Jennifer Seibert, same date of birth, who died in a car accident in Germany at 13 years old. It just gave us chills. It just gave us chills. Jolene Cummings is missing and presumed dead. Her coworker, Jennifer Seibert, is in custody after surveillance video shows her stealing Jolene's vehicle. But blood evidence now points to a much darker crime. When the There were samples of us collected. They were sent, and they did come back as Joey's DNA. The evidence was mounting, and we knew that this crime occurred in side tangles.

When you ever have a murder and you can't locate the body, it's a difficult case. You have to have overwhelming evidence. Investigators searched the landfill where't locate the body, it's a difficult case. You have to have overwhelming evidence. Investigators searched the landfill where they believe Jolene's body may be located. The area was enormous. It was almost inconceivable the amount of refuse that we went through. We analyzed what we could, but nothing of evidentiary value was found. Investigators search for a potential motive by interviewing the staff about Jennifer

and Jolene's relationship. When Jennifer Seibert first went to work at Tangles, it seemed like her and Jolene got along very well. But as time went on, there was tension and eventually downright just dislike between the two. Jolene had all the clients. I don't think she was making the money

that Jolene was making. Jolene had talked to me about Jennifer and said that something was really weird with her. Another coworker, Ann Morgan, who has worked with Jolene for nearly six years, claims that the day before her disappearance, Jolene and Jennifer argued. Jolene say, go away. I don't want to talk to you.

You fake. You crazy. You fake. She told me, she say, Ms. Ann, something about Channifer that I cannot put my hand on it. She not right. Jolene basically told her, you're not who you say you are,

and I'm going to find out who you are. Detectives believe that the cryptic confrontation may have led to Jolene's murder. Something triggered Jennifer to do this. What exactly was, we don't know. On May 18th, after two days in custody, Jennifer drops a bombshell. I am 50 years old. I've been running from the FBI for over 25 years. We just didn't know what we had at that point. Who is this lady?

What is she about? Where is she from? Kimberly says she grew up in Butler, Pennsylvania. I was a non-arol student. I was a cheerleader. But my mom started acting crazy on me, and I started hanging out roll student. I was a cheerleader. And when my mom started like acting crazy on me and I started hanging out with the crowd that would take me in.

Kimberly tells investigators that she dropped out of school and left Pennsylvania for something new that proved dangerous. One of my first relationships in Arizona, I was working as a topless dancer at a topless bar in Phoenix. And just started going out with him and whatever. He was with me whenever he called somebody and they said, the FBI is looking for you.

And then he tells me everything. Oh, I brought these bags. So I'm like, what? And I hid him in my apartment and that was like kind of almost the beginning. Kimberly claims that after the relationship ended, she changed her name and went on the run. I got my real estate license.

I have driven a tractor and trailer, which I did in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She's stuck by the premise that she was running from an ex who she was afraid of. When the conversation shifts to Jolene, Kimberly quickly shuts it down. She said that she thought you were fake. She thought you were phony.

She was going to look you up. I don't remember any of that. I think you know where Joleen is. She's out there somewhere. Her body's out there somewhere. And you're the one that can make it happen right now. No, I cannot. What's more, investigators find no proof

that anyone is pursuing Kimberly, FBI or otherwise. At the time I had no idea what was true or not true, so we set to work on finding out who she was. I typed in the name Jennifer Seibert, date of birth, and all of a sudden there's this information And all of a sudden, there's this information with a little girl named Jennifer Seibert, same date of birth, who was in a car accident in Germany. She died at 13 years old. It just gave us chills. She was buried in Butler, Pennsylvania,

and we knew that Jennifer was from Butler, Pennsylvania. They suspect she stole the real Jennifer Seibert's identity from her gravestone. A detective contacted the real Jennifer Seibert's father. He was very surprised. He said that he had no idea how, um, Kimberly Kessler could have obtained his daughter's information.

I worked identity theft before. There's sites she can go to online, dark web and such, and get that kind of thing. Pennsylvania authorities tell detectives that Kimberly Kessler was reported missing by her mother in 2004, when she was 36 years old. She was a adult at the time she went missing. As a matter of fact, her mother waited several years

before she even reported her missing. I think she had talked about leaving, getting out of Butler, Pennsylvania. We actually sent an FBI agent to the mother's home and got a DNA swab and discovered, yes, this is truly her daughter. Investigators continue digging, conducting interviews with anyone who knew Kimberly.

And talking with people that she had dated in the past, she was extremely jealous. She was very controlling. She was at times very violent. She stabbed me in the chest. She bit my dad in the leg. When we're interviewing people, we found out she went by around 17 different aliases.

She had several driver's licenses in different states. This is a weird, evil woman. Coming up, circumstantial evidence continues to mount, but Kimberly presents an unexpected new obstacle. She was just very nasty to her deputies in the jail. She'd actually throw crap at them, cuss at them, spit on them, all that. Welcome to the law. May 2018. It's been eight days since 34-year-old Jolene Cummings went missing. Investigators now suspect the mother of three has been killed by her coworker, Kimberly

Kessler, who has allegedly been on the run and living under false identities for nearly 25 years. However, investigators have yet to recover a body. No body homicides, they are much more difficult to prosecute than when you have a body. The body itself is evidence, you know, and juries are very visual people. A search of Kimberly's cell phone leads to crucial evidence. We have her internet searches, co-worker guilty of murder, co-worker not found, no body, no crime. There were literally hundreds of searches in reference to

Jolene Cummins' disappearance. Despite having no body, on September 7th, 2018, a Nassau County grand jury indicts Kimberly on first degree murder charges. Once she is behind bars, Kimberly exhibits a string of increasingly concerning behaviors. She would just be very nasty to her deputies in the jail. She'd actually throw crap at them. She'd save in a cup and smear it on the windows all over her cell, cuss at them, spit on them, all that.

The behaviors warrant enough concern to conduct a mental evaluation to determine if Kimberly is fit to stand trial. She was diagnosed with delusional disorder. She was diagnosed with delusional disorder. Somebody who has shown that they maintain behaviors that are not based in any form of fact or reality. Now, if a person is a very, very convincing actor. They could convince somebody that they have delusional disorder. So another psychologist reevaluated Kimberly, and based on their assessment, found that Kimberly met criteria

for an unspecified personality disorder and not a delusional disorder. It's not considered to be that real break from reality that we would see in successful sorts of use of an insanity defense. Well, the judge is actually the one who makes the final decision. He decides she was clearly OK to stand for trial.

When Kimberly's trial begins in December 2021, her gaunt appearance is shocking, as are her antics. When she was housed in the Nassau County Jail or detention facility, she went on a hunger strike. Every time that Kimberly had a court hearing, she would come in and she would be disruptive. So the judge would have her removed. The theatrics do nothing to distract prosecutors from building their case.

They present Kimberly as a troubled woman who lashed out when Jolene threatened to uncover her long kept secret. I think when Jolene threatened to uncover her long-kept secret. I think whenever Jolene told her, I'm going to find out who you are, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. For somebody with Kimberly Kessler's personality style, once somebody is on to them,

it is not unusual for that person with that personality to get really agitated, to escalate. I believe they got into a physical altercation. Jolene Cummings fought back, but I think Kimberly was able to get a hold of a pair of scissors. That was what incapacitated Jolene Cummings so that the body could be disposed of later on in the back part of the salon. Kimberly Kessler likely felt entitled to eliminating Jolene so that she could maintain her own false reality that she had been using to get through the world all of these years. It's actually quite chilling.

get through the world all of these years. It's actually quite chilling. On December 9th, 2021, the jury convicts 53-year-old Kimberly Kessler of first degree murder and grand theft auto. She was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. without possibility of parole. To this day, the search for Jolene's body continues, and investigators remain determined to reunite her

with her beloved family. I will never give up hope on locating Jolene. I love and miss Jolene very much. And I would like to say to Kimberly, if you have any decency or any feelings whatsoever, at least give this family some closure and tell them where she is. Kimberly Kessler is currently housed at a women's prison in Ocala, Florida. She is not eligible for parole.

Jolene's daughter is now living with her grandmother, Ann Johnson. Jolene's two sons are being raised by their father, Jason. Harvard is the oldest and richest university in America. But when a social media fueled fight over Harvard and its new president broke out last fall, that was no protection. Claudine Gay is now gone. We've exposed the DEI regime and there's much more to come. This is The Harvard Plan, a special series from the Boston Globe and WNYC's On The Media.

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