Human Slave Trade Should Be Checked, Missing Girl's Dad Says
POSTED: Thursday, March 13, 2008
UPDATED: 7:19 am EDT March 14, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The father of a Central Florida girl missing for more than two years is urging investigators to consider the possibility that she was a victim of human trafficking -- possibly forced into sex slavery, Local 6 reported.
Kesse, 24, vanished from the Mosaic at Millenia condominiums near the Mall at Millenia on Jan. 24, 2006.
Police found her Chevrolet Malibu in an apartment complex near her condominium but there have been few clues since the discovery.
Kesse's father, Drew, is now wondering if his daughter was kidnapped and forced into slavery, Local 6 reported.
"It's time we start to look in other directions," Kesse said. "We've done so much and really have come up with so little."
Experts in the world of human trafficking said many slavery cases have not been reported.
"Human trafficking as a whole is an epidemic," investigator Brad Dennis said. "And I think it's an epidemic that has been underreported for a long time."
Dennis said human trafficking cases are being investigated in almost every state.
Local 6 featured a 17-year-old girl, Shauna Newell, who was lured into a Florida house and held hostage by human traffickers before being found and rescued.
Orlando police said Jennifer Kesse doesn't fit the typical profile since she was older than most victims.
However, the Kesse family believes investigating the possibility of human trafficking is important.
"We are going to ask them to move forward on that front," Kesse said.
Anyone with information on Kesse's case is urged to call the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.
Previous Stories: - January 24, 2007: Kesse Search Continues 1 Year Later
- May 24, 2006: $250,000 Reward For Kesse's Safe Return Expires
- April 18, 2006: PSA Created To Generate New Leads In Kesse Case
- March 14, 2006: NASCAR Helps Kesse Search
- March 9, 2006: 'Unauthorized' Kesse Donation Web Site Questioned
- March 9, 2006: Crimeline Returns $100,000 Of Reward Money In Kesse Case
- March 8, 2006: Donor Pulling $100,000 Reward Money In Kesse Case
- February 21, 2006: Details Of 'Person Of Interest' Released In Kesse Case
- February 19, 2006: Volunteers Continue Passing Out Fliers In Kesse Search
- February 15, 2006: FBI To Focus On 'Person Of Interest' In Kesse Case
- February 15, 2006: Psychics Used In Search For Missing Orlando Woman
- February 14, 2006: National TV Show Features Orlando's Kesse Case
- February 13, 2006: 'Credible' Tip Prompts Apartment Search In Kesse Case
- February 8, 2006: Police: Polygraph Being Used In Kesse Case
- February 8, 2006: Kesse Family Makes Appeal On National TV
- February 6, 2006: 'Person Of Interest' Sought In Missing Woman Case
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