The reality of abduction in the United States

Jennifer Kesse graduated with honors from the University of Central Florida with a degree in finance. Shortly after graduation she took a job with Central Florida Investments Timeshare Company as a financial advisor and immediately began to excel in the company. Jennifer has beautiful green eyes and a smile that could light up an entire room. She has been a loving sister, daughter, role model and a source of joy and inspiration in the lives of everyone who has known and worked with her. She was born in Orlando and grew up in Tampa, and after high school her family moved to a small town called Bradenton (in Fla.). The Kesses are a loving family who live their lives with the goal of spreading happiness and bringing love to everyone they encounter, and I am very fortunate that they have allowed me to be a part of their life. We have spent countless moments together, enjoyed long phone conversations and created memories that will forever remain close to my heart.

There is no question that Jennifer’s future looked extremely bright. Her ambition would enable her to be a CEO, and her golden heart would enable her to be a wonderful mother. However, on Jan. 24, 2006, between 7:30 and 8 a.m., tragedy struck when Jennifer disappeared from her apartment in Orlando. She has been missing for over nine years.

Right away, family and friends from all across the state rushed to Jennifer’s apartment to search for any clues or evidence that might lead them to her whereabouts. Fliers were quickly distributed, and the police began their search. On Jan. 26, Jennifer’s car was found approximately 1.2 miles away from her apartment, and a forensic team got to work immediately. After numerous sweeps of the car, they could not identity any forms of DNA that would lead them to a suspect. The complex where Jennifer’s car was found had several hidden surveillance cameras installed with a clear view of the parking lot, which showed an unidentified subject dropping her vehicle off at approximately noon the same day that she went missing. However, family and friends were not able to recognize the individual on camera. Despite having the person’s entire body on camera, the suspect’s face has never been identified. The police have referred to this individual as “the luckiest person of interest ever.” As of 2010, Jennifer’s case remains on the FBI’s Most Wanted/Missing Persons List.

Roughly 2,300 people in America are abducted/reported missing every day, and nearly 900,000 people are abducted/reported missing every year. About 74 percent of abducted or reported missing persons are female. It is my greatest hope that you, my friends and classmates, listen to the words I am saying and take them to heart. We are all aware of what abduction is, but many tend to convince themselves that it could never happen to them. This is certainly understandable, but don’t you think 900,000 other people thought the same thing? That said, here are some ways to greatly decrease your chance of becoming one of these heartbreaking statistics:

1. Do not take unnecessary risks. If you are going out by yourself, particularly at night, take a buddy with you. If you do not have to go alone, then do not.

2. Keep close to you a form of protection, such as pepper spray or anything that may be able to fend off an attacker.

3. Vary your routes when traveling and glance out your car window from time to time to make sure no one is following you.

4. Try to place yourself in a public area whenever possible. Therefore, if you are attacked, there will be many people around.

5. Be alert. Always be aware of your surroundings and those around you.

6. Be wary of strangers who use the phrases listed below, reported to be commonly used by abductors:

  • “I need help with directions.”
  • “I want to take your picture for a project I am doing.”
  • “There is an emergency I need help with.”
  • “Can you help me find my lost pet?”

7. Never disclose your address to a person you do not know or trust.

8. Be very careful if you choose to reveal that you live alone. An abductor is more likely to target someone without a roommate.

If you have ever sat down with the parents of a missing child, it is truly a humbling, emotional and life-altering experience. All they want is the truth. All they want is to hold their beloved child and whisper those three little words that are too often taken for granted…I love you. As I write this article, I think about the people I am surrounded by each day at Eastern University. Regardless of your major, your batting average, your points per game or your GPA, everyone is capable of contributing happiness, positivity and love to the world. I want to remind you that this world needs each and every one of you. Therefore, as you continue your journey on this road we call life, please be careful and always remember to keep your heart full and your eyes open.

“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear.”

If you suspect someone you know has gone missing, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s 24-hour hotline immediately at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

Sources: CNN.com, CrimeMuseum.org, JenniferKesse.com, MissingKids.com, NCJRS.gov, Parents.com

A creative writing piece

One of the most enjoyable parts about life is having the opportunity to interact with different people on a daily basis from all different walks of life. Over the years, I have had the privilege of meeting a variety of adults and children who speak different languages, come from different cultures and migrate from all different parts of the world. Throughout our conversations, I often get asked a variety of questions ranging from who my favorite sports team is, what my political beliefs are, why I put ketchup on my pasta and how come “Love Actually” is the most watched movie on my Netflix account. This past summer, I met a precious child in Sarasota, Fla., who caught me off guard when he asked me, “Who is the most famous person you have ever met?” And this question really got me thinking because I have met Derek Jeter, Donald Trump, Carrie Underwood, McGruff the Crime Dog, Marshall Mathers and even Susannah McMonagle. I ended up telling the young man that his parents were the most famous people I had ever met, and we all smiled and laughed.

However, this young man’s question got me thinking, and it occurred to me that we are surrounded by fame. We fly into an airport named after Ronald Reagan, we pass monuments dedicated to Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and we walk into buildings with portraits and writings of even more famous people. We are surrounded by fame each and every day, and it is easy to forget that although those people made contributions to our country, the people who built and continue to build this great nation are the ordinary hard-working men and women who lead quiet lives of courage and compassion. These are average folks doing above average things and ordinary folks doing extraordinary things. And while these men and women may not have statues built for them, huge bank accounts or large amounts of Twitter followers, these people have something greater than that: a legacy.

These men and women are leaders in the community, volunteers at the local church and loving parents or spouses who know the difference between right and wrong. These men and women know it is more important to lead by example than to lead by words. These men and women carry the Word of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ everywhere they go by choosing to put the interests of others before their own. They know it is more important to live a sermon than to preach one. And, if you ask me, I cannot think of a better way to be remembered. Therefore, I hope we can all pay tribute and recognize the loved ones in our lives who fit this mold and who remind us how much impact an “ordinary citizen” can have. And the next time a child asks me who the most famous person I have ever met is, I will tell them it’s you.

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