By Susan Hardee Steger
May 22, 2018 4:27 p.m.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sheriff Bill Leeper announced to the news media gathered at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, that a new suspect is under investigation following the disappearance of Hillard resident Joleen Cummings.
Jennifer Sybert (Age 50), whose real name is Kimberly Kessler, is now being held in the Nassau County Jail after being booked in the the St John’s County Jail on charges of Grand Theft Auto.
Sybert was briefly employed as a hairstylist at Tangles Hair Salon on East State Road 200 and was the last person to see Cummings on Saturday, May 12th. Investigators went to the salon on Tuesday morning, since it was closed Sunday and Monday, to speak to Sybert. She did not show up for work. On Tuesday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a 2006 beige Ford Expedition matching the description of Cumming’s vehicle in the parking lot of Yulee’s Home Depot. Video footage from area surveillance cameras revealed that on Sunday morning, shortly after 1:00 a.m., Syber parked and exited what was determined to be Cumming’s vehicle.
“Through our investigation, we have obtained evidence which we are not releasing at this time, which leads us to believe Joleen is not alive, ” said Leeper.
Searches have been conducted for Joleen using canines, horses, and boats. The Sheriff’s Office is working with the State’s Attorney’s Office, the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI.
Sybert a/k/a Kessler, is from Butler, Pennsylvania. She used a fake Social Security Number, and is now charged by the FBI for using a counterfeit passport. She also used a “bogus address” and appeared to be living in her car. Leeper said, “We are working to obtain and gather all of the evidence we possibly can related to this incident and additional charges are forthcoming.”
Sybert/Kessler is known to have frequented Fernandina Beach, Yulee, the Bartram Park area of Jacksonville, as well as St Johns County. She drove a 2016 Black Kia Soul, when she was arrested at the NB – I – 95 rest area in St. Johns County on Wednesday evening, May 16.
Leeper is asking the public for help. “If anyone has seen or had any contact with Kessler, also known as Jennifer Sybert, or her vehicle, or has information that would help us in our investigation to please contact the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office at 904-548-4005 or call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-tiPS or 8477.”