In spring of 2018, a mother of three vanished from Hilliard in Florida. According to her estranged husband, she was probably off “on a bender somewhere.” However, as an investigation was launched, two suspicious people from within the woman’s life emerged, ultimately leading to a grim conclusion.
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Audio Sources:
“RAW VIDEO: Nassau County addresses Joleen Cummings disappearance”
“Sentencing Held for Kimberly Kessler”
“Kimberly Kessler Hearing – Defendant’s Outburst”
“Kimberly Kessler found guilty of murder, refuses to hear verdict read in courtroom”
“Kimberly Kessler outbursts: The multiple times she’s disrupted the court”
“WATCH: Kimberly Kessler talks about Joleen Cummings”
“New Evidence in Kimberly Kessler Case”
“Kimberly Kessler tells judge her attorneys are lying about her mental health”
“Video evidence, photos released in murder case against Kimberly Kessler”
“Prosecutors Release List of Evidence”
Sources:
Nassau County Record, 14 May, 2018 – “Suspect Last to See Cummings Alive”
Nassau County Record, 17 May, 2018 – “Missing Woman’s Vehicle Found”
Tribune-Review, 22 May, 2018 – “A Butler County Woman Reported Missing in 2004 Has Resurfaced as a Suspect”
The Edmonton Sun, 27 May, 2018 – “Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow”
Nassau County Record, 31 May, 2018 – “Family Awaits Answers”
ABC – 2 WSB, 1 June, 2018 – “Suspect in Woman’s Disappearance Used 18 Aliases Over Past 22 Years”
The Florida Times-Union, 1 June, 2018 – “Suspect’s Past in Yulee Woman’s Disappearance Includes 17 Alias in 14 States”
Butler Eagle, 5 June, 2018 – “Butler Woman Suspect Has 18 Aliases”
The Florida Times-Union, 5 June, 2018 – “Fernandina Hair Salon Where Missing Stylist and Suspect Worked Closes Doors”
News Leader, 6 June, 2018 – “Investigation Going in Many Different Directions”
CBS – 4 KMOV, 8 June, 2018 – “Suspect Wanted in Connection to Missing Woman Used Over 18 Aliases”
Tribune-Review, 11 June, 2018 – “A Woman Missing from Butler County More than a Decade Ago Who Tuned Up Last Month”
NBC – 11 WPXI, 14 June, 2018 – “Butler Native, Suspect in Missing Fla. Mom Case”
The Florida Times-Union, 6 July, 2018 – “Search for Missing Joleen Cummings Focuses on Georgia Landfill”
NBC – 11 WPXI, 6 July, 2018 – “Mother of Local Woman Stands by her After her Arrest”
ABC – 2 WSB, 13 July, 2018 – “FBI Finds Items of Interest”
The Florida Times-Union, 13 July, 2018 – “Search for Evidence in Georgia Landfill”
The Florida Times-Union, 13 July, 2018 – “Body of a Woman Found in Charlton County, Ga.”
News Leader, 17 August, 2018 – “Benefit for Cummings Children”
News Leader, 22 August, 2018 – “Funds Raised by VFW for Cummings’ Children”
The Florida Times-Union, 6 September, 2018 – “Suspect in Disappearance of Joleen Cummings”
The Florida Times-Union, 7 September, 2018 – “Suspect Charged with Murder of Missing Yulee Mother”
News Leader, 19 September, 2018 – “Witnesses Recall Encounters with Murder Suspect”
NBC – 11, 16 October, 2018 – “Butler County Woman Admits to Being on the Run from FBI For 25 Years”
News Leader, 24 October, 2018 – “State Attorney Releases Evidence in Cummings Case”
NBC – 11 WPXI, 28 February, 2018 – “Interviews Show Violent Past of Local Woman”
News Leader, 6 March, 2019 – “Kessler is Incompetent to Stand Trial”
News Leader, 10 April, 2019 – “More Evidence Released from Murder Investigation”
Butler Eagle, 30 April, 2019 – “Kessler Interview Video Released”
News Leader, 3 May, 2019 – “State to Conduct Second Mental Evaluation of Kimberly Kessler”
Nassau County Record, 8 May, 2019 – “Mother Awaits Daughter’s Justice”
The Florida Times Union, 2 July, 2019 – “Judge Rules Kimberly Kessler Unfit for Trial”
The Florida Times Union, 15 October, 2019 – “Kessler Ruled Competent for Murder Trial in Case of Missing Joleen Cummings”
The Florida Times Union, 7 November, 2019 – “Kimberly Kessler Calls her Attorney Piece of Garbage”
NBC – 11 WPXI, 9 January, 2020 – “Joleen Cummings Case”
Butler Eagle, 10 January, 2020 – “murder Suspect’s Hearing on Competency Delayed”
News Leader, 4 March, 2020 – “Judge Hears Evidence on Kessler’s Competence”
News Leader, 27 March, 2020 – “Kessler is Competent to Stand Trial”
The Florida Times Union, 7 August, 2020 – “Kimberly Kessler Near Death on Hunger Strike in Jail”
The Florida Times Union, 6 October, 2020 – “Law And Order”
News Leader, 7 October, 2020 – “Starving Kessler Faces Competency Hearing”
NBC – 11 WPXI, 15 October 2020 – “Butler Co. Woman Charged with Murdering Co-Worker”
The Florida Times Union, 7 April, 2021 – “Kimberly Kessler Pepper Sprayed”
NBC – 11 WPXI, 7 December, 2021 – “Trial Begins for Butler County Native”
NBC – 11 WPXI, 9 December, 2021 – “Butler County Native Found Guilty”
The Florida Times Union, 9 December, 2021 – “Jury Finds Kimberly Kessler Guilty of First-Degree Murder”
Butler Eagle, 10 December, 2021 – “She Lived in Various States”
The Florida Times Union, 27 January, 2022 – “Kimberly Kessler Sentenced to Life in Prison”
CBS – 4 KMOV, 28 January, 2022 – “Florida Sheriff’s Office Celebrates Transfer”
