Disturbing new details have emerged in regard to Jennifer Sybert, a suspect in the disappearance of Joleen Cummings, a beautiful, beloved hairstylist and mother of three who was last seen May 12 at Tangles Hair Salon in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Sybert, whose real name is Kimberly Kessler, is the last person to have seen Cummings alive, according to authorities.
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper announced at a press conference that Sybert has lived under 17 names in 33 cities spanning over 14 states since 1996. He said that he doesn’t believe Nassau County, located in the northeast corner of the sunshine state along the Atlantic Ocean, has ever seen a case like it before.
“We’re not quite sure yet why all the disguises or if she has been involved in the disappearance of anyone else before, but it seems she is definitely running from something,” Leeper told reporters.
Authorities expressed that they have reason to believe Cummings is no longer alive, however they have not elaborated on those reasons.
The sheriff added that investigators have sifted through literally hours of surveillance video from businesses associated with the suspect.
Authorities have searched close to 40 locations in the county where they believe Sybert to have been. They also searched areas in St. Johns and Duval counties, where police said she has also traveled.
“Joleen could be almost anywhere,” Leeper said.
Though Leeper offered few further details in the case, citing an ongoin investigation, he did say he believed that when the details are released “our community will be shocked.”
The FBI has joined forces with the Nassau Sheriff’s Office’s investigation into Cummings’ disappearance.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Kessler reportedly also vanished in 2004 from Butler County, Pennsylvania, without telling anyone that she was headed anywhere. However, the suspect’s family didn’t report her missing for eight years and it was later determined that she merely wanted to get away from the life she had been living.
“It’s extremely strange and that’s why it’s making national news at this point.” Trooper Jim Long told WPXI. “We did not expect this was a legit missing person. This person didn’t want to be found.”
The sheriff did say investigators are waiting on forensic evidence results which could lead to further charges for Sybert, but did not elaborate on the details.
Leeper is asking anyone who may have rented a storage unit to the suspect or who saw her driving around at any time to contact authorities.
Sybert was arrested May 16 after authorities say they found surveillance video of her leaving the suspected victim’s SUV near a Home Depot. She was charged with grand theft auto and is due for arraignment in Nassau County court June 7.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call Nassau County detectives at 904-548-4005 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to assist Cummings’ children during this unfathomable time. You can click here to donate.
[Feature photo: Jolene Cummings, Jennifer Sybert/Nassau County Sheriff’s Office]
