See No Evil: Who Killed Joleen Cummings & Why?

by

As a true crime enthusiast who’s been following cases for years, I must say the story of Joleen Cummings is one that truly grips my heart. The life and tragic demise of this single mother, along with the complexities of her murder case, have kept me on the edge of my seat since I first heard about it in 2018.

Joleen Cummings was a well-known cosmetologist, raising three children, in the Fernandina Beach region of Florida until 2018. In May of that year, Cummings disappeared, leading to an extensive search for her. During the investigation into her disappearance, detectives zeroed in on one of her colleagues from Tangles Hair Salon, where they both worked. The findings made during this period would later prove crucial and ultimately guided authorities towards a suspect responsible for her death.

“The investigative series ID’s ‘She’s Fake’ delves into the Joleen Cummings murder case. This intriguing episode will air on the network this coming Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at 9 p.m., Eastern Time. Here’s a brief summary: In Fernandina Beach, Florida, cosmetologist Joleen Cummings disappears following an appointment at Tangles Salon. Security camera footage shows her car parked in a secluded lot during the night; upon closer inspection, an unanticipated suspect emerges.”

Investigators managed to identify the person who murdered Joleen Cummings even without finding her body. They traced Cummings’ co-worker, Jennifer Sybert (whose real identity turned out to be Kimberly Kessler), through incriminating security footage that showed her at the crime scene and attempting to dispose of evidence. The salon where both women worked was the location in question.

Why did Kimberly Kessler kill Joleen Cummings?

Kimberly Kessler, who had been posing under a false identity, ended up killing Joleen Cummings because Cummings was starting to suspect her deception. The Florida Times-Union reported that prosecutors believe Kessler took Cummings’ life after Cummings called out her fake persona. Moreover, it was also suggested that Cummings had planned to look up Kessler online, which further upset the former. Another theory presented by the prosecution is that Kessler became envious of Cummings and wanted her clients as they both worked at the same salon.

As reported by Oxygen, Kessler went by the name Jennifer Sybert during her employment at Tangles Hair Salon in Fernandina Beach alongside Cummings. At that time, Cummings was a single parent who disappeared on May 12, 2018. The following day, she did not show up to collect her children from their father’s home. On May 14, a missing person’s report was filed with the Fernandina Beach Police Department by Cummings’ mother.

On May 12 in the evening, the proprietor declared that she last encountered Joleen Cummings. This proprietor further stated that she was working with her colleague Jennifer Sybert during that time. Nevertheless, Sybert declined to participate in the police investigation. She informed the authorities about an ongoing stalking situation due to a former partner. Sybert also shared that she and Cummings were not particularly close and had no knowledge of her whereabouts.

Jennifer Sybert was the person who last saw Joleen Cummings alive, according to authorities. Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper explained to Oxygen’s Snapped that Sybert chose not to cooperate with the police when they came back with additional questions. Furthermore, Sybert left her job at the salon and requested that they send her payment by mail. She made it clear to them, “I can’t participate in any police-related activities.” This behavior raised concerns for the officers.

One day following Joleen Cummings’ disappearance, authorities got a lead about an abandoned car. This vehicle was spotted in a parking lot of a Home Depot store in Yulee, Florida. Surveillance around the area connected Jennifer Sybert to this spot. The footage showed Sybert walking away from the lot towards a gas station.

After thorough investigation, detectives found crucial evidence at Tangles Hair Salon that indicated a crime had taken place within its premises. Utilizing Luminol, they uncovered substantial traces of blood on the salon’s walls, furniture, cabinets, and sink. Lab tests identified this blood as belonging to Joleen Cummings. With Jennifer Sybert emerging as the main suspect, authorities initially apprehended her for grand theft charges.

Further examination of security footage revealed Jennifer Sybert dumping numerous rubbish sacks into a bin behind the salon. Additional surveillance from Walmart showed Sybert purchasing items that could be incriminating, including cleaning products, gloves, and an electric carving knife. Detectives hypothesized that she used the knife to dismember Joleen [Cummings], placed her in the black trash bags, and discarded her as if she were waste.

Later on, investigators discovered Joleen Cummings’ DNA on items belonging to the suspect. It was also uncovered that these two women had a dispute prior to Cummings disappearing. Nassau County Sheriff’s Sgt. Wayne Herrington stated, “Joleen essentially told her, ‘You’re not who you claim to be, and I’m going to find out your real identity.'” Eventually, Sybert admitted to the authorities about her true persona.

It was discovered that the real name of the person known as Jennifer Sybert was actually Kimberly Kessler, and at that time, she was using a total of 18 different aliases. In reality, Kessler had assumed the identity of a girl named Jennifer Sybert who passed away in 1987. The case eventually led to Kessler’s conviction for first-degree murder in 2021, resulting in a sentence of life imprisonment.

ID’s See No Evil episode on Joleen Cummings’ murder by Kimberly Kessler airs this Wednesday.

Read More

2024-08-07 12:10