Affidavit: Suspect in Nassau woman’s disappearance told boss she was leaving town

Arrest records are giving new insight in to the hours after a missing Nassau County mother was last seen, and the actions of the woman named as a suspect in her disappearance.

WOKV told you Tuesday that Kimberly Kessler- who was living under the name Jennifer Sybert- was arrested for the theft of Joleen Cummings' vehicle, but is also considered a suspect in Cummings' disappearance. Kessler is the last person to see Cummings, since they worked the same shift at Tangles Hair Salon Saturday, May 12th.

The affidavit for arrest warrant now says that a few days later, Kessler showed up at the salon to work, but when she realized Nassau County deputies were there, she fled. The affidavit says she told the salon’s owner that she was leaving town. Kessler was eventually found living in her car at the St. Johns County I-95 rest stop.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office has already confirmed they have surveillance they say ties Kessler to Cummings’ vehicle. The affidavit now shows that one surveillance camera in the parking lot of the Yulee Home Depot catches a person dressed in all black park and leave the vehicle, around 1:17am Sunday morning. Minutes later, a nearby gas station surveillance camera shows a similarly dressed person- who deputies say is Kessler- hailing a taxi. That taxi took her back to the salon, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit says Kessler denied ever being given permission to drive Cummings’ vehicle or ever being in the vehicle. A motion to increase bond says Kessler admitted she was not really Sybert, which is the name she had been living under.

The affidavit also says there has been no outgoing call on Cummings' phone since mid-Saturday. The Nassau County Sheriff says they do not believe Cummings is alive, but they are still actively investigating in an effort to find her. They're asking for your tips to aid in that search, you can call NCSO at 904-548-4005 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.

Kessler has been known to leave town before. We've confirmed with police in Pennsylvania that Kessler went missing in 2004, with investigators saying she told family she was going to live under a name she found on a grave, and that it appeared she did not want to be found. She had given her employer a fake name, address, and social security number. NCSO says the FBI is also charging Kessler with a counterfeit passport.