Joleen Cummings case: Suspect has used 18 aliases, reward for information increases

The Nassau County Sheriff's Office held a news conference Friday at 2 p.m. giving an update in the case of missing mother, Joleen Cummings, 34.

Sheriff Bill Leeper announced that the suspect, Kimberly Kessler, has used 18 different aliases and lived in 33 cities in 14 states since 1996.

Click here for full list of names and locations.

Crime Stoppers has increased the the reward for information from $3000 to $4000. The director of Crime Stoppers said they have received 23 tips, but nothing has helped to break the case open.

It took Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper nearly five minutes just to read off all the names and cities associated with suspect Kimberly Kessler.

“As we continue to gather more and more evidence and facts, we have learned that this case is very unusual, and one that I’m not sure we have ever seen in Nassau County,” Sheriff Leeper said.

Sheriff Leeper said he can’t reveal more because it could compromise the investigation.

“I will say this, when we provide all the details, I believe our community will be shocked,” Sheriff Leeper added.

Deputies said Cummings disappeared nearly three weeks ago, one day before Mother’s Day and her birthday.

“We are so desperate to find her,” said Cummings’ mother, Anne Johnson.

Johnson won’t give up hope that she’s found.

“It’s been 20 days our Joleen was taken from us and is presumed dead,” Johnson said.  “It’s been 20 days, we’re on our hands and knees for Joleen to return home.”

Action News Jax has learned the NCSO will be offering a reward for information in the disappearance and presumed death of Cummings. Cummings' mother, Anne Johnson told Action News Jax she will make a plea to the community for anyone with information to come forward during the news conference.

Cummings disappeared May 12, the day before Mother's Day when she failed to show up to pick up her kids. She was reported missing by her mother, on May 14.

Deputies say she was last scene leaving work at Tangles Hair Salon in Fernandina Beach. Deputies say Kimberly Kessler was last person to supposedly see Cummings alive and is a prime suspect in the case.

Kessler went by the alias Jenifer Sybert when she worked at the salon. She was arrested by authorities and held on auto theft charges after a surveillance camera captured Kessler parking Cummings' Ford Expedition around 1:17 a.m. May 13 at a Home Depot parking lot in Yulee.

Sheriff Bill Leeper said during a news conference on May 22, "Through our investigation, we have obtained evidence, which we are not releasing at this time, which leads us to believe Joleen is not alive."

Cox Media Group