Witnesses take stand in Kimberly Kessler trial, including mom of Joleen Cummings
Prosecutors showed a timeline Monday in the Nassau County Courthouse, highlighting Kimberly Kessler’s purchases and internet searches, as well as surveillance video, in the days surrounding 34-year-old mother of three Joleen Cummings’ disappearance in 2018.
Motion requests Kimberly Kessler’s trial not be delayed should she be absent during hearing
A day after jury selection began in Kimberly Kessler’s trial, and following another outburst that had her promptly removed from the courtroom, a motion was filed by the state of Florida requesting a jury instruction.
Kessler’s attorneys suggest new theory surrounding Cummings’ disappearance
A new motion by lawyers for Kimberly Kessler, who is accused of killing her co-worker Joleen Cummings, suggests Cummings could have become “physically violent” with Kessler in an ongoing dispute over drugs in the Tangles Hair Salon in Nassau County where both women worked.
Kessler’s attorneys file change of venue motion claiming ‘pervasive pretrial publicity’
Defense attorneys for Kimberly Kessler, the woman who’s charged with killing Joleen Cummings -- her coworker at a Nassau County hair salon -- have filed a change of venue motion ahead of her trial, which is slated to begin jury selection on Dec. 6.
Judge admits key evidence, including purchase of electric knife, in Kimberly Kessler trial
The judge in the murder trial of Kimberly Kessler, who is accused of killing her co-worker Joleen Cummings, has denied a defense motion to suppress evidence the state says is crucial to understanding how Cummings died.
Kimberly Kessler disrupts another court hearing as judge aims to proceed with December trial
The judge presiding over the Nassau County murder case against Kimberly Kessler, who is accused of killing her co-worker Joleen Cummings, is determined to proceed with a December trial, even as the defense files more motions challenging aspects of the state’s case.
Defense asks judge to submit questionnaire to potential jurors in Kimberly Kessler trial
Defense lawyers have filed another flurry of motions in Nassau County court in the trial of Kimberly Kessler, the woman charged with first-degree murder in the May 2018 disappearance of her salon coworker, Joleen Cummings, whose body has never been located.
Judge sets August trial date for Kimberly Kessler in 2018 murder of Joleen Cummings
Nassau County Judge James Daniel on Thursday set Aug. 16 for Kimberly Kessler’s trial in the 2018 murder of Joleen Cummings. The judge set an all-day motion hearing for March 19, and the judge prefers that to be virtual. Kessler is charged with killing Cummings, her coworker at a Yulee hair salon. AdKessler, who has been going on episodes of starvation and binge eating, was just 74 pounds when she appeared before the judge in October. The judge found Kessler’s behavior was not driven by mental illness but a personality disorder.
Kimberly Kessler’s lawyers want more evidence thrown out
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – Lawyers for Kimberly Kessler have filed another motion to have physical evidence in her Nassau County murder case thrown out. Kessler is charged in the death of her co-worker Joleen Cummings in 2018, who she worked with at Tangles Hair Salon. A search warrant allowed investigators to seize as evidence the clothes Kessler was wearing, fingernail scrapings and to do a gunshot residue test on her hands. It wasn’t clear at the time, but Nassau County investigators say they had already found blood evidence inside the Tangles Salon where it’s believed Cummings was killed. While the warrant sought a gunshot residue test on Kessler’s hands, there’s never been any suggestion in court documents that Cummings was shot to death.
Defense seeking to have evidence in Kimberly Kessler case thrown out
YULEE, Fla. – Four motions were filed Wednesday to suppress evidence in the case of Kimberly Kessler, the woman charged with killing her coworker at a hair salon in Yulee. Kessler’s attorneys claim that Kessler was located through unlawful use of cellphone site technology, and that any evidence gathered as a result of the detention in St. Johns County should be suppressed. Her attorneys say that statements Kessler made to St. Johns County deputies should be suppressed because she was questioned before she was read her Miranda rights. They say statements she made at the St. Johns County Jail should also be suppressed, saying they were the fruit of an unlawful arrest. An emergency order from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office in September requested guidance from a judge, saying Kessler was refusing to eat and wouldn’t accept any medical treatment.
Kimberly Kessler could go on trial next May
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The woman accused of killing her co-worker at a Yulee hair salon, Kimberly Kessler, appeared by video Thursday before the same judge who ruled Monday that she is competent to stand trial. At Thursday’s hearing, Kessler asked for a new lawyer, claiming one of her court-appointed lawyers is related to the victim, Joleen Cummings -- a charge her lead lawyer said wasn’t true. Circuit Judge James Daniel denied the request and tentatively set her first-degree murder trial for May 2021. At that point, Kessler started yelling and was removed from the viewing room in the jail. Defense lawyer Teresa Sopp said she is preparing motions to suppress some of the evidence against Kessler and to request a change of venue.
Court says Kimberly Kessler still competent for trial
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After conducting an evidentiary hearing and reviewing expert reports, a court has determined that Kimberly Kessler, a woman who’s charged with killing her coworker at a Nassau County hair salon, remains competent to stand trial. The decision comes as Kessler remains behind bars in the Nassau County Jail. During the hearing, Kessler was removed from view after she yelled an expletive about the public defender’s office. On the Zoom hearing, Kessler could still be heard yelling and cursing in the background. A deputy came back and told the court that Kessler did not want to be represented by the public defender.
Judge dismisses Kimberly Kessler emergency petition
On Tuesday, News4Jax learned that the trial judge dismissed the petition. The Sheriff’s Office said in the petition to the trial judge that Kessler is trying to kill herself by starvation. The Sheriff’s Office told the judge that jail medical staff didn’t have the resources to force feed Kessler. Because the judge in March found Kessler competent to stand trial, the Sheriff’s Office was asking for a precedent-setting ruling from the judge. The State Attorney’s Office responded, saying that since Kessler was declared competent, the petition should be denied.
74 lb. Kimberly Kessler yells, curses during competency hearing
On the Zoom hearing, Kessler could still be heard yelling and cursing in the background. A deputy came back and told the court that Kessler did not want to be represented by the public defender. Daniel said he would not grant Kessler a hearing for a change of lawyer. After the hearing, Anne Johnson, Joleen Cummings' mother, issued the following statement:“Justice delayed is justice denied. Kessler is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Joleen Cummings, a 34-year-old mother of three.
Petition: 89-pound Kimberly Kessler could starve self to death
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – Kimberly Kessler, the woman charged with murdering her coworker that was a stylist at a Nassau County hair salon, is refusing to eat and won’t accept any medical treatment, according to an emergency petition obtained Wednesday by News4Jax. The petition, filed by Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper, says Kessler is trying to kill herself by starvation. Because a judge in March found Kessler competent to stand trial, the Sheriff’s Office is asking for a precedent-setting ruling from the judge. Kessler is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Joleen Cummings, a 34-year-old mother of three. Kessler was arrested May 16 after investigators said they found footage showing her getting out of the vehicle.